Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 15 February

Sunday February 15, 2026

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Competitive maiden opener with four of the ten racing for the first time. We’ll take a chance on a newcomer in the shape of (2) THE CLASSIC. He’s a “full” brother to KRA Cup Mile winner Betelgeuse and went through two trials, just doing enough in the first of them before winning the second with an on pace showing. He should be nice and fit and can win on debut. (1) GANGHAN GAMMA ran a fair 5^th on debut on January 17^th, settling back and running on. She should have come on for that, and the additional half furlong can suit. (6) NOBLE MATCH has raced twice, improving to 3^rd at start number two. She’ll be on pace and can be in the finish. (5) PASA ACE and debut maker (9) SKYLOR TAEHA are others in the mix.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(8) YEONGWONHAN STAR has shown steady improvement across her four starts to date, culminating in 2^nd place at 1200M on December 13^th. She comes in fresh following nine weeks off, in this company she can be on the speed, and she rates as a big chance. (7) BLAZING ENGINE was slow away and never a factor at start two in January but if we go on his 2^nd place on debut over 1200M at the end of December, he warrants another chance here. (11) X-TEN was a close 4^th over this distance on January 25^th and while she has the challenge of the widest gate here, she has finished off her races well and can be threatening late. (5) CHEONJI JACKAL and (9) BEST URBANE other place chances.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only here and while there is only one debut-maker, she goes on top. (11) RUSH WILD led every step of the way to comfortably win her trial in a decent time, working through the line well. If she brings that form to the races, the Hansen filly has every chance first up. (7) VICTORIA CHUKJE has a 2^nd and a 5^th from two starts so far, beating several of today’s rivals in the process, and she looks like the best of the experienced ones. (2) TAEYANGUIYEOLJEONG was 4^th behind Victoria Chukje on the latter’s debut but has a runner-up finish to her name too at this distance and that’s enough to have her in the mix as well. (4) NORTHERN QUEEN and (3) DUBAI CANDY others in the frame.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Since returning from five months out, (3) PNS GONGJA has finished 3^rd twice, first at 1200M in December and then at 1400M on January 10^th when he led for most of the way and beat a couple of today’s rivals. Third-up he can be peaking, Maia climbs on for the first time, and he can win (10) MADE ran twice last summer for a 4^th and a 3^rd and while he hasn’t raced since, he looked well in a January trial and can put in a good effort first-up. (6) MIGHTY CRIS was a much-improved 3^rd over 1300M on January 18^th, doing his best work late, and the slight increase in distance can suit. (9) PRIMERO and (4) HWANGGEUM MASK are others to consider on a place line.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(10) FLASH TO ME comes in having beaten three of today’s rivals on his way to 3^rd place over 1400M on January 16rg, settling fairly before being ridden up to be handy. The mile can suit, Franco rides for the first time, and he will be a short price to win. (8) MAGIC MIRROR was the second longest shot on the board last time out but defied that to run 3^rd on his first try at 1400M. The further extended trip today can be in his favour and he can be in the finish again. (6) MUJEOK BIHAENG did beat Flash To Me when the pair ran 4^th and 5^th back in early December and she can offer some each-way interest. (3) TAEPYEONG FLEX and (9) BREEDO CAPTAIN are the other main chances.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(11) VALID YOUNG was a winner on debut over 1200M before running 4^th on his first try at this class and distance on January 10^th, settling midfield from a wide draw and running on. He can run on again here and he can win. The danger is on his immediate inside. (10) GENERAL WIND overcame the widest gate to win on debut over 1000M and then ran a very close 2^nd at 1200M on December 21^st at this level. He comes up to 1400M for the first time but if he can get a touch of luck at the start to help him lead, he has every chance. (2) TAEGISAN KING was 2^nd at this class and distance on January 17^th, coming from off the pace, and he can be in the mix again. (7) ROAD TO STAR and veteran (1) SSANG OK RU other minor money chances.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) MUJEOKYI is yet to win in seven attempts but has no fewer than four runner-up finishes to his name, including both of his latest two at this class over 1300M. He comes up 2kg in weight but is drawn very well to lead, and this time he can go all the way. After a couple of ordinary efforts, (8) STUKA hinted at a return to form with a solid 3^rd place at this class over 1200M on January 16^th. In this company he can sit handy and be in the finish again. (5) ISIMNYEON JIGI was sent off as favourite in that January 17^th race, finishing in 4^th place. He has never finished any worse than that and will surely be in the mix again. (9) D’LOVELY KING and (7) HANEUL GOLD others in the frame.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(1) FOREVER GIL got his maiden win at start two over 1200M on December 21^st and then ran 4^th on his first try at this class over 1400M on January 24^th, having led for much of the way. He splits the difference in trip today and from the inside gate, if he can get on pace, he will be hard to get past. (9) CHOWOLMA is up in class having scored his first win at this distance on January 11^th, leading all the way. He comes down 3kg in weight, and he can measure up. So too can (8) RAON SAPPHRE. After running 2^nd on debut, he was a winner at start two over this distance on January 3^rd, sitting just behind the speed and running on and similarly down in weight, can be competitive at this level. (3) THUNDER MARVEL and (5) GEUMA FOREMOST both enter off runner-up finishes at this level, and they can be in the mix again.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(3) SKYLOR JIYOU has won his latest two, first at a mile at class 6 level and then at this class and distance on January 9^th. He comes up 3.5kg in weight but looks to have more in the tank, and he can make it three in a row here. (8) MUHAN NAREUSHA stepped up to this trip for the first time on January 16^th and beat two of today’s rivals on his way to a close 3^rd. He should have derived benefit from that experience, and he can be there or thereabouts again. (1) TANTAN DAERO remains a maiden after eleven attempts but has a 2^nd and two 3^rd places from his latest three, most recently behind Muhan Nareusha in that January 16^th race. Franco climbs aboard for the first time and it’s not impossible that form can be reversed. (5) PINOT POWER, 3^rd behind Skylor Jiyou last time out, along with the up in class but down in weight (7) OASIS ADELE others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) KING MASTER is yet to finish any worse than 3^rd from five starts and that is where he finished on his first try at this class and distance on December 27^th when racing handy throughout. He stays under a light weight and today can be his day. The danger is in the adjoining gate. (10) CHRYSOL STONE stepped up to this trip on December 20^th and ran a very solid 2^nd place, leading for part of the race. He comes up 2kg but CC stays on and he has every chance. (8) KYLIE also carries a light weight and comes in off a 4^th place at this class and distance on January 17^th. She doesn’t win out of turn, but this is the kind of race she can pick up a check in. (3) WORLD JOY and (6) BLACK SIDAE others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 5: Class 1 (2000M) Special Weight B / KRW 110 Million

Grand Prix winner Clean One was originally entered here but skipped it in favour of going through a trial (which he won). That leaves (4) GLOBAL HIT, who while physically not at the same level as he was pre-injury, still surely has too much for this field. He will be a prohibitive favourite. (3) YEONGGWANGUIFIRST was 4^th when racing against most of these at this class over 1800M on January 25^th. That day he was giving away 5kg to 2^nd place (8) ONEULISUNGAN, today it is just 1kg and back up to a trip over which Yeonggwanguifirst is a two-time winner, he can overturn that form. Oneulisungan can be in the finish again too while (2) TUHONUI BANSEOK and (5) STAR MATTA are also place chances.

Seoul Race 7: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight A / Segye Ilbo Trophy (KOR Listed) / KRW 300 Million

The first Listed or Graded race of the season and it is a very tricky one with half the field having legitimate claims. We’ll take a chance on (3) MUNHAK BOY. He has won his latest six, most recently the G3 Kookje Shinmun over 1400M in Busan last October. While he has never won at 1200M, he is a front-runner, he looked well in a trial last month, and first-up he can have the speed needed to win this. (6) CROWN HAMSEONG won this race last year and also comes in fresh. She too can be on pace and could be the value here. (2) SPEED YOUNG was last year’s Horse of the Year and while that was for his exploits over long distances, he is accomplished at shorter too. He was 3^rd in this race last year and from a better gate can be challenging strongly late on. (15) BEST RACE enters off four straight wins and while he faces tougher opposition today as well as having the challenge of the widest gate, he can measure up. (1) SUPER FINISH and (4) YEONGGWANGUI WORLD the others with very solid claims in what should be a great seventy-one seconds or so.

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) LEGEND HIT ran 5^th in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie at 1400M in November before returning to winning ways at class 5 level over a mile on January 4^th. He comes up in class and in distance here and while he doesn’t get much in the way of a weight break, he can make it four from six here. (3) BREEDO SOL was an also ran in that juvenile G2, but he also bounced straight back to the winner’s circle at his next start. In his case it was over this distance on January 16^th when he scored with a front-running effort. He is up in class but down 4kg in weight and from a good draw, can measure up. (6) DOCTOR CASTLE was 2^nd at this class over 1400M on January 2^nd. He has won and placed at 1800M too and can be a place chance here. The form drops off after those three with (4) GLOBAL WEEK and (8) SEOUL DRAGON perhaps the best chances for the minor money.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(3) GEUMA SPLASHY is yet to win but has a 2^nd, 3^rd and a 4^th from thee outings to date, all at this class and two of them at this distance. He is under a considerably lighter weight today, and drawn well to lead, today can be his day. (2) MUNHAK DAESE was a beaten favourite when 5^th on her first try at this class on January 17^th. That was at 1400M, but she comes back to a trip at which she has won and placed at and under a light weight and well-drawn, she can be a different prospect this time. (10) MIGHTY GLEE ran 2^nd on debut at a big price over 1200M on January 10^th coming from well off the pace. He caried a very light weight and while up significantly in trip, he may make for some each-way appeal. (1) ULTRA MANGCHI and (7) RAON SPILETTA are others to consider.

Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(8) VICE ROYAL hasn’t been a prolific winner, but he enters with his recent form reading very well with a win at a mile and then a 3^rd place at this distance, both at this class. The 3^rd was on January 23^rd and featured a few of today’s rivals behind him and this time he can come out on top. (10) FORCE BE WITH YOU has won his latest two, both at this distance. That brings him rapidly up to this class, but he is down in weight, and he has every chance of measuring up form off the pace. (3) BLUE POINT has two wins and five placings at this trip, and he too is up in class here. He is down a full 5kg in weight and that should be enough to make him competitive in this company. (6) GREAT BOY and (5) WONDAEHAN KKUM other chances.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(3) CHUKBAEREUL DEULEORA got his sole win when coming back from a three-month layoff at this class and distance in September before finishing 4^th and 3^rd in two subsequent starts at 1800M in October and November. He is in fresh here after twelve weeks out, and back at 1700M, he can win. (7) CIRCLE A was a winner at this class over 1400M two starts back before running 2^nd at 1800M on January 17^th having led for much of the way. The 1700M can suit. (1) WESTERN GUN should be ready for another crack at two turns after recent good results over 1400M. (9) SAINT RUNNER and (5) AQUA LINE others who can challenge for the places.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

Fillies and mares in the finale. (4) CHIEF STAR is four for four with the Rookie Stakes and a Listed Juvenile event on her resume. She did though have to be scratched after going over in the gate before ethe G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie at Busan last November and while she returned to win on January 3^rd at class 4 level over 1400M, she wasn’t comfortable in the gate again. That makes the start the key – if she settles down and gets away without issue, she should be far too good. Since getting her maiden win, (10) TIARA SUA has placed in five consecutive races, most recently beating three of today’s rivals on December 27^th at this class and distance. She’ll be there or thereabouts again. (1) FLYING DAY has been no wors than 3^rd in four goes at this distance and is another place chance. (11) ORION ALPHA and (9) NAMSAN BELT other money chances.