Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 18 July

Saturday July 18, 2026

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

(7) BONBON TIARA comes from the Tony Castanheira stable which has produced some impressive debutante winners in recent weeks so with this filly by Old Fashioned having had the one trial for a second beaten a nose there is every chance she can be another newcomer winner for the French trainer. (1) GRAND POKPUNG has not been far away in two race starts and can close under Ruan Maia from the lowest draw. (8) WHIZ CROWN will be looking to give former champion jockey Moon Se-young his first winner with his sixth runner as a trainer and can do so as she finished fourth in her one and only trial in May. (6) A. K SUN and (9) ROAD SOCKS both won trials on June 25 and rate next over (4) MIGHTY MULAN with (3) NAREUSYA LUNA not hopeless.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) SAEROUN BISUL comes off a nose trial victory on June 18 where he defeated Bonbon Tiara, who looks hard to beat in Race 1. He chased home some start types in his three juvenile starts last year and his most recent race in November where he split Mr. Taeyang, subsequent Group Two runner-up, and Comeback Holymoely, subsequent multiple winner, is the best form on offer in this maiden by a long shot. (1) AMOS JEONSA did nothing in his first trial in June but looked good when leading throughout to win last week by four-lengths so on that this debutante by Race Day rates as the danger. (2) MY DOLPUNG was a beaten odds-on chance on debut but was not far away and can go close again. (10) DU UM, (11) BIBA CHARM and the second of the newcomers (8) WONPYEONG DREAM are next best.

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

(3) DAEBI MAMA has been beaten a long way in two of her three starts however those two runs were against good opposition including at Group Three level last time in the last leg of the Korean Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies. Her second-place effort to Purple Korea at the second of her three starts to date would give her a good chance in this. (4) INSPIRE has been consistent enough so far without winning and strikes a winnable maiden to go close in. (10) SAMJEONG BLUE has been just behind the placegetters of late and can be around the mark once more. (1) GRAY PHANTOM, (6) DELTA CHOEGANG and (8) LUGE rate next.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) ARION QUEEN CAR is by far the most untrustworthy commodity in this field, but she is also the one with by far the most ability on her day. She has refused to race in effectively two of her past four starts with the other two runs yielding a good second splitting The Excellent and Raon Blaide, subsequent winner, but also a disappointing seventh. She gets the nod on her best ability, but just the same she is far from a safe bet. (4) GOLDEN VENTUS is a two-year-old that won on debut on June 13 and with just fifty-one-and-half kilograms on his back he must be given a strong chance. (6) TIGER MANGCHI came from the other side of Seoul when winning on his debut and whilst that was a bizarre race in many ways, he would have to be given a hope on that effort. (11) SEVEN KAISER has been the most consistent of the raced brigade in the line-up that have never won and rates over (7) BEOLGYO EMPEROR and (1) MUHAN ARGO.

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

(9) NUNI OLKKAYO has ability on his day and if he can find an on-pace role from the wide draw he can go close in this company despite having top weight. (4) GOJU ILCHEOK did nothing in his first two runs before a better effort at his third start and he has followed that with two second places and a victory, so he looks a good each-way investment. (5) JECHUK SANJIRO is still very green and has a lot to learn but his last start maiden score should have done his confidence good, and Ruan Maia rides once again. (8) PRIMERO is racing consistently and rates as a chance along with (7) SHARKTEN, (2) HWARANGSAN JEONGGI, (3) POWERFUL SLEW and (1) BLACK RUSSIAN in an open race.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(1) FLYING CONCORD was well beaten last start but his previous couple of runs were good including a second to Master Kwaigon who has subsequently gone on to win two races and as high as Class 3, so he goes on top. (2) BEST FREEDOM led throughout to win his maiden by five-lengths in May before dropping out in his first run at this class but can be given another chance. (7) AESUNI has a very consistent record and deserves respect whilst (9) CRAZY CHAMP will go close if she can control the race from the top. (8) HAKSAN PRINCE and (11) HORIZON STAR rate next.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) MASTER PLAN has been consistent to date without winning behind some good ones and whilst he comes up to what is effectively a two-win race even though he has never won a race he will go close. (8) MUCHO MACHO RAPIDO can go close going on his runner-up effort two back as can (11) PICTURE based on his front-running half-length victory at this grade in March. (1) SPECIALTIME does not have great figure form but could be a place chance with a very light weight whilst the likes of (5) SSAK DANAEUN, (6) AMOS GOLD, (2) COMPLETE STEP, (3) HWASANGWIHWAN and (10) BROWN MAMMA can all be given chances in another hard race.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) CONCORD CODIE comes out of the three legs of the Korean Triple Crown where he was twelfth in the KRA Cup Mile (Korean 2000 Guineas), fifth in the Derby and sixth in the Minister’s Cup. He was not beaten far in all three, particularly the Derby where he was outstanding, and in this company, it would be a shock to seem him beaten. (11) GEUMA SPLASHY is first-up for five months and comes into this following a trial victory on June 18 and considering he was a two-and-a-half length second to Roshe when they both debuted in October he must be respected. (3) REFLECT has never missed the top five from nine runs and if running out the trip can once again be involved in the finish. (6) NAMSAN BLACK and (7) NINJA TIGER have also been close-up in most of their runs, the latter being a last start winner, and they rate next over (9) KLIMT WORLD.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(11) MIGHTY CODE has the highest weight and barrier, but he is racing in great form and was a gritty winner last month by a head over Global Champ and Circle A, both impressive subsequent winners over the last two weekends. Despite carrying an extra three-and-a-half kilograms compared to that race as well as going the furthest he has ever gone he can complete a hat-trick of wins. (6) SLING STAR is looking for a quintet of consecutive wins and there is no reason he cannot do it again. (2) SUPER BLUEMOON is consistent and an each-way chance whilst (1) GAMSAUI HIM is more than good enough to score on his best form. (4) WHIZ PERFECT and (3) ULTRA DRAGON are next best.

Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(9) RAON FLORENCE has done almost nothing wrong in ten starts having never missed the top four and winning three races in a row before finishing a close-up fourth in his first attempt at this grade last time. This is an easier Class 2 and despite the widest barrier he can go a few places better. (8) ELDORADO NOLBU is incredibly consistent however struggles to win. He ran past Raon Florence in that form line race on June 20 last start however is in a little worse at the weights with him again and will need the Seo Seung-un magic to be at full effect to confirm the form. They look the main two with the rest playing for the minor places such as (4) JEONGSANG ACE and (5) MIRACLE HANGANG whilst a good case could easily be made for (2) SILVER RAIN on his best form but the huge weight will make life tough. (1) STAR TREK ran Raon Florence to a half-length two runs ago but was well behind him last start.