Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 19 July

Sunday July 19, 2026

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens with seven of the eleven racing for the first time. The experience is generally good, but we have an eagerly awaited debut-maker in the form of (1) CLUTCH DERBY. He was an easy trial winner, leading all the way and stopping the clock in a fast time and if he brings that form to the races, he wins.  Helpfully for us, three of the ones who have raced before debuted together over 1000M on June 13^th. (10) GEOLJAK RUBY was the best of them in 2^nd place finishing well having previously won a trial, and the step up in trip can suit. (5) CHEONDUNGUIBULKKOT and (8) NEWBAL SOCKS were 3^rd and 4^th respectively in that race and both can have come on for their runs. Returning to the newcomers, (11) ECLIPSE GOLDEN trialed up fairly behind the experienced JD Gangja, and is another who can make an immediate impact.

Seoul Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(3) BLUE RIBBON has made solid progress across three starts so far with his latest being his best when 3^rd over 1400M and ridden further forward earlier than in his first two. That was back at the engining of May, so he has had eleven weeks off, but he can win here. Probably betting favourite will be (11) DAEDONGYONGMA. That follows a much-improved 2^nd over this distance on June 13^th when on pace throughout. He has the challenge of the widest gate here but won’t need to improve much, if at all, on that effort to having winning chances. (5) HERO DRAGON has hinted at figuring things out in her latest couple, and she gets a 4kg claim here. (2) VIVA CISSIMO and (8) NIGHT CAPTAIN are others with the potential to improve.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(2) GYEONGBOK PORTAS has been getting closer over his latest couple with a 4^th and a 3^rd from his latest two, most recently at this distance on June 5^th. He doesn’t get an apprentice claim today but Park Jae-I climbing on for Kim Hye-sun suggests that he is ready to win. (10) OASIS KINGDOM has also been getting closer and took a big leap last time out at start four when a close 2^nd over 1200M on June 12^th. A previous try at this trip wasn’t great but he should be ready for another crack here. Those two are the standouts though (3) ONE PLUS ONE does have a 2^nd place on his record and that’s enough to have him on a place line here. (9) OVER RAINBOW and (4) SMART YULIM others who could compete for the minors.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(1) PALPALNARA did nothing in four starts across the turn of the year but returned from over four months out on June 21^st to run a much-improved 2^nd over this distance, showing on pace throughout. She should strip fitter for the that run and she can go one better today. (8) WHITE JACKPOT didn’t do much on debut at the end of May but was a strong 2^nd at start number two on June 27^th over this distance, showing on pace and beating a couple of today’s rivals. He can be a danger here. (4) SONNY K came from off the pace to run 4^th on debut in May before finishing 2^nd when handy throughout on June 7^th and he will have plenty of backers to go close again. (6) VICAR DELLA and (7) TWOTWO MAGIC others who can compete for the places.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Competitive race. (5) WONDERFUL MUD has been quietly getting closer and most recently ran 3^rd over 1300M on June 21^st, settling midfield and running on. Franco gets on for the first time, and she may well be available at an each-way price. (3) GAON PERFECT has finished no worse than 4^th in four starts so far with a 2^nd place over this distance two outings back his best. He can settle just behind the speed and run on, and he can be in the finish again. (7) DUBAI DREAM was 4^th to Wonderful Mud’s 3^rd on June 21^st. That was his first run since last November so he can strip fitter here and has every chance of going closer. (1) DOCTOR QUE SERA and (2) THANKYOUFORTHETIME are the other main chances.

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

Fillies (and one mare) only here and it’s hard to go far past (1) YONGBIGYO. She got her maiden win three starts back when leading all the way over 1400M and has led both subsequent starts at this class, finishing 2^nd in both. She gives weight to these but if se can get a good start and get on pace, she will be hard to catch. (7) CHEONGHAE STAR got her maiden win two outings back at this class and distance and was then a close 2^nd when trying to follow up on June 14^th and she should be in the finish again. (2) ALPHA FEMALE didn’t do much on her first run back following seven months off on June 28^th. She can have come on for that run and can be on pace and be a chance. (5) GLORY DAY and (10) TRIGONUS are the other main chances.

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

(10) JOY OF QUEEN is yet to win in six but comes in here having run 3^rd and 2^nd in her latest two, both at this class and distance. She likes to race on pace and if she can get to the lead, she can go one better today. (9) NICE MYEONGGA got her maiden win over 1400M in April following a 2^nd and a pair of 4^th places to start her career. She is up in class and hasn’t raced since but she looked very well when winning a trial at the start of this month and so long as she didn’t leave her race there, she can measure up. (7) BABEL FOLGORE was a winner on June 14^th despite laying in to the extent she had to survive and inquiry and was sent back to trial. She is up in class but is another who can be competitive at this level. (4) POWER TIGER and (8) SAENAE HILL are other chances.

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

Tricky one. (2) HAKSAN SWORD went through a bit of a cold spell at the start of this year but seems to be finding his way again with back-to-back 4^th places coming in here. There’s not much early pace in this race so from a good draw he may find himself on top early and can go all the way. (5) CHOWOLMA is a model of consistency and enters having finished between 2^nd and 4^th in each of his last three at this class at 1300M and 1400M. He likes to settle back and run on but is another who may be further forward a bit earlier today and he has every chance of coming out on top. (3) ENERGY POWER displayed precisely nothing in her first six starts but all of a sudden has figured things out with a 3^rd place and a win from her latest two, coming from well back both times. That brings her up in class today, but she can continue her good run of form. (7) BLAZING ENGINE and (9) MIGHTY CRIS the best of the rest.

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

(1) VELOCI QUEEN is yet to win but she has five top four finishes from six starts including last time out on June 16^th when she was on pace all the way and ultimately ran 2^nd with a couple of today’s rivals behind her. Seo Seung-un gets on for the first time and today can be her day. Fillies (and one mare) only here. (9) BACK TO THE DREAM broke through in good style at start number three over 1400M back on April 24^th. She hasn’t raced since and she is up in class, but she can be competitive with Franco on. (11) DOCTOR MATTERS could only manage midfield in a tougher race than this over 1400M on May 31^st, but she was a winner at this class and distance two starts back and can bounce back to form in this company. (3) SINCHEON FREEDOM and (4) TAEYANGUIYEOLJEONG others in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(3) FEDAYKIN broke through at start three at this class over 1200M on June 21^st, coming from well off the pace after a slow start. He is up slightly in weight as well as up to 1400M for the first time, but he can win again. (8) YOUNG FIGHTER is a local bred who won his way up to this level. He has raced twice at the class and distance, finishing 3^rd both times, most recently in a narrow finish on June 28^th, and he can be a threat again. After back-to-back front running wins across the turn of the year, (10) FLUTTER found himself well-backed for the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Triple Crown, in March. He showed on pace but was quickly beaten and he finished well back. E returned to shallower waters with 3^rd place at this class and distance on June 6^th and he can match or better that here. (7) GEOSEN PUNCH and (11) FINAL GO others in the frame.

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) FANTASTIC FORCE comes off the Triple Crown trail where his highlight was a from off the pace 2^nd in the Korean Derby. He was 5^th in the Cup Mile and 7^th in the Minister’s Cup. He has only saluted once but back in shallower waters today, that should change. (7) POWERFUL BATTLE is rapidly up in class following back-to-back wins at 1300M and a mile, leading all the way both times. He comes up to the two turns for the first time as well, but he is down in weight, and a hat-trick isn’t impossible. (10) CAPTAIN DRAGON is up in class following a win over this distance on May 22^nd and under a light weight, he can be competitive. The returning (8) GLOBAL WEEK, along with (6) NINETY PLUS, are others in the frame.

Seoul Race 7: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(1) TIGER ROAR ran in all tree legs of the Triple Tiara, following up a 6^th place in the Luna Stakes with 3^rd places in both the Korean Oaks and the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup. She comes back to regular racing under a light weight and it’s hard to go past her here. (9) WONDERFUL LORD was a winner at this class over 1400M in April and followed up with 4^th place on his first try at a mile on May 30^th. He has his fair share of weight again, but the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and he can be a big threat. (6) SEOBU CHAMP was 2^nd to Wonderful Lord over 1400M in April and was runner-up again at this class and distance on June 27^th, coming from well off the pace. She will be working home strongly again, and she can be a threat. (8) WESTERN GUN and (10) SPARK THUNDER are the other main chances.

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Competitive race. (6) CHAMPUI SARANG is two for two having win from the front on debut over 1200M on May 15^th before coming from further back and just prevailing over 1300M in an all-filly race on June 14^th. That brings her rapidly up in class, but she carries next to no weight, and she can make it three from three here. (5) MOMENTUM has a 2^nd and a 3^rd from two tries at this class since winning over 1300M in April. He doesn’t get the 3g claim he had last time but Seo Seung-un returns and he can be a danger. (7) DRAGON DEVIL finally got his maiden win at this class and distance on June 21^st when he settled handy and ran on. He comes up a full 4.5kg in weight, but a repeat can’t be ruled out. (11) CHATS KHAN and (8) ROAD TO CLEO others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(2) YONGBI HERO is yet to win in twelve, but he has no fewer than six placings, including both his latest two over 1300M and a mile, both at this class. Last time he led until the final furlong and in this company, he can be on pace again and this time go one better. (7) ROYAL BEST has won his latest two, both over 1400M and most recently at this class on June 13^th when leading all the way. He is up 3kg from that but has every chance of completing his hat-trick. (3) BLISS STAR was 2^nd to Royal Best at class 5 level over this distance on May 3^rd before getting a win of his own over the same distance on June 7^th. He is up in class but down in weight and from a good draw, he can measure up. (5) QUEEN DIA and (4) COMPLETE BRO other place chances.

Busan Race 7: Class 1 (1200M) Special Weight B / KRW 110 Million

(6) BORN DIA comes in having beaten the best sprinters in the country in the G2 SROA Chairman’s Sprint over this distance in Seoul on May 17^th, looping the field from gate eleven and then continuing to lift. On that run, and from a better gate, she has to go on top here. (8) NICE BUDDY has ten top two finishes from twelve starts and comes in having won the G3 KNN Cup on the Queens’ Tour over a mile on May 31^st. She cuts back in trip, but she has won over the 1200M and under a light weight, she is surely in the mix. (3) FANTASTIC KINGDOM was an also-ran in that SROA Chairman’s Sprint but was previously 3^rd in the G3 Busan Ilbo Sprint and as a six-time winner over this distance, gets another chance. (2) BIWOL and (1) KING ANYDAY among others to look out for.

Seoul Race 9: Class 1 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

Class 1 but with a rating band of 75-95. (7) G B VAULT has won three of his last four most recently in emphatic fashion over 1900M at class 2 level on May 30^th. With this rating band, he is beautifully in here, and he can win again and will be a prohibitive favourite to do so. (2) ONE PUNCH DRAGON has been only ordinary in his latest couple, but he is a class 1 winner and has two wins from three tries at this distance, putting him firmly in contention for a return to form here. (6) VET CAPTAIN’s latest two have been the G3 YTN Cup and a spin around 2300M so we will draw a line through those and instead go on his back-to-back class 2 wins in February and March and he too is worth another chance. (8) HERO FIGHTER and (5) YONGAM SESANG other place chances.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(6) PASA SPURT enters off a 4^th place at this class over a mile on June 13^th when settling midfield and running on. He has won at the mile and at 1200M so while this is his first try at 1400M, it should suit, and under a very light weight, he can win. (11) LALA K finally returned to winning ways June 7^th, with a front running effort over 1200M. He is up 3kg in weight today and 1400M hasn’t been his best in the past, but in this company, a repeat can’t be ruled out. (9) DANCING WHIZ was 3^rd behind Lala K in that June 7^th race, and the additional furlong can be in his favour today. (10) SMILING PRINCE and (1) HANGANG PERFECT are others in the frame,