Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 17 August

Monday August 17, 2026

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

(2) GWANAKSAN BIGSTEP is a colt by Vics from the Song Moon-gil stable that won by a lazy thirteen-lengths in his one and only trial on July 16 where he led from start to finish in smart time. That will send him off as a long odds-on favourite for his debut. (5) BIG WIND is by Courvoisier with the in-form Lee Shin-woo stable and trialled once for a fourth on July 23 and rates as best of the rest under Andre da Silva. (9) TONNERRE DOS has never been better than midfield in two runs but rates next over (7) DU UM, who a similar comment applies to, with (6) CHEONMAUI HANSEONG and (1) SHARP GUY, a Moon Byeong-ki prepared Concord Point colt, potential place chances.

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

(2) INFLATION has taken a while to get to the races as he had two trials last year for a fifth in July and a front-running victory in December before most recently trialling on July 16, this year, when second beaten a nose behind Geosen Daero, fourth in last year’s Rookie Stakes. If this Medici Glory colt out of a Canadian mare is good to go, he can go close. (8) RAON THE RIPON has trialled once, also on July 16, for a thirteen-length second to Gwanaksan Bigstep. That horse will be the odds-on favourite in Race 1 so supporters of Raon The Ripon will be keeping a big eye on what happens twenty-five minutes before this Musket Man colt with Lee Kang-seo makes his debut. (1) GEUMBIT YEONGUNG has a runner-up and two fourth places from three runs and will go close whilst (11) STUNNING SKET has a second and a third from his pair of starts. (6) WONPYEONG DREAM looks the other key player with (3) SPICY JERRY best of the rest.

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

(1) MYUNG BRACING resumes since the winter when finishing second in a pair of maiden events in December and January. She was fifth in a trial on July 23 and should go close first up. (7) SILK SPECTER was fourth in a decent race for this grade two back and could be at decent value in this event. (2) GANGHAN GAMMA is a maiden who has struggled in two runs at this grade but had run minor placings just behind some decent winners in three of her maiden runs prior so should not be totally discounted. (6) EXCELLENT HANSEN has been third in each of her last two runs which have been at this level and rates as a solid chance as does recent dual runner-up (3) GEOLJAK TIARA, who will be well fancied, with (5) HAEMAJI best of the three outsiders.

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

(5) MR. DOR and (4) CLUTCH DERBY have both had one trial for one impressive win and one race for one impressive win so this looks set to be an exciting race for the grade. The former came from well back to win his trial by seven-lengths before pulling Kozzi Asano’s arms out when he attempted to ride him with a sit in the early stages on debut before pulling him to the outside a long way from home and eventually recording a sixteen-length score. The latter has been arguably the most impressive looking juvenile we have seen this year to date with front-running victories in his trial by seven-lengths before a winning margin of nine-lengths on debut, yet we do not seem him in the Rookie Stakes twenty-fours earlier but in a Class 5 where he will not get it all his own way against a smart looking rival two years his senior. However, Clutch Derby will start favourite over Mr. Dor in what should be a top match race with the rest all battling out third to ninth with (6) POWER BEST and (7) THUNDER FIRE the best of the bronze chances over (9) HYEWONYONGMA and (8) FINAL JILJU.

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

(7) RACE DIVA should have some confidence up after breaking her maiden status by a cozy ten-lengths over the course and distance last month and will prove hard to stop for Kozzi Asano and Tony Castanheira. (4) POWERFUL KNIGHT is having his first race since February 28 and was a two-length third to a subsequent winner in that race. He was third in a trial on June 25 but has been in and out of work since and comes into this having been in consistent work since July 29. (2) COSMO LONG was outclassed in all three legs of the Korean Triple Tiara, but her prior form would give her a decent chance whilst (1) MONEY MOVE missed the top three for the first time when making her debut at this level last start but was not beaten far. (8) CHEONJI TANK and (6) MANGEUM CROWN are the other chances along with (5) HAKSAN SWORD which will be fancied.

Seoul Race 6: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(5) GAMSAUI HIM has not done much at his last two and the drop in trip is a concern but Kozzi Asano riding for the first time catches the eye. He was an impressive front-running winner over further in the winter before always being towards the rear in the Sports Seoul Trophy. He was outstayed by the smart Circle A in March before being a little below par the next two times. The distance is a query, but a chance is taken on him in a tricky affair. (7) MASTER KWAIGON would be a certainty on level weights, but he carries between four to six-and-a-half kilograms more than the rest of the field. He put together a hat-trick of victories, including at this grade by ten-lengths, before a third last start under the same weight that he carries in this. He may very well still win and if he does, he will carry the grandstand to success. (2) THUNDER A ONE led for most of the way to win last time and comes up one grade with Luis Quiroz retaining the steer. (1) DREAM ISLE was a winner at this grade two back carrying two kilograms more so with a four-kilogram apprentice claim could go close. The resuming (3) CHEONGUNG STORM is next best over (4) SAINT LUCCA.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) REFLECT was a winner two back over 1400M one grade below this, with a subsequent thirteen-length winner back in third, before coming up 300M in trip when running at this level for the first time last start on July 18. He ran a two-length third to Concord Codie that day and carries one-and-a-half kilograms less this time so he will prove hard to stop. (11) TRIPLE PALMETTO was a model of consistency prior to last start when never leaving the second half of the field as an odds-on favourite on June 20. She had chased home subsequent Minister’s Cup placegetter Mr. Taeyang at her previous run and can be given another chance but will need to improve on last time. (8) NINJA TIGER has one-and-three-quarter lengths to find with Reflect from July 18 and is worse in at the weights but can go well whilst (1) HAKSAN CAIRO was a course, distance, and grade winner two runs ago when carrying three kilograms more so he must be a great chance. (9) LIGHT WING looks the other key player with (3) GANGCHEOL JEONSA a roughie each-way chance over (2) CUPID COMMAND.

Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(2) CLUTCH MAGIC continues to look like an impressive type and was the softest of six-length front-running winners over the course and distance one grade below this most recently following a fine fifth after leading in the Group Two Minister’s Cup, which he went into on a pair of wins. There looks to be no reason he will not continue his winning way and his future looks bright. (6) SEOBU CHAMP has been placed in two of his past three runs all at this grade and can be expected to do something similar again. (5) BEOLGYOUI STAR was eleven-and-a-quarter lengths behind Seobu Champ when last seen on June 27 but was fourth prior and gets a four-kilogram apprentice claim in this. (4) K POWERFUL was behind both of those in that June 27 race but has third places either side and rates next over (9) EXCELLENT MATTA, who has struggled in two runs at this grade but was a distance winner one level lower than this prior, and (3) ECLIPSE BLACK.

Seoul Race 9: Class 2 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(2) DRAGON SQUARE led throughout for an impressive eight-length victory over 1800M at Class 3 last start and whilst he faces his toughest test to date coming up to Class 2, he must be given a strong chance. (1) YEONHUI HERO has two third places and a fourth in three runs at this grade following back-to-back Class 3 wins in the winter and can go close again. (11) TAEPYEONG HERO was out the back last start but had been going well prior with placings to Oneuldo Smile and Vet Captain as well as at Listed grade. Last year’s Derby third placegetter (3) ECLIPSE THE KING comes off thirty-four-and-a-quarter and forty-two length defeats in the Listed Sports Chosun Trophy and Group Three Owner’s Cup, but he has subsequently led throughout to win a trial by twelve-lengths so he should not be discarded. (5) BLUE LEMON, the mount of Seo Seung-un, (4) LUCKY PARTY, who has a third to Roshe and My Empire two back, and (7) SEGWANG FIGHTER can all be given chances as well in a competitive affair.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(11) BROWN MAMMA got upset in the gates when last scheduled to race on July 18 and was subsequently withdrawn when due to be sent off as one of the favourites. Prior to that he had come from midfield to win over this distance when attempting this grade for the first time after finding a couple too good for him one level lower than this under bigger weights. The three-and-a-half-kilogram rise is a concern as well as the misdemeanour from last month, but he can go close if on song at value. (5) NAOL DAEWANG came from well back to score by a head over the course, distance, and grade on May 10 before being denied by a nose four weeks later. He finished third last start on July 4 and will run well again. (2) TAEYANGUI JEONSA was second to Di Ne at the beginning of the year but has been no better than midfield in three subsequent runs. In a race of many hopes he should not be denied a chance though and (8) COMPLETE STEP was a seven-length course, distance, and grade winner in June so she is good enough although she rises four kilograms on that win. (6) RAON SPILETTA is a last start runner-up and rates next with (1) JEONGWANGSEOKHWA, who will likely start favourite, and (4) STORM CROWN the other chances.

Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(8) VICTORY SOCKS ran G B Vault to one-and-a-quarter lengths in February before winning at his next run at the beginning of June. He never really got warm as favourite when running at this grade for the first time last start but can be given another chance. (2) MAJOR CROWN comfortably won back-to-back 1200M Class 3 contests over a subsequent winner at the beginning of March and April but has subsequently been a beaten favourite on two occasions when stepping up to 1800M. He has ability and the drop back in distance should help. (7) DOKKI DRAGON has been in and out of work since his last run three months ago but if fit enough will run his usual consistent race. (1) SMILING PRINCE goes up nine pounds and four-and-a-half kilograms for his last start three-length course, distance, and grade win on July 19, which is a concern, but he will start as favourite locally and must be respected. (6) TRISTAN WANGJA, who had a hat-trick of minor placings prior to last start, and (5) GEOMIBULU rate next