Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 23 August

Sunday August 23, 2026

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

Juvenile maidens with all but one racing for the first time. (6) LUNA SOCKS was a close 2^nd in her trial, showing close to the pace throughout. She’ll be on pace here and if she brings that trial form to the races, she is the one to beat. (4) RAON CHARIS GIRL ran 2^nd in her trial, sitting behind the pace and running through the line pleasingly enough and she can go well first-up. (8) TAEPYEONG SG went through two trials, improving significantly in the second of them (which may not appear in all race cards, but he was 3^rd in 61.8 seconds on July 23^rd) and he should be nice and fit for this. (5) GWANAKSAN JUMP was 3^rd in what was a fast heat and he too can be aiming to be prominent early and be a chance. (1) BLACK TIME is the only one with racing experience and while she finished 8^th of eleven, it wasn’t a bad showing, and she can have derived benefit from it.

Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported juvenile maidens with all but two racing for the first time. (2) SINGSING NASHE was a dominant trial winning, leading all the way and crossing the line thirteen-lengths to the good in a quick time. If he brings that form to the races, the Nashville colt will take some beating. (4) CLASSIC AUTUMN is one of the two in the race with experience. It took him plenty of trials to get to the races and he led on debut over this distance on July 11^th before finishing 5^th in a fair time. He should have come on for the run and can be in this a bit longer. (1) G B FLASH was a solid trial winner, showing handy throughout and from the inside gate can go well first up. (9) NAREUSYA GOAT and (5) MIGHTY WONDER are other debut-makers who can be a threat.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Tricky opener on Busan and we can take a chance on one of the two debut-makers. (10) LOST KINGDOM took two goes to qualify but was much more accomplished at the second attempt when an on-pace 3^rd in a good time. Franco is on and at a possible each-way price, he could make an immediate impact. (9) RANI did nothing on debut but was a much-improved 2^nd at start number two over 1200M on July 26^th, coming from off the pace and the slight step up in trip can benefit. (3) SMART YULIM has mixed his form across seven outings to date, but he does have a pair of 3^rd places, including on his latest on July 19^th, and that’s enough to have him in the numbers here. (4) WONDERFUL MUD can have a line through his latest when he was found to be lame in the near-fore. He has been back in work since August 1^st and was 3^rd over this distance in June. (8) YEONGGWANGUI HOPE did nothing on debut but has since been back to trial and looked much better, and he can be given another chance.

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

There are two debut-makers here and one is quite interesting. (10) CLUTCH WORLD took two goes to qualify but he did it well in the second of them when settling midfield and running on pleasingly. He was seven-lengths behind Mighty Log, whose own debut is even more hotly anticipated, but if he brings that form in here, he can go close. It helps that the main danger and probable favourite is drawn even wider. (11) DAEDONGYONGMA did nothing in his first four, but he has picked up with a 2^nd and a 3^rd from his latest two, both over 1300M and he can continue to make progress here. (5) SONGDANG JILJU showed signs of figuring it out when 4^th on her first try at this distance on July 25^th and she can build on that here. (3) DELTA CHOEGANG and (4) SEOBU KING look to be the other main place chances.

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

It’s hard to go past (2) AEGIS CHEONMA here. In four starts, he is yet to be worse than 4^th, getting his maiden win at start two over 1200M in May and then running 4^th and 3^rd on two tries at this class, the latter on July 24^th. Seo Seung-un stays on and drawing well to pick his spot, the pair can win. They will need to overturn the form on (3) CALM FAST, who was a somewhat unexpected 2^nd in that July 24^th race. That was his best finish in twenty-eight attempts though and he has run once since without doing much. Nevertheless, in this limited company he can aim to place. (9) WIND SWORD enters off a fair 4^th place at 1300M on July 26^th and with an apprentice claim giving him a 3kg weight drop today, he should be firmly in contention. (1) POWER TIGER and the returning (5) BULBIT GANGJA are others in the frame.

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

(7) QUERENCIA has been working back towards another win since getting promoted to this class after his maiden, culminating in 3^rd place over 1400M on July 26^th, well-beaten by a good winner but not far off 2^nd when racing handy throughout. He only comes up 1kg, Luis stays on, and he can win. (3) THE SUN MONSTER has been ultra-consistent without winning, with three 2^nd places and a 3^rd from his latest four, most recently at this class and distance on June 21^st, when coming from a long way back. He draws nicely and today could be his day. (2) WINNER SOCKS was 4^th behind Querencia in that July 26^th race. He has four-lengths to make up but can beat plenty of these. (1) BULGEUN POKPUNG and (4) NAOL AURORA others who can make the placing frame.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(9) NINETEEN NINE WON is yet to finish any worse than 3^rd in four starts with her win coming over 1200M in April. She didn’t return until July 17^th when she was 2^nd at this class and distance having raced handy throughout and while slightly up in weight, she should strip fitter for that run, and with plenty of potential for further development, she should be winning this. (10) POWERFUL DEVIL got her maiden win last time out at this class and distance on June 19^th. It had been coming despite the class rise and with only an additional 1.5kg and Franco staying on, she can be a danger again. (11) BEOLGYOUI HIM has only won once in sixteen, but it was over this trip and he has two 3^rd places, a 2^nd and a 4^th from his latest four and should be there or thereabouts again. The up in class (4) THUNDER WAVE, along with (7) DOCTOR CHAMP, are others who can be in the mix.

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

Small but competitive field of fillies (and one mare) only. (3) FLYING SMART is yet to finish any worse than 4^th and got her maiden win in an all-filly maiden over 1400M two starts back in June. She ran 2^nd on her first try at this class in a very similar race to this over 1400M on July 25^th, and she can go one better today. (1) DELTA DAECHEON was 4^th behind Flying Smart in that June maiden before getting a win of her own over 1300M on July 11^th. She comes up in class here but should be close to the pace and she can measure up. (2) CHEONGHAE STAR was a winner at this class and distance three outings back and has since held her form with a 2^nd and a 3^rd. She carries 4kg more than when she won but she can be in the mix again. (8) ECLIPSE MARVEL races for the first time since winning a maiden last November, but along with (5) CRAZY CHAMP, is not to be dismissed.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only here. (2) DAISY TIARA has been knocking on the door across four starts so far with her best being 3^rd place in May over 1400M. She was 4^th on her first try at a mile on July 17^th and under a light weight, she can get it done her. She gets a 4kg weight swing from the winner of that May race, (9) QUEEN MAKER. Queenmaker was an also-ran in the Luna Stakes, the opening leg of the Triple Tiara, but has otherwise amassed an impressive body of work with two wins and three 2^nd places from six total starts. The only thing against her is the weight. (10) P.D SPECIAL has no such weight concerns. She is rapidly up by two classes though having won her latest two at 1300M and 1400M with front-running efforts. She comes up to the mile for the first time too, but there is no reason it can’t suit, and she should be in this. (7) LAMPYOJEONGGEENIE and (4) SUCCESS QUEEN among others in very much the placing frame.

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

(7) WHIZ CROWN was a winner at big odds on debut over 1000M in a filly only maiden but the way she finished off from a midfield position suggests that there is plenty more to come and the Moon Se-young trainee can maintain her 100% record here. (4) YUKWAEHAN SEUNGJA got her maiden win at start four in January but then didn’t race again until June. She has been strong in two outings back with a 6^th and most recently a 3^rd on July 11^th over 1200M, and she can be a big player here. (10) TIGER K is yet to win in fifteen tries, but he has eight placings and this is the kind of race he can be there or thereabouts in. (5) RAON THE PLUMA and (1) HAKSAN TAEOUNG both need their respective last starts dismissed, but both can be placing challengers here.

Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(1) FANTASTIC FORCE was 5^th in the KRA Cup Mile before running 2^nd in the Korean Derby, having come from well off the pace. He didn’t get back in the final leg of the Triple Crown, finishing 7^th of sixteen, but he was 2^nd on his return to regular races over this distance at class 4 level on July 19^th. He is up in class here but significantly down in weight, and he can strike an overdue blow for the local three-year-old crop. It would be a sad indictment of said crop should anything beat him, but (2) CAPTAIN DIA has a lot of experience at this level and is always dangerous, (10) COW LINE was winner at this class and distance two starts back and then came from well back to run 4^th on July 12^th and can be competitive here. (3) MAX THE CAT, who has beaten Funny Wild, no less, and (11) NEVER GIVE UP are other each-way chances.

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

(11) REVERENCE got his two wins in back-to-back races early in his career, but he looks ready for another. He has placed in each of his latest four, all at this class and at distances between 1200M and 1400M. He is nicely in at the weights and the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem. (2) QUANTUM K was a class and distance winner back in February in what was his only start to date over 1400M. He has held his form, most recently with 3^rd over a mile on May 17^th and while he hasn’t raced for fourteen weeks, he can shape as a danger. (1) HWANSANGWIHWAN has won just once in thirty-two starts but has no fewer than eleven placings including each of his latest three and he should be there or thereabouts again. (7) GLOBAL SERVE and (3) RAON FINAL among other place chances.

Busan Race 6: Class 1 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

Since winning over this distance at class 2 level in February, (7) YOUNG SKYWALKER has been handed three tough assignments in Group company and came up short each time. Back in shallower waters and in favourable handicap conditions, he can return to winning ways here. (5) CARDINAL FORCE was a winner at this class over 2000M in April, earning him a spin around in the Busan Mayor’s Cup where we he was well-back behind Clean One. He was 3^rd at this class and distance on June 14^th and under the same weight today, he can be a big danger. Cardinal Force will need to overturn the form on (6) PRIME SECRET, who led from gate to wire to win that June 14^th race as the favourite. He is up 3.5kg in weight this time but is not to be dismissed. (10) OASIS RED and (4) DESPITE WIN others firmly in the placing frame.

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

(11) SONGDANG SKY took a few goes to figure things out but has now won two of her latest three with a 3^rd place in the other. That brings her rapidly up to this class, but she carries a light weight again and she has proven herself to have ability around two turns. So has (1) GLOBAL COMPUTING, who comes in off a win at this class over 1800M on July 26^th when settling midfield and running on. He is up 3kg in weight but can be competitive again. (4) JEONGSANG HERO was a close 3^rd at this class over a mile on July 26^th in what was arguably tougher company than this. He finished in midfield on his only previous try at this trip but could be ready for another crack. (7) GEUPHAENG YEOLCHA and (2) SUPERDAY are the other main contenders.

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

(2) DEMETER was a winner over 1400M at class 5 level two outings back, before running 2^nd to B.K. Spirit on July 3^rd over today’s distance when se led for most of the way. That brings her up in class, but it also brings her down 3,5kg in weight, and from a good gate, she can win. (5) DRAGON DEVIL won at this class and distance on June 21^st and then beat three of today’s rivals on his way to 3^rd place on July 19^th. An apprentice claim today means he gets in under a much lighter weight, and he may well start as the favourite. (11) ENCORE led all the way to win at this class and distance on July 12^th and while he is up in weight, he had the same wide draw last time, and he can be competitive. (1) FLEX ENGINE and (3) SHACKLE LAUD others in the hunt.

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

(2) GENERAL WIND was an also-ran in the final leg of the Triple Crown in June and then pulled off a smart win over a mile at this class in June when leading all the way. He had a hard time at this latest start when he got caught in an early speed battle with the Derby winner and used up all his energy but in this company, with no obvious early rival, he should get a much easier lead and can go all the way. (4) ULTRA DRAGON enters off a close 2^nd place at this class and distance on July 18^th, when settling back and running on. He comes in under a kilo less, Andre climbs on for the first time, and he has every chance. (9) VISION POWER hasn’t won for a very long time and never over 1800M, but he does have six-placings for the distance, and this is the kind of race he can hit the board in. (7) SUPER BLUEMOON and (5) K N LIGHT other place chances.

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

It’s hard to go far past (2) RAON SILENCE. He comes in having almost managed to lead from gate to wire at this class over 1400M om July 4^th when he was taken down late by the deep closer Maru Janggun. Before that he was well back over a mile behind Roshe but had consecutive wins prior. From a great draw, he should be on pace and the drop back to 1200M – even though it is a distance he hasn’t won over – can suit. (11) SPALTA beat a couple of these on his way to 3^rd place at this class and distance on July 18^th. That was a very quick race on a very quick track but while he draws the widest gate, he can be in the mix again. (9) STAR TREK was 4^th in that July 18^th race and can match or better that here. The returning (4) DAESARI is the wildcard, while (8) DRONE KILLER will also have plenty of place backers.