Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (5f) Special Weight A / $32,000

Juvenile maidens with all but two racing for the first time. One of those debut makers will be the short price favourite in the shape of (6) HAKSAN CLEAR. The South Beach filly went through two trials, finishing a fair 3rd in the first of them but then leading all the way to win the second in a quick time on August 1st (that trial was voluntary so may not appear in all racecards). If she brings that form to the races, she will be hard to beat. It isn't a strong set of rivals. (3) GEOLJAK HAPPY ran 6th on debut over 5f on August 4th having also performed adequately in a trial. With some natural improvement, she is the clear second pick. We are struggling after that. (7) GEOSEN POKJU and (2) NONSTOP SERVE weren't horrible in their trials and may make an impact first up. (9) BLUE DRAGON improved in the second of two heats.

Selections   (6) Haksan Clear (3) Geoljak Happy (7) Geosen Pokju (2) Nonstop Serve
Next Best   9, 5
Fast Start   2, 5, 6, 9

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (6f) Special Weight A / $32,000

Juvenile maidens with six of the ten racing for the first time. We'll side with experience and (5) DOCTOR CURLIN. After a fair trial, she put in a fair debut, coming from the widest gate to sit handy and run on for 5th over 5f. She should have come on for that run, she draws better, and the additional furlong can suit. The modestly named (2) ALL TIME LEGEND was very quick in a trial, stopping the clock on 61.9 seconds and finishing 5th behind a couple of experienced horses. The track was racing very fast that weekend, but he certainly showed enough to be take seriously first up. (4) BLUE THUNDER won a trial the same day (August 9th) albeit in a slower time. He led all the way and will seek to do the same here. (9) BLACK SPEED and (1) DIA X are other experienced ones who can improve.

Selections   (5) Doctor Curlin (2) All Time Legend (4) Blue Thunder (9) Black Speed
Next Best   1, 3
Fast Start   1, 4, 5, 9

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (6f) Special Weight A / $22,000

Maidens with four of the eleven racing for the first time. (11) MAGIC SOUND has raced eight times previously, with five top five finishes and he comes in off his best when runner-up over 6f on July 7th racing handy. He has the challenge of the widest gate, but he won't need to improve much, if at all on that run, and he will be a short price to score. (1) HIGHEST TIME beat a couple of these on his way to his best finish so far on August 4th when 4th over this distance, coming from well off the pace. In this company and from the inside gate, he can be ridden closer to the pace and can get closer than 4th this time. Among the debut makers, (9) PROMISE showed promise in the last of three trials, running 3rd in a decent time. That bodes well here. (3) CANVASEN GO and (5) AMENO other experienced ones who can compete for the minors.

Selections   (11) Magic Sound (1) Highest Time (9) Promise (3) Canvasen Go
Next Best   5, 2
Fast Start   1, 3, 8, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (6 1/2f) Special Weight A / $22,000

(5) CHEONHA GEONGANG took a few goes to work things out but since returning from a five-month absence, she has picked up a 2nd and a 3rd from her two starts back, both at this distance and in quick times. She draws nicely to be on pace, and third up she can be peaking fitness wise. (11) HOLY RUN has finished 4th in both his outings so far, both at this distance. He has done it in contrasting styles, first on pace and then coming from behind so the wide draw shouldn't be a problem and third-up he too can be getting better. Also third-up is (8) ROAD TO WIN. She was 3rd on debut behind Cheonha Geongang and then ran a fair 5th of nine at 7f. Coming back in trip today, she can be in the mix. (9) FLYING ICE and (2) MOTHER WONDERFUL other place chances.

Selections   (5) Cheonha Geongang (11) Holy Run (8) Road To Win (9) Flying Ice
Next Best   2, 6
Fast Start   2, 5, 8, 11

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (7f) Special Weight A / $22,000

(3) CHEONGONGUI SEOM has run 5th in both his two starts so far, but both have been in good times over 5f and 6f. In this company and from this gate, he can be on pace and third-up, today can be his day. (8) GANGCHEOL DRAGON has two 3rd places and a 4th from his latest three appearances at 6 1/2f and 7f. He has never finished inside the top two, but Munro gets on and against this set of rivals, he can break that today. (9) PROCEED beat a couple of these on his way to a close 4th at 6 1/2f on August 3rd. He also has a 3rd place on his resume and can sit handy and run into the money again here. (6) LONDON GOLD and (4) SANGIM DAEPYO among other placing hopes.

Selections   (3) Cheongongui Seom (8) Gangcheol Dragon (9) Proceed (6) London Gold
Next Best   4, 2
Fast Start   3, 5, 8, 10

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (7f) Handicap / $32,000

This is a tricky one. We'll take a chance on (10) MY DREAM DAY. He comes up in class having run 2nd in both his first two starts at 5f and 6f, racing on the pace both times. He draws a touch wider than ideal but is down in the weights and Tom Gillespie's juvenile looks to have a win in him. (3) CAPTAIN EVERYTHING has good experience at this level with two 2nd places and a 4th from his latest three. Franco knows him well and can settle behind the speed and run on strong here. (4) SEOGWI OREUM has the fastest time of any of these at the distance, recorded when 3rd last time out on August 18th. He may make for some appeal at a probable each-way price. (5) DOCTOR FIGHTER and (11) GRAND DREAM, both up in class following last start maiden wins, are others to keep safe in your wider numbers.

Selections   (10) My Dream Day (3) Captain Everything (4) Seogwi Oreum (5) Doctor Fighter
Next Best   11, 1
Fast Start   5, 6, 10, 11

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1 1/16M) Handicap / $32,000

(2) CHOEGANG HYEONMA is yet to win in nine starts but has no fewer than eight top five finishes. He comes in off a solid 3rd place over 7f on August 4th and while a previous try at two turns didn't go well, he looks ready for another crack here in what is not a strong race. (6) SINUI UNMYEONG got his maiden win at the thirteenth time of asking over 7f on August 18th. He comes up in class and up to 1 1/16M for the first time, but in this company, he should be measuring up. (3) SEUNGNI GONGJU does have form at this distance, having finished 4th and 2nd in her latest two – her only attempts at two turns so far. Her times haven't been special, but they are enough to put her in contention against this lot. The up in class maiden (1) CHROMITE, along with (7) GOLD MUNGCHI, a pickup ride for Edwin Maldonado, are others in the frame.

Selections   (2) Choegang Hyeonma (6) SInui Unmyeong (3) Seungni Gongju (1) Chromite
Next Best   7, 5
Fast Start   3, 5, 6, 8

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1 1/8M) Handicap / $43,000

(6) THE BEST EVER has so far been the best on one of fifteen outings, but he enters here ready for another after three consecutive runner-up finishes, all at this class and distance and all three times showing on pace. That takes him to the top of the ratings and the weights here, but he should be on the speed again and this time can go one better. (8) QUEEN'S ROAD won at this class and distance as recently as July when leading all the way and comes in off a 2nd place on August 25th. She carries 5kg more than when she won but she is accomplished at the distance, and she can be a danger. (4) UNJU WINNER ran 2nd to Queen's Road in that July race and followed up with another runner-up finish on August 11th when on pace and with a couple of today's rivals behind him. He can be in the mix again. (11) WONDERFUL CUTIE and (3) BUDDY BUDDY others in the hunt.

Selections   (6) The Best Ever (8) Queen's Road (4) Unju Winner (11) Wonderful Cutie
Next Best   3, 2
Fast Start   4, 6, 8, 10

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (6f) Handicap / $32,000

(7) BEST MAYA was slow and erratic on debut in April to the extent that he was ordered to do two trials before being allowed to race again. He also earned himself a trip to be gelded. The snip did the trick as he proceeded to win both trials in fast times and then scored with dismissive ease by five-lengths on his racing return on August 4th. He comes up in class here, but the manner of that victory suggests there is plenty more to come. (3) RAON THE KLAMMER remains winless after nine attempts, but he enters in good form with a 3rd and two runner-up finishes from his latest three. That brings him up in class here, but he comes down in the weights, he draws well, and he looks very nicely in. (4) DANAEUN REX got her maiden win two starts back over 6 1/2f and then ran 2nd on her first try at this class on August 3rd, leading for much of the way over this distance. Expect her on pace and in this a long way again. (10) MY THUNDER and (6) HAENGBOK YEOJEONSA others in the frame. 

Selections   (7) Best Maya (3) Raon The Klammer (4) Danaeun Rex (10) My Thunder
Next Best   6, 5
Fast Start   4, 5, 7, 9

Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1M) Handicap / $54,000

(8) HUNTER DRAGON is a winner of three from seven and has a further three runner-up finishes on his record. He is up in class and down in weight following his latest victory over 7f on June 30th and having already won at this distance, he will be the warm favourite to win again. (7) ROUGH TRACER is a two-time winner at this distance and showed he can measure up at this class with a 4th place over 1 1/8M on August 10th when leading for much of the way. He looks nicely in here under a light weight and can lead again. (3) ROAD TO GLORY was a narrow winner at class 4 over a mile two starts back and then beat a couple of these on his way to 6th place against tougher opposition than this on August 16th. He can be a threat here. (2) LIGHT STORY will need a line drawn through his latest when never getting involved from the widest gate over 1 1/8M. This should suit more. (4) CHAMP GO another in the minor money frame.

Selections   (8) Hunter Dragon (7) Rough Tracer (3) Road To Glory (2) Light Story
Next Best   4, 6
Fast Start   7, 8, 9, 10

Seoul Race 6: Class Open (6f) Weight for Age / Korea Sprint (G3) / $1,000,000

It's hard to go past the defending champion (7) REMAKE has held his form since comfortably winning this race last year in track-record fashion, most notably winning the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on the Saudi Cup undercard, before running 4th in the G1 Golden Shaheen at Meydan in April. He hasn't raced since but first-up shouldn't be a problem and while he may have to come through traffic in this crowded field, Yuga Kawada should be able to find a route from a great draw. (11) ANARCHIST is the wildcard. He has only raced twice this year and has been underwhelming but he peaked third-up last year, winning at G2 level in the US. He has impressed in the mornings here and he has the front-running style to do well. He draws a touch wider than ideal but if he can get to the lead, he can put in a big run. (2) KEIAI DORIE finished behind Remake in Saudi and Dubai but enters having run 3rd in the Listed Cluster Cup at Morioka. An eight-time winner in Japan, he draws beautifully here. (9) SPEED YOUNG is dropped back to a sprint distance for the first time in a long time and heads the local hopes. (12) GANGSEO GIANT and the other Japanese runner, (8) JASPER KRONE are others who will be supported on a place line. If he starts well, (10) BEOLMAUI STAR, last year's runner up, can be a factor too.

Selections   (7) Remake (11) Anarchist (2) Keiai Dorie (9) Speed Young
Next Best   12, 8
Fast Start   2, 3, 8, 10, 11

Busan Race 6: Class Open (6f) Special Weight A / Gangseo-gu Mayor's Cup (Listed) / $150,000

A valuable race for juveniles who have come through an auction and (2) WINNER CLEAR will be the hot favourite. After running 3rd on debut in June, he came back out on August 2nd and led all the way to score by a full fifteen-lengths in a time that wouldn't be out of place in the Korea Sprint up in Seoul this afternoon. He probably won't need to run to anything near that level to win this. (9) OASIS RED is the danger. Trainer Baik Kwang-yeol, and this owner (the same owner/trainer combination as Winner Clear) frequently send two-year-olds to race older horses over longer distances and they have done this with Oasis Red, who has already won at a mile and 1 1/8M. That experience usually stands them in good stead when cutting back to sprint distances to face speedy but unproven types stamina wise, and he can show that here. (7) NINETY PLUS came from off the pace to win at start number two in a quick time on August 11th. Like all these he has scope for plenty more improvement and he has the best chance of breaking the stablemate one-two. (8) YONGBI PAEWANG and (5) HWARYEOHANJOMYEONG are both maidens but have shown ability.

Selections   (2) Winner Clear (9) Oasis Red (7) Ninety Plus (8) Yongbi Paewang
Next Best   5, 1
Fast Start   2, 5, 6, 8

Seoul Race 7: Class Open (1 1/8M) Weight for Age / Korea Cup (G3) / $1,200,000

The defending champion will probably be the betting favourite but we'll go for (8) WILSON TESORO to usurp the crown. A genuine Group 1 performer, he ran 4th in the Dubai World Cup earlier this year and enters off a runner-up finish under Kwada in the Teio Sho at Oi. (11) CROWN PRIDE was imperious a year ago and while he then suffered some poor results, he came back ominously into form by winning at Listed level at Morioka in July. He can be peaking at the right time, and he loves the Seoul sand, meaning Wilson Tesoro will need to be at his best to beat him. We'll slide (2) GLOBAL HIT in as third pick. Established as Korea's top horse, with three Group wins form four starts in 2024, he hasn't run the kind of times that the Japanese horses have but it is possible he still has upside and it is possible that when the visitors raise the tempo in the back-straight, as they inevitably will, he can raise his level again. (4) LIGHT WARRIOR is a nine-time winner in Japan most recently at Listed level in April and could very well make it a Japan trifecta. Last year's 3rd placegetter and 2022 winner (1) WINNER'S MAN looked ok in a trial in August but races for the first time since surgery after last year's Grand Prix and is a wildcard.

Selections   (8) Wilson Tesoro (11) Crown Pride (2) Global Hit (4) Light Warrior 
Next Best   1, 7
Fast Start   3, 4, 8, 11

Busan Race 7: Class 1 (7f) Handicap / $82,000

(4) CHOEGOUI KKUM is one of the most exciting imports in recent times and the first in a decade to win all of his first five races. His most recent came at class 2 level over 7f on July 19th when leading for most of the way and fighting back when seemingly about to be headed a couple of times in the home straight, He comes up to class 1 for the first time, but he comes down significantly in weight and from a good draw, he can continue his extraordinary run. (6) FANTASTIC KINGDOM is one of three of these who ran over 6f on August 3rd behind Gangseo Giant breaking the track record. He'll be on pace here and looks ready for another crack at 7f. (7) BEOLGYOUI KKUM beat a few of these on his way to 3rd place in a very fast race over a mile on August 11th. He has won at this distance and should be in the mix here. (2) CHOEGANG SSONSAL and (3) DOCTOR BROWN others in the hunt. 

Selections   (4) Choegoui Kkum (6) Fantastic Kingdom (7) Beolgyoui Kkum (2) Choegang Ssonsal
Next Best   3, 5
Fast Start   1, 3, 4, 6 

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (6 1/2f) Handicap / $43,000

(5) SEOCHEON LION won back-to-back races at this distance in April and May to get promoted to this class, before running 2nd on his first try at this level on June 16th, showing close to the pace throughout. He comes up 2kg in the weights, but he can go one better today. The main danger is (3) NEMO PRINCE. He has loads of experience at this class and comes in with recent form reading very well with a 2nd and two 3rd places among his latest three. He carries his fair share of weight, but he likes to come from off the pace, and he can be running on strong. (9) MYEONGJUNBULLPAI and (10) CHALLANHAN BULKKOT both come in off last start 3rd places at this level over 7f, and both can be there or thereabouts again. (6) BITNANEUN JILJU another in the frame.

Selections   (5) Seocheon Lion (3) Nemo Prince (9) Myeongjinbullpai (10) Challanhan Bulkkot
Next Best   6, 7
Fast Start   4, 5, 8, 10

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (7f) Handicap / $54,000

(10) THUNDER DREAM beat a few of these on his way to a comprehensive victory at this class and distance on July 28th when overcoming an even wider gate than today, to sit handy and prove too strong. He has never finished any worse than 4th and while he comes up 3.5kg in the weights, he will be strongly fancied to win again. (4) EUNPA CHAMPION was 3rd in that race racing handy throughout He gets a weight swing on Thunder Dream, and he can get closer. (8) DRONE KILLER comes up in class following a strong win on a good time over 6 1/2f on July 28th. Ultra consistent, he is significantly down in weight and can measure up here. (2) NICE BIG GIRL and (5) KWAEHYANG others to look out for.

Selections   (10) Thunder Dream (4) Eunpa Champion (8) Drone Killer (2) Nice Big Girl
Next Best   5, 11
Fast Start   3, 4, 8, 10