Sunday (Saturday night US) at Seoul Racecourse sees the 42nd running of the Grand Prix Stakes (1 7/16M KOR-G1), the final Group 1 race of the season and while with the advent of the Korea Cup, it is no longer the most valuable race on the calendar, in the eyes of many connections, it remains the most prestigious.

This year, all eyes are on GLOBAL HIT, who has assumed the mantle of best horse in Korea. A year ago, he was beaten in this race by a nose following a final furlong duel with the now retired defending champion Winner's Man, but he has been in imperious form since, going down to defeat just twice in 2024 The first of those was by a nose to TUHONUI BANSEOK in the Busan Mayor's Cup (1 1/8M KOR-G2) and then behind Crown Pride and Wilson Tesoro in the Korea Cup (1 1/8M G3), preventing a Japanese clean sweep of the places by running 3rd. 

Global Hit comes into the Grand Prix having won the President's Cup (1 1/4M KOR-G1) by five-lengths in October and he will be a short-price favourite to claim what would be the biggest win of both his and jockey Kim Hye-sun's respective careers before, all being well, the pair head for an overseas campaign in Dubai. 

Can he be beaten? Moon Se-young is an eight-time champion jockey in Korea, but he hasn't won this race since partnering Bally Brae to victory all the way back in 2007. If Global Hit comes up short, then Moon is well placed on NAOL SNIPER, 3rd in the KRA Cup Classic (1 1/4M KOR-G2) and 2nd in the President's Cup, to take advantage. 

TUHONUI BANSEOK is there as well and while he races for the first time since running 2nd to Global Hit in the KRA Cup Classic in August, his quality is not in doubt. Global Hit's stablemate SPEED YOUNG is a Group winner and having run 3rd in the President's Cup, is not to be dismissed.

The new generation is represented by Classic winning SUCCESS BAEKPA, while fellow three-year-old AMERICA GOLD is an exciting up and comer and one of two in the race for trainer Luigi Riccardi.

The Grand Prix is race 7 on the 11-race Sunday card at Seoul with a local post time of 15:40:

1. MONTAUK CHAT – 6th of ten in the KRA Cup Classic and then 7th of eleven in the Korea Cup. Two ordinary class 2 handicap performances since, which is his level. This is very hard.

2. NAOL SNIPER – 3rd in the KRA Cup Classic and then an excellent 2nd in the President's Cup, five-lengths behind Global Hit. Can lead or run on from behind, he steps up to the distance for the first time and there is no reason why it can't suit. Will be among the favourites. 

3. SO MUCH GO – The seven-year-old enters in the form of his life having won his latest three, all at class 1 level and most recently at 1 3/8M. He should relish the additional half furlong, and he will be running on strong. Not impossible he could get close. 

4. GLOBAL HIT – Has assumed the mantle of best horse in Korea with Tuhonui Banseok in the Busan Mayor's Cup in May the only locally trained horse to beat him this year and that by a nose. 3rd in the Korea Cup and then an emphatic winner of the President's Cup in his latest two and from a great draw he should settle in the front half of the field and prove too good.

5. NUT PLAY – First start since finishing down the field in the Busan Mayor's Cup in May having previously been 2nd and 4th behind Global Hit in the opening two legs of the Stayer Series. Likes to come from well off the pace and the distance may suit but this is a very hard ask having not raced for over six months. 

6. CLEAN SHOT – Just the one win from thirty-three starts gives some indication of his chances of winning this race, although to be fair, he has a total of fifteen top three finishes. Still at class 2 at age six, it would be a surprise if it became sixteen here.

7. AMERICA GOLD – Just seven starts and he won back-to-back races in August and September, making-all to get promoted to class 1. He tackled this distance on October 27th and led but over-raced early and got passed late. He should have come on for the experience, he will lead, and if he can withstand the pace, he could be anything. Place chance.

8. SPEED YOUNG – Global Hit's stablemate got his Group win in the Busan Owner's Cup over a mile in June before tackling the Korea Sprint at 6f where he was the first local horse home in 4th. Last time out he was 3rd behind Global Hit and Naol Sniper in the President's Cup and with Munro aboard he should be close again. Not impossible. 

9. BLACK BELT – Stablemate of America Gold's. He comes in off a win over 1 1/4M at class 2 level when handy throughout but was well beaten in Listed company at the start prior. It's hard to make a case for him measuring up against the top line here but can beat a few.

10. SUCCESS BAEKPA – This year's top local three-year-old having won the KRA Cup Mile and the Minister's Cup and run 3rd in the Korean Derby. Returned to action four months after the conclusion of the Triple Crown with an excellent 4th in the President's Cup, and with scope still for improvement after only ten starts, he could play a big part coming rom off the pace.

11. TUHONUI BANSEOK – The only Korea-trained horse to beat Global Hit this year, he also defeated Winner's Man last year. He hasn't raced since 2nd place in the KRA Cup Classic in August, although he did look very well when winning a trial in mid-November. At his best he is a winning chance although after the layoff it is hard to gauge where he is at race sharpness wise. He is the probable pacesetter.

12. MONEY CROWN – Enters off five consecutive runner-up finishes up to 1 1/4M and class 2. He has an excellent finish on him, so the additional trip is potentially beneficial, and he is only three so has scope for more progress. It is hard to see him making much of an impression in this company though. 

13. GALAXY ROAD – He's spent most of this year running in Graded company with the standout being 5th place in the Korea Cup behind only Global Hit and the three Japanese visitors. He generally comes from well off the pace, having drawn similarly wide in his latest three and he will run on, although the number of today's rivals that he has finished behind this year is a concern.

14. SIMJANGUI GODONG – Potential retirement race for the veteran. He showed he still has it on his day when running onto 2nd place behind Speed Young in the Busan Owner's Cup and 6th in the Korea Cup. As ever he will beat a plenty but he has had two cracks at this race already when younger and didn't manage to place and it will be a hard ask here too.

Selections   (4) Global Hit (2) Naol Sniper (7) America Gold (11) Tuhonui Banseok
Next Best   8, 10
Fast Start   2, 4, 7, 8, 11