1

Mighty Neo

An up and coming three-year-old who won four times and never been outside the top five. Mighty Neo was a smart winner at this distance at class 2 level before running 5th at class 1 over a mile in early August, his best performances have come from on the pace. This is a tough assignment against harder opposition than he has faced before, but he can be competitive.

2

Sunrise Hawk

A three-time winner at JPN G3 level in Japan, the six-year-old began this year with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the same level at 1500m and 1200m. Returning from three-months off, he was well back in the G3 Tokai Stakes at Chukyo at the end of July but he can be better here. Great draw and can be in the mix.

3

Black Musk

Making his fourth appearance in the race, he was 2nd to Vincero Cavallo in April’s SBS Sports Sprint. He can mix his form, as shown when a long way back in the final leg of the Sprint Series in Korea but he was a class 1 winner at the end of July by a full four-lengths. He has a strong finish on him and at his best, he is a top five chance for an in-form stable.

4

Despite Win

A winner of five from eleven, he ran 2nd in the KOR G3 Owners’ Cup at a mile in June before struggling in the KOR G2 KRA Cup Classic at 2000m in August. He has won at distances from 1200m to 2000m and looks to have more scope for development. He likes to come from off the pace and minor money is possible.

5

Vincero Cavallo

A breakout 6th in this race last year, he has since established himself as Korea’s best sprinter with a sweep of all three legs of the Sprint Series this spring. He missed a scheduled prep race at the end of July, so he is first-up, but he went through two trials in August so should be fit. Tactically versatile, at his best, he is a winning chance.

6

Achim Dongja

A stablemate of Vincero Cavallo, he gets his chance having won two of his last three at class 2 level, all at today’s distance and most recently on 3 August when he came from a long way back. Untried against this level of opposition but he benefits from the services of Ruan Maia aboard.

7

Self Improvement

A rare Hong Kong All-Weather track specialist, the six-year-old was a two-time winner during the 2024/2025 season, both at 1200m. His wins have come when he has raced on or close to the pace and if he takes to the sand track and gets a good start, then he can give a strong account of himself at probable big odds.

8

Mighty Go

He ran a super 2nd to Vincero Cavallo in the KOR G3 Busan Ilbo Sprint at this distance in March but has struggled to recapture that form in three subsequent starts, all at Korean Group race level. He has a smart finish and will be running on, but that recent form doesn’t inspire much confidence.

9

King Anyday

It’s fair to say he doesn’t win out of turn and that he isn’t a winning chance here, but he rarely runs a bad race and was most recently 3rd over this distance at class 2 level on 1 August. He likes to race on pace or handy, but he is yet to run the kind of time that will be necessary to compete here. Outsider.

10

Cardinal Force

A three-year-old who has been ultra consistent as he has moved through the grades this year, most recently landing his first class 2 level win over a mile on 10 August when on pace throughout. This is his first time tested against the elite and while he can hold his own, others will be favoured at this stage.

11

Super Finish

He was 4th behind Vincero Cavallo in the final two legs of the Sprint Series before running 2nd over this distance at class 1 level on 27 July having led for part of the way around. More to find in this company and not an ideal draw, but he can be on or close to the speed and be in this a long way.

12

Tagano Beauty

The veteran eight-year-old rounded off last season with victory in the JPN G1 JBC Sprint at NAR-Saga and has in the past been placed at G3 level on the JRA. Remarkably in a career spanning forty-two races and stretching back to 2019, he has never raced at less than 1400m, but the ability to stay further than the 1200m can be a big plus for sprinters on the often-gruelling Seoul sand.

13

Chikappa

Won the JPN G3 Hokkaido Sprint Cup and JPN G2 Tokyo Hai last year and he kicked off his four-year-old season with a trip to Saudi Arabia for the G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint. While he had a hard time there, he showed a return to form when 4th in the JPN G3 Cluster Cup on 11 August and could be peaking in Seoul. A big run is expected, and Yutaka Take, who won the race on Graceful Leap in 2017, rides. Widest gate, but the favourite.