NEXT UP

Raon First  claimed the first two legs of the Queens' Tour, the elite series for fillies and mares in Korea, with dismissively easy wins in both the Donga Ilbo Trophy (1800M KOR-L) in March and the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2) in June, both at Seoul.

A winner of eleven races from eighteen starts in total, including all her latest five, Raon First has succeeded the now retired Silver Wolf as the one to beat in the filly and mare ranks and at 118, her local rating is a full twenty-five points higher than the best among her thirteen rivals in the KNN.

That belongs to Clear Geom, the only other established class 1 performer in the race, but most eyes will be focused on an up and comer, that of three-year-old Golden Power, who comes in having swept all three legs of the recently completed filly Triple Crown. Those races were more competitive than many expected with Golden Power  winning the Luna Stakes by a nose and the Korean Oaks by a neck before asserting her superiority with a four-length score.

Beating her own age group is a different level of challenge to taking on Raon First, but Golden Power does at least have one thing over the mare; she has won at a mile. Raon First has only tackled the distance once before, a 4th place finish in the 2020 running of the Luna, when she was 4th. That was her only previous trip to Busan.

The KNN Cup is the final race on a seven-race card at Busan on Sunday. There are also ten races from Seoul. Here's a run down of the field:  

1. WIND HIGH – She's two for two at the mile including her latest start on June 12th when leading most of the way around. That was at class 4 level and the weight conditions don't do her any favours here, but from the inside gate, she can be competitive.

2. SAENAE SUN – Rapidly promoted with three consecutive wins to finish off last year, she has only raced twice this term, running 4th to Barem over 7 f at class 2 level in March and then 5th in the Ttukseom Cup. Stretches out to a mile for the first time but a great draw.

3. ADELE PUPIL – One of only three in the race to have won at a mile, something she did three starts back at class 4 level. She has since run 2nd in two very competitive races over 1 1⁄8 m, on pace on both occasions. She draws very well here to get on the speed and can be in this a long way.

4. YEONGGWANGUI TIME – Class 3 winner over 7 f on April before finishing 6th of thirteen in the Ttukseom Cup. Steps up to a mile for the very first time here and is capable of running Money finish can be a target.

5. LADY KELLY – She has been consistent of late, placing twice in class 2 company over sprint journeys before running 3rd to Raon First in the Ttukseom Cup. While she is yet to win beyond 7 f she looks to still have potential for improvement with a nice draw here.

6. CLEAR GEOM – One of very few established class 1 races here, that alone is enough to put her into contention. She was 2nd to Raon First in the Donga Ilbo but could only manage a midfield finish in the Ttukseom Cup. At her best she goes close.

7. FLORIDA POWER – She was a very good 3rd in the Donga Ilbo over 1 1⁄8 m in March but only beat three home in the Ttukseom Cup when she got too far back. She does have a strong finish but is too inconsistent to recommend with any confidence.

8. HAPPY MIX – Seoul-trained three-year-old who enters under the radar a bit. A big winner at class 5 level over 6 1⁄2 f two starts back, she was 4th on her latest at class 4 over 1 1⁄16 m on June 18th when leading most of the way. Lowest rating in the race and this is a big step up.

9. WISH ME – She ran 2nd to Raon First in the Ttukseom Cup, her third consecutive runner-up finish. A winner of five from ten in total she may not turn the tables on Roan First but will be hard to hold out in the minors.

10. CALM STRONG – Winner of back-to-back races at over 7 f at class 4 level in super times this spring before leading over 1 1⁄8 m at class 3, ultimately finishing 3rd on May 25th. As a three-year-old she gets a weight allowance here and a bold showing is possible.

11. RAON FIRST – Korea's highest rated mare is in peak form having won her last five race starts among eleven in total. She beat plenty of this field to win the Ttukseom Cup in Seoul on June 4th when settling on pace and running away by four-lengths. She has won up to 1 1⁄8 m and will be justifiable favourite here.

12. BAREM – Class 2 winner over 7 f in March and then an excellent 4th in the Ttukseom Cup when overcoming the widest gate. First try at a mile and while a previous attempt at 1 1⁄8 m didn't go well, she looks ready for this and should be working home well. Place chance.

13. GOLDEN POWER – The three-year-old swept all three legs of the filly Triple Crown at distances between a mile and 1 1⁄4 m. This is obviously tougher but she still looks to have plenty if upside and is versatile in that she can settle midfield or forward as the pace dictates. Keep safe.

14. SARYEONI QUEEN – A winner up to 1 1⁄8 m at class 4 level she races for the first time since April when well back in a valuable Trophy race. Draw not ideal here and she'll be among the outsiders.

Selections: (11) Raon First (12) Golden Power Lady Kelly Wish Me