Korea vs Japan has come around unexpectedly early this year as for the first time since Esmeraldina won the 2015 Ttukseom Cup, a Japanese contender has traveled across to compete in a Korean Open race.

Yumeno Honoo will join fourteen local challengers for the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3), the second leg of the Stayer Series, at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

A winner of 18 of 23 starts at Kochi, YUMENO HONOO has never raced outside of that track, not even at other NAR courses in Japan. But Kochi form has stacked up elsewhere on that circuit, with Garbo Mambo and Shimme Daisy. Jockey Hiroto Yoshihara has ridden the track before, having partnered Light Warrior to 4th place in last year's Korea Cup.

In Seoul, Yumeno Honoo looks very well. As a physical specimen his appearance is superior to Sunday's rivals and in the mornings, he has had his ears pricked and seemingly very much enjoying his work.

Those present observed that Yumeno Honoo is being prepared with exactly the same professionalism and attention to detail as the JRA horses at the Korea Cup and Sprint. He moves over the sand very well and while he has tended to hang out a little on the turns, if this translates to race day, it could be very ominous for the locals.

The locals are spearheaded by GLOBAL HIT. He won this race last year before going on to finish 3rd in the Korea Cup and winning the local G1 President's Cup and Grand Prix. This  will be his first race since returning from Dubai where he finished 3rd in the G2 Al Maktoum Classic. If he is at his best, he should be able to see off Yumeno Honoo. However, he has had a grueling campaign and has the challenge of a wide gate.

SUCCESS BAEKPA is the up-and-coming star. A winner of two legs of the Triple Crown last year, he rounded out his three-year-old campaign with a strong 3rd in the Grand Prix and in Global Hit's absence, won the first leg of the Stayer Series, the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3) a month ago. He gets better with every start and can be a danger.

SPEED YOUNG was 2nd in the Herald Business and is surely the most versatile top-level horse in Korea, being equally comfortable over both the shortest and longest distances and everything in between and he will surely be there or thereabouts again. MIRACLE MARINE led the Herald Business before ultimately finishing 5th. He beat Success Baekpa when they met at Busan in January and can put in a bigger performance this time.

Here is a full run down of the field:

1. TUHONUI BANSEOK – Won this race in 2023. Briefly showed near the front in the Herald Business before dropping back to finish midfield. That was his first run since the Grand Prix, so can strip fitter and always a chance.

2. MIRACLE MARINE – Won three in a row between November and January and then led the Herald Business before finishing 5th. Draws well to be on pace again and can be in this a long way. Real chance.

3. YUMENO HONOO – A superstar at Kochi, if he takes to the track and racing anticlockwise, he won't have too many excuses. Drawn beautifully for the jockey to pick his spot and if he takes to the track conditions, he may take some beating.

4. TIZ BAROWS – 4th in the Herlad Businesshaving broken on pace before dropping back and ultimately running on, continuing a run of positive form. Runa Maia knows him well and he can be a money chance again.

5. NORTHERN TIME – A class 1 winner at this distance last November but he has been well back in his latest two, most recently behind Nut Play and Tiz Barows in January. First start for twelve weeks and an outsider.

6. BOLT MAN – Class 1 winner at shorter but only has one 3rd place from five tries at this distance. Finished in the lower half of midfield in the Herald Business and that would be a par finish again.

7. MIGHTY GOOD – First start since January and may have benefitted from the break as he wasn't going especially well. Didn't offer many clues in a trial last week but he is a two-time winner at the distance and CC Wong up is a plus. Outsider.

8. BLACK BELT – Two wins and a 2nd from three tries at this distance but he has been found wanting in elite company being well back in both the Grand Prix and Herald Business. A fair 3rd two weeks ago at class 1 over 1400M so fit, but this is hard.

9. SUCCESS BAEKPA – Winner of two legs of the Triple Crown last year and while narrowly beaten by Miracle Marine on his seasonal debut, he won the Herald Business with a super effort racing close to the pace throughout. Big chance.

10. NAOL SNIPER – Brilliant 2nd to Global Hit in last October's President's Cup but hasn't quite followed up and was 6th in both the Grand Prix and the Herald Business, the latter with the excuse of a wide draw. Great on his day but hard to recommend with confidence.

11. NUT PLAY – Class 1 winner at this distance in January and then a strong 3rd in the Herald Business. Versatile he can race well from on or off the pace and he can be challenging for a place again.

12. GLOBAL HIT – First start since 3rd in the G2 Al Maktoum Classic at Meydan. Winner of this race last year and of the President's Cup and Grand Prix before going to Dubai. At his best he wins, but wide draw and first race back will be a challenge.

13. NEULGAEUL – A winner at Listed level over 1800M last September but hasn't raced since well back over a mile at class 1 in January. Won a trial in dismissive fashion at the end of March but this is a very tough ask.

14. FANTASTIC MAN – Nine starts since his last win and while he finished a creditable 7th of sixteen in the Herald Business, he has a lot of form to overturn. Jockey Ueda Masashi is one few who has beaten Yumeno Honoo – though that doesn't mean much here.

15. SPEED YOUNG – 3rd in the President's Cup and 4th in the Grand Prix, he even dropped back to 1200M to run 3rd in the Listed Segye Ilbo in February. Only beaten a head by Success Baekpa in the Herald Business the wide draw is ok, and he can be a danger.

VERDICT: There are so many unknowns in the race. Global Hit is the best horse in the race but he has had a very tough schedule and with thirteen of fifteen local media putting him as their top selection, he is going to be a very short price. With that in mind, a chance can be taken on MIRACLE MARINE at each way or better odds. He led the Herald Business and this time could lead all the way.

Videos:

Race Preview: https://youtu.be/0015ou_LhyI?si=NTHMV9TEOS4hpN4C

Yumeno Honoo Trackwork:

vod-dl.kra.co.kr/morning_track/20250420/07/20250417/20250417_sr_03.mp4