The 2025 Juvenile Series got underway at Seoul and Busan on Sunday.

In the capital, Mujehan Geup saw off a field of twelve rivals to keep his unbeaten record intact in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy, while on the South Coast, Wild Park only had to contend with seven rivals but was pushed all the way by Supex Winner to add the Busan Gangseo-gu Mayor's Cup to the Rookie Stakes he secured a month ago.

Mujehan Geup  entered the Munhwa Ilbo (1200M KOR-L) as the only one in the field to have already won twice and despite being drawn in the widest gate, the Old Fashioned colt was sent off as the 2.9 favourite.Under Johan Victoire, he settled right at the back of the field in the early stages as Ruan Maia bustled second favourite, the filly Wonpyeong Sket, to the lead.

Wonpyeong Sket would lead into the final furlong, but Victoire produced Mujehan Geup at the right time to leave to pass his rival in the final furlong and go on to win by three-lengths, pulling away. Wonpyeong Sket was 2nd with Tony Castanheira's filly Unica, a fast-finishing 3rd.

For jockey Johan Victoire it was a welcome return to the Stakes race winner's circle after a couple of years absence.

Winning trainer Moon Byeong-ki had a decades long career as one of the most sought-after Assistant Trainers at Seoul Racecourse. He was finally licensed in his own right in 2022 and sheer winners wise, has quickly established himself as the top trainer at the track, leading this year's Premiership. Yet to break through at Group level, he now has three Listed wins.

At Busan, Wild Park was sent off as the 1.6 favourite in the Busan Gangseo-gu Mayor's Cup (1200M KOR-L) following his Rookie Stakes success. He led from the gate under Seo Seung-un and seemed poised for a comfortable score until it became clear that Supex Winner, wasn't going to be shaken off easily.

Supex Winner  had only raced once before when 2nd to Clearly Winner in August. Clearly Winner had gone on to win by a big margin at a higher level this past Friday and punters had seen enough to make Supex Winner the second favourite here.

Under Franco Da Silva, Supex Winner briefly touched the front approaching the furlong pole, but Wild Park rallied and lifted the better of the pair, ultimately prevailing by a neck on the line. Doctor Centum "won" a completely separate race for 3rd, a full seven-lengths back.

Wild Park is a colt by Bayern and is trained by Choi Ki-hong, of Winner's Man fame.

The next legs of the Juvenile Series take place at Seoul and Busan on October 19th before the best from the tracks come together on the South Coast on November 23rd to contest the Breeders Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G2) to decide the nation's champion juvenile.

Videos:

Munhwa Ilbo: https://youtu.be/ZUVQxObsGKY?si=tF2oas6uJiQayHrR

Busan Gangseo-gu Mayor's: https://youtu.be/hFj-VZRzmnk?si=NKWZclRWt79RqXcR