Form Comments

1. SIMJANGUI GODONG – 10th in this race last year, he comes in having run 3rd behind Tuhonui Banseok and Winner's Man in the Busan Mayor's Cup (1800M KOR-G2) in July when, as is his style, he raced handy. Reliable but will struggle to beat the best of these.

2. THE GUMPU – Enters in career-best form having won two of his latest three and running 2nd in the other. Tactically versatile, he can go well on pace or settle midfield and run on and while he doesn't look a winning chance here, a top half finish is more than possible.

3. HAENGBOK WANGJA – Never really kicked on from his 2021 Grand Prix Stakes win, he was 5th in this race last year and spent part of the winter in Dubai where he was well beaten in two starts. Returned to domestic action with 6th place in the SROA Chairman's Trophy (1200M KOR-G3) in June. Likes to settle back and run on but plenty to find here.

4. GLOBAL HIT – The winner of the Korean Derby and Minister's Cup, he is this year's outstanding Korean three-year-old. Likes to settle midfield and has an explosive finish, this is a significantly sterner test, but he does get a weight allowance for his age. Don't rule out a big run.

5. BRIGADIER GENERAL – Returned from seven months out to finish down the field over 2300M at class 1 in July. He should strip fitter for that, but he hasn't troubled the scorers in Group company in the past and that probably won't change here.

6. MOONHAK CHIEF – Won this race in the absence of Japanese competition in 2019, and has performed sporadically since, but he has struggled for form this year and has been beaten by plenty of today's local rivals in recent starts. Outsider.

7. CRAZY CONTI – 7th in this race last year, he enters off back-to-back class 1 wins, most recently a dead heat with Calm Strong on July 30th. Likes to settle midfield and then run on, he should be finishing strongly and can pass plenty late on.

8. WINNER'S MAN – The defending champion has suffered two reverses to Tuhonui Banseok in his latest two starts although he was found lame after the second of them. He returned to training in mid-August and at his best is a chance, but fitness must be in question. One to watch in the parade ring.

9. TIZ BAROWS – The lowest rated in the field but is lightly raced. He has won his latest two including a very smart win in a valuable trophy race over 2000M in May when racing handy. Looked well in an August trial and could be an interesting outsider.

10. COMPLETE VALUE – NON-RUNNER

11. SUCCESS MACHO – Won nine out of his first ten races and was 6th in this race last year. Missed eight months between last October and this June but on his second start back, won the Busan Owners' Cup (1600M KOR-G3) settling right back and running on strongly suggesting he is back in top form. Place chance.

12. TUHONUI BANSEOK – Has made progress with each Group race start over the past year, breaking through when making all to beat Winner's Man by 11-lengths in the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3) in May. He followed it up by rallying to beat the same horse in the Busan Mayor's Cup (1800M KOR-G2) in July. Will be on pace and could be the best of the local hopes.

13. APACHE PASS – Solid performer on the all-weather at Sha Tin with three placing across the past season. Settles behind the speed or midfield and runs on. Recent efforts have been at 1650 so the 1800M on the heavy Seoul sand will test his stamina but if he takes to the surface, he can aim for a place.

14. CROWN PRIDE – Last year's UAE Derby winner returned to the Middle East earlier this year and ran 5th in both the Saudi Cup (1800M G1) and Dubai World Cup (2000M G1). Returned to Japan and ran a desperately close 2nd to Meisho Hario in a thrilling Teio Sho (2000M Listed) at Oi in June. Regardless of the wide draw, he will be on or close to the pace here and looks the one to beat.

15. GLORIA MUNDI – Only raced twice in 2023 but won both in fine style most recent the Heian Stakes (1900M G3) at Kyoto in May when handy early before easing away for an easy win. Expect to be on pace or close again and he has a big chance.

SELECTIONS: (14) CROWN PRIDE (15) GLORIA MUNDI (12) TUHONUI BANSEOK (4) GLOBAL HIT (8) WINNER'S MAN