12 races at Seoul on Saturday from 10:50 to 18:00. English race cards are here and notes on races 5-12 are below:
Race 5: Class 5 / 1000M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 13:40
Two stand-outs here. (4) WHIZ SPARK was all over the place last time out, finishing the race on the grandstand running rail yet still managed 3rd place. She was sent back to trial, which she came through comfortably and has to be fancied here. If she fails to run in a straight line again, (3) SAMJEONG MAGNUM looks most likely to take advantage. She was slightly disappointing on her first try at this class a month ago but wasn’t beaten by much and gets another chance here. The top two look superior but (5) GINNY ACE, 6th behind Whiz Spark last time, can improve while solid runs are capable from (6) SILVERGRAY CAT and (8) HAENURI.
Selections: (4) Whiz Spark (3) Samjeong Magnum (6) Silvergray Cat (8) Haenuri
Next Best: 6, 9
Rating: 4=6, 5, 9, 3
Fast Starters: 4, 5, 6
Start-200M: 6, 4, 5, 3, 2
200M-Finish: 9, 10, 5, 3, 2
Race 6: Class 4 / 1000M / Handicap / KRW 60 Million / 14:25
Competitive race and it’s about time (9) RAON ROUIS added to his two victories on what will be his tenth career start here. Last time out at 1200M he led until the closing stages before being well-beaten by a good winner and back at 1000M today, he can lead all the way. Also looking to lead will be (8) DAESEONG MALLI, who beat five of these when finishing 2nd on what was just her second career outing on October 22nd and she can continue her development here. (5) PICO TIME is up in class following a dominant four-length win over the distance last month. She has a strong finish and will one to watch out for in the closing stages. (3) NABOM CASTLE comes in looking for softer opposition after a couple of chastening outings at domestic class 4 and may improve while (6) APPALACHIA BOM perhaps hasn’t shown his best yet.
Selections: (9) Raon Rouis (8) Daeseong Malli (5) Pico Time (3) Nabom Castle
Next Best: 6, 1
Rating: 3, 4=8=9, 1
Fast Starters: 2, 6, 8, 9
Start-200M: 8, 9, 6, 3, 7
200M-Finish: 1, 4, 5, 12, 8
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Race 7: Class 5 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 15:10
(11) KKUMUI SILHYEON won her first two outings but then unseated her rider coming out of the gate in Seoul’s Juvenile Championship race a month ago. She was sent back to trial for her manners, which she came through in dominant style a week ago and she’s favoured to get back on track here on what will be her first try at 1300M. There are dangers among the older horses though. (2) CUPID PARK was 3rd in a decent race over this distance last month and can at least match from the early speed while (5) BONNET BLUE and (6) LA REINE are both capable money winners at this class, although the distance is a slight concern for the latter. Also in good form of late is (9) FOREVER QUEEN who has been defying long odds to find the money, most recently a strong 2nd place over 1200M on October 16th.
Selections: (11) Kkumui Silhyeon (2) Cupid Park (5) Bonnet Blue (9) Forever Queen
Next Best: 6, 12
Rating: 11, 6, 2=3, 10
Fast Starters: 2, 10, 12
Start-200M: 1, 12, 10, 6, 8
200M-Finish: 11, 5, 9, 6, 4
Race 8: Class 4 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 60 Million / 16:00
Can (3) GOOD TO YOU, a twenty race maiden, finally make the breakthrough here? She’s in the best form of these with a 4th, 2nd and a 3rd from her last three outings. She drops back to 1200M today which may not be ideal but she’s a strong finisher and could do it. (2) DIA SOCKS has been a little one paced on two outings so far but can improve at this distance for the first time while (1) GREAT JOY showed great improvement on his second race back from a six-month layoff and can go well. There is one debut-maker in the shape of (8) DIAL KING, a $39K purchase who performed adequately in trials and can be backed first-up in this company. Likewise, there is one Korean-bred outing, (9) BEST TAKER, who races for the first time since August (when he beat Great Joy) and will have some supporters.
Selections: (3) Good To You (2) Dia Socks (8) Dial King (1) Great Joy
Next Best: 9, 6
Rating: 1=12, 3, 2=5
Fast Starters: 2, 9, 12
Start-200M: 5, 4, 2, 12, 6
200M-Finish: 1, 3, 2, 11, 12
Race 9: Class 4 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 60 Million / 16:30
(6) ULTRA ROCKET and (8) HELL CAT enter in very similar form with both taking to class 4 comfortably and both seemingly having a win at this level within them. Both will look to come from a handy position behind the early speed and at this stage Ultra Rocket is slightly favoured to make the breakthrough first. Those two will be the favourites but (1) PROPOSE, well beaten by Hell Cat in September, registered a solid 2nd place at long-odds last over this distance last month and can be considered while (2) MASANG GWIJAE, despite being yet to win, is up in class following some encouraging performances. (3) FORESTRY looks best of the rest.
Selections: (6) Ultra Rocket (8) Hell Cat (1) Propose (2) Masang Gwijae
Next Best: 3, 10
Rating: 1=3, 7, 4, 8
Fast Starters: 1, 2, 5
Start-200M: 2, 9, 1, 8, 7
200M-Finish: 6, 3, 8, 10, 5
Race 10: Class 3 / 1700M / Handicap / KRW 75 Million / 17:00
Following two 2nd place finishes, most recently finishing ahead of four of his rivals here, (3) MR. MOUNTAIN looks set to be strong favourite to go one better here at a distance he has won at in the past. Among those he beat last time, (2) BEONGAE BIHO got closest to him but the main dangers may come from elsewhere. (1) DAEIL SHINHWA came through with a very late run to register his maiden win over this distance last start. He’s had eight weeks off and is up in class today but is one to watch. As is (5) DAEBAKIDA, who has also shown two-turn promise and is another who can finish strongly. On the pace is likely to be another up in class, (9) GYODUBO, also a prior winner at this distance and one with potential for more development.
Selections: (3) Mr. Mountain (1) Daeil Shinhwa (5) Daebakida (9) Gyodubo
Next Best: 2, 8, 12
Rating: 12, 10, 2=11, 3
Fast Starters: 8, 9, 10
Start-200M: 10, 8, 4, 2, 9
200M-Finish: 1, 5, 3, 8, 6
Race 11: Class 3 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 75 Million / 17:30
After a couple of disappointing outings in summer, (2) HOMERUN MAKER roared back into form last start with a five-length romp over this distance on October 15th. She’s up in class today but if she can jump well from the gate, she should have too much for these. (5) NORTHERN HOJAE was a shock 43/1 winner on a muddy track last start but will have to find a bit more if she is to repeat here. She beat (7) KATIE STAR in that race and while both Katie Star and (12) JEWELRY PARK both started their careers very well, both seem to have found there level lately at class 3. However, in this kind of race, both should settle in midfield and both can be involved at the business end of the race. They look to be the main dangers. Another who seems to have found her level is (6) LAST CODIE. She won her first three outings but has just stalled a little since. She’ll be on the early speed here.
Selections: (2) Homerun Maker (12) Jewelry Park (7) Katie Star (6) Last Codie
Next Best: 5, 3
Rating: 9, 8, 1=2, 4
Fast Starters: 1, 2, 5, 6
Start-200M: 7, 5, 3, 6, 10
200M-Finish: 11, 2, 7, 12, 10
Race 12: Class 2 / 1400M / Handicap / KRW 90 Million / 18:00
(6) JANGSAN COWBOY just couldn’t get up when favoured over 1700M last start but dropping back to 1400M today, he’s one of a number who can get the job done in a really competitive finale. Another is (12) MY BLADE which sees champion jockey Moon Se Young partner with Aussie trainer Brian Dean. My Blade was 5th on his return from three months off in October when not fancied at all and can go better today. Coming from an outside gate and looking to lead will be (11) CLEAN UP BINGO. He’s got a 4th, 3rd and 2nd from his last three and can keep that going here. Last time he beat (5) JEOLMYOHANSEONTAEK and that one too is capable of finding the money here as is the up in class filly (10) BLAZING STAR.
Selections: (12) My Blade (6) Jangsan Cowboy (10) Blazing Star (11) Clean Up Bingo
Next Best: 5, 3
Rating: 9, 7, 8, 6, 2
Fast Starters: 4, 11
Start-200M: 11, 10, 8, 4, 7
200M-Finish: 6, 3, 5, 10, 8