It’s turned very cold over the peninsula the past few days. No better way to warm up though than getting on the punt! 11 races at Seoul from 10:50 to 18:00 including last year’s champion juvenile Final Boss making his first appearance as a 3-year-old. At Busan there are 6 races from 12:35 to 17:00.

English race cards are here. Notes on all Seoul races (which will be shown on Sky Racing in Australia) are below:

Key
Fast Starters: Expected fastest starters today
Start-200M: Fastest average time for Start-200M (most recent 6 starts)
200M-Finish: Fastest average time for 200M-Finish (most recent 6 starts)

Race 1: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 10:40

Nine of the twelve are first-time starters but it’s going to be hard to oppose (10) ARGO MELODY, one of the three with prior experience, who was 2nd on debut a month ago. (3) SUN PLAZA actually beat Argo Melody in trials and joins (2) LITTLE SOCIE and (7) JIBONG BULPAE as looking the best of the debut-makers. Aussie trainer Brian Dean saddles (4) UNKISS ME but a watching brief may be best for that one first-up.

Selections: (10) Argo Melody (3) Sun Plaza (2) Little Socie (7) Jibong Bulpae
Next Best: 12, 1
Rating: –
Start-200M: 1, 6, 10
200M-Finish: 10, 1, 6

Race 2: Class 5 / 1000M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 11:05

(2) MONEY TRACK was a seven-length winner on debut on November 26th and while up in class today, he’ll be odds-on to make it two out of two and should lead from gate to wire. If we must oppose him then (1) RAON KINGDOM looks most likely having been 2nd on his first try at this class last month and seems to have potential. (12) ROYAL ESSENCE is up in class following a smart maiden win at the distance on the same day as Money Track’s but has a bit more to find while (11) JEOMIPGASOK is more experienced and can comes in following back to back 3rd places in similar assignments to this.

Selections: (2) Money Track (1) Raon Kingdom (12) Royal Essence (11) Jeomipgasok
Next Best: 8, 6
Rating: 1, 2, 8, 7=12
Start-200M: 2, 12, 1, 4, 7
200M-Finish: 2, 3, 10, 6, 11

Race 3: Class 5 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 11:30

(12) CLEAN UP SKY is up in class for the first time but should have enough to get his maiden win here. The class 6 races she came close in were all competitive and while the gate’s not ideal, she looks well-suited in this race which is restricted to fillies & mares. (7) SUPER PUNCH is top-rated and should improve on her last two outings while (1) GOODMORNING FUSION and (4) GEOMNAN both look nicely in.

Selections: (12) Clean Up Sky (7) Super Punch (4) Geomnan (1) Goodmorning Fusion
Next Best: 6, 10, 11
Rating: 7, 10, 1, 4, 12
Start-200M: 12, 4, 6, 10, 3
200M-Finish: 9, 1, 10, 7, 6

Race 4: Class 4 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 60 Million / 11:55

(12) ALL THAT SPEED closed like an express train to win on debut on December 18th and the additional furlong and a half should only be beneficial for him here. The race is open to foreign bred horses but this type of class 4 often attracts talented locally bred runners who have won their way up from domestic class 6 and (11) CIN CIN JJAN fits that bill. He struggled over 1700M last time but should be much better suited today. Those two are the standouts but first-timer (1) TRICKER looked sharp in his trial while (9) DAECHEON FOCUS and (10) WILD KING both come in following good outings and can be considered.

Selections: (12) All That Speed (11) Cin CIn Jjan (1) Tricker (10) Wild King
Next Best: 9, 7
Rating: 3, 12, 2
Start-200M: 5, 11, 12, 9, 4
200M-Finish: 12, 3, 6, 9, 2

Race 5: Class 6 / 1700M / Allowance / KRW 20 Million / 13:15

A rare opportunity for class 6 horses to race around two-turns and that makes for a competitive looking race. A couple enter in form with (11) PUREUN SEDAE looking the pick from the outside gate. He’s been getting closer in recent starts and this extended trip may be just what he needs. That’s true too for (8) FOUR J and perhaps to a lesser extent, (2) WINNER BLACK. (6) DREAM CITY showed promise in three outings in the first half of 2016 and returns to the track for the first time in seven months.

Selections: (11) Pureun Sedae (8) Four J (6) Dream City (2) Winner Black
Next Best: 1, 7, 4
Rating: –
Start-200M: 4, 11, 10, 7, 9
200M-Finish: 6, 4, 1, 2, 8

Race 6: Class 4 / 1700M / Handicap / KRW 60 Million / 14:05

(1) HONEY BUTTER NINO beat three of these when running 2nd in a similar class and distance race a month ago. He’s won over 1700M before and looks very much the one to beat here. There are some decent others though. (9) WANGUI DAERO was 3rd in that race and can be considered and while (4) GUKJE MYEONGPUM may be without a win in seventeen outings, he’s picked up plenty of prize money and should go close again. It’s a similar story for (8) TOTAL WALKER who keeps missing out on top start but consistently finds the money, most recently over this distance on Christmas Day. (5) BANYA DONGHAENG makes a big leap up in distance after an encouraging run at 1000M in December and looks the wildcard choice.

Selections: (1) Honey Butter Nino (8) Total Walker (9) Wangui Daero (4) Gukje Myeongpum
Next Best: 5, 6, 7, 12
Rating: 8, 4=10, 9, 1
Start-200M: 7, 5, 3, 4, 10
200M-Finish: 5, 12, 11, 8, 10

Race 7: Class 4 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 60 Million / 14:55

Good contest this but under a very light weight, (11) CHEONGDAM BULPAE is likely to be a reasonably strong favourite to score. He was 2nd in a good race at the distance last time out and should go one better. (10) JOGUGUI DEUNGBUL and (12) MASANG GWIJAE both enter following class 4 wins, the former beating three of his rivals here over the distance last month and both can go well again. One of those he beat was (3) RISING FUTURE who can be considered for improvement while the promising (7) YESANGBAEK SEUNG is up in class following his 2nd victory and looks an interesting prospect.

Selections: (11) Cheongdam Bulpae (10) Jogugui Deungbul (7) Yesangbaek Seung (12) Masang Gwijae
Next Best: 3, 9
Rating: 6=10=12, 2, 3
Start-200M: 1, 9, 12, 11, 3
200M-Finish: 11, 2, 7, 10, 3

Race 8: Class 4 / 1400M / Handicap / KRW 60 Million / 15:45

2nd in a decent race at this class last time and running on well over 1300M, (2) RED WOOD can return to the winner’s circle here. Up in class following back to back victories, (1) CUPID FLOWER looks the danger. That win last time was his first attempt at a distance greater than the minimum and he came through it well but today will be a tougher ask. Beyond those, (4) PRETTY BOY and (5) JISANG BIHAENG look capable, while (11) HAPPY TODAY has plenty of experience at this class and is reliable one for a money finish.

Selections: (2) Red Wood (1) Cupid Flower (11) Happy Today (4) Pretty Boy
Next Best: 5, 10, 6
Rating: 2=11, 10, 4, 1
Start-200M: 9, 3, 12, 1, 2
200M-Finish: 2, 1, 11, 6, 4

Race 9: Class 3 / 1700M / Handicap / KRW 75 Million / 16:35

Champion Juvenile (6) FINAL BOSS has the opportunity to stamp himself as a front-runner on the Classic trail as he steps up to two-turns for the first time. And he’s going to be strong favourite to score against modest opposition. He should be winning this comfortably with (1) DAEBOBAE, (2) CHEONHABI and (12) DAEGUN MAMA perhaps the most likely to give him a test.

Selections: (6) Final Boss (1) Daebobae (2) Cheonhabi (12) Daegun Mama
Next Best: 11, 7
Rating: 12, 5, 2, 4, 6
Start-200M: 8, 9, 1, 10, 12
200M-Finish: 5, 6, 2, 3, 7

Race 10: Class 3 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 75 Million / 17:30

(4) HEUNGRYONG struggled in stiff company and suffered his first defeat in a big race on Christmas Day but back against more limited opposition can return to form here. (1) LIGER SOCKS is full of potential and is up in class and distance for the first time having won both her previous starts. She’ll be a danger as will (3) CHEONJIGA, who weakened late on over 1400M last start and should be better at shorter today. (6) GRACE CITY and (8) INGWANGNO head a lengthy best of the rest list in a field with plenty of promise.

Selections: (4) Heungryong (1) Liger Socks (3) Cheonjiga (6) Grace City
Next Best: 8, 12, 10
Rating: 5, 4, 1, 3=6
Start-200M: 4, 8, 6, 2, 3
200M-Finish: 1, 7, 10, 4, 2

Race 11: Class 1 / 1400M / Handicap / KRW 110 Million / 18:00

Possibly the most competitive race of the day to finish with as any number are in with a chance. We’ll give another chance to (11) GAENARI, who had a chastening experience on her first try at both class 1 and 1400M on Christmas Day but is talented and will hopefully be better for it. (4) WORLD JJANG and (6) MISO WANGJA finished 2nd and 3rd respectively and ahead of a number of others here at class and distance on December 4th and will accordingly be well backed. One of those beaten that day was (2) YAHO SUNSHINE who should go better this time. Likewise, (1) GWANGBOK CHILSIP has been up and down the distances lately and looks a better fit in this race than in recent starts

Selections: (11) Gaenari (4) World Jjang (2) Yaho Sunshine (6) Miso Wangja
Next Best: 1, 9
Rating: 6, 2=9, 5, 1
Start-200M: 11, 7, 3, 1, 9
200M-Finish: 12, 10, 4, 5, 7