We’re back to the daytime schedule at Seoul. 12 Saturday races from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Small field to begin with and we’ll go with the most experienced, (3) HWANGGEUM YEONMEOT to make the breakthrough at what will be the 11th time of asking. She’s been 4th in both her latest two and looks to be figuring things out. (1) RUN AWAY has shown glimpses across seven starts so far while (8) MENI JILJU didn’t disgrace herself on debut either and they look next best. The two debut-makers trialled up together with (2) CHEONNYEON DIRE looking the pick of the pair.
| Selections | (3) Hwanggeum Yeonmeot (1) Run Away (8) Meni Jilju (2) Cheonnyeon Dire |
| Next Best | 4, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6 |
Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Another small field and there are two who standout. (1) VIVA GALLOPER manage a 2nd place back in February but was then out for four months, returning to some form with a 4th place over this distance last month. He can get on the early speed here without too much difficulty and could go all the way. Threatening late in the race will be (6) CHEONBIT. She also has a best of 2nd, recorded in June at this distance and has run on nicely in both starts since then. Among the others it is slightly slimmer pickings although (3) SINUITAB and (4) HERO KING have both put in the odd decent showing.
| Selections | (1) Viva Galloper (6) Cheonbit (3) Sinuitab (4) Hero King |
| Next Best | 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4 |
Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Just two of the nine have run before and one of them, (7) MACHA BUCHA, will be favourite. Granted he’s been favourite in both his races so far and has come up short both times but he’s run creditably on both occasions and can get it right today, stepped up to 1200M for the first time. The other one with prior experience is (9) GIDONG DAEJANG; he was beaten by Macha Bucha on debut but showed a bit of improvement on reappearance and may find some supporters. As for the first-timers (3) BISUL GONGJU looks the pick coming out of trials with (5) GRAY GALAXY and (6) SHARP KAYLAN also likely to have some supporters.
| Selections | (7) Macha Bucha (3) Bisul Gongju (9) Gidong Daejang (5) Gray Galaxy |
| Next Best | |
| Fast Start |
Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Another small turn-out here but plenty of them are in with a shout. (5) GOLD LEG and (6) HONEY RUSH both come on off career-best 2nd place finishes and both warrant consideration. The latter’s performance was over this distance and she is slightly preferred today. Both those two will look to get on the early speed while likely to be more patient is (4) WIND POWER, who has been reasonably consistent if unspectacular in recent efforts and beat both (7) SHAR NAO and (1) IDAERO on her latest outing.
| Selections | (6) Honey Rush (5) Gold Leg (4) Wind Power (7) Shar Nao |
| Next Best | 3 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7 |
Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Finally we get a field size in double figures and appropriately tricky it is too. (7) MENI TURBO has been 2nd in both starts so far and accordingly finds herself up in class today. The ones who have beaten here (albeit rather handily) though both look destined for much better things so there is every reason to believe she can be competitive in this company. (8) MONTRACHET has already proved capable of winning money at this level and looks to have an excellent chance while (10) RAON MAKER is a class and distance winner who can be given another chance after lacklustre effort last time. (2) MONE FLYING struggled on her first go at this class last start but should be better back at the minimum distance today while (5) EORIN WANGJA has placing claims too.
| Selections | (7) Meni Turbo (8) Montrachet (10) Raon Maker (2) Mone Flying |
| Next Best | 5, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 10 |
Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
It’s hard to oppose (7) MENI BADA here. A comfortable winner on debut in July, he was 2nd – admittedly a full six-lengths behind the very fast winner – on his first try at this level on August 13th. He goes further than the minimum distance for the first time today but should have too much for this lot. Best chance of stopping the favourite looks to fall to (6) MISUJAE and (9) JEONGSANG DAEGIL. They finished 3rd and 5th respectively when they raced each other at class and distance on August 12th and should both be looking to finish closer today. (2) MIGHTY WA is up in class for an up and coming stable and along with the solid if not especially swift (5) HYEONMU, looks pick of the rest.
| Selections | (7) Meni Bada (6) Misujae (2) Mighty Wa (9) Jeongsang Daegil |
| Next Best | 5, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7 |
Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) MAGIC ROCKET was sent off as favourite for his first try at this level following back to back wins in May and June. Things didn’t work out that day but he comes in here following two months off and looks ready to try again. (4) YEONGGWANGUI SIGAN is up in class following her second win on her fifth start. She too returns from some time off and while her only previous try at further than the minimum didn’t go well, she should be firmly in the hunt today. Completing the top line of favourites is (7) NEON GAMDONGIYA. He was a good 5th in a race that was slightly stronger than this one last time out and can go well once more, most likely from the front. (2) MONGGEULMONGGEUL and (8) COLORFUL CAT also in the frame in an open contest.
| Selections | (7) Neon Gamdongiya (6) Magic Rocket (4) Yeonggwangui Sigan (8) Colorful Cat |
| Next Best | 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 7, 8 |
Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
It really is about time (4) AMAZONAS won again. She’s got lots of talent but just keeps on coming up short of adding to her solitary success which came all the way back in January. She beat two of her main rivals here, (7) SMART DREAM and (5) GOLDSTAR HILLS when running 2nd on her latest outing on August 12th and can beat all comers here. Smart Dream is probably the biggest danger but (6) SANGBIGUN slides up in class today having secured back to back runner-up finishes over 1200M and isn’t without chances while (3) SUNKISSED, the mount of Moon Se Young can’t be completely ruled out either.
| Selections | (4) Amazonas (7) Smart Dream (5) Goldstar Hills (6) Sangbigun |
| Next Best | 3 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7 |
Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(8) JANGSAN ROCKY returned from eight months off in July and has since run in back to back 2nd places at 1300M and 1200M respectively and he’s likely to be a warm favourite to get it right here. He can set up camp behind the early pace and finish strongly. That early pace is likely to be set by second-choice (6) URIUI HAENGBOK, who also comes in off consecutive 2nds. Things didn’t go (4) GLOBAL DREAM’s way on his first try at this level at the end of July but must be respected having won four of his six to date. (3) NHA TRANG, beaten by Jangsan last time and (7) KKUM KAERA are best of the rest.
| Selections | (8) Jangsan Rocky (6) Uriui Haengbok (4) Global Dream (3) Nha Trang |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 9 |
Race 10: Class 7 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Really open race this with any number in the hunt. (1) SARYEONI WIN and (3) ROAD HILL both come in off decent showings at class and distance and look sure to have a say in matters today. Neither are likely to set the early pace but both can run on well. (5) DALLYEORA LEO tried this distance once back in February. It didn’t go well but after showing some good form of late, looks ready to try again while (6) BEONGAE LION has just lost his way a little bit lately but is a proven money winner (if not actual winner) at the distance. (4) GANGCHEOL SIDAE returns for the first time since May and can’t be completely ruled out.
| Selections | (1) Saryeoni Win (3) Road Hill (5) Dallyeora Leo (4) Gangcheol Sidae |
| Next Best | 6, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8 |
Race 11: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(9) OKAY GOOD was a close 2nd over 1700M at this class last time, beating (2) WIDAEHAN JEONSA in the process. He was overhauled late on and does step up even further in distance today but under the champion jockey, looks the one to beat here. (5) DAEBAKIDA has beaten plenty of these during a good run of recent form and looks firmly in the frame while (6) KRYPTO KID has been inconsistent but looks nicely in here and can go well. Up in class following back to back wins over 1700M, (1) ROYAL AMOS can’t be overlooked either.
| Selections | (9) Okay Good (5) Daebakida (6) Krypto Kid (1) Royal Amos |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 9 |
Race 12: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Nice big field to finish off with and several decent ones go in it. We’ll side with Ilgan Sports Cup winner (11) JANGSAN POWER to record his third consecutive win. He’s dropping back in trip and has a wide draw but he has the talent to deal with that. Also with a wide draw is (12) WHIZ SPEED. He was a solid winner over class and distance on July 15th and has every chance of repeating. (6) BIG TRIO disappointed when favourite in the aforementioned Ilgan Sports but should be much happier back in trip today while (3) NOVEMBER MORNING and (4) YEONGGWANGUIGEUNAL are also firmly in the placing frame.
| Selections | (11) Jangsan Power (12) Whiz Speed (6) Big Trio (3) November Morning |
| Next Best | 4, 5, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 8, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 