12 races in the South Korean capital on Saturday with the first at 10:45 and the last at 18:00. Here are the previews:
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Competitive opener and while (5) DAECHEON ACE was a long way back behind a good winner when running 3rd at this distance on October 15th, he did manage to beat a couple of these and showed enough to suggest he’s on an upward trajectory and could well score here. He’s likely to be away to a steady start along with (1) WONDERFUL LUCKY how has also been progressively closer in four outings to date and can continue that here. Off to a quick one should be (2) M.J. CAPTAIN and while he was one of those back behind Daecheon Ace last time, he can be given another chance here. (6) MORAN DONGBEAK and (10) ÉCLAIR BEAUTY are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) Daecheon Ace (1) Wonderful Lucky (2) M.J. Captain (10) Éclair Beauty |
| Next Best | 6, 11 |
| Fast Start | 2, 8, 10, 11 |
Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Just eight runners here, half of whom have run once before and half who haven’t run at all. The experienced ones look the most likely and three of them; (4) HEUNG BARAM, (7) SEONGBUL CHAMP and (8) CHEONJI BOBAE put in reasonably encouraging debuts with Seongbul Champ getting the narrow nod at this moment in time but really it would be no surprise if any of them managed to push on here. The other one who raced before, (1) SINBIRYONG weakened badly over 1200M on October 15th, behind Cheonji Bobae and could also go better at the minimum today. Among the debut-makers, (6) SEOUL STORY was the eye-catcher in trials.
| Selections | (7) Seongbul Champ (4) Heung Baram (6) Seoul Story (8) Cheonji Bobae |
| Next Best | 1, 5 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
(4) NAM SON was a swift 2nd on debut on October 14th running on pleasingly and stepping up to 1300M today with the champion jockey on board, will be a warm favourite to make the breakthrough. (5) MACH SEUNGNI and (7) BAEKSAN GUNJU – the latter having beaten a couple of these last time – look best placed to challenge the favourite having both shown glimpses in their two starts so far. The other one that’s potentially interesting is (8) GUREUM SONJITHAE. He was reasonably well-backed on debut following a promising trial but didn’t do an awful lot. He could be better at the slightly extended distance today.
| Selections | (4) Nam Son (5) Mach Seungni (7) Baeksan Gunju (8) Gureum Sonjithae |
| Next Best | 3 |
| Fast Start | 4, 8 |
Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Up in class following his maiden win on his first try at this distance at the end of September (1) SMART CAMP should be firmly in the frame once more. He won by four-lengths last time having been prominent throughout and while this is stiffer, he has every chance. However, the likely favourite is another one up in class having also landed his breakthrough win at 1700M. That’s (5) SIMON RICH who defeated (6) SHAR NAO by two lengths on October 14th. That win had been coming and he looks equally as well-in here as Smart Camp. (3) JANGBI CHEONBOK is two starts into a return from a lengthy absence and can improve while (8) LUCKY MISTER returned to some semblance of form to secure his third 3rd place finish at this distance a month ago and has to be taken into consideration for the places.
| Selections | (5) Simon Rich (1) Smart Camp (8) Lucky Mister (3) Jangbi Cheonbok |
| Next Best | 6, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 9 |
Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(7) HOENG UN GOL was 2nd to top juvenile Choinma in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup in September but having subsequently led in the track’s top 2-year-old race last week, he faded to 7th late on. However, today’s company is much more amenable, and he still looks a potential talent so will be strong favourite here. He likely leads gate to wire. (4) DONGHAE TENTENTEN has plenty of ability too and has never been worse than 3rd in four outings so far (even when her jockey lost an iron after 100M) and will be in the frame again, probably joining Hoeong Un Gol on speed early. (3) YEONDARA had a hard time over 1700M last start but should be better dropped back today while (9) SO ARA CHEONWANG and (10) HANSEONG KING enter following some encouraging performances and can be considered.
| Selections | (7) Hoeng Un Gol (4) Donghae Tententen (3) Yeondara (9) So Ara Cheonwang |
| Next Best | 10, 11 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7 |
Race 6: Class 4 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Moon Se Young is getting on plenty of favourites today and he’s on another one here as (6) MONTEVIDEO, first past the line last time but subsequently demoted to 2nd, should win this without causing the stewards any concern. It was gate to wire last time and the same is expected here – minus the demotion. After an uncharacteristically disastrous performance in September, beaten over 1000 lengths, the previously solid (8) AEMA BISANG was sent back to two starting tests and two race trials. She’s completed all of them in fine fashion and should be back in the frame today. (4) MYEONGGA JEWANG and (7) GEUMSEONG YEOWANG were both solid enough on their respective debuts at the end of September and can build on that today while we also have a couple of first-timers here. Both (2) SUPER SOCKS and (10) EAGLES GRIFTER trialled well and could be interesting first-up – watch the market.
| Selections | (6) Montevideo (10) Eagles Grifter (8) Aema Bisang (7) Geumseong Yeowang |
| Next Best | 4, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 8 |
Race 7: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Munnings colt (10) MR. TURNER ran on strongly for 4th in a quick race over the minimum distance on October 14th for an impressive debut performance. The extra furlong and a half today should suit and he can win. (3) TRICKER, a winner last time he went at this distance, looks to be the main threat although improvement is expected from (8) JALOUSIE who may also appreciate the slight increase in trip. (6) ALL FOR BE TO BE and (7) GOOD HENNY are others who should be competitive.
| Selections | (10) Mr. Turner (3) Tricker (6) All For Be To Be (8) Jalousie |
| Next Best | 7, 11 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 7 |
Race 8: Class 5 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 90 Million
No fewer than seven of the nine enter having won their latest engagement and the other two are both winners already too. We’re going to go with (5) NIKE STREET. True, she unexpectedly went down by half a length on her second start three weeks ago but she drops back half a furlong today and can return to winning ways. Djordje Perovic, who has ridden Nike Street in both her two outings to date, gets on (2) GAON CHAMP. He romped home a ten-length winner on his debut on September 9th All of these have proven capable so far but they all are relatively unexposed so of the rest, we’ll be looking for (1) DOKDO JIGI, (3) PENETRO and (9) GREEN K to show the most.
| Selections | (5) Nike Street (2) Gaon Champ (1) Dokdo Jigi (3) Penetro |
| Next Best | 9, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 6 |
Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) DREAM YEONGCHEON has won two from four so far and is up in class following a five-length all the way win over 1300M on October 15th. This is a considerably stiffer assignment, but the manner of that win suggests there is more to come from him and he can win again. (1) SAEBYEOCK BULKKOT couldn’t get on the early speed from a wide draw last time but should be much happier back on the inside today, a gate which he won from on his latest outing at this distance in September and he has solid claims here as does (11) GEUMSOWHA, whose latest performances aren’t as bad as they look on paper, having been up against good horses. She is a proven money-winner – if not race winner – at this level. (6) BAIKAL JEONSA and (12) RAON KINGDOM are others in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (7) Dream Yeongcheon (1) Saebyeock Bulkkot (11) Geumsowha (12) Raon Kingdom |
| Next Best | 6, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 8, 12 |
Race 10: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
A winner of three from five so far and class and distance winner last time out, it’s hard to oppose (4) SMART BOBAE here. She’s beautifully drawn in gate 4 and should lead all the way. (1) MEGA HIT and (9) ROAD KING came home 2nd and 4th when they raced each other over 1400M on September 9th and although the former has put in one underwhelming performance since, both should be going close to the places here. (5) SENTA POBA was 3rd behind Smart Bobae last time and while she obviously has plenty to find on that one, should be beating plenty of these while (6) BARIME CAMP is up in class and the wildcard following two swift performances at 1300M and 1000M respectively.
| Selections | (4) Smart Bobae (9) Road King (1) Mega Hit (6) Barime Camp |
| Next Best | 5, 12 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 10 |
Race 11: Class 3 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(11) KRYPTO KID beat four of these on his way to 3rd place at class and distance on October 15th. He has been persistently close around two turns and today could be the day when everything comes right for him. (8) TIZ RUN, was 5th in that race, his first effort around 1700M and he should have come on for it while (9) CHEONGDAM DAERO was further back in the same race but can improve. (6) DIDORPHIN returns to this distance following a good run at 1200M last month and can be considered while (7) HWAGANG, another also-ran in that October race, is not as bad as recent form may suggest.
| Selections | (11) Krypto Kid (8) Tiz Run (9) Cheongdam Daero (6) Didorphin |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 9 |
Race 12: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Another full field to finish with and we’ll be looking for the wide gates here. That’s where the favourites have been drawn with Korean Derby also-ran and Ilgan Sports Cup winner (11) JANGSAN POWER the pick to score. If he can get on the pace early – and it won’t be easy – he’ll be hard to beat. (10) ACE RUNNER and (12) GEUMA ZEUS both enter in good form and the former especially is an established performer at this class. (2) SEONGPA won at class and distance in August, actually beating Ace Runner and while he didn’tgo well on reappearance last month, can be respected. (9) BRIGHT CAT looks best of the rest.
| Selections | (11) Jangsan Power (12) Geuma Zeus (10) Ace Runner (2) Seongpa |
| Next Best | 9, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 9, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 