Seoul gets its racing season underway on Saturday with a bumper 15-race program and with last week having been dark, there are big fields throughout. The first race is at 10:45am and the last at 6pm. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(2) BIG AURORA underwhelmed when favourite over the distance in November beaten by, amongst others, (7) CHOWON YEOJEONSA, but he’s better than that and gets another chance to score here. (6) FIRE was a much improved 2^nd in a similar race to this a month ago and can get close again. (4) JIGONG JILJU has been getting closer in recent starts while (3) TOUGH TROPHY and (5) HIGH STAR both race for the first time since putting in average efforts at the start of November and will be backed to improve.

Selections	(2) Big Aurora (4) Jigong Jilju (6) Fire (5) High Star
Next Best	3, 1
Fast Start	1, 3, 8, 11

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Jockey Ham Wan Sik returns to Seoul after a year at Busan and he could well ride his first winner back in the capital here with (7) GONGJU SARANG set to be a strong favourite in this all-filly race. She’s the most convincing of the seven of these who’ve raced before and despite being a well-beaten 2^nd behind a decent type last time, can win here, likely leading all the way. Among the other who have raced before, (11) DAECHEONUI SARANG and (5) SKY MARINE both have 2^nd places to their name. The former beat the latter back in November. (6) SEOUL STORY has run better than her 6^th and 8^th place finishes suggest and she too can improve. Of the first-time starters, (4) JEJUI BARAM and (10) DONGBANG JIJU look the picks.

Selections	(7) Gongju Sarang (4) Jejui Baram (11) Daecheonui Sarang (6) Seoul Story
Next Best	10, 5
Fast Start	5, 6, 7, 10

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

Weak fare here but (3) KWAEHAN YEBONGSAN has shown improvement across three starts to date and went ok on one previous try at this distance. If she can get out well and on to the early speed, she has every chance of leading all the way. (7) MIGHTY COOL has been up and down the distances already but looks to have landed in a good spot here and should be competitive with (6) ONLY BARAM and (9) ONE TWO THREE others who have potential to improve.

Selections	(3) Kwaehan Yebongsan (7) Mighty Cool (6) Only Baram (9) One Two Three
Next Best	8, 4
Fast Start	2, 3, 5, 6

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Fillies only here and it’s about time that (1) O.J.HWAK DAB got her maiden win. She’s run into a couple of decent ones in both her latest starts but has acquitted herself well each time and could well have too much here. (7) BAENONGI stepped up to this distance a month ago and delivered her best result so far with 3^rd place and that’s something she can build on today. (8) RUN AWAY was 5^th behind O.J.Hwak Dab last time out and should have placing claims. (4) AMARONE has raced creditably in two outings so far and may appreciate the step up in trip today while (10) RAISE ME UP has a 4^th place to her name at this distance already and can look to at least match it.

Selections	(1) O.J.Hwak Dab (7) Baenongi (10) Raise Me Up (8) Run Away
Next Best	4, 2
Fast Start	2, 3, 8

Race 5: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

The final maiden of the day is certainly the best with plenty of potential among these three-year-olds. (3) DORAON ACHIM HAE was favourite at this distance at the end of November but only managed 3^rd. He’s shown enough over his two starts so far, however, to suggest he has wins in him and he’ll be well backed here. (2) LUCKY CHUNYANG wasn’t especially well fancied on debut a month ago although perhaps should have been having shown some speed in trials. He finished 3^rd, less than a length behind the winner and running on very nicely which suggests the step up in trip today can only be (more…)