The first Sunday of 2018 sees a big day of racing on the peninsula with both Seoul and Busan running cards. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00 while at Busan there are 6 from 12:40to 17:05. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million
(6) MORAN DONGBEAK has shown enough cross five prior outings to just about justify favouritism here. He ran on well for a good 2nd place, his best finish so far, over the distance on November 11th and returns here after eight weeks off with a good chance of getting his maiden win. (7) ILGAKSU and (11) JOEUN NADEURI also come in having shown improvement in their latest outings and look to have a bit more in them while (8) SAE DIXIE couldn’t follow up on a decent 2nd place she secured in October when she reappeared a month later but gets another chance today. There are two debut-makers, both from the same stable but the one we are focused on is (3) TRIPLE HAPPY, who won a trial nicely enough and could go well first up – as ever with the debut-makers, keep an eye on the market.
| Selections | (6) Moran Dongbeak (7) Ilgaksi (3) Triple Happy (11) Joeun Nadeuri |
| Next Best | 8, 12 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-olds only and (10) KING POSE was a well-beaten 3rd last start but ran pleasingly enough then and in two prior outings, to suggest he has a win in him and it could arrive today. He’ll settle behind an early pace that’s likely to be set by (3) HANIL GANGJA and (12) J.S. STORM. The latter was leading close to home last time but had to settle for 2nd while Hanil Gangja has finished 4th in both outings to date and can improve today. (6) THUNDER GREAT also showed promise when running 2nd in an admittedly slow contest at this distance at the start of December. His time that day was exactly the same as that of (7) SUN BOLT in his qualifying trial and this debut-making gelding is another to consider.
| Selections | (10) King Pose (12) J.S. Storm (3) Hanil Gangja (6) Thunder Great |
| Next Best | 7, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 12 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million
(4) CREMOA POWER showed improvement last time out to run 3rd over 1000M. The Hansen gelding has just been a little slow away each time so far and if he can get himself into a more favourable position earlier on today, he can win this modest contest. (1) CHONGAL GACHI and (3) MUJEOKUI SUNGAN have both shown glimpses of ability and both should record best finishes to date here. (2) DAE CAIN continues to frustrate. He put in a very promising performance on his second start back in August that got him a run in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup. He didn’t go well in that but was well-backed on his return to a regular – and weak – class 6 race last month but was barely involved. We’re not going to pick him today – so he’ll probably win.
| Selections | (4) Cremoa Power (1) Chongal Gachi (3) Mujeokui Sungan (2) Dae Cain |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(11) HYEONMU was 3rd in a similar class and distance contest at the end of November following on from a decent 2nd the month before. He can overcome a wide draw to get on pace early and can win here. (7) SPECIAL LIGHT and (2) RAON ROCKY came home 2nd and 3rd when they raced each other over 1200M on December 3rd and they should be involved again. (4) HANEULUI STAR started poorly last time and never really got involved but is better than that and can improve today from a more favourable draw. (9) GONSEOL remains a maiden after thirty-one attempts but recent form is good and he can finish in the money.
| Selections | (11) Hyeonmu (7) Special Light (4) Haneului Star (9) Gonseol |
| Next Best | 2, 6, 10 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 11, 12 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Competitive race this. (2) MY VISION and (9) CALLIOPE are both up in class following good victories last time out. The former made all over this distance while the latter’s was at 1000M but both look to have enough about them to be competitive at this level. The (more…)
Horse Racing in Korea 