Big fields in the capital this weekend. There are 12 Saturday races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

Weak contest to begin with and (2) SKY MARINE has probably shown the most ability among these so far. She has a 2^nd and a 4^th among four prior outings and from a decent draw can get forward early. (3) ENJOY MY SHOW improved last time and should be similarly prominent while (4) RUN AWAY may benefit from dropping back to this trip which is where she recorded her previous best finish of 3^rd. (1) ACE TROPHY could make the most of the inside gate to get on speed early and if he does, he should be looking for a career-best finish while (12) CHOWON GUNJU didn’t do anything especially wrong on debut three weeks ago and may improve.

Selections	(2) Sky Marine (3) Enjoy My Show (4) Run Away (1) Ace Trophy
Next Best	12, 9
Fast Start	1, 2, 3, 9

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

Three-year-olds only and eight of the twelve are first-time starters with one of them set to be favourite. That’s (2) JANGSAN WILD won a December trial and then went through another in good order last week and is expected to win first-up here. Other debut-makers who caught the eye in their heats include (1) DALLYEORA GWANGSAN and (8) DANGYEON HAJI, whose slow qualifying times can be excused by the track condition on those days as well as (9) DANCING BLADE, who was well back behind an exciting type (Musa) but seemed to know what she was doing. Of the four who raced before, only (6) DAE UNHA looks an attractive proposition. He debuted solidly enough in a better race than this in December and can build on it today.

Selections	(2) Jangsan Wild (6) Dae Unha (9) Dancing Blade (1) Dallyeora Gwangsan
Next Best	8, 10
Fast Start	1, 2

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(9) CLEAN UP SECRET beat three of these on his way to 3^rd place over this distance on January 6^th. True, it was the third time in a row he’s come up slightly short when sent off as favourite but he’s going to be favourite again and this time can get it right. (4) DOUBLE GOLD and (6) BAEKDUUI JEONGSANG came home in 4^th and 6^th in that race wand will be among those with the best chance of getting close this time. Speaking of favourites coming up short, (2) CHONGAL GACHI did exactly that on January 7^th at the distance, finishing 2^nd having led briefly close to the finish and he too gets another chance today.

Selections	(9) Clean Up Secret (4) Double Gold (6) Baekduui Jeongsang (2) Chongal Gachi
Next Best	8, 1
Fast Start	2, 6, 9

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

(6) RAISE ME UP improved with a close 2^nd place in a similar all-filly race to this on January 6^th with two of her rivals here behind her and with Moon Se Young on board for the first time, she can make the breakthrough here. (9) ARGO UNIQUE returned from three months off to show a big improvement at this distance in December, coming home 2^nd and should be on the early pace here. Hansen filly (1) CLAY WIND also improved on what was just her 2^nd start on Christmas Eve, again coming home in 2^nd having run on nicely. She steps up in distance for the first time as does (4) DAECHEONUI SARANG and must be considered. More experienced is (3) MIGHTY COOL and she should be capable of repeating the 4^th place she achieved in a very similar strength race to this four weeks ago.

Selections	(6) Raise Me Up (9) Argo Unique (1) Clay Wind (4) Daecheonui Sarang
Next Best	3, 2
Fast Start	1, 4, 9

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

You’d not put your mortgage on many of these but (7) GONSEOL and (5) WOOSEORA ICHEON ran well enough when coming home 3^rd and 4^th respectively at class and distance in a better race than this on January 7^th and this time have every chance of contesting top honours. There were three lengths between them that day but Wooseora Icheon has a better draw today and could well make it to the front early. (3) POWER (more…)