Silver Wolf was last year’s Champion Mare and she returns to action at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday when she is expected to start a strong favourite in the Donga Ilbo Cup over 1800M. She will be ridden by Djordje Perovic, making his last appearance at Seoul for at least the time being as he seeks to recover from a back injury. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:40 to 17:05. Here are the previews (only Seoul is on overseas simulcast this week): 

Race 1: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

A winner at class 6 over 1300M in December, (7) LEONNING STROM was 3^rd on his first try at this level in a stiffer contest than this on January 13^th having led for most of the race. He drops back to the minimum today and will be expected to win. (9) SUN BOLT was an all the way winner on debut on January 7^th. He’s up in class here but if he gets off to the same kind of start he did that day, then he has a big chance. (2) MYEONGPUM BOBAE remains winless but steps back to the minimum today having weakened in both her latest two over further and she should be close. Back on Myeongpum Bobae’s debut, she was 2^nd to (6) LUCKY MISS. The latter has only raced once since – a full thirteen weeks ago – and is worthy of another chance. (10) MAGIC AI returns to action for the first time in nine months and performed pleasingly enough in a January trial to come straight into placing contention.

Selections	(7) Leonning Strom (9) Sun Bolt (2) Myeongpum Bobae (10) Magic Ai
Next Best	6, 12
Fast Start	2, 5, 6, 9

Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Both (6) KWAEHAN YEBONGSAN and (10) AMARONE are up in class having registered their maiden wins, both at this distance, on their respective last starts. This all-filly/mare contest is not a strong one and both can be expected to go well with Amarone slightly favoured to prevail. She’ll likely try to come from just behind the early speed which will probably be set by Kwaehan Yebongsa. Form doesn’t read well for the rest of them so we’re looking for one who finds herself in a better spot today than in recent outings. Punters will turn to (11) CHUKBOGUI YEOLMAE who comes in following a series of 4^th and 5^th place finishes in slightly sterner company and can benefit from the services of Moon Se Young today. (1) ARABIA GONGJU and (7) JASEONG GUNJU are others who fit the criteria for improvement here.

Selections	(10) Amarone (6) Kwaehan Yebongsan (11) Chukbogui Yeolmae (1) Arabia Gongju
Next Best	7, 3
Fast Start	3, 6, 9

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

(2)  DUAL CHOEGANG makes his first start for Italian trainer Luigi Riccardi and it could very well be a winning one. The four-year-old had been getting closer culminating in a 2^nd place, just beaten a neck, at the distance in December. That wasn’t a very strong race, but this isn’t much stiffer, and he should win. (11) JEJUI HEUKSEON was sent off as favourite in a similar contest to this back on January 14^th. He briefly touched the front about a furlong out before being beaten into 4^th and he may well provide the biggest test today. We’re struggling with the rest though. (3) LAST CONCERT has a 5^th place finish to her name in similar company in December and while she hardly impressed on return last month, she could go well here. (6) VALLEY MOON and (12) BAEKDU POWER best of a limited rest.

Selections	(2) Dual Choegang (11) Jejui Heukseon (3) Last Concert (6) Valley Moon
Next Best	12, 1
Fast Start	4, 5, 8

Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Three of these raced each other at class and distance on January 13^th. (2) BOLD SHINING finished the best of them in 2^nd with (1) BACK TO BACK in 4^th (the pair of them split by Leonning Strom who we saw in race 1) and (4) HAENGUN NURI 5^th. Back To Back began the race as favourite on the strength od a very solid December win over 1200M that got him promoted in class although Bold Shining also entered a winner. We’re going to go for the form to be overturned today and for Back To Back to be on top. (3) MACHA BUCHA comes in following a useful 4^th place over 1300M two weeks ago and will likely set the (more…)