Racing returns to the Korean capital on Saturday with a big 12-race card at Seoul. The first race is at 10:45 and the last at 18:00. It’s going to be a mild day so come racing! Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old fillies only to begin with and exactly half of the field are racing for the very first time with the other half each having raced just the once or in one case, twice. It’s from that latter group where the top picks come from with both (3) BIG THUNDER and (10) RAON PRIMER having shown ability. Big Thunder has raced twice and while indifferent on debut, she ran well for 2^nd on her reappearance on January 27^th and will be favourite to win here. Raon Primer led for much of her debut on January 20^th and while she’s drawn wider today, she can still get to the front and should be the main danger. With none of the others who have raced before having shown much we’ll look for the newcomers to fill out our tickets. Best looking in trials was (7) SUPER YEOWANG and she will be expected to be on the early speed too while (9) BRAVO ILSIN and (12) LEADER’S CAMP are others who ran well in their heats and may be considered.

Selections	(3) Big Thunder (10) Raon Primer (7) Super Yeowang (12) Leader’s Camp
Next Best	9, 2
Fast Start	4, 7, 10, 12

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

A maiden restricted to three-year-olds. (11) DREAM INDY hasn’t been especially well fancied in either of his two starts to date but he’s outperformed expectations both times with a 3^rd and a 2^nd, the latest being a front-running performance over this distance on January 21^st. He led for much of that race only succumbing in the closing stages and while he’s drawn much wider today, he can go close. (3) WILD DRAGON may have a better shout of getting on the early pace though. He’s also shown improvement across three outings and was a close 3^rd last time at the distance. (5) GARA GARA GA was a creditable 4^th on debut a full eleven weeks ago and returns here up in distance but for a stable and a jockey who went into the brief Lunar New Year break in good form. (7) EMERALD KING and (8) BAEKDUUI JEONGSANG, the latter a good 3^rd in a similar race at the distance three weeks ago are also in the hunt.

Selections	(11) Dream Indy (3) Wild Dragon (7) Emerald King (5) Gara Gara Ga
Next Best	8, 6
Fast Start	3, 4

Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies (and three mares) only here and (4) MIRACLE HANSEN caught the eye, to say the least, when romping home on debut over this distance on December 23^rd in a decent time on a very slow-running track. She hasn’t raced since and returns today up in class but with little reason to oppose her.  However, if we do wish to take her on, (9) VICTORY STAR looks the best prospect. She’s yet to win in four attempts but ran well for 2^nd in a similar race to this on January 14^th and can at least repeat. An alternative would be the more experienced (10) DALDARI although her best two results – her win and her 2^nd place last start – both came at 1000M. (2) DONGSEO GADEUK is a winner at the distance, albeit at class 6 – (1) BAEKDU MIR was a close 2^nd that day – and may come under consideration too.

Selections	(4) Miracle Hansen (9) Victory Star (10) Daldari (2) Dongseo Gadeuk
Next Best	1, 7
Fast Start	3, 4, 8, 9

Race 4: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Fillies again but a more competitive looking contest which could go a number of ways. (3) SMARTY ZIF was a surprise 2^nd in a useful event at class and distance on January 14^th. She’s been inconsistent across her ten starts but could go well again. Running a touch disappointingly in that race was (4) WAWA YEOJANGBU but she has shown her competitiveness at this level with a 2^nd place at the distance the time before and can reverse the form here. (2) CHEON YANG and (9) FIRE FOX came home 2^nd and 3^rd over (more…)