Day: May 18, 2018

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (May 19)

Playtime is over. The Seoul jockey room has had its fun over the past couple of months but the big boys are back in town on Saturday with both Moon Se Young (jaw and ribs) and Kim Yong Geun (ankle) back in the saddle after breaking bones earlier in the year. There are 11 Saturday races in the capital from 10:45 to 18:00.

moon-se-young

Back – Moon Se Young

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

Top jockeys Moon Se Young and Kim Yong Geun return after lengthy injury absences and its Kim who should get back in the winner’s circle first as he rides (10) SIMON FRUIT, set to be favourite here. He was 2nd on debut at this distance before coming up short when favourite on his reappearance two weeks ago but dropped back to 1000M today, should have too much. (1) DAECHEON HERO was an improved 2nd on what was his third outing a month ago and he looks clear second best here. As for the rest, they are going to need to improve. (7) INDIAN ECO and (8) GANGSANUI ACHIM have offered glimpse of talent across their starts so far and could go close while (11) SOKBO ONGJU hasn’t been too far away in her latest two and could play a role.

Selections (10) Simon Fruit (1) Daecheon Hero (7) Indian Eco (8) Gangsanui Achim
Next Best 11, 4
Fast Start 1, 3, 5, 7

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

Three-year-old maidens only here. (3) RAON ZEUS was 2nd in a close and quick race at the distance on what was his second start on March 11th. He returns after ten weeks and should be on pace from the start and should win this. (4) HANIL DREAM just missed out by a neck on what for him too was a second career outing four weeks ago and he’ll likely be the main danger. Those are the only two who have raced more than once. (8) GWACHEON JANGSA and (9) MACH CHEONHA didn’t disgrace themselves on their respective debuts and can improve today while among the four first-time starters, (11) GREEN PARK looks most promising based on trials.

Selections (3) Raon Zeus (4) Hanil Dream (8) Gwacheon Jangsa (9) Mach Cheonha
Next Best 11, 1
Fast Start 3, 8

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

(5) HANSEN BAROWS drops back in trip following a couple of useful efforts around 1700M. He’s drawn in the middle today so is likely to look to get on speed right from the start and today could be his day. (6) CUPID GANGJA and (11) BAEKDUI TAEYANG both come in with recent form reading positively, the latter looking very much like he’s figuring things out and while he was twelve-lengths behind a good winner in 3rd last time, he looks the biggest threat. (2) HUIMANG STAR was 2nd at the distance last time and while that race was slightly weaker, could repeat here. (1) POX RANGER is best of the rest.

Selections (5) Hansen Barows (11) Baekdui Taeyang (6) Cupid Gangja (2) Huimang Star
Next Best 1, 3
Fast Start 3, 5, 8

Race 4: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(2) OK DEURIM beat Raon Zeus, who we saw in race 2, on her way to her maiden win in March. She was favourite on her first try at this level on April 8th but could only manage 2nd place over this distance having led for much of the race She’s well worth another chance today. It’s a competitive race though.  (3) VICAR SCOOP finally makes her class 5 debut after having to be scratched a couple of weeks ago – she was a very good winner at the distance in February. (6) GLOBAL NEWS beat (5) J.S. STORM as the pair ran 3rd and 5th respectively at class and distance and both should be a factor here. (4) MALAKAS and (7) FLYING JOY ran together last time and both those also have the ability to go well. (1) BEST VICTORY is up in class following a maiden score last time but perhaps has a bit more to find.

Selections (2) Ok Deurim (6) Global News (3) Vicar Scoop (5) J.S. Storm
Next Best 4, 7, 1
Fast Start 2, 5, 6, 9

Race 5: Class 4 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Wide open race for fillies and mares only which combines some experienced winners with a couple of imports making just their first and second starts. (3) GEOSEON MAPUNG certainly caught the eye with a five-length win at the end of March. She made all and has claims to repeat. (11) JEONGSANG MUJEOK was a three-length winner at class and distance last time and will be in the frame also likely from the front. (1) DALLYEORA LEO (more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (May 18)

It’s been a week of torrential rain on the peninsula but the worst of it should be over now and we’re ready for a big weekend of racing. Things get underway at Busan on Friday with 10 races from 11:30 to 18:00:

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

Three-year-old maidens to begin with and among them there are four first-timer starts along with seven who have raced at least once before. Of that latter group, Bart Rice’s (4) FELICE was 2nd, just beaten half a length, on what was his second start a month ago. It was a decent race and big improvement from his debut and he could have too much here. Among those previously raced ones, (8) DRAGON NINE and (6) MUJEOK BEAT perhaps have the best chance of improving, but a couple of the debut-makers will be backed. From Peter Wolsley’s stable, (2) CHEONNYEONUI ACHIM trialled up nicely while the track’s top trainer Kim Young Kwan sends out (3) CHEONGDAM BLADE. Kim puts Fergus Sweeney on one of his horses for the first time and the colt also showed some competence in trials and is likely to be well supported here.

Selections (4) Felice (2) Cheonnyeonui Achim (3) Cheongdam Blade (8) Dragon Nine
Next Best 6, 11
Fast Start 2, 7, 8

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

More maidens here and plenty in the hunt. It’s been a stormy week on the Korean peninsula and the aptly named pair (2) STORM GOLD and (5) KKEUTPAN STORM both have claims. The former has been close on a few occasions already and was a narrowly beaten 3rd last time out at this distance. He can get on pace from gate 2 and could lead all the way. Kkeutpan Storm has run just the once but did well off low expectations, being beaten just a nose into 2nd over 1200M. It wasn’t an especially strong race, but neither is this ad the extra half-furlong shouldn’t hurt. (3) GOLDEN WAVES and (11) MR. COLORS came home 2nd and 4th respectively when they raced each other over this distance on April 20th and both can go close again with Golden Waves especially looking like he has a win in him sooner rather than later. (1) SILENT PARK can build on a promising debut last month and (9) SILLAUI SIDAE is another who can’t be ruled out of a place.

Selections (3) Golden Waves (2) Storm Gold (5) Kkeutpan Storm (1) Silent Park
Next Best 11, 9
Fast Start 2, 5, 8

Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(5) PARK MINISTER comes in off the back of consecutive 3rd place finishes at 1300M, the latter of which was on a very wet track in early April. She ran on nicely and should appreciate the extended trip of a mile today and is the one to beat. (10) MACH MAJESTIC, who had previously been beaten by Park Minister, certainly appreciated the extra distance when she stepped up to a mile last time, recording a much-improved 3rd in April 27th and she can build on it here. (8) EXPRESSIVE returns from exactly six months out and trialled competently in April. He had shown some ability before his layoff and can be considered here. (9) SPERO SPERA was totally unfancied on debut last month but managed a decent 3rd and can build on that. Solitary debut-maker (1) GIJEOGUI JEOKTOMA is from a good stable and trialled adequately enough.

Selections (5) Park Minister (10) Mach Majestic (9) Spero Spera (8) Expressive
Next Best 1, 4
Fast Start 7

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

(8) DAEDONG GISANG was 3rd over 1300M on his first try at this level on April 22nd. He showed at the front for much of the race and should do the same today with a good chance of going one better. (6) MR. SCAT was a winner on debut back in January at 1300M and finally returns up in class here. He’s trialled twice in the last couple of weeks, looking sharp enough on both occasions to enter the equation here. He’ll be challenging Daedong Gisang for the lead early as will (11) LUCKY KOREA, who also returns for the first time since January. He too is up in class, and also in distance after a three-length (more…)