We’re just a day away from the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the 2018 Korean Triple Crown, but before that there is Saturday racing in Seoul which sees 10 races from 10:45 to 18:00:

 

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

(6) DAECHEON HERO comes in off 2^nd and 3^rd place finishes from his latest two and only needs to finish in the top three here to get bumped up in class. He’s led in both those only to be caught late on and he can bow out of the bottom level of racing an all the way winner here. (1) MISS MOUNTAIN debuted with a 2^nd place all the way back in March of 2017 but didn’t race again for slightly more than a year. On her return she led before weakening and has had a further thirteen weeks off since. Top jockey on and likely to get on pace again, she’s a chance. (2) JILPUNG GANGJA also returns thirteen weeks on from his last start. That was a disaster and he was forced to requalify after it. He’s looked good in two subsequent trials and we may see better from him today. (7) WAIT AND SEE has been a slightly one-paced 4^th in both attempts so far but can at least match it today. (8) GRAND DOLPUNG has hinted at some ability and could challenge for the places.

Selections	(6) Daecheon Hero (1) Miss Mountain (7) Wait And See (2) Jilpung Gangja
Next Best	8, 9
Fast Start	1, 2, 6, 7

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million

The first juvenile race of the season is upon us and we’ve got nine babies to get stuck into here with lots of them having impressed in trials and hence getting such an early start. Three of them won their trials and we’ll start with those. (7) HANEULEUL DALRIDA was the most eye-catching, making all in his heat and he’ll be expected to go to the lead under Johan Victoire. As will (3) SHANGHAI JORDAN, who had to work harder when coming out on top in his trial two weeks ago but may well have benefitted from it. Both are from strong stables, as is (6) BI PYEONG, who was also a good “winner” of a trial on June 1^st. None of the three recorded the fastest time in qualifying though. That distinction belongs to (4) GYEONGGUKJIMA, albeit on a very wet track, and she should be challenging for the early lead too. Those four will be the favourites but (8) HEUNG OREUM, (9) PARRHESIA and, to a slightly lesser extent (5) CHANGPA also looked competent enough leaving only two to be considered true longshots.

Selections	(3) Shanghai Jordan (7) Haneuleul Dalrida (4) Gyeonggukjima (6) Bi Pyeong
Next Best	8, 9, 5
Fast Start	3, 4, 7

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

With a 3^rd and a 2^nd from two starts to date, (6) CHOIN DAEBO is favoured to get it right at the third attempt today with Moon Se Young aboard for the first time. He’s up slightly in trip and could well get an unchallenged lead. (4) CUPID GANGJA is just one placing away from being promoted out of this level and he hasn’t been far away in his latest three outings. He ran well at this trip last time and can do so again. (3) EVERYTHING WIN showed signs of figuring things out last start and surely benefits from Manoel Nunes riding today. (10) SPEED HWANGNYONG has shown some ability across his four outings to date and can improve here while (9) FIORE too is not without some hope of improvement.

Selections	(6) Choin Daebo (4) Cupid Gangja (3) Everything Win (10) Speed Hwangnyong
Next Best	9, 7
Fast Start	6

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

(8) MONEY CAMP was beaten out of sight over 1300M in early March to the extent that she was banned for two months and sent back to trial. She waltzed through that trial in the kind of time that can win an actual race at this level and back at 1000M today should be a very different prospect. She’ll be joined on pace by (7) CHEONJI BOBAE, who remains winless after seven attempts but has four runner-up finishes and every chance (more…)