There are no fewer than 15 races at Seoul this Saturday with the 1st at 2pm and the last at 9pm. There’s no Manoel Nunes as he is away riding in the Macau Derby and no Antonio Da Silva as he is at Busan to ride Mighty Ssing in the Owners’ Cup on Sunday While Johan Victoire and David Breux are both in France. So there are plenty of opportunities for the locals this week:
Lim Gi Won will be among a number of riders looking to take advantages of several big name absentees on Seoul’s Saturday program
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million
(9) GRAND DOLPUNG got his career-best result to date last time out, running 2nd over this distance and the Hansen colt can go one better today for a stable that has been coming into form over the past couple of weeks. (5) GUDSEEORA too enters off a much-improved 2nd just two weeks ago and backs up quickly with chances although (3) ULTRA MISSILE, who is likely to lead from the gate, may be a bigger danger. (2) RUSSEL and (10) MIRACLE GOLD are two others who can have potential to improve on promising – if not exactly quick – recent efforts.
| Selections | (9) Grand Dolpung (3) Ultra Missile (10) Miracle Gold (5) Gudseeora |
| Next Best | 2, 11 |
| Fast Start | 3, 11 |
Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Two-year-old maidens only and three of the seven have raced before. The one that showed the most was (7) HAEDEULMOE, who ran 3rd at 1000M on July 1st. He finished a cool twelve lengths behind a good winner but he ran on nicely and the extra furlong should suit. (5) GEOTAP did nothing wrong either on his debut comfortably finishing in midfield, also at 1000M and should improve today. There are a couple of useful debut-makers though and (3) SMARTY ADELE could well jump the favourite. She’s from the top Song Moon Gil stable and looked competent when running 3rd in a trial in a quicker time than many race in and if she brings that form to the track, she has a serious chance and could well get an uncontested early lead. (1) GEUMA KINGDOM and (6) RAON STELLA are the other first-timers to keep an eye on.
| Selections | (3) Smarty Adele (7) Haedeulmoe (5) Geotap (6) Raon Stella |
| Next Best | 1 |
| Fast Start | 3 |
Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
More two-year-old maidens. Half of the eight have raced once before and it was (8) GOD OF SOCKS who went the best, finishing 2nd over 1000M ten lengths behind a good winner (and ahead of Haedeulmoe from race 2) on July 1st and he can win today. (6) TOHAMSAN POWER and (3) LAO JIN also debuted in that race, running 5th and 7th respectively and both can improve here. Lao Jin went back to trial just last week and performed very well suggesting she may be the greater danger this time. The first-timers here didn’t really catch the eye in trials. The best look to be (4) BARAMUI MISO and (7) GEUMBIT TANHWAN.
| Selections | (8) God Of Socks (3) Lao Jin (6) Tohamsan Power (4) Baramui Miso |
| Next Best | 7, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 8 |
Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million
(8) BRAVO ILSIN come sin off a 3rd and a 2nd from her latest two having led both at some stage. They were at 1300M and she drops slightly back in trip today with a big chance of coming home on top. (2) LOVELY NUTE ran twice without distinction at the tail-end of last year and returns after a full thirty weeks out. She’s moved to Simon Foster’s barn now and looked a much improved animal when trialing two weeks ago and will be a danger here. (5) RAON GANGHO has been close in each of his last five outings and although he’s never managed better than 3rd, can aim for at least the places here. (1) SONGAM JEUNE and (3) JEONGMUN JEKI are others who can go close.
| Selections | (8) Bravo Ilsin (2) Lovely Nute (5) Raon Gangho (3) Jeongmun Jeki |
| Next Best | 1, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 8 |
Race 5: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million
(6) MAIN EVENT beat both (5) SAMAE STAR and (7) TAEWANG SINHWA on his way to 2nd place at this distance on June 30th. That was something of an upset but Main Even will need some respect today and could repeat. Nevertheless, Taewang Sinhwa, who never looked hugely comfortable from a wide draw that day, has gone close in the past and has every chance of overturning the form here. (4) POX RANGER may be the one they all need to beat though. She was 3rd the last time she raced at this distance in May and held her own in a reasonably stiff 1000M contest at the beginning of this month. Expect her to be ridden to the lead today with every chance of staying on. (9) Cheonsang Giun and (11) Speed Captain others who may get involved.
| Selections | (4) Pox Ranger (7) Taewang Sinhwa (6) Main Event (11) Speed Captain |
| Next Best | 9, 10 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 11 |
Race 6: Class 4 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
A rare maiden for two-year-old imports sees six first-timer starters and one who has raced one time before. All things being equal, the actual race experience can be important, especially if they ran well and (1) NAUI BICHIYEO did exactly that. The Mission Impazible colt ran 3rd of 7 at this distance on June 16th and can progress from that to the winner’s circle today. (7) THANK YOU CHARLIE made all to “win” his trial by a (more…)
Horse Racing in Korea 