Day: October 19, 2018

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (October 20)

There is a bumper 13-race program at Seoul on Saturday which runs from 10:45 to 18:00. It’s set to be a beautiful autumn day – here are the previews:

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US import Spring Back has been exceptional in two starts to date. He runs again in race 12 on Staurday (Pic: Ross Holburt)

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

Pretty moderate maiden to begin with. (11) USEUNG MACHA comes in having shown the best recent form with a 3rd place last time out although that was arguably in even weaker company than this. She looks to be improving though and has as much chance as any. (9) SEOKGWA BULSIK raced very greenly on what was just his second start in September. He still finished off nicely enough and looked good when sent back to trial a couple of weeks ago. Look for plenty of improvement today. (8) LUCKY MURYA overcame a stumble at the start on her latest outing but finished off nicely and she’s another who can get closer here. (3) UDDUGI and (7) ROAD WOMAN other possibles to get better.

Selections (9) Seokgwa Bulsik (11) Useung Macha (8) Lucky Murya (7) Road Woman
Next Best 3, 1
Fast Start 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens only with five of the twelve racing for the very first time. A couple of the experienced ones have shown some ability though and we’ll side with them. (8) CHOEGANG STAR has a 5th and a 3rd from two efforts to date and while the Midshipman colt was the beaten favourite on his latest, he’s certainly worth another chance here. He should be on pace straight away and can lead all the way. (12) STORM FORCE showed positively on debut at the beginning of September running 4th at this distance. She’ll have to overcome the widest gate but looks the biggest danger. (3) CHAMP K had a hard time running in a straight line on his first start but will hopefully have come on for the run and can improve. Among the first-timers, (10) NEW PARADIGM and (11) THANK YOU MOTHER were the best looking in trials with (1) GEUMA UPTOWN GIRL also doing nothing wrong and capable of going well first up.

Selections (8) Choegang Star (12) Storm Force (10) New Paradigm (11) Thank You Mother
Next Best 1, 3
Fast Start 7, 8, 11, 12

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

More juvenile maidens although this time seven of the twelve making their racecourse debuts. Once more we’ll side with experience though and both (10) BAKCHAOREUM and (11) GYORYONG UNU come in with 2nd places to their name. That doesn’t tell the whole story with Gyoryong Unu. Having looked very good in a trial, he was sent off hot favourite on debut in August but having looked in command at the top of the stretch, he lost all momentum and ended up 2nd. Then in the Munhwa Ilbo Cup at the end of September, he was on the receiving end of some bumping at the start and unseated his rider. Surely, his luck changes today. If it doesn’t, then Bakchaoreum could take advantage. Her 2nd place was a little more straightforward and showed plenty of promise. (7) NAREUDUSI was 4th in the same race and can improve too. Among the debut-makers, (4) CHODONG BOBAE and (9) MEDICI POWER look to have the best chance of making an immediate impact.

Selections (11) Gyoryong Unu (10) Bakchaoreum (7) Nareudusi (4) Chodong Bobae
Next Best 9, 5
Fast Start 2, 5, 6, 7, 11

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(2) HANEUL ACE beat three of these on her way to 2nd place in a similar all-filly race at this distance on September 9th. That came off the back of a 3rd place the time before and she can come home on top today. (6) SUN QUEEN was slowly away last time but ran on well, something she has done twice now. She steps up in trip for the first time and the extra distance could well suit. Nine months separated (3) TONGHAP SIDAE’s first and second starts but she ran well in both of them and can be a danger here. (4) CHEONNYEON HAPPY had some bad luck in running last start a month ago but still came home a not too far away 5th, beating a couple of these. (5) GYEONGGUKJIMA ran a very good 3rd on debut back in June but struggled on reappearance a month later. She comes in fresh after thirteen weeks off and is worth another chance here.

Selections (2) Haneul Ace (6) Sun Queen (3) Tonghap Sidae (5) Gyeonggukjima
Next Best 4, 1
Fast Start 2, 5, 8

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

(1) BEST MAID was just beaten half a length into 2nd place over class and distance on September 15th, beating a couple of these along the way. It continued a run of near-misses for her and she is very much he one to beat today. (8) STRONG LIGHT was one of those behind Best Maid that day and it was actually reversal of form as Strong Light has twice recently finished ahead of her. She can get close again although stronger challenges may come from (2) DAESEONG RUBY and (4) BIG AURORA. The latter drops back in trip for the first time since January and while he remains a maiden, he led in his last two outings and surely goes close here. (5) SURFING POINT is up in class having got her maiden win at the seventh time of asking last start and while she probably has a bit to find, she’s well drawn to get on the lead and could go well again.

Selections (1) Best Maid (2) Daeseong Ruby (4) Big Aurora (5) Surfing Point
Next Best 8, 9. 6
Fast Start 4, 5, 6, 8

Race 6: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Another set of juvenile maidens. (9) BEST LINE ran 2nd on debut on September 8th and while he was soundly beaten by a good winner, showed enough to suggest he has a bit of talent. He started very slowly and only really started to race in the last couple of furlongs. The wider draw may help him today and he’s clear favourite. (11) GLOBAL (more…)

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Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (October 20)

The main even this weekend is the Jeju Governor’s Cup at Seoul on Sunday where Busan mare Indian Star will bid to complete a hat-trick of victories in the Group 3 test. Before that though there is Friday action on the South-Coast with 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00: 

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

(10) FASHION WANG hasn’t been far away in recent efforts and led for much of the way around three weeks ago at this distance before ultimately finishing 3rd. Despite the wide draw she should lead again and can provide jockey Kim Hye Sun a first winner since her return form a lengthy injury absence. (7) BAENGNICHONG was 6th that day and can improve here. The other contenders all have something of the unknown about them. (2) GOLDEN REX has struggled for fitness in his latest two but has been working consistently in the lead up to this and should go better. (3) GIPPEUM DAY returns from seven months out and is under the care of a new trainer. There are no clues from any recent trials but a top jockey is booked and she may go well. (5) TAEYANGUI CHUKJE was a good 2nd on debut behind the excellent Sun Day all the way back in March. He disappointed in his return three months later and comes in here after a further four months off.

Selections (10) Fashion Wang (7) Baengnichong (5) Taeyangui Chukje (2) Golden Rex
Next Best 3, 8
Fast Start 2, 5, 8, 10

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens here with just four of the twelve having raced before. (1) CHEONNYEONUIJILJU has raced twice, finishing a much-improved 2nd at this distance on September 28th, beating a length and a half by a good-looking winner in a fast time. He started slowly that day but ran on very well and should have too much here. Of the others with experience, (2) GOLDEN SHARP and (6) KARIN both finished 5th on their respective debuts and both will be expected to improve today. Of the first-time starters, the pick in trials was (7) GOOD DANCER. The Bart Rice-trained colt went through a couple of heats the latest of which was alongside some very experienced racehorses and he didn’t look out of place. A watching brief is advised with the rest of them although (4) DOCTOR THUNDER seemed to know what she was doing and could go well first-up. Watch the market for any clues.

Selections (1) Cheonnyeonuijilju (7) Good Dancer (6) Karin (2) Golden Sharp
Next Best 4, 9
Fast Start 2, 10

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

(9) YEONGSEONG ACE ran 2nd on debut over this distance on September 7th and while he was seven-lengths back behind a good winner, he showed enough to suggest that he has potential and can win here. (4) GIDAEHAE also ran 2nd on debut back in August. She was stepped up to 1300M for her second start five weeks ago when she finished 6th, just under a length behind (5) GOLD TICKET who was himself making his second career start. Both should be in the hunt here with Gidaehae slightly favoured back at this trip. (3) RACING GALLOPER was 3rd behind Gidaehae in that race back in August. He returns following nine weeks off and the trainer/jockey combination will attract plenty. There are two debut-makers and of the pair, (7) JOY OF LUCK looks to have the most chance of making an immediate impact.

Selections (9) Yeongseong Ace (4) Gidaehae (5) Gold Ticket (3) Racing Galloper
Next Best 7, 1
Fast Start 1, 2, 3, 5

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

She’s yet to score in eight but (3) ROCK HARD QUEEN ran 4th in a significantly better race than this over this distance three weeks ago and she looks very much the one to beat here, probably looking to lead from gate to wire. She faces a very modest set of rivals, the best of which looks to be (10) GOLD TREE who ran a creditable 5th aa month ago on what was just his second career start and first at this distance. (4) WANBONG is the only one of the ten who has a top three finish to his name so far and he is third best here. Among the others we are looking for ones with the potential to improve. (1) HOT GIRL and (5) CAPTAIN COOK come closest to fitting the bill.

Selections (3) Rock Hard Queen (10) Gold Tree (4) Wanbong (5) Captain Cook
Next Best 1, 9
Fast Start 2, 3, 10

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

Both (2) YEOWANGUI GWIHWAN and (9) ARCADIA step up in class following their respective maiden wins over this distance. Both look well-equipped to cope at this level with Arcadia slightly favoured among the pair at this stage. However, they will both need to improve if they are to beat the likely favourite. That’s (4) USEUNG TICKET, who got his own maiden win in July before running a distant 2nd to Fashion Of Marine on his first try at this level in August at 1200M. He stepped down to this trip fir his latest start three weeks ago and while he only managed 6th, it was a stronger race than this and he is well worth another chance. (3) NOPIGOM NAREUSYA is another who it might be worth taking another look at, as she drops back in trip for the first time in a long time. (7) REALLY ONE was longest shot on the board when running a 4th of 12 at this distance last month (more…)