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:

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…)