The 2019 Korean Oaks takes place at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon and a full field of 16 runners are set to assemble for the fillies’ Classic. There are 6 races in total at Busan from 12:40 to 17:10 while at Seoul there are eleven races from 10:45 to 18:00.

Dae Wan Ma is set to be hot favourite for the Oaks. She ran 2nd in the KRA Cup Mile having won Seoul’s Classic trial a month earlier. She’s been to Busan before when 2nd in last December’s Breeders’ Cup and she is the one to beat.

Last Sunday we saw an odds-on chance go down in the Korea Derby, however, and Dae Wan Ma is no sure thing. The beaten jockey last week was Yoo Seung-wan and he arrives in Busan with the chance to put things right on Smile Girl, winner of Seoul’s Oaks trial in April.

Peter Wolsley’s Top Of World looks firmly in the hunt as well, while Mighty Power and Amazon Yeogeol are also in contention for two trainers, Baik Kwang-yeol and Kim Young-kwan, who are in danger of having an unusually fallow Classic series. Doctor Thunder, so disappoitning in the Cup Mile, is the wildcard. Here is horse by horse for the full cards at both Seoul & Busan:

Seoul Race 1: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

1. GEUMSEONG YEOWANG – Best of 5^th from 10 starts so far. Drops back in trip having finished last on muddy track over 1300M three weeks ago. Hard to recommend here.
2. BEST MAID – 10^th behind Tri Thunder at 1300M on April 20^th but was 4^th on most recent effort at this distance in March. Minor money at best.
3. ECO BROTHER – Winner on debut at this distance on wet track in December. 10^th and 6^th in two starts at this level since. Better draw today and outside place chance.
4. GOLD PERILLA – Up in class having registered his maiden win at the ninth time of asking making all over this trip on April 21^st. More to find in this company but solid placing chances again under good apprentice jockey.
5. UNAK HABIO – Recent form very cold. Only possible angle is he drops back in trip and has a top jockey on board, but neither are enough to make him a recommend.
6. BLUE FIRE – Still a maiden after ten attempts but has been very close with four runner-up finishes including last time at class and distance. Generally sits just off the pace, top jockey stays on and a big chance here.
7. PARTY POWER – Makes her 51^st start today, and occasionally picks up some minor prize money. Always runs on late but usually leaves a little too much to do and similar is likely today.
8. NAMJJOK NARA – Her best finishes at this level have been at 1700M and while she carries a light weight here, she wouldn’t seem to have the speed to make an impact.
9. TRI THUNDER – Winner on debut last September and has been no worse than 6^th in six subsequent outings at this level. Back in trip today after a 3^rd place over 1300M last time and solid claims.
10. STRONG CUPID – Yet to finish any better than 9^th in six attempts during which she’s been dropped in class to little effect. Avoid.

Selections	(6) Blue Fire (9) Tri Thunder (4) Gold Perilla (7) Party Power
Next Best	3, 5
Fast Start	3, 4, 5, 9

 

Seoul Race 2:  Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

1. EDWIN – Never better than 5^th in six starts so far. Back in trip today but slow starter and easy to toss here.
2. TOUR BROTHER – Looked ready to score at the end of last year and was sent off odds-on favourite in consecutive races finishing 3^rd in the first of them but last in the second having hung-out throughout. Last seen running 8^th over 1300M in March. Talented but unreliable.
3. RAON HAWK – Offered very little in three starts so far and will need some significant improvement here.
4. JEONGMUN SARANG – Ran 2^nd in valuable juvenile race in September but struggled against the track’s best of his crop a month later. Disappointing 4^th when hot favourite at the end of March but with a good start, can go close here.
5. JEONGDONG SARANG – Only two starts so far – sent off at nearly 400/1 last time and ran like it. Booking of Alan Munro the positive and while he might need to get off and push, that might be enough to find the minor money here.
6. SEOUL CITY – Getting closer across three outings and was a good and close 2^nd at the distance last time having led until close to home. Can get on pace again and could go one better.
7. WONDERFUL BRAVO – No better than 7^th in seven tries and comes in after a slow 7^th of 12 over this distance last time. Much improvement required.
8. DALLINEUN ACE – Yet to offer much in the way of speed though recent some modest support two weeks ago after a promising trial. Promptly finished 9^th of 12. This is weak though so improvement possible.

Selections	(4) Jeongmun Sarang (6) Seoul City (2) Tour Brother (5) Jeongdong Sarang
Next Best	1, 8
Fast Start	2, 4, 6

 

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

1. NONGBON JARANG – Last all the way round on debut last October and not seen again until trialling underwhelmingly at the end of March. Watching brief here.
2. REGINA – Managed a 4^th place two starts ago but struggled on latest a month ago at this trip. Has been slowly away on three of her four starts so far and is an outsider here.
3. JACKS KHAN – Hasn’t beaten many in four attempts so far and was sent back to trial after latest effort in March. Leave well alone.
4. JEONGMUN SAI – 3^rd on debut at 1000M was followed by a 2^nd place over 1300M when he led until the closing stages. Back in trip by half a furlong today and a big chance of leading all the way.
5. WIND SKY – Much improved 2^nd over 1300M last start. Will need to find more here but can be considered for further progress.
6. BLUE BAND – “Full” brother to President’s Cup and Grand Prix Stakes winner Indie Band, he’s not quite lived up to that so far with 5^th and 7^th from two starts. Showed prominently over 1300M last start before weakening in closing stages. Could improve at 1200M today.
7. MEISEI DREAM – First-time state but she just scraped through a trial in the slowest possible qualifying time. Watching brief here.
8. COLORS DE LAGO – Some high hopes on debut after a positive trial and has offered glimpses. 5^th of 9 at this distance last time and can improve.
9. SONGAM RAPUNZEL – Debut-maker. Nothing special in trials although it was run at a slow pace. Others are preferred.
10. HAWK ARIRANG – Has shown slight but noticeable improvement across three starts so far and was 6^th of 12 last time, running on creditably. Can improve again.
11. GOLD LEVEL – Getting slightly better and comes in following back to back 5^th place finishes. Top jockey on again and a chance in this company.

Selections	(4) Jeongmun Sai (5) Wind Sky (6) Blue Band (11) Gold Level
Next Best	8, 10
Fast Start	4, 6

 

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

1. UNJU YEONGUNG – Yet to finish any better than 7^th in nine attempts and it would be no surprise if that record was maintained here.
2. RAISING ANGEL – A winner on debut last December, her worst in four subsequent starts was her only other try at further than 1000M. Nevertheless, she beat a couple of these last time and is well drawn to get on pace. A chance.
3. BLESSING ROAD – Six starts at this level since maiden win last September with a best of 3^rd. 5^th behind some useful ones last time and jockey booking a plus.
4. SPECIAL GOLD – First start since last August. She trialled adequately enough in April but others likely to be favoured first-up here.
5. SUJEBI – Recent form has been uninspiring. Did manage a 5^th place at 1000M in February but has struggled when asked to go any further.
6. PRIVATE MAN – Still a maiden but no worse than 5^th in six starts to date. Up in class after latest near miss but should be competitive.
7. HUNTER HAWK – Finished last on his return from five months out in April. Never any better than 3^rd and up against it here.
8. P.K. JEONSA – Got promoted to this class with back to back runner-up finishes in February and March but was 8^th on first try at the level on April 21^st. Should be on pace and worth another chance today.
9. VICTORY KING – Up in class today after consecutive 2^nd place finishes. No worse than 6^th in five outings to date. Will need to improve but not impossible.
10. RICH RULES – Winner on debut and then 3^rd in both subsequent starts at this class. Up in trip for the first time today, the draw isn’t ideal but is she gets away well, she has a real chance.
11. MAENGSAN HERO – Yet to finish in the top three, he’s an import who has been dropped from class 4 but hasn’t found things much more amenable.

Selections	(10) Rich Rules (2) Raising Angel (9) Victory King (8) P.K. Jeonsa
Next Best	6, 4
Fast Start	2, 3, 8, 10

 

Seoul Race 5: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

1. DAEGUN CHEONHA – Never worse than 3^rd, he got his maiden win over 1300M last start. Up in class today, he looks well in again and can win again.
2. MALIBU GINGER – 3^rd behind Crazy Wiki and M J Power over 1200M on April 20^th. Previous effort at this distance didn’t go well but can be given a chance here.
3. NEUNGRYEOK SIDAE – Class and distance winner at the end of March and followed up with 5^th of 10 on a wet track three weeks ago. Apprentice jockey gets the weight back down today and she’ll be in the hunt.
4. FLYING BOSS – Still a maiden after fourteen attempts but he’s had plenty of near-misses. However, he comes in having finished 11^th behind several of these last time so has plenty of form to overturn.
5. CHEUNGDAM GENIE – Maiden winner in February but weakened on first try at class and distance in tough company on April 13^th. Worth another chance here.
6. GOLDEN DIAL – Hung inwards throughout last start which was his first at this class. With better manner can improve today.
7. M J POWER – 2^nd behind Crazy Wiki over 1200M on April 20^th, coming from well off the pace. Attempts this trip for the first time and could make for an interesting outsider.
8. MUNHAK TIGER – First start since running 3^rd behind M J Power in February and first at this distance. Can come from off the pace and finish strongly.
9. CRAZY WIKI – Beat four of these on his way to a four-length win at this class over 1200M on April 20^th. First try at this distance today, he’ll be on speed again and a repeat isn’t impossible.
10. MATCH CAPTAIN – Struggled in the TJK Trophy last month, losing a shoe in the process. Going well before that though so don’t completely write-off.
11. MUNHAK TSUNAMI – 4^th behind Crazy Wiki at 1200M on April 20^th when sent off as favourite. Today’s distance should suit better, and he can overturn that form.
12. JEOKBYEOK SHINHWA – A winner at this class over 1400M on April 21^st. He carries an additional 4kg today but could potentially repeat. Will look to come from well off the pace so draw not a problem.

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