It’s KRA Cup Eve! The delayed 1st leg of the 2020 Triple Crown takes place at Busan on Sunday but before that, there is a bumper 15-race card at Seoul on Saturday. As ever these days, however, it will be run behind closed doors. The highly thought-of Eoma Eoma will run in the concluding race 15. Due to the Cup Mile, a number of top jockeys including Moon Se Young and Alan Munro are in Busan for the weekend and will not be riding at Seoul. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million 

The two-year-old debutants line up over the short course in the first where there looks to be some nice types. (5) MOST SPEED is the on top selection after a very speedy trial. The Federalist filly cruised along early before railing like a greyhound and winning by a big margin. The time was good and there looked to be more in the tank. (2) JILJU DAERO handed in a nice trial performance when crossing from the outside to take up the running. Under minimal urging the Gyeongbudaero colt went on to score in a soft trial. He has a good draw and will work forward, whether he can hold out the others we will have to wait and see. (7) HEUNGBARAGI looks to cover the ground with a nice action. The Old Fashioned colt won his trial in good fashion clocking a solid time on a wet track. Lee Joon-chel will need to find a position early on as he has plenty of others with early speed drawn inside of him. (6) LUCKY CLUB worked through the line well in his heat. He settled behind the leader before running through the line in good style. There will be no surprise if any of aforementioned four gallopers take out the opener.

Selections	(5) Most Speed (2) Jilju Daero (7) Heungbaragi (6) Lucky Club
Next Best	8, 3
Fast Start	2, 5, 7

 

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(7) MIR SKY has been sent off at three-figure odds in all three of her outings to date, but such is the weakness of this race, she actually has claims. Those come off the back of managing to finish 4^th in her final start before the shutdown and then winning a trial in May in a reasonable time. She drops back to 1000M for the first time. Such is the level, that those who have been hapless on the racecourse so far but have got it together somewhat in subsequent trials must come into consideration. They include (5) CAPTAIN BRAVO and to a lesser extent, (10) HURRICANE SOCKS There are also three debut-makers who, given the circumstance, should also be given a chance. Among them (1) FINE HEART trialed up alongside some experienced horses. It was a slow run heat but he didn’t look out of place. (3) MASEONG HONSIN one paced but got through her latest effort competently enough. Meanwhile, (2) BIROE KING offered few clues across two trials but the jockey booking will tempt some.

Selections	(7) Mir Sky (1) Fine Heart (5) Captain Bravo (10) Hurricane Socks
Next Best	3, 2
Fast Start	1, 4

 

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million 

The three-year-old gallopers line up over the short course in the third event. (7) CUPID BISANG is the on top selection based on her most recent trial. The Thunder Moccasin filly sat on speed and worked to the line strong albeit passed by a couple. The winner of the trial was Raon Tough Man who lines up in the KRA Cup Mile and is yet to be defeated. The filly matched strides before the winner booted away, but she must be considered a big chance given the strength of this event. (2) RIDE LUCKY lines up for his second start after finishing fourth on debut back in November. The gelding showed a nice turn of foot running on strong to finish fourth behind Lucky Myeongho. (3) RAON HIGH has placed at two of her three starts but disappointed at her most recent effort when well beaten. She threw in the short strides from the furlong onwards last start and whilst the 1000m will be suitable in this event, options going forward will be limited if she cannot get at least the six furlongs. (4) SANTTEUTHANSEUCHIM trialed fairly in March and lines up for her fourth career start. This looks one of the easier assignments she has been placed in.

Selections	(7) Cupid Bisang (2) Ride Lucky (3) Raon High (4) Santteuthanseuchim
Next Best	10, 11
Fast Start	3, 7

 

Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens here. (5) GREAT WAY improved across three appearances before the shutdown, culminating in 3^rd place over 1400M on February 9^th. The race was run in an utterly glacial fashion, but the filly has since shown that she has a bit of speed about her, putting in a very good trial in April. Expect her to be on pace and she has good claims to lead all the way from a good draw. (10) SAND POWER was 3^rd behind Great Way in that February slog. It was his second consecutive 3^rd place finish and while he perhaps doesn’t have the turn of foot required to win, he can hit the board again. The one they’ll need to beat though is (3) SOSEONO LEGEND. She debuted in extremely inauspicious fashion last October and didn’t re-appear again until a May trial. She looked much better in that, finishing a front-running 2^nd. Her dam was a Listed winner in Korea and she’s closely related to Subsidy, who also loved this track. (6) CHEONJI BARAM was quickly beaten when returning two weeks ago but has hinted at ability in the past and may improve today. (7) YONGMARU GU can have a line drawn through his debut and he has performed consistently well in trials since then.

Selections	(3) Soseono Legend (5) Great Way (7) Yongmaru Gu (10) Sand Power
Next Best	6, 8
Fast Start	1, 3, 5, 12

 

Race 5: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

There appears to be a lack of speed in the fifth where the Korean-bred gallopers line up over the 1300m all looking for their first victory. (10) GEUMA FLAWLESS looks to have this in the bag already based on the chestnut’s placing last time out back in December behind New Moon Warrior. The three-year-old trialed a fortnight ago and clocked a good time winning the heat. (6) A. P. PATEK looks next best coming off a third behind Dongjjok Glory in January. The three-year-old trialed fairly in April and may be able map closer to the speed. He hit the line well at his most recent race start. (4) JEONGMUN PRINCE looks (more…)