It’s International Exchange race this weekend but naturally this year, it’s in name only. Nevertheless, there are some extremely interesting match-ups on the cards at both Seoul and Busan. In the capital, Mark Story puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Tokyo City Keiba Trophe, while top filly Dia Road heads the lineup in the Turkey Jockey Club Trophy. Down at Busan, in addition to the Exchange races, there is also the new “Luna Stakes”, which is the primary Korean Oaks trial. There are 13 races at Seoul from 10:25 to 18:00 and 5 at Busan from 12:20 to 15:55. Both meetings are behind closed doors:
Dia Road will line up in the TJK Trophy at Seoul
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
The fillies kick off the thirteen-event race card where there looks a standout engaged in the event. (11) GOOD VOW handed in a good performance on debut when finishing second behind George Queen. The Private Vow filly has gate speed which will help her overcome the outside draw, with the other runners engaged failing to show early dash at their previous outings. If she can get on speed early she will take some running down. (2) BLACK SILVER looks next best coming off some reasonable performances over the 1000m before the hiatus. The Tout filly trialed poorly but we will include her based on her efforts prior to the break. (5) RAON SPECIAL has had just the one start when finishing tenth. Whilst well beaten at her first start she clocked a reasonable time that should see her be competitive in this event, which is considered weaker. (1) BIANCA is the only other likely runner to sit on speed, but she appeared underdone last time out when failing to run the 1300m out. She will appreciate the drop back to the 1000m and should be fitter for the run.
| Selections | (11) Good Vow (2) Black Silver (5) Raon Special (1) Bianca |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 11 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
Eight previously unraced two-year-olds go around here. Based on trials, there is just the one standout in the shape of (5) GEUMBIT YEOJEONSA. The Peace Rules filly put in a front-running performance in her heat ultimately ending up in 2nd place in a creditable time on a dry track. If she hits the front here – and she’s well drawn to do so – she can lead all the way. There are a couple of well-bred ones in. (6) ALL HEART is half-sister to Heuk Jeonsa, a winner of seven of twelve starts so far. It did take Heuk Jeonsa a couple of races to figure things out though and based on All Heart’s trial, it might be the same for her. (4) SAENAE HWANGJE is out of a dam who won plenty in Korea and is half to Simon Queen who also knows where the finish line is. He trialed a little more promisingly. (8) JAY HAWK’s dam too was a good performer in Korea. He went through two trials, the latter of which saw him improve significantly and he can be a danger although it’s likely he will need further than this. (2) YEONGUNG DAEMA and (3) SUPER CHAMPION others who can go well first-up.
| Selections | (5) Geumbit Yeojeonsa (4) Saenae Hwangje (8) Jay Hawk (3) Super Champion |
| Next Best | 2, 6, 1 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Nine Korean-bred gallopers will face the starter in the third where it is hard to make a case for the majority of the field. (9) GOLD FIELD comes off a last start placing behind Daehyong Hojae over the 1400m which reads well for this assignment. The four-year-old has had the fourteen starts yielding two minor placings, which is a hardly convincing statistic, but based on her previous run she can work forward and should hold off most of the field. (8) WINDY RUSH debuts after some fair trials. She showed some speed in her trials so expect her to work forward. She is capable of placing on debut. (5) YAHO M J CAT is second up after a midfield performance behind Top Seed last time out. She started to throw in the short strides halfway up the straight. She should be better for the run and dropping back a furlong should be an advantage. (3) CHEON CHONG lines up after a midfield performance when resuming. He is yet to place from six starts but in such a weak assignment can run into the money.
| Selections | (9) Gold Field (8) Windy Rush (5) Yaho M J Cat (3) Cheon Chong |
| Next Best | 2, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 9 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
(1) TERRA SPEED went into the shutdown having run 2nd on a wet track in a similar race over this distance. He trialed up three weeks ago, finishing 3rd in his heat in a solid time and looks poised to make his breakthrough here. (4) MONEY LINE ran 3rd in that same trial. He hadn’t shown an awful lot in six starts prior to the break but it may have ended up doing him so good and he has a fresh start here. (2) DALRINEUN BITKKAL has a 2nd and a 3rd among his seven outings so far. He returned to action with a 5th place over 1400M on June 21st and should be improving on that today. Under Kim Yong-geun, he can settle just behind the lead and run on strongly. (6) BIG FACE didn’t show much speed in two outings before the shutdown, but he didn’t really need to do too much to finish 2nd in the latter of them. His trial was no better than average, but he should be competitive in this company.
| Selections | (1) Terra Speed (2) Dalrineun Bitkkal (6) Big Face (4) Money Line |
| Next Best | 3, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
A field of twelve will face the starter in the fifth where there looks to be an abundance of speed. (3) JANGSAN BADA has begun his career in good style winning on debut back in February before backing it up with a second behind Wang Taeng I three weeks back. He has drawn perfectly to get a trail into the race and let down with a nice turn of foot. (5) BLUE K comes off a Class 6 win when leading throughout last start. Expect Kim Yong-geun to work forward once again from a good draw and try to lead throughout. (2) MAPAEBONG looks next best after finishing second last time out in similar grade. The Ecton Park entire sprouted wings late to rocket home over the same distance. (6) TOP SEED is a last start winner when leading throughout. The time was reasonable for this grade, with an economic run he can run into the money.
| Selections | (3) Jangsan Bada (5) Blue K (2) Mapaebong (6) Top Seed |
| Next Best | 9, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
The maiden gallopers line up in the second event where a case can be made for many. Going with the lightly raced (2) SUSO TANK to improve at her second start. She was good on debut when hitting the line strongly after running on from a long way back. She should be at an each way price in this event. The extra furlong should only help her chances. (6) JEONSEOLUI FIGHT is the likely favourite in the event. The Colors Flying (more…)
Horse Racing in Korea 