For racing to continue at its current level of two days a week, we need the social distancing levels to remain at “1.5” in at least Jeju Island, Daegu and Gwangju (and ideally Cheonan). They are currently at level “2.0” in Seoul and Busan but with no vaccine progress and the virus cases predicted by both local media and government to rise significantly next week, it is possible that in the capital at least there will be further restrictions. This weekend and next weekend should be ok though. Saturday sees 8 races at Seoul from 11:00 to 18:00 and 6 races at Busan from 11:30 to 16:50. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Maiden fillies get things underway for the weekend. (4) GOLDEN CHANCE will probably be favourite off the back of a 4^th and a 2^nd in two starts so far. She came close to making all in the latter of those, which was at this distance, and is nicely drawn to get to the front early again. (5) LONDON POWER ran well for 3^rd on debut over 1000M at the end of February. She was well back behind a good winner but should have come on for the run and can be a danger. (1) DANCING WITH YOU showed promise in her first two outings and while she put in a poor effort in her third, she has subsequently trialed up well and should be a factor. (13) MACH JIJON is another who can have a line drawn through her latest effort. She has the fastest time of any of these for the distance and can go better today. (14) CHOEGANG QUEEN is the solitary debut maker. She didn’t catch the eye in trials but all the others from her dam have been winners and she is worth keeping an eye on.

Selections	(5) London Power (4) Golden Chance (13) Mach Jijon (1) Dancing With you
Next Best	10, 13
Fast Start	1, 10, 11, 13

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Just one previous winner in the field and that status is enough to ensure that (8) ACE SOLOMON is well-backed here. Always prominent he ran on to win very comfortably over this distance on March 6^th. He carries only slightly more weight today and should be on pace once more with every chance of a repeat. (13) MUJEOK BULPAE registered a pleasing enough 2^nd on debut over 1000M on February 27^th. He had previously shown good speed in a trial and should have come on for that run to be a big danger here. (5) SEONGSIL SONYEO came from off the pace to run 2^nd at this distance a month ago and can aim for the places again. There are three first time starters and a couple of them look to have claims first-up. Both (11) BURNING GUN and (14) CONSTANTINE ran 2^nd in their respective trials and while the draw does neither of them any favours, both should acquit themselves well.

Selections	(8) Ace Solomon (13) Mujeok Bulpae (5) Seongsil Sonyeo (14) Constantine
Next Best	11, 9
Fast Start	1, 4, 5, 8

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

A maiden that is somewhat on the weak side. The only one of them to have even finished in the top three before is (11) CHAMILHO and that’s enough to make her favourite. Forget her latest effort when the 1400M didn’t suit, she’s back at 1200M today and shouldn’t be bothered by the wide draw. We’re going to side with the solitary debut-maker though. (14) SMART OFFICER came from the middle of the pack to win a trial at the end of March. While she has the worst of the draw, she couldn’t have asked for a softer race to debut in and she won’t need to improve much off that trial to win. (6) DOUBLE TAKE did nothing on debut but previously clocked a good time in a trial so is worth another chance here while (8) AURORA ROAD and (10) VESPER are others who can improve on inauspicious starts.

Selections	(14) Smart Officer (11) Chamilho (10) Vesper (6) Double Take
Next Best	8, 9
Fast Start	1, 4, 11, 13

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Competitive race here. (8) THE WIN beat a couple of these when 3^rd in a promising enough debut on March 27^th. True, he was some way back behind a good winner but ran on pleasingly and the additional furlong could be to his benefit today. (13) JAMAICA POWER was 4^th in that race on what was his debut too. He perhaps has a bit more to find but the jockey booking is eye-catching. The main threat though is (10) MIDNIGHT QUEEN. While she was only 7^th last time out, she finished ahead of a couple of these in a good time in what was a much stiffer test. She has every chance here. (12) JEMA FORTUNE actually beat Midnight Queen two starts back and for that fact alone, has to come into the equation today. (3) JANGSAN PRIDE and (9) OX BOY are others in at least the placing hunt.

Selections	(8) The Win (10) Midnight Queen (9) Ox Boy (3) Jangsan Pride
Next Best	12, 13
Fast Start	4, 10, 11, 12

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

It’s time that (7) GLOBAL YEONGUNG won a race. The Take Charge Indy colt comes in off the back of near-misses in each of his latest three outings at 1200M and 1400M. He can sit handy here from a good draw and should be too strong in the latter stages. If he does come up short again then another Take Charge Indy, (9) NONSTOP GISANG, may take advantage. He too has started to figure things out in his latest two and can continue his development here. (5) JOEUN SAI ran a useful time when 4^th at this distance last start and warrants attention as place hope while (3) ONE JI too come sin off his best finish to date last start and can maintain some momentum here. The wildcard is (2) WONDERFUL K. He ran 2^nd and 5^th in his first two starts before parting company with his jockey leaving the gate on what was to be his third attempt last month, completing the course himself. He has drawn well here and does seem to have ability.

Selections	(7) Global Yeongung (2) Wonderful K (9) Nonstop Gisang (3) One Ji
Next Best	5, 1
Fast Start	3, 4, 5, 12

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 28 Million

(12) RAON THE POWER won his first two in fine style before running 2^nd to Top Of Korea on his first try at this class on March 20^th. He has drawn wide here but so too have his main rivals – and he is favoured to get back to winning ways today. (11) ACE DAY is half-brother to the excellent Today. He won on debut at this distance and comes in after a strong 2^nd place over 1400M to Baby Line when he had to overcome the widest draw to get to the lead. He should be the primary danger. (13) WONDERFUL KING remains a maiden after seven attempts but he has four to-three finishes and beat no fewer than four of his rivals here on his way to 2^nd place at class and distance last start. He looks good for at least another place finish today. (5) FINAL PARTY and (4) CHOEGANG CUPID are others in the minor money hunt.

Selections	(12) Raon The Power (11) Ace Day (13) Wonderful King (4) Choegang Cupid
Next Best	5, 3
Fast Start	4, 5, 6, 12

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(3) BEOLMAL DAEJANG is the one to beat here. He’s got progressively closer across his three starts to date, culminating in a runner-up finish last start over 1300M. He ran on strong with an extra half-furlong to play with today, can make his breakthrough. (1) SAEMYEONG HAETSAL and (5) WONDERFUL JOY have already found their way into the winner’s circle, both of them in their respective latest starts. The latter’s came at this distance and both can go close again today. (10) CUPID KOREA comes in off a career-best 2^nd place last start. He should be on pace here and has claims on a place again. (4) LAST BOSS ran 4^th last tine at this distance and comes down 3.5kg in the weights today with an apprentice on board, which should put him into at least the minor money reckoning.

Selections	(3) Beolmal Daejang (1) Saemyeong Haetsal (5) Wonderful Joy (4) Last Boss
Next Best	10, 9
Fast Start	1, 6, 10, 14

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 35 Million

Two winning streaks are on the line here. (7) MACH TITAN will be the favourite to keep his intact. He has made all the running in his last three starts, winning all of them well, most recently at class and distance. He gets the better of the draw here and could well lead all the way again. (11) GODDESS MOON has won four in a row. She steps up to the mile for the first time but she is a two-time winner at 1400M, both times leading all the way. She has a 4kg weight advantage over her rival here and can make it count but she will be up against it in terms of their respective draws. As good as the favourites are, it’s not a two-horse race. (1) COPY THAT has only been outside the top-two on one occasion in eight starts so far. He’s won at this level over 1400M and while he started slowly from a wide draw last time out, still rallied for 2^nd. He’ll go close again. (2) LEGACY beat plenty of these when 3^rd behind the very good pair of Choegang Ssonsal and Jera a month ago and has minor money claims again. (10) TOP FIRE has a fast time at this distance to his name and can’t be ruled out either.

Selections	(7) Mach Titan (11) Goddess Moon (2) Legacy (1) Copy That
Next Best	10, 5
Fast Start	1, 7, 11, 12

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 28 Million

(11) YAHO GOLDEN CAT enters off a good 2^nd place on March 14^th at class and distance. That continued a run of consistent form and he looks well-positioned here to return to the winner’s circle, likely looking to lead. Another very consistent type is (3) MYEONGJIN DAY. He is yet to finish any worse than 4^th in four attempts and steps back in trip after a solid 4^th place over 1700M just two weeks ago. That was a good race and he also has a swift 2^nd at this distance to his name. (4) ALCHAN NURI was 7^th behind Yaho Golden Cat last start but the time before ran 3^rd at class and distance in a good time. He can be considered a place chance here. (5) WANY K and (9) GOLDILOCKS are among several others in the hunt for the minor money in what looks a competitive affair.

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