The behind closed doors meeting at Seoul on Saturday is a reasonably decent card with 9 races from 11:00 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

Wide open race to begin with but two last start winners have an excellent chance of repeating. We’ll side with likely favourite (9) ECTON JILJU, who made all for a sharp win over 1000M at start number three on June 6^th. It’s true that he weakened in his first two outings, which were both over today’s distance, but he looks to have come on since then and with another good start, he can go all the way again. (11) JUMALUI SIJAK took five attempts to get her maiden win and it too came over 1000M. She has come from off the pace in her races so far so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she get in at a nice weight here under a good apprentice. (3) ROSEDAY MARINE has a 2^nd place to her name and from a good draw should be on pace once more with claims on a place. In a race with not much depth, the first-timers should be in with a shout too, in particular (5) LUCKY THUNDER who ran well for 2^nd in a useful time in a trial in late April. It’s taken him a while to get to the races but a similar run to the trial should put him close.

Selections	(9) Ecton Jilju (11) Jumalui Sijak (3) Roseday Marine (5) Lucky Thunder
Next Best	1, 10
Fast Start	3, 8, 9, 11

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Fillies and mares only here and trying to catch one in form won’t be easy. (10) SPEED FLYING is at least consistent and while she is yet to win, she has finished in the top five on nine of thirteen occasions so far. She has registered good times at the distance, carries a light weight, and shouldn’t be troubled too much by the wide draw. We’ll take a chance on her. The probable favourite is (4) EUNHYE PADO, a status earned by a good 4^th last start over 1400M when she sat handy from gate nine and then ran on fairly. In other recent starts she had been getting too far back, but she gets her best draw for a long time today and can make it count. (12) HAPPY MONTH has a strong finish on her and if she can keep out of trouble from the wide gate, she should be coming home strong with placing chances. (7) HIT ACE is another in the solid but unspectacular mold and that may be enough to see her challenging for some minor money here.

Selections	(10) Speed Flying (4) Eunhye Pado (12) Happy Month (7) Hit Ace
Next Best	6, 9
Fast Start	3, 5, 7, 9

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 33 Million

Quite a strong race for the level. (6) LUMINOUS QUEEN is up in class after running 2^nd on debut over 1000M before making all to strike easily over 1200M second-up on June 12^th. She comes up slightly in trip here but is nicely drawn to be on pace again and she may take some beating. (3) ULTRA KING got his maiden win three starts back over 1400M. He’s been on pace in his subsequent two appearances at this level, both at that same distance and has weakened to 5^th and 4^th. He drops back slightly in trip today and with Munro aboard can challenge. So can (4) VYING BLADE. He was beaten by Ultra King last time but draws better today and should be going close. (10) GANGSEO PRINCESS has a great start on her but will need to overcome the wide draw to get to her favoured position. (1) FORT SEUONE another in the placing frame.

Selections	(6) Luminous Queen (3) Ultra King (4) Vying Blade (10) Gangseo Princess
Next Best	1, 8
Fast Start	1, 6, 8, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(4) FASHIONED PASSION put in a disappointing performance when well supported over 1400M on June 12^th. Her jockey that day – whose services are not engaged this time – stated that he felt the distance did not agree with her and that she is better at shorter. Well, she goes back in trip today to a distance she won well at two starts back at this class when she settled back from a very wide draw and ran on strongly. She is favoured to return to the winner’s circle today. Instead, her last start jockey gets on (5) DONGJIN CHOEGANG and he is set to be the main danger. He won his opening two races, both at this distance, in fine but contrasting styles before struggling a little at this class over 1400M. He too, should appreciate the step back in trip. We will acknowledge but ignore the potential clue about which one Moon Se Young rides, while accepting it may come back to bite us as Dongjin Choegang does look to have more wins in him. (8) RAON THE TIGER is up in class after a front-running win over 1300M on June 13^th. That win had been coming and we can expect him to be on pace or handy here and to be competitive in the finish. (1) ILGYEOK PILSAL comes up in class despite being winless so far but gets in under a nice weight and from the inside gate may sneak a place.

Selections	(4) Fashioned Passion (5) Dongjin Choegang (8) Raon The Tiger (1) Ilgyeok Pilsal
Next Best	9, 11
Fast Start	6, 8, 9, 12

Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(3) RAON PINK will be one of the biggest favourites of the day and she’s hard to oppose having won her latest two starts at 1300M and 1400M in good order, making all in one and sitting on the pace behind the leader in the other before proving too strong late on. The latest of those wins was at this class, the step back in trip is no issue, and she should be leading gate to wire again. (1) COBRA BALL returned from five months off to win easily with an all the way showing over this distance on June 12^th. He is up in class but comes down in the weights and draws very nicely. He’ll be on pace too and looks the only credible threat. The rest are not convincing. (2) KING OF SUNDAY ran well for 4^th place at class and distance at his last start a month ago, running on from midfield and a similar run should put him in placing contention today. (6) MONEY SIJANG is rarely too far away and is another who should be doing her best work late on.

(more…)