Sunday’s meetings are at Seoul (10 races from 10:45 to 18:00) and at Busan (6 races from 12:05 to 17:00). Seoul will take place behind closed doors although Busan Racecourse will be open for pre-booked seats up to 20% of indoor capacity. Tickets must be bought in advance through the My Card app. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens to kick us off and it features one of the banker favourites of the day. Seven of the eleven race for the very first time but (1) YUKWAEHAN SEONTAEK has appeared twice already, running 3rd and 2nd, both at this distance, both in good times and both behind promising horses. Drawing well here, it really should be 3rd time lucky. (6) POWER BOX is set to be second-favourite. After a front-running, if slightly slow, trial, he ran a solid 4th on debut at this distance on August 7th in a decent time. Expect improvement here. Among the debut-makers (4) TOUGH GUY trialed up well, leading for much of the way around from gate ten before ending in 3rd in a good time. He draws better first-up and should be a danger. So too (9) DAEBAK STAR, who went through two trials, winning the second of them in a good time. (7) SILVER STAR another in the hunt.
| Selections | (1) Yukwaehan Seontaek (6) Power Box (4) Tough Guy (9) Daebak Star |
| Next Best | 7, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 33 Million
Three-year-olds only here. The logical pick is (9) SISEON JUMA, who ran 5th on debut before improving to 2nd on her second start on August 15th, beating three of these on her way to recording the fastest time of any of this field at today’s distance. She was on pace that day so the draw is not ideal but with some natural improvement, she can win. The big danger is (4) JEONGMUN JIJON. He took a couple of goes to figure things out but has impressed in his latest couple, especially last time when 3rd over this distance when coming from off the pace. He draws well and is sure to be in the finish. Solitary first-time starter (11) B J FLASH did nothing wrong in his trial and this is quite a soft race to debut in. He led his trial so the draw may not be ideal but don’t rule him out. (6) GEOSEON DOLPUNG has led most of his races to date and while he has been passed in all of them, has registered a couple of decent times and should be in the hunt today. (10) JISANGUN another in the placing frame.
| Selections | (9) Siseon Juma (4) Jeongmun Jijon (11) B J Flash (6) Geosen Dolpung |
| Next Best | 10, 7 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
(4) JEONGSEONG DAERO has finished no worse than 4th in three starts so far and seems to be working towards a win. She came from off the pace at her latest start to finish 2nd in what was admittedly a slow time, but she looks to have scope for improvement and has solid claims here. (5) BOOSTER ROCKET ran a decent time when stepped up to this distance for the first time at start number three on August 21st. She settled handy that day but from a good draw should be on the speed this time around and surely goes close. (1) LUXURY KING enters in his best form so far with back-to-back 3rd place finishes from his latest two. The latter was at this distance in a fair time, and he can sit handy from the inside gate and run on. In what is a relatively weak race, (11) SONGAM PLAYER can return to some kind of form. His recent results aren’t indicative of his ability, and he can run into a place. (3) CHANGI CHARM another with claims.
| Selections | (4) Jeongseong Daero (5) Booster Rocket (1) Luxury King (11) Songam Player |
| Next Best | 3, 10 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens kick things off here with only two of the twelve having raced before. That leads us to the trial videos and (1) CLIFTON KING missed the jump in his trial but worked forward quietly and ran on strong to cross the line 2nd without being hurried along. If he brings that form to the races, then he should win and given the stable, he is bound to be hot favourite. (2) SHY DRAGON won her heat in a decent time on a wet track. She was slowest away and was well back before running on strong. Just like Clifton King, no whip was required, and she looks to have potential. (11) YEONGCHEON SOLEMIO was 3rd in the same trial as Shy Dragon. He was up with the pace throughout and while he draws wide, has every chance of going well first up. Of the pair with experience, (4) HANEUL GANGJA ran well enough in 6th place on debut to suggest that there is improvement to come while returning to the first timers, Seo Seung-un and Bart Rice team up with (3) GREEN SPEED who looked competent enough in the trial and has a nice draw.
| Selections | (1) Clifton King (2) Shy Dragon (11) Yeongcheon Solemio (4) Haneul Gangja |
| Next Best | 3, 10 |
| Fast Start | 3, 9, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
A few standouts here. (7) POLKA remains a maiden after twelve attempts but comes in with consistent form – she has finished in the top-five on seven occasions. At her latest start on August 14th, she beat a couple of these on her way to 4th place and has as good a chance as any of gaining what has so far been an elusive first victory. Big danger and probable betting favourite is (4) HIT ACE, based on her latest effort when 2nd in a fast time at this distance and only narrowly beaten. She was close to the speed that day and from a good draw has every chance of being so again today. She may be the one to beat. (2) TEUKGEUP YEOWANG is another who enters with her form heading in the proper trajectory and she can aim to at least match the 3rd place finish she secured on her latest appearance on August 8th when she settled in midfield and ran on. (8) SANGSEUNG HAENGJIN led in her latest appearance at this distance on August 15th and while she eventually weakened, the time was fair and could mark an overdue uptick in form. Disregard the latest effort from (6) LUCKY SEOKPO. It was his first start in four months, and he should be fitter today.
| Selections | (7) Polka (4) Hit Ace (2) Teukgeup Yeowang (8) Sangseung Haengjin |
| Next Best | 6, 11 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 9, 12 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here and it’s about time (1) CHEONGMA HWANGHU broke through. She has, by some margin, the fastest time among these at the distance to her name and six top-five finishes from eight starts to date. Her 4th place last start was a touch disappointing, but she comes in here at the same weight and with the inside gate and every chance of leading all the way. (2) QUEEN HARLEY drops back in trip following good 2nd place over 1400M on August 13th when she sat handy and ran on. She too draws nicely and is set to be in the finish again. (5) BARAM GONGJU somewhat unexpectedly beat Cheongma Hwangu when the pair ran 3rd and 4th at the distance on August 22nd. She comes up 3kg in the weights as a result but warrants some respect here. (10) WONDERFUL LADY is no superstar but actually has the best “in the money” rate of any of these. She ran solid 2nd over 1300M on August 13th and can give an honest account of herself once more. (8) SMARTY DOLPUNG is among other placing hopes.
| Selections | (1) Cheongma Hwanghu (2) Queen Harley (5) Baram Gongju (10) Wonderful Lady |
| Next Best | 8, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
There’s not a lot of great form on show coming into this. That leaves (12) OKCHUMA, despite never having finished better than 4th, as the pick. That 4th did come at his latest start though, on August 15th at 1300M when he ran on from the middle of the pack. He also has a 5th place in a decent time at today’s distance. His racing pattern suggests that the wide draw won’t be a factor and Munro in the saddle can only help. (7) HELLO GEUMSEONG made up ground late on last start to run 6th at this distance in a semi-acceptable time. She won’t need to improve much to go closer here. (4) SAENAE CHOICE hasn’t caught the eye in recent runs but has registered a couple of competitive times at this distance and should measure up in this company. She should be on the early speed. (9) PEPE RUN and (3) GUREUMTAGO are among others who could place on a good day.
| Selections | (12) Okchuma (7) Hello Geumseong (4) Saenae Choice (9) Pepe Run |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 6 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 33 Million
A really good race here. (2) YEONGDO GALMAEGI drops back in trip after two solid efforts over a mile which saw him leading or on pace before finished in 4th and 3rd. His solitary win to date came at this distance at class 6 level in a fast time and from a good draw he should be on pace again and has fair claims to win. First among many dangers is (7) ACE GUY. He too got his victory over this distance at class 6 level when leading all the way two starts back before being slowly away on his first try at this class on August 1st and only making it up to 5th. He is better than that run suggests and while he comes up 3kg in the weights, he is firmly in this. (6) BEAUTY HILL comes up in class today following a gate to wire win over this distance on August 14th. She will need to improve in this company, but she has only raced three times so there can be some natural progression and she should measure up from a nice draw. (3) APRIL QUEEN stretches out to this distance for the first time after a good 2nd place over 1300M a month ago. She draws nicely here and should see out the trip. (12) HAPPY WOMAN is another up in class after a good win over 1300M and the jockey and trainer combination will have plenty taking note.
| Selections | (2) Yeongdo Galmaegi (7) Ace Guy (6) Beauty Hill (3) April Queen |
| Next Best | 12, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(7) CHEONBISEONG has run consistent times, both at this distance and on his most recent start at 1300M when weakened a touch late on for 7th in a race of narrow margins. He should be on pace here and has the potential to lead all the way. With at least equal claims is (1) VICTORICA. Her sole win to date came at this distance in April when she led gate to wire but her three starts since have been at 1300M with a 2nd and a 3rd among the results but when she hasn’t been able to get to the front. The inside gate today makes her intriguing – she has the fastest finish of all of these and if she is on the lead or even handy, she could be the one to beat. (8) GREEN POKJU is another who will be looking to get to the lead. She failed to do that from gate ten last start and accordingly finished down the field but with a better start she will surely go closer. Cheonbiseong has had the beating of her a couple of times already, but she can see off most of the others. (3) RUN TO GOAL, who can take advantage if the front-runners go too fast, and (9) SEUNGRI YEOJEONSA, up in class after an all the way win at this distance in July, are others to consider.
| Selections | (7) Cheonbiseong (1) Victorica (8) Green Pokju (3) Run To Goal |
| Next Best | 9, 6 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
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Horse Racing in Korea 