It’s the final race day of September what with the Chuseok holiday upcoming and racing taking one of its two weekends a year off next week. Decent cards at both Seoul (10 races from 10:45 to 18:00) and Busan (6 races from 12:05 to 17:00) to go out with. The Seoul meeting is behind closed doors and all capital area betting facilities remain closed but Busan is open as are OTBs in Changwon, Daegu, Gwangju and Cheonan for punters who pre-book through the MyCard app. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens start things off this Sunday with seven of the twelve making their racecourse debut here. There is some useful experience around though as (6) BYEOLBIT MARU has raced twice already and shown ability. She was 4^th on debut over 1200M before dropping back to today’s trip and running 3^rd on August 15^th when she settled back in the field and ran on. She’ll be favourite here and is the one to beat. (2) DREAM SPEED hinted at ability when 5^th on debut in a fair time over this distance. That was a reasonably strong looking maiden and she should improve here. Among the first-timers, (4) ALL FOR YOUR DREAM looks the best. He was away relatively slowly in his trial but once he set to work, he finished off well crossing the line in the same time as the heat winner. (5) LUCKY INDY beat a couple of these on her way to 4^th in her trial. It wasn’t run at an especially fast pace, but she looked competent enough to suggest she has a chance of going well first-up. Returning to the experienced runners, (10) GEOLJAK DREAM only managed 9^th on debut but it was a fair time and a pretty hot race so expect better today.

Selections	(6) Byeolbit Maru (2) Dream Speed (4) All For Your Dream (5) Lucky Indy
Next Best	10, 7
Fast Start	5, 6, 7, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 33 Million

(11) LAPIEO BAN is set to be warm favourite here. She ran 4^th on debut over this distance before stepping up to 1300M and finishing a good 2^nd. She has come from off the pace both times and while she draws wide, she should have too much for these. (10) FLYING KARA has finished 3^rd in both her starts so far. She was very slowly away at her latest outing before running on well and went back to trial afterwards. She was similarly slow to begin in the trial, but she does have a nice turn of foot and so long as she doesn’t get too far back, she can go close here. (9) PRINCESS DAY beat a couple of these on her way to 3^rd place over this distance on August 22^nd, and while she is yet to run a time, can be considered for improvement again here. (1) SWEET CAMP didn’t do too much wrong when finishing in midfield on debut last month. She draws much better this time around and can improve. There are four debut-makers here and (7) PURGE DAY looks the most likely to make an impression first-up, having run 3^rd in his trial in a decent time and drawing well.

Selections	(11) Lapieo Ban (10) Flying Kara (9) Princess Day (1) Sweet Camp
Next Best	7, 3
Fast Start	2, 4, 9, 11

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 33 Million

(9) SOBERANIA picks herself here following a 4^th and a 2^nd from two starts so far including her latest at this distance on July 3^rd when she led for much of the way only to be passed in the closing stages by a good winner. She has had eleven weeks off since then but will be expected to be on pace again and this time to go all the way. (2) JAY EAGLE ran well for 2^nd place over 1300M on August 8^th, her best finish in seven starts so far. Two starts back she ran a decent time when 4^th at this distance and can be considered here. (11) DESK TAP has been putting in some consistent performances with five top five finishes from six races to date although the maiden win has remained elusive. His times have been fair, and he prefers to sit handy so while the draw is not ideal, it isn’t insurmountable. (7) FINAL ACE and (5) PERFECT LIGHT were beaten by Desk Tap on August 8^th, but both have hinted at ability and can be in the minor money mix today.

Selections	(9) Soberania (2) Jay Eagle (11) Desk Tap (7) Final Ace
Next Best	5, 4
Fast Start	4, 8, 9, 11

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 33 Million

(6) PURE KING returned from nine months out to run a good 2^nd first-up on July 31^st at this distance when he settled midfield and ran on. Seven weeks on, he should have come on for that run and shapes as the one to beat here. (3) BEST HAMSEONG is one of three first-time starters in the race and the Peace Rules filly looked very competent leading all the way in her trial, responding very well to one reminder in the home straight. She can be competitive first-up. So too can (10) MILLION BANK who won her trial, leading for most of the way around on a wet but drying track and similarly responded well when asked for some exertion. (9) SONHADOR ran 4^th behind Pure King on July 31^st, building on what had been a promising debut earlier in the same month. She came from off the pace that day and is likely to do similar here with the trainer/jockey combination ensuring she receives plenty of support. (8) DROMOS won a trial in July before running 3^rd on debut on August 20^th when she led until the home straight. It was an encouraging performance, and she should be in the hunt here too.

Selections	(6) Pure King (3) Best Hamseong (10) Million Bank (9) Sonhador
Next Best	8, 11
Fast Start	3, 4, 8, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(9) SPEAR GUN is the one to beat here, dropping back to a distance at which he ran 2^nd two starts back in fast time having sat handy before dropping back to midfield and then running on well. Since then, he has run a solid 3^rd over 1400M and can be on pace here and win. (8) WONDERFUL ORANGE has the fastest time of any of these at this distance, recorded at her latest start when 4^th on a very wet track on August 21^st. She is yet to win in seventeen starts and will probably find one or two too quick again but shouldn’t be too far away. (6) ONCHEONHA seems to be working towards a win having significantly improved in his latest two outings with a 3^rd and a 2^nd both at 1200M. He briefly touched the front in the home straight last time out and while up in trip, should be in the finish here. (1) SMART JEONSA almost managed to make all over 1200M last time out but was passed by a very good winner in the final furlong. He can aim for a place again. (12) FLYING FULL MOON is another in the placing frame.

Selections	(9) Spear Gun (8) Wonderful Orange (6) Oncheonha (1) Smart Jeonsa
Next Best	12, 11
Fast Start	1, 4, 7, 9

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

Competitive race here. (7) LANE KILLER has raced just the twice so far, registering a 3^rd over 1300M and a 4^th over today’s distance. While we will need to take him a little on trust here that there is some improvement in the tank, he gets a better draw today and has claims. Probable betting favourite is (1) ECHO LADY. She has the fastest time among these at this distance by a considerable margin, achieved three starts back when 2^nd having led through the early stages. She drops back in trip from a last start 4^th over a mile and is firmly in the hunt here. (6) HORAENGI was beaten by Echo Lady two starts back but has consistently run competitive times over this trip, generally settling back and finishing strongly. She has three 5^th place finishes in a row coming into this and should be aiming for better this time around. (9) NORTHERN LIGHTS beat Lane Killer when 3^rd last start and on that alone has to be considered while (2) SPEED MATCH is another with a chance of at least a place.

Selections	(7) Lane Killer (1) Echo Lady (6) Horaengi (9) Northern Lights
Next Best	2, 10
Fast Start	1, 2, 4, 8

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 33 Million

It’s about time (10) FIGHTING NOW made his breakthrough and got his maiden win. He has finished 2^nd on no fewer than five occasions with a further two 3^rd place finishes. He steps back in trip following decent efforts at 1400M in his latest appearances and he can overcome the wide draw to sit midfield or better early and then run on. If Fighting Now does find one too quick again – and let’s face it, he might – then (1) FASHIONED PASSION is one of a number who could take advantage. She has mixed her form since a class and distance win back in April but draws very nicely on the inside here and an apprentice jockey takes 4kg off her back compared with her last start. She can go close. (11) TIZ BLACK has won two of his latest three, the most recent at class and distance on June 20^th. He overcame gate twelve to get on pace today so the draw shouldn’t be too much of an issue and while he is up in the weights, he can be considered again. (5) FANCY PANTS, up in class, and (12) RUNNING KING are others in the hunt.

Selections	(10) Fighting Now (1) Fashioned Passion (11) Tiz Black (5) Fancy Pants
Next Best	12, 9
Fast Start	7, 9, 11, 12

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 33 Million

(4) ECOPIA has a win and three 3^rd place finishes from four starts to date and comes in off back-to-back 3^rd places at this class and distance. From a nice draw she should be on the early speed here and has the potential to go all the way. (1) FIRST STAR was a class and distance winner two starts back before running 4^th at her latest appearance on August 22^nd. She draws well here, and an apprentice jockey keeps the weight nice and low. She is a big danger. (10) GALLANT WARRIOR is developing a bit of case of “second-it is” being yet to win in seven but having finished runner-up in his latest three, including his last start at class and distance He seems tactically versatile so the draw shouldn’t be an issue and he will be running on strong late here. (6) DOCTOR FAITH is another yet to win but who is ultra-consistent with six top three finishes from seven outings. He steps up to this trip for the first time and has claims. (12) HAMAN BANGEOSAN was a smart winner over 1300M at start number two on August 22^nd. She comes up in class and distance here and is the wildcard.

Selections	(4) Ecopia (1) First Star (10) Gallant Warrior (6) Doctor Faith
Next Best	12, 7
Fast Start	2, 4, 7, 12

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 33 Million

We’ll draw a line through the latest offering from (1) HI HI when slowly away over 1200M before making up ground for an uninspiring 6^th place. That was his first time outside the top three and he had previously been running fast times up to 1300M. This is his first try at 1400M, but it should suit, and he gets another chance here. (9) FIGHTING DADDY led for much of the way around 1300M last start on August 29^th before getting swept up by a decent set of runners and finishing 5^th. Expect him to be on pace again here and to be competitive. (11) ACHIM HAMSEONG didn’t do himself justice on his first try at this class four weeks ago when he got a long way back and didn’t run on. He does possess the fastest time of any of these for the distance though and should be afforded another opportunity here. (4) HARUON is a front0runner who comes into the calculations following a good 2^nd in a decent time over 1300M on August 15^th when only narrowly beaten She’ll contest the early speed and has run well at this distance in the past. (10) GHOST VILLAGE is another who should have designs on at least a place.

Selections	(1) Hi Hi (9) Fighting Daddy (11) Achim Hamseong (4) Haruon
Next Best	10, 12
Fast Start	1, 4, 9, 12

(more…)