Saturday is Cup Mile Eve and we will have a full horse-by-horse preview of Sunday’s big race up later. For now though, there are 9 races at the behind-closed-doors meeting at Seoul on Saturday. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens to start things off with six of the twelve racing for the first time. The pick has experience though as (5) CHEONJI JIDAE ran a good 3rd on debut at this distance at the end of July when he settled in midfield and finished off well. It’s been eleven weeks off since but from a central draw he can return with a win here. (11) RAON THE TEUKGEUP was a decent enough 5th on his debut on September 4th. It was over this distance in a fair time and he made up good ground late on. With some natural progression from that, he should be in this. (12) CHEOLLICHONG’s two performances so far weren’t necessarily as bad as the 6^th and 8^th place finishes may make them look. Both times she finished behind horses with plenty of potential, her times weren’t bad and it would be no surprise to see her improving today. The debut-makers don’t really stand out but the best of them appears to be (9) WILD SOCKS. He put in a solid, if unspectacular trial and in what is a soft race to start off in, can challenge for the places. (1) COMPLETE LUCKY another who can improve on a relatively anonymous debut.

Selections	(5) Cheonji Jidae (11) Raon The Teukgeup (12) Cheollichong (9) Wild Socks
Next Best	1, 3
Fast Start	1, 3, 5, 12

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

More juvenile maidens, this time with four of the ten racing for the first time. Again we opt for experience with two standouts who have little between them. Given the draw and the slight weight allowance she gets as a filly; we’ll veer towards (1) RAON THE DASH. Having won a July trial, she ran 5^th behind Aspen Taeyang (who has since won again) on debut on August 21^st when she settled handy but couldn’t quite hold her position at the business end. Nevertheless, it was a fir performance and one with potential. (10) ROAD ACE has equally solid claims. He has raced twice before and has run two consistent times at this distance both times settling midfield and, like Raon The Dash, just not being able to get past other juveniles who were perhaps a bit further developed. Today is a good opportunity for progress. (9) WINNER KAI debuts having run reasonably well in a slow trial. There is little to fear here so a positive debut is possible. (2) HANGANG MAGIC weakened on debut over 1200Mand back in trip and with a nice draw can improve today. (8) G STAR was very slow to get going on his debut on September 11^th and if he can her into gear a bit quicker this time, should improve.

Selections	(1) Raon The Dash (10) Road Ace (9) Winner Kai (2) Hangang Magic
Next Best	8, 3
Fast Start	1, 2, 3, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Three-year-old maiden fillies here and possibly the best chance many of these will have for a win. (12) SUPER BIRD has as good a chance as any. She has been consistent over her three starts so far with a best a come from behind 3^rd place over 1300M two starts back. That running style suggests the wide draw won’t be an issue and she can win. The probable betting favourite is (3) TINA. That’s based on her run two starts back over this distance when she ran 2^nd in a time a full two seconds faster than any of her rivals today have managed for the 1200M. Granted it was wet and fast that day but nevertheless it was good run and while she weakened over 1400M on her August return, back down in trip today and from a good gate, she has strong claims. (1) ELITE RULES beat three of these on her way to a much improved 3^rd place at this distance on August 14^th when she settles slightly worse than midfield and then ran on. She drew the widest gate that day and from the inside here, David Breux should have plenty of options. (6) DDATTEUTHANBIT is the only one on the field to have placed twice with two 3^rd place finishes to her name. She was beaten by Elite Rules two starts back but a place can be on the agenda again. Solitary debut-maker (4) GOLD KAISER won her trial and while it was slow time draws well to be on pace and can be given a chance.

Selections	(12) Super Bird (3) Tina (1) Elite Rules (6) Ddatteuthanbit
Next Best	4, 2
Fast Start	2, 4, 6, 7

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(4) MENI GOLD fairly bolted up on debut on August 28^th leading from gate-to-wire to win by seven-lengths over 1000M. Accordingly, she is up in class and distance today but neither those things, nor being the only juvenile in the field, should be an issue, and from a good draw she can be on pace again and maintain her 100% record. (6) PARAN WANGJA is two starts into this current preparation following seven months out. He has run well both times with a 2^nd and a 3^rd, both at this class and distance and is a front-running type who can give Meni Gold some problems from the start. He does look to be working up to a second win and it could come here. (1) PRINCESS SOCKS ran 6^th behind Paran Wangja at her latest start but draws better today, giving her an opportunity to emulate her all the way win two starts back in a fast time at this distance at class 6 level. She seems to be an all or nothing type with two wins and then nothing better than 5^th in four outings to date but she is in the frame here. (7) POWER DOLPUNG is a touch more consistent with just one finish outside the top five in seven attempts. He drops back in trip and is another who can be on or close to the pace. (3) SPRING KKUM another in the placing frame in a competitive affair.

Selections	(4) Meni Gold (6) Paran Wangja (1) Princess Socks (7) Power Dolpung
Next Best	3, 2
Fast Start	1, 4, 6, 7

(more…)