Will this be the last Saturday of behind-closed-doors racing in the capital? With baseball allowing 100% capacity attendances for its post-season beginning this week, one would hope so. But there have been many many false dawns since the start of the pandemic, so we shall see. This Saturday they are 9 races at Seoul from 11:00 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

Juvenile maidens with four of the nine racing for the first time and while it is a small field, it is a pretty good race with three or four who would have started favourite in similar affairs in recent weeks. (2) HWASUBOON is the slight top pick. She ran 2nd to Purple K on debut on October 2nd, well beaten by that good winner but looking competent and finishing in a fast time. She draws better today and with a similarly good start, will be the one to beat. (8) ALL FOR YOUR DREAM came from well off the pace on his debut to run 2nd to Byeolbit Maru at this distance on September 19th. He was really motoring at the end of that race and if he can put himself in a better position here, he has a winning chance. (1) CHEONGSAN YEONGUNG came from off the pace in the same race to run 3rd, again in a good time. He draws well again and should be in this a long way. (4) P N S LUCKY was a good 2nd on debut which allowed him to take his chance in the Munhwa Ilbo Cup. He finished down the field in that but didn’t do much wrong and in shallower waters today should get closer. Among the first-time starters, (5) EUNHYE DREAM was a fast 2nd in trials and looks best place for an immediate impact.

Selections	(2) Hwasuboon (8) All For Your Dream (1) Cheongsan Yeongung (4) P N S Lucky
Next Best	5, 3
Fast Start	2, 4, 5, 8

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

Maiden juvenile fillies and a tricky one too. We’ll take a chance with (10) P N S HER, who ran 4th in a decent time at this distance on debut in August before finishing a good 5th in the Munhwa Ilbo Cup over 1200M on October 3rd. She has settled midfield both times and should have come on for the experiences and she can make her breakthrough here. The favourite will be (1) JAY TROSS. Having won an August trial, she ran 4th on debut on September 18th in a decent time on a good-rated track. From a top stable and with a great draw on the inside, she will have plenty of supporters here and every chance. (11) JEONGSANG Z also finished 4th on debut, behind Aspen Taeyang on a very wet track, which may account for the fast time and with a couple of today’s rivals behind her. She ran on very strongly and the wide draw shouldn’t matter here. (8) TRIPLE RUN and (2) DIA POWERCAT are among others in at least the placing hunt.

Selections	(10) P N S Her (1) Jay Tross (11) Jeongsang Z (8) Triple Run
Next Best	2, 9
Fast Start	3, 4, 8, 9

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

(5) PRINCESS DAY is set to be a warm favourite here. She’s run 3rd In her latest two starts, both of which were slowly run races at this distance. She has a better draw today and should be on pace or handy and in a race of not many chances, she won’t need to improve much to win. (1) FLYING KARA raced twice around the turn of last year, most recently in January, both times finishing 3rd at this distance. She trialed up in August and while it isn’t easy to get a handle of where she is at in terms of progress, this is a good race to come back in and from a good draw on the inside she can go well. (3) APPLE MINT put in an inauspicious debut back in May but looked much better when winning a trial earlier this month. He will be in the frame here. (6) MIGHTY SUNSHINE hinted at ability when running on well two starts back and while he was poor in his latest outing, is perhaps worth another chance for a place here. (2) EURO QUEEN offered some evidence of progress at her second start on October 3rd and she too may get better here.

Selections	(5) Princess Day (1) Flying Kara (3) Apple Mint (6) Mighty Sunshine
Next Best	2, 4
Fast Start	5, 6, 7, 11

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(3) JEONGMUN PRINCE beat a couple of these on his way to 3rd place over 1400M on October 2nd. He has been knocking at the door for some time now and from a nice draw today, he can make his breakthrough at start number thirteen. He, along with every other horse in the race, is tackling two-turns for the first time and (7) SHINE MUSIC is one it may benefit. He has been finishing off his recent races in good fashion and can sit midfield and run on here. (12) BEST FORCE has similarly run on and has the fastest final furlong average time for any of the field. The draw shouldn’t matter too much here and he should be in the finish. So too should (6) JEONGMUN POKJU, the only runner in the race to have a win to his name. That came on a wet track over 1400M when he came from well off the pace and while he hasn’t come close to repeating in three starts since, in this kind of company, he must be considered. (11) OKCHUMA is another in the hunt.

Selections	(3) Jeongmun Prince (7) Shine Music (12) Best Force (6) Jeongmun Pokju
Next Best	11, 4
Fast Start	6, 7, 11, 12

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(10) JOYFUL K races for the first time since September 4th, when she ran 4th at class and distance beaten by a couple of these. She met some slight trouble at the start that day but ran on fairly. She comes down slightly in the weights and has decent claims to overturn the form. Given her racing pattern, the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem. (11) ADELE NARAE was a winner two starts back over 1300M at class 6 level before running 2nd at this distance on his first try at class 5 on October 10th when he sat handy and ran on, albeit well beaten by a good winner. He comes up slightly in weight and does draw wide but has very solid claims and may start as favourite. (4) BEST TAP has been consistent at this level running competitive times and picking up plenty of money finishes. He generally goes back and runs on and should be in the finish here. (12) MAKALU POWER is yet to win from eighteen starts and that probably won’t change here but he always tends to do his best work late on and has every chance of running into the money here. (5) BIG RIVER was one of those who finished ahead of Joyful K in September and with an apprentice taking 4kg off his back here, should be in the mix again.

Selections	(10) Joyful K (11) Adele Narae (4) Best Tap (12) Makalu Power
Next Best	5, 8
Fast Start	1, 3, 5, 11

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Two starts back (5) LUMINOUS QUEEN made all to score at this distance in a fast time at class 6 level. On her first try at this class, back in July, she was slowly out before rallying to run 6th over 1300M but was found to be lame afterwards. She returns here after fifteen weeks out and from a nice draw and back at 1200M, should be on pace and can return to the winner’s circle. (6) COMPLETE STAR enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes over 1300M and this distance. She goes best when on pace so will be challenging for the lead right from the start and should be in the finish too. (4) GREEN POKJU led at her latest outing on September 12th, ultimately finishing 2nd at class and distance. She has previously run a very fast time at the distance and is another set to be on the pace. (11) ROAD RAN has the fastest time among these at this distance. She returned from a lengthy absence to run a solid 7th behind Complete Star on September 18th and should have benefitted for that run and can go closer here. (2) AROMA another in the placing frame.

Selections	(5) Luminous Queen (6) Complete Star (4) Green Pokju (11) Road Ran
Next Best	2, 1
Fast Start	4, 6, 8, 11

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only here. (1) SAENAE SUN looks the one to beat here. She made all to score at class and distance on September 12th, a maiden win that had been coming, and while she comes up a fill 4kg in the weights, she draws very nicely again and can back straight up. (2) POWER TOWER has missed out on the top five only once in eight starts so far. She has run consistently fast times at this distance and can sit handy or settle back and run on. Under a light weight and from a nice gate, she should go well here. (3) NUNBUSIN HANSEN is a class and distance winner but at her latest start shifted out wide in the straight for a considerable distance, ultimately finishing in 5th. She will be expected to be on the pace here and if she can keep a straighter line, should be improving on that finish. (9) MY MEMBER led that race and ultimately finished in 2nd ahead of Nunbusin Hansen. Expect her to be on pace again and under a light weight should be in this for a long way. The wildcard is (4) BLUE K, who returns to action for the first time since April and looked good when fairly bolting up in a trial earlier this month.

Selections	(1) Saenae Sun (2) Power Tower (3) Nunbusin Hansen (9) My Member
Next Best	4, 12
Fast Start	2, 3, 4, 9

Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million

(9) DAEHAN JILJU looks to be the real deal having placed in his first four starts before going on to win the next four in a row. He comes up in class here and while his previously win at this distance wasn’t in a fast time, he won very easily and under a similar weight, should be measuring up and winning again. (4) CHOEGANG PARTY comes up in class too, in his case following back-to-back class 4 wins, the latter of which was over 1700M in a fast time The extra half furlong looks no issue and he even comes down a couple of kilos in the weights and can be a danger to the favourite. So too (6) MANSEOK JIGI, who has the fastest time of any of these who have tackled the distance to his name. He comes in off a dead-heat victory over 1700M in August and along with the other leading fancies here, is up in class but surely measures up. Among those with experience at the level, (2) MONEY ZIF and (5) BARAMEUL GEURIDA are both consistent money winner and both will be in the placing frame.

Selections	(9) Daehan Jilju (4) Choegang Party (6) Manseok Jigi (2) Money Zif
Next Best	5, 7
Fast Start	1, 3, 8, 9

Seoul Race 9: Class 2 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 90 Million

A winner of three from seven so far and never worse than 3rd, (2) GOOD PILSEUNG steps up to two-turns for the first time after running 2nd to the very good Raon The Fighter over 1400M at his latest start. He comes down a full 3.5kg in the weights, draws very nicely and can lead or sit handy and return to the winner’s circle today. (10) JANGSAN FOREVER returns from four months off to run a solid class and distance 3rd on September 11th. He has run best when leading so the wide draw doesn’t do him any favours here but he should have come on for that September run and be in the frame today. (1) DAEGUN JEPAE ran 2n din that race, taking full advantage of the inside gate to get a handy early position and then ran on. He draws the same barrier today and looks firmly in the placing hunt again. (6) MUNHAK KING comes up in class following an emphatic win at this distance at class 3 level and while he can mmix his form, he can measure up in this company. (4) GEUM ROYAL, up in class and trip following a September win over 1400M when he made up excellent ground late on, is another to consider.

Selections	(2) Good Pilseung (10) Jangsan Forever (1) Daegun Jepae (6) Munhak King
Next Best	4, 5