Day: November 26, 2021

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (November 27)

Saturday is President’s Cup Eve in Seoul and there are 10 races from 10:45 to 18:00. The feature class 1 event is the final race on the card and is a class 1 handicap over 1800M, where the old guard of Monhak Chief and Cheongdam Dokki will attempt to put the upstart Iron Socks in his place. All betting locations are open with an attendance cap of 80% of indoor capacity. Attendance must be pre-booked in advance using the MyCard app and proof of vaccination against Covid-19 is required.

Moonhak Chief goes in Seoul’s Saturday feature (Pic: KRA)

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

Juvenile maidens with all but one of the twelve racing for the very first time. Several of the newcomers look competitive but we will side with the one who has experience. (11) RAON THE JET debuted on October 3rd and having settled midfield, ran on to finish 4th in a fair time.  Both the runner-up and the 3rd place-getter that day have since gone on to win their next starts and Raon The Jet can frank that race’s form here. (4) CUPID VOW was an all the way trial winner in a fair time on October 29th. He draws well to lead again and looks set to be the main danger. (5) GOOD NISEN ran 2nd in that trial having sat handy throughout and he too should be there or thereabouts again. Among the newcomers, (6) EAGLE POINT recorded the fastest time in trials and while it was a slightly wetter track than most faced, that alone is enough to being him into the calculations. (1) THUNDER NURI another who could go well first up.

Selections(11) Raon The Jet (4) Cupid Vow (5) Good Nisen (6) Eagle Point
Next Best1, 12
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 12

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

Juvenile filly maidens with four of the twelve racing for the first time. We’re going to side with experience, though. (11) HWASUBOON has raced twice finishing 2nd on debut and then 3rd, both of them at this distance in good times. The draw is not ideal here but she should be able to overcome that and should have too much. (8) LUCKY INDY ran well on debut but then improved for 3rd place at start number two at this distance on October 24th, leading for much of the way. She should be on pace again and has every chance of going close. (12) BURUI KKOT similarly showed promise on debut when 5th in a decent time at the distance. She can come on for that run and while she draws the worst of all, can run on strong here. Maintaining the theme of the wide gates, (10) GREENBACK won a trial before putting in two creditable performances in the summer. She races for the first time since August and can go well first-up today. The first-timers don’t exactly leap out from the trial reports but (2) CUPID JUMBO perhaps has the best chance of making an immediate impact.

Selections(11) Hwasuboon (8) Lucky Indy (12) Burui Kkot (10) Greenback
Next Best2, 3
Fast Start8, 9, 10, 11

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

Competitive maiden. (14) MIGHTY SUNSHINE beat several of these by a decent margin on his way to 2nd place at this distance in a fair time on October 30th. He draws the car park today but he settled midfield and ran on last time so as long as he doesn’t find himself with too much to do, he can win here. (6) APPLE MINT came home in 3rd place that day. He was first-up following five months out and should have come on for that run. He has Perovic aboard and with the better draw could overturn the form on Mighty Sunshine. (2) YESULIYA steps up in trip for the first time following a solid 3rd place over 1000M on October 23rd. That was an uptick in form and from a good gate, he can continue to make progress. (5) PRINCESS DAY ran 4th in the October 30th race and along with (4) FIRST ROAD, is another in the placing frame

Selections(14) Mighty Sunshine (6) Apple Mint (2) Yesuliya (5) Princess Day
Next Best4, 1
Fast Start1, 2, 8, 11

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

Disregard the latest effort by (8) JEONGSEONG DAERO when he returned lame. He has been back in work for more than a month now and his form prior to that setback was good over the shorter distances. He finished off his races well and today’s extended trip may suit. Only four of these have raced at the distance before and (10) RUNNING NUMBER ONE probably has the right to be favourite based on his 2nd place at it two starts back when he ran on from midfield. It wasn’t a fast time but he should benefit from that experience and has every chance here. (9) HWARYEOHAN MISO has hinted at ability across three starts so far including a 2nd place two starts back at 1200M. He too has finished off races pleasingly enough and can adapt to two-turn racing. (2) MAGIC JOY and (1) SEONBONG GOLD others with minor money hopes.

Selections(8) Jeongseong Daero (10) Running Number One (9) Hwaryeohan Miso (2) Magic Joy
Next Best1, 5
Fast Start3, 10, 11, 12

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

The only filly in the race is (7) JOYFUL K and she comes in having run a close 3rd over class and distance at her latest start on October 30th when she overcame gate ten to sit handy and run on. She was beaten just under a length by (10) BEST TAP but gets the better of the draw today and can overturn that form. Best Tap is a big danger. He ran 2nd in that race continuing his consistent run of form at the distance and registering another good time. He is tactically versatile and won’t need to lead here so the draw shouldn’t be too much of a disadvantage. (9) YELLOW CAT comes up in class following a good win over 1300M on October 10th when she came from well off the pace to run on very strongly. She carries a nice light weight here and should measure up in this company. (12) BYEOLBIT BOSEOK is yet to win in seven attempts but has five top-four finishes and having overcome wide draws before, can go close again. (3) DAEWANGU another in the hunt in a very competitive affair.

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