It hasn’t taken long for the new season to throw up a heavyweight clash as the unbeaten Raon The Fighter once more takes on Eoma Eoma, who he beat to win the Owners’ Association Trophy a month ago in the concluding class 1 feature at Seoul. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12: 12:00 to 16:40. All betting locations are open, however, attendance must be pre-booked on the MyCard app and proof of evidence of up to date vaccination against Covid-19 is required.

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens open proceedings and (10) WILD RUNNER is set to be favourite. She ran 2^nd on debut behind a couple of decent ones in a fast time. The one concern is that it was back in October but regardless, any similar kind of performance should see her winning this. If she is a bit rusty, then another filly, (6) HIWPARAM, may be one to take advantage. She too ran a very solid 3^rd on debut, in her case on November 20^th when she was handy throughout, completing the course in a fair time on a slower running track than Wild Runner’s time. She draws well here and should go close. (4) GEOMOON came home 6^th behind a few promising ones on debut and should have benefitted from the experience, while (9) ARCH CHARM similarly didn’t do too much wrong when 5^th from a wide gate at her first attempt. Among the six first-timers, (1) CHANGER is perhaps the best at this stage.

Selections	(10) Wild Runner (6) Hwiparam (4) Geomoon (9) Arch Charm
Next Best	1, 12
Fast Start	1, 2, 6, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 2 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

A pair of socks should be battling this one out. We’ll side with (2) WILD SOCKS, who ran 2^nd at start number two at 1000M having led for almost the entire way around. He comes up slightly in trip but draws beautifully again and could go all the way. (7) TITAN SOCKS has the same owner although a different trainer and has followed a similar trajectory so far, improving to 3^rd at his second outing on December 4^th. He came from off the pace though, working home well and it may be that the additional furlong is in his favour here. (12) ORGALIM comes into the calculations having beaten several of these on his way to 2^nd place at this distance on December 4^th in a fair time. He sat handy that day so may need a bit of luck from the wide gate (9) GEOLJAK MAN was 3^rd in that race and along with (3) MUNHAK FOREST looks to have another placing chance here.

Selections	(2) Wild Socks (7) Titan Socks (12) Orgalim (9) Geoljak Man
Next Best	3, 10
Fast Start	2, 3, 10, 12

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

It may be a bit risky to go all-in on anything drawn as wide as he has done but it’s not easy to see (14) TES GO DAEBO getting rolled here. He has raced just twice, registering a 4^th and a 2^nd, the latest at 1200M when handy and running on. The additional trip may help him find a decent position from the car park. (3) OKDONG GONGJU has five top-five finishes among ten outings so far and looks set to be one who could push the favourite here from a good draw. (10) SAENAE POWERFUL was a significantly improved 3^rd at start number two on December 12^th leading most of the way around and he too should be a contender here. The rest have been models of inconsistency but (7) TINA and (8) NAMSAN DREAM could potentially compete for places.

Selections	(14) Tes Go Daebo (3) Okdong Gongju (10) Saenae Powerful (7) Tina
Next Best	8, 4
Fast Start	8, 10, 12, 14

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Maidens, with four of the eleven racing for the first time. (9) B. K. HANA comes in with form reading the best following a 2^nd and a 3^rd from her latest two appearances. The 2^nd was at today’s distance when she was handy throughout from a wide gate and with a time more than second faster than any of the others have managed, she is the one to beat. (7) JATNAMUGIL is the logical second pick. He was 6^th to B. K. Hana two starts back but the improved to 3^rd at his latest outing when stepped up to 1200. He’ll be on pace and in this a long way. (4) EUNSEONG YEONGUNG beat a couple of these when 5^th on debut at the distance on November 26^th. He draws much better today and should have come on. Among the first timers, (2) KENDRICK is stand out. The Take Charge Indy colt ran a strong trial in a fast time and from a great draw can go well. (1) EUTTEUMI perhaps has potential to improve.

Selections	(9) B. K. Hana (7) Jatnamugil (4) Eunseong Yeongung (2) Kendrick
Next Best	1, 8
Fast Start	3, 7, 8, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

After trialing up alongside some established horses, (12) NAMSAM KKOT ran a solid 3^rd on debut over 1200M, settling in midfield and running on strongly. She draws wide but her running style that day suggests it shouldn’t be too much of a problem and she could be challenging for the win here. (10) RAON THE WEEKEND had an ordinary day at the office in probably better company than this at his latest start on December 11^th when he wasn’t able to get on pace from a very wide draw. The draw is only a little better today, but he should have an easier time getting to the front and the additional half-furlong can help.  Continuing the theme of wide draws, (13) DONGSEO YEOGEOL was a significantly improved 2^nd when going back and coming from off the pace over 1200M on December 5^th. She had raced prominently in previous starts, to no avail, so expect similar tactics here. (4) REAL CONCORD is a fancy who does draw well and should be in the hunt along with (9) ONE MORE RUSH.

Selections	(12) Namsam Kkot (10) Raon The Weekend (13) Dongseo Yeogeol (4) Real Concord
Next Best	9, 5
Fast Start	4, 9, 10, 13

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Fillies and mares only here. Based on her last start runner-up finish at this distance in a time quicker than anything else in this race has managed, (8) TAEPUNGI is the one to beat here. She sat midfield and ran on that day and under a light weight again, can go one better. (9) ALPHA V should have come on for her debut run when settling midfield before getting well back and then working home adequately. She had previously posted fast trial times so there is some ability there and a more mature performance can see her right in this. (2) HAMAN YEOHANGSAN returned from three months off to run a good 3^rd over this distance on December 19^th. She can strip fitter here and get close. (1) OMEGA GIRL and (6) WORLD FLOWER came home 2^nd and 3^rd respectively when they raced each other at 1400M on December 10^th and both can have placing claims again.

Selections	(8) Taepungi (9) Alpha V (2) Haman Yeohangsan (1) Omega Girl
Next Best	6, 12
Fast Start	2, 5, 8, 9

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