The weekend’s racing moves on to Seoul on Saturday with a nine-race card from 10:45 to 18:00. All betting locations are open, however, attendance must be pre-booked using the MyCard app. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maidens open proceedings. (6) CLAIR BEST is the clear pick. Having run 4th on debut last September, he didn’t appear again until February 26th when he settled midfield and ran on strongly for 2nd place over 1200M. He should have come on for the run, the additional half-furlong should suit, and he can win this. (1) CUPID SAFE has had a similarly interrupted career, racing once last autumn and then not again until February 19th. She too showed improvement, stepping up to this trip and running 3rd. Nicely drawn on the inside she can make further progress here. (3) DONGBANGUI HON looks to be figuring things out after four appearances, grinding out a solid 3rd place at this distance and can build on that here. (4) DISCO BOY and the solitary debut-maker (8) NAMSAN BYTE are others who could potentially trouble the scorers.
| Selections | (6) Clair Best (1) Cupid Safe (3) Dongbangui Hon (4) Disco Boy |
| Next Best | 8, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
More three-year-old maidens. (5) COMPLETE WEAPON was sent off as favourite on debut on having won a trial in fast time. While he was up with the pace early, he didn’t quite see the race out, ultimately finishing 7th of fourteen. He should have come on for that experience though and with not much to beat here, will be favourite again and this time should make no mistake. There are four first-time starters and of them (1) HANGANG DOLPUNG looks to have the best first-up claims. He ran on well enough in his trial in a fair time and the 1200M looks a suitable starting point for him. (7) SAEBYEOK BAND should have come on for a debut where he didn’t do too much wrong when 7th of eleven over this distance having drawn the widest gate. With some natural improvement he can go close here. (2) SONGAM LEGEND and (3) WHIZ UP are others to enter the minor money calculations.
| Selections | (5) Complete Weapon (1) Hangang Dolpung (7) Saebyeok Band (2) Songam Legend |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Another set of three-year-old maidens. (4) EAGLE POINT races for the first time since January but did manage to catch the eye in his opening two races, especially when a swift 2nd on debut last November. In both his starts he has settled back and run on, and he should be too good here in a race with very limited form. Of those with prior experience, (8) NONSTOP ALI is the only one to have shown anything when 5th at his most recent outing on March 6th. He does though possess a little bit of early speed and that should be enough to put him right in this. Aside from that, we turn to the first-time starters. (1) ROMA BLADE did at least win her most recent trial although the time was so slow, she was the only one to qualify out of it. (5) KING HONOR improved on his second trial and with natural improvement here can challenge for some minor money. Returning to the experienced ones, (2) CONCORD SPARK has been back to trial since her inauspicious debut and may be ready for another go.
| Selections | (4) Eagle Point (8) Nonstop Ali (1) Roma Blade (5) King Honor |
| Next Best | 2, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 8 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here. (6) EAST MAGIC has put in some consistent, if unspectacular, performances across eight starts so far and while she has never finished any better than 4th, that should change here. She has a solid start, can run on well and has posted some acceptable times. That together may be enough to see her home on top here. (2) INVICTUS was a much-improved 2nd at her latest start over 1300M on March 6th, only going down narrowly. She draws a much better gate this time, Johan Victoire remains aboard, and a similar performance will see her going very close here. (11) HWANGGEUM DALBIT has two 3rd places to her name and races for the first time since Christmas Day but did show reasonably well in a trial at the end of February. She likes to be on pace so may need a touch of luck from the wide draw but shouldn’t be dismissed. (8) HWARYEOHAN MISO and (1) DAESEUNG GAON are others who can enter the calculations.
| Selections | (6) East Magic (2) Invictus (11) Hwanggeum Dalbit (8) Hwaryeohan Miso |
| Next Best | 1, 5 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
It’s hard to look too far past (3) TIZ BAROWS here. He has a win, and two runner-up finishes from three starts so far with the latest of those 2nd places coming at this class and distance on February 19th when sitting handy to midfield from gate twelve and running on, beaten only by a long-shot winner. His draw is significantly better today, and he should have too much. (7) SPEAR GUN is the logical second pick, based on his last start runner-up finish at class and distance on March 5th, beating three of today’s rivals in the process. He is likely to settle handy here and can run on strong again. (10) RUFFIAN PARK enters in good form with back-to-back 3rd place finishes from his latest two appearances, both at this class and distance. He has no fewer than six 3rd place finishes to his name and could be in line for another here. (1) STORM WARRIOR ran 4th behind Spear Gun two starts back and then repeated that finish two weeks ago, again at class and distance. Drawn well today, he can go close. (6) CHEONGSAN GANGHO among others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (3) Tiz Barows (7) Spear Gun (10) Ruffian Park (1) Storm Warrior |
| Next Best | 6, 11 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies and mares only here and probably the trickiest race on the card. Accordingly, we’ll take a chance on (7) QUEEN OF BEST, who has the fastest time among these at the distance and comes in following a useful 4th on March 5th when she led for much of the way. She comes down slightly in the weights under today’s handicap conditions, can be on pace again and can be in this a long way at probably each-way odds. (12) BLACK ROOKIE was a decent 4th at class and distance on March 5th when settling back and running on. That is her general style so the wide draw shouldn’t be too disadvantageous, and she can go close again today too. (5) BOOSTER ROCKET has been consistent across her eight start so far. She is nicely drawn and well weighted here and has very good late speed which should see her making a big challenge in the closing stages. (3) POTENTIAL ENERGY showed a big uptick in form when 2nd at class and distance on March 5th, beating three of today’s rivals and will warrant more respect here. (10) GOLD SPIKE among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (7) Queen Of Best (12) Black Rookie (5) Booster Rocket (3) Potential Energy |
| Next Best | 10, 9 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) QUICKSILVER KITTEN has the fastest time among these at this distance and after a couple of wobbles, looks to be coming back into form following a 3rd place at class and distance on February 27th when she was slowly away and made up a lot of ground in the closing stages. The 58kg is a concern but she has as good a chance as any here. (9) LUCKY SIEMPRE has raced just the one time, all the way back in July of last year and it didn’t go especially well. He did though look good when trialing to requalify in mid-March, settling back and then running through the line well in a fast time on a wet track. He can go well first-up here. (1) HAWK PRINCE is the solitary debut-maker. He won a February trial and from a nice gate and under a light weight can make a bold impression on his first start. (8) GREAT THUNDER and (4) GWANGHAE are among others who can compete for the places.
| Selections | (7) Quicksilver Kitten (9) Lucky Siempre (1) Hawk Prince (8) Great Thunder |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Two standouts here but (1) WONPYEONG GASOK gets the nod. He ran well for 4th and 6th in the Nonghyup Chairman’s Trophy and Breeders’ Cup last year, both big races for juveniles and at his latest start was a close 2nd at class and distance in a good time on March 6th. He draws very well here and can probably pick a spot behind the leaders and run on to win. (2) RAON THE JET ran 4th on debut before promptly making all to win two consecutive races at 1000M and 1200M. That brings him rapidly up by two classes in the space of two races, but that’s balanced by the light weight and good draw, and he could continue on his merry way here. Draw a line through (3) LUCKY JAESAN’s run at the end of January, when she was racing for the first time in seven months. True, she has had a further nine weeks out since, but she should be better for it and certainly had plenty of talent before the layoff. (8) GREEN WATT may never have finished any better than 3rd in eighteen starts, but she has run good times and under a light weight, may sneak into some money. (7) NONSTOP REWARD another who can enter the calculations.
| Selections | (1) Wonpyeong Gasok (2) Raon The Jet (3) Lucky Jaesan (8) Green Watt |
| Next Best | 7, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
Decent race to finish with. (6) NAMSANUI BYEOL is ultra-consistent and has won around two turns over 1700M at class 4 level. His latest two have been at this class and distance and have resulted in 3rd and 2nd, he will be on pace, and he can go one better today. That will mean overturning the form on (1) JEONGMUN ACE, who beat Namsanui Byeol as the pair finished 1st and 2nd at class and distance on March 6th. He had finished behind Namsanui Byeol in two other recent races but showed a good uptick in form to come from off the pace and win by a neck. He carries the same weight today, draws well and can be a threat once more. (3) TYCHE FIRE enters having won at class and distance on March 12th when settling right back before improving on the home turn and then running on for a comfortable score. He does come up 4kg in the weights as a result but must be considered. (8) JEWANGUI BYEOL and (5) HWANGGEUM HAE, the latter first-up following four months off, are others in the placing hunt.
| Selections | (6) Namsanui Byeol (1) Jeongmun Ace (3) Tyche Fire (8) Jewangui Byeol |
| Next Best | 5, 10 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 7 |
Horse Racing in Korea 