Day: July 1, 2022

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 2)

The first afternoon/evening meeting of the year at Seoul takes place on Saturday with 10 races from 14:50 to 21:00. Here are the previews:

Perhaps this night racing season, we shall update our stock photos of night racing.

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

Maiden juveniles over the short course in the opener. Two of the nine have raced before and while experience is usually worth plenty in these types of races, we’ll take a chance on a newcomer. (6) MENI POCKET is the second out of eight-time winner Meni Money to make the track. She went through two trials, improving significantly in the second of them earlier this month, responding very nicely when asked and running through the line well. She is a bit on the small side but can win first up. (9) NUT PLAY ran well enough for 4th on debut in a fair time on May 28th, on pace throughout. He should have come on for that run and get closer today. (4) WONPYEONG KILLAR debuted in the same race, finishing in 5th place and with natural improvement, he too can be backed. Returning to the debut-makers, (2) GWANGCHIGI won his trial in good fashion and can lead from a good draw, while (1) GOOD CABO is bound to be backed with Moon Se-young on.

Selections(6) Meni Pocket (9) Nut Play (4) Wonpyeong Killar (2) Gwangchigi
Next Best1, 5
Fast Start1, 2, 6, 9

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Maidens here. (4) NAOL ACE will be hot favourite coming in off back-to-back 4th place finishes, most recently over this distance in a time significantly quicker than any of his rivals here have achieved. He comes in fresh following a fourteen-week layoff and he should win. (3) JEONGMUN PAPAGO was an improved 3rd on his latest start on May 29th when settling midfield and running on. He comes into a better gate today and looks a solid placing chance again. (7) WONDERFUL HAWAII has mixed her form across eleven previous outings but does have a 2nd and a 3rd to her name at this distance. A top-three finish will see her up in class and she probably should achieve it. (1) COMPLETE JOY and (8) P N S LIN are others in the minor money frame.

Selections(4) Naol Ace (3) Jeongmun Papago (7) Wonderful Hawaii (1) Complete Joy
Next Best8, 2
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 6

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

A small field of maidens and (6) TANGJA is the clear pick following his much-improved 2nd at start number two over this distance back in March. He broke a bit slow that day from a wide gate but was quickly up with the speed and led until the closing stages. He ultimately went down by a nose to Mighty Good who has since won again at class 5 level and while this is his first start since, he should win. (1) VICTORY SAM ran 2nd over 1000M all the way back in June of last year. She didn’t reappear until the end of this May when she led before tiring. She should strip fitter for that run and can go close today. (7) GEUMSEONG CROWN ran 4th on his return from six-months out at the end of May. He too should have come on for that run and looks a placing chance here. (5) TRES VITE and (4) SKY PANGPANG others with minor money hopes.

Selections(6) Tangja (1) Victory Sam (7) Geumseong Crown (5) Tres Vite
Next Best4, 3
Fast Start1, 4, 6, 7

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(4) ORAE HAMKKEHAJA was a winner on debut over 1200M, making all, before returning and running 5th on his first try at this class over 1400M on June 4th. He comes up in the weights here and also in distance to two-turns, but he should be able to overcome both and can win. (9) JEONGMUN POKJU comes in having run 3rd on his latest try at this distance on May 22nd when on pace throughout. He too comes up in the weights but Moon Se-young remains aboard and he will be a big danger here. (1) JIGEUMYEOGIE came from well off the pace to run a smart 3rd at class and distance on June 5th. From the inside gate he can be dropped in behind the speed here and then run on strong once more. (6) FLYING ATHENA and (3) THAT’S MY BOY others who can enter the placing calculations.

Selections(4) Orae Hamkkehaja (9) Jeongmun Pokju (1) Jigeimyeogie (6) Flying Athena
Next Best3, 8
Fast Start4, 7, 8, 10

Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(4) KING HONOR has hinted at ability across three starts so far and finished off well for 4th over 1300M at his latest outing on June 5th. He comes up slightly in trip here, should be on the lead, and can win. (7) EPIPHANY mixes his form but goes well on his day and this small field can suit. He will settle behind the leaders and can run on strong. (6) BANG BANG TTEUNE has tended to get a little bit far back in her races but she has run a decent time at this trip. She is another who may appreciate the smaller field and can experience less traffic problems today. (2) RUNNER MONSTER comes in off his best finish to date, when 3rd over 1300M on June 5th. The same apprentice keeps the weight light and he can go close. (3) BEST BIG BANG another in the hunt.

Selections(4) King Honor (7) Epiphany (6) Bang Bang Tteune (2) Runner Monster
Next Best3, 5
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 7
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Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 1)

The summer racing season begins at Busan on Friday with 7 races from 15:35 to 21:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Nights

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(1) SINUI JEONSA has some decent experience with a 2nd place over this distance on his latest start on June 12th when handy throughout. He also has the fastest time of any of these for the distance and from a better draw today, looks a big chance. There are two fist-time starters and we’re going to take a chance on one of them. (6) DIXIE BAND is a half-sister to multiple stakes winners Beolmaui Kkum and Kkakjaengi as well as prolific race winner Dixie Again. She trialed up fairly enough earlier this month running 3rd in her heat without having too much asked of her. The winner of that trial was an easy winner on debut last week. She’ll sit handy and can run on here. (5) THUNDER CLOUD was a close at hand 5th over 1400M on her last start on June 3rd. She can settle behind the speed here and has a god finish on her. (8) GOLD SWEET and (3) SORI TAEPUNG are others with at least placing chances.

Selections(1) Sinui Jeonsa (6) Dixie Band (5) Thunder Cloud (8) Gold Sweet
Next Best3, 12
Fast Start1, 4, 8, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(8) RUNNING WARRIOR gets the nod here. After an indifferent beginning to her career, she appears to have begun figuring things out in her latest two recording a 3rd and a 4th, both over 1300M. Her times have been nothing special but she won’t need to improve much to win this and can be expected to be on pace from the start. (9) STAR MATTA has been well supported in both outings so far, following a strong trial. He has raced adequately and the engagement of an apprentice jockey brings him right down in the weights today. He should go close. (4) NOBLE COWBOY also finally looked like a racehorse when an improved 4th over this distance on June 3rd. He can build on that here and aim to place again. (1) SPECIAL FACT and (5) YEONGCHEON POWER others who can find the money.

Selections(8) Running Warrior (9) Star Matta (4) Noble Cowboy (1) Special Fact
Next Best5, 6
Fast Start1, 5, 8, 9

Busan Race 3: Class 4 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

A small field but a good one with plenty of winning chances. (3) KING GOLIATH has won just once from eleven attempts but has eight top-three finishes, including a 3rd on June 17th at this class and distance when returning from five months off. That was a tough ask first-up and he ran well and should strip fitter as a result. He has a big chance here. (7) WONDERFUL SECRET comes up in class having won at this distance on June 10th when on pace throughout and coming home in a fast time. The set weight conditions don’t do him any favours here but he should be measuring up in this company. (4) CHEONGHO LEADER and (8) YEONGCHEON SOLEMIO came home 2nd and 3rd when they raced each other at this distance back on May 15th. Both should be competitive here. (1) DUMUSAN will be running on late and while up significantly in the weights, can be a danger.

Selections(3) King Goliath (7) Wonderful Secret (4) Cheongho Leader (8) Yeongcheon Solemio
Next Best1, 6
Fast Start3, 5, 7, 8

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

(5) HAMAN BONGHWASAN is the one to beat here. She has been consistent over five starts so far with his win being a front-running performance over 1300M. At her latest start at 1200M on May 27th, the sat behind the pace and ran 3rd when favourite but is worth another chance here in slightly softer company. (2) PURPLE MANGO was an all the way winner over this distance at class 6 level two starts back and while she was only 5th on her first try at this class on June 10th, she draws much better today and should get closer. (8) CHIEF OFFICER ran 3rd in that same race, an uptick on recent form and can maintain his momentum here. (11) COLOR WIND ran a good 3rd at her latest start. She has the fastest time of any of these at the distance and while the draw is not in her favour, she can be considered. The returning (4) SMARTY DOLPUNG trialed up well.

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