Saturday’s racing is an afternoon/evening program at Seoul with 10 races from 14:50 to 21:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile filly maidens go here with seven of the twelve racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience for the first couple of picks though and (7) SUPREME STAR is likely to start as favourite based on her debut on July 23rd, when she led almost the entire way around, only to get caught in the closing stages and finishing 2nd in a good time. She won’t need to improve too much on that to win here. (9) HAENGBOKAN MUNMAK was well backed on debut having won a trial and ran fairly, sitting midfield and running on for 3rd. With some natural improvement, she will be there or thereabouts for this. Among the debut-makers, (5) SAENAE QUEEN went through two July trials, winning one in a good time. From a good draw, she is one of the likely pacesetters here. (6) COMPLETE ANGEL won her trail and is another who can make a bold showing first-up. Also notable among the first-timers is (11) RAON THE QUALITY. She finished well back behind Saenae Queen in her trial but is “full” sister to Raon The Spurt, who went close in the filly Triple Crown races this year.
| Selections | (7) Supreme Star (9) Haengbokan Munmak (5) Saenae Queen (6) Complete Angel |
| Next Best | 11, 1 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Three-year-old maidens and (5) TANGJA will be the favourite. He has a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two having been on pace both times. He’ll be on pace here as well and after a seven-week layoff and with Moon Se-young climbing aboard, he should be ready to win. (1) HUIMANG GADEUK returns to action for the first time since January. Her best in three outings was a 5th but she looked well when runner-up in a trial in a quick time on July 29th. She draws very nicely here and could be intriguing. (9) HANGANG DOLPUNG has placed twice in four starts including a 3rd at his latest on July 16th in a good time over this distance. He’ll go close here. (7) MIGHTY ANN and (10) P N S THE KING are other potential placers.
| Selections | (5) Tangja (1) Huimang Gadeuk (9) Hangang Dolpung (7) Mighty Ann |
| Next Best | 10, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 7, 12 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
(10) KINGS EYE has made steady progress across three starts to date, running 3rd on his latest appearance on June 25th when settling back and running on. He comes slightly up in trip today and it might be just what he needs to make his breakthrough. (6) K N TIZWON looks the logical main danger. He comes in off back-to-back 3rd place finishes, most recently at this distance in a good time on July 30th. An apprentice jockey keeps his weight down again and he could well be on the pace from the start. (8) DIVINE FUTURES has shown good consistency recently and has two 3rd places to his name, one at this distance. He can settle midfield and run on into some money again. (1) JILJUUI KHAN and (5) CHEONSONGI, both much improved at their respective latest starts, are others in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (10) Kings Eye (6) K N Tizwon (8) Divine Futures (1) Jiljuui Khan |
| Next Best | 5, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Another race with another probable short-priced favourite, this time in the shape of (4) K FRENZY. He is yet to win in twelve attempts but has no fewer than seven top-three finishes and comes in after a narrow defeat at class and distance on July 16th. He can be on pace or handy in this field and may take some beating. If he does come up short again, (2) PIEONADA is the logical one to beat him. He has a 2nd and two 3rd place finishes from his latest three outings, all off them at class and distance and has consistently recorded good times. He draws well and is a danger. (3) TTEOOREUDA was a solid 4th on her first try at this class on July 23rd. She comes down slightly in the weights here and can go close again. The up in class (1) CHOEGANG JANGSAN, as well as (8) SMART POWER are among others in the money hunt.
| Selections | (4) K Frenzy (2) Pieonada (3) Tteooreuda (1) Choegang Jangsan |
| Next Best | 8, 6 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(10) RAON GIANT ran out an eye-catching winner on debut over 1000M on July 16th having previously won a trial. She comes up in class as well as in distance, but neither should be an issue and she will be a big favourite to maintain her 100% record here. (5) INNER PEACE remains a maiden, but she too comes up in class following two 3rd places and a 2nd at class 6. She has registered good times along the way and from a good draw, she can challenge for the lead and measure up in this company. (2) EUNHYE SERVE ran out a class and distance winner on July 24th, getting her maiden win at the tenth time of asking. She only comes up 2kg as a result and from a good draw, she can be competitive again. (9) HUIMANG CHAMP and (6) IMUGI, the latter at probable big odds, can also be considered for places.
| Selections | (10) Raon Giant (5) Inner Peace (2) Eunhye Serve (9) Huimang Champ |
| Next Best | 6, 8 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(2) DAEMUL may have finished last in the Korean Derby, but he returned to shallower waters and ran a good 3rd this class and distance on July 17th, racing on the pace. He was the beaten favourite that day and from a good gate, he will be strongly backed to get it right this time. (8) MENI GOLD returns to action for the first time since last December. He looked very well when cruising home in a trial at the end of July and if he brings that form to the races, he won’t be far away here. (3) CUPID JUMBO has placed on both tries so far at this class, both over 1300M. She has been back to trial since her latest start in May and looked well in her heat. She can maintain her consistent run of form here. (1) JANGSU NABOM and the up in class (12) AL SIMON others in the frame.
| Selections | (2) Daemul (8) Meni Gold (3) Cupid Jumbo (1) Jangsu Nabom |
| Next Best | 12, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
This is a competitive race. (9) RAON THE ARIA is a winner of three of her last four including her latest, at class and distance on July 9th when she sat handy and proved too strong. An apprentice gets on today, which keeps her carried weight nice and low, and she can continue her good run of form here. (8) MUNHAK STORM is a half-brother to Korea Cup winner Moonhak Chief and while he hasn’t quite matched his achievements, he looks to be working towards a win, with a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two. He is an on-pace type and if he can get to the lead, he can be in this a long way. (2) MIGHTY KICK beat Munhak Storm when the pair finished 2nd and 3rd over class and distance on July 10th. He draws nicely and can be competitive again. (6) BAEKDU GIRL and (7) ELITE LINE are others in at least the minor money hunt.
| Selections | (9) Raon The Aria (8) Munhak Storm (2) Mighty Kick (6) Baekdu Girl |
| Next Best | 7, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 8, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Another competitive affair. We’ll side with (3) GLOBAL MAGIC, who won well over this distance at class 5 level three starts back and has held his own in two subsequent efforts at this class. He got a bit far back in both of those before running on, but he may be ridden a little further forward today and he has every chance. (8) ARFONS is another entering in good form. He comes in off a strong 3rd place over 1400M on July 24th when on pace throughout and the addition of Moon Se-young in the saddle may make him the betting favourite. He will be on pace again and should be in this a long way. Draw a line through the latest effort from (4) NAESAENGAE CHOEGO when he started slowly and was never a factor. He has run some good times at the distance and with a better break, can be competitive here. (5) BEST TIME and (2) TAPDOWN others who can enter the calculations.
| Selections | (3) Global Magic (8) Arfons (4) Naesaengae Choego (5) Best Time |
| Next Best | 2, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(2) EAST IMPACT has been underwhelming in his latest two outings but the winner of five from twelve should have far too much for this limited set of opposition. From a great draw, he should be on pace or handy and can return to the winner’s circle today. The recent form of the rest isn’t especially convincing although (3) GEOMPO can go well on his day. He too can take advantage of a nice draw in this small field to get forward early and he has solid placing claims. So too (1) WONDERFUL RUBY. She was a good winner over 1400M and class 4 level three starts back and while down in trip here, she can be competitive. (6) STRIDE UP and (4) SEMYEONG GISANG others who can dispute the minors.
| Selections | (2) East Impact (3) Geompo (1) Wonderful Ruby (6) Stride Up |
| Next Best | 4, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 7 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (2000M) Allowance / KRW 90 Million
Probably the most competitive race of the day. (8) QUEENS TOUR comes in having made all to win well at class and distance back on June 25th. That was her third win in her last four starts and while she comes up a couple of kilos in the weights, she has every chance of a repeat. (7) BALVENIE comes up in class and in distance having won over 1800M back in May. He has had three months off since then but is back down in the weights and can measure up in this company. (12) JOUNIGA and (3) DORAON POPEYE came home 2nd and 3rd when they raced one another – and quite a few of the others who go here – at class and distance on July 16th. While the former isn’t favoured by the draw today, both can be competitive again. (11) GAROSUGIL has run well in two starts at this class and comes up to this distance for the first time looking an each-way chance.
| Selections | (8) Queens Tour (7) Balvenie (12) Jouniga (3) Doraon Popeye |
| Next Best | 11, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 