The day before the international Korea Cup and Korea Sprint sees a 10-race card at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00. There are Trophy Exchange races with the Macau Jockey Club, Singapore Turf Club, Japan Racing Association, Hong Kong Jockey Club and Horse Racing Ireland. Each is worth 150 Million Won so plenty of good fields have been attracted. Here are the previews:

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

Juvenile maidens contest a big prize in the opener and six of the ten race for the very first time. Unusually, we will side with one of the first timers. (4) FARCIARZ went through two trials, drawn wide both times and improving in the second of them. He gets a good gate and a top jockey, and a bold showing seems likely first-up. (10) STRONG CHARM ran 2^nd on debut and while he couldn’t follow up on his next outing, he still ran a good time. He won’t need to improve much on that to go close here. (7) MONSTER POWER was an on-pace 3^rd in his trial in a fast time. He should be able to get on the pace here as well and can be in it a long way. (8) CATS EYE improved in the second of his two trials. It wasn’t a fast run heat so he could have potential to improve here. Returning to those with experience, (5) BEST CLONE didn’t do too much wrong on debut and can improve.

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

Fillies only here. (1) VESPER was beaten by a couple of these when a slightly below-par 4^th on her latest start on August 13^th. She can get a bit far back in her races but has shown a good turn of foot and if she can get herself in a spot where she is in contention, she has solid claims here. (2) P N S SING ran 2^nd in that August 13^th race, her best finish to date. She was on pace that day and is well drawn to do the same here and she should be in the finish again. (9) SONGAM NURI ran 3^rd in that race, her best finish to date. An apprentice keeps her weight light again and she can be competitive. As for those who didn’t go in that August race, (6) HANGANG HERO enters with a 2^nd and a 5^th from her latest two, both in good times and along with (7) ARCH MEMORY, is another in the hunt.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

A very ordinary set of maidens. (6) P N S THE KING is the only one of the twelve to have as much of a runner-up finish to his name and that, along with the fact he has shown some consistency is enough to make him favourite here. He comes in off a fair 5^th of twelve in a good time over 1200M on August 20^th and won’t need to improve too much on that here. (3) EUREKA has also put in some consistent efforts with three 4^th place finishes from six starts. He steps up to this trip for the first time, should be on pace and should be looking for better than 4^th this time. (8) BEST BIG BANG registered a 3^rd place two starts back over this distance and that’s enough to put him in the frame here while (9) TWO ACE is yet to finish any better than 6^th but does have the best time among those who have tackled the distance before. (10) SAEBYEOK BAND among others in the frame.

Seoul Race 4: Class Open (1200M) Macau Jockey Club Trophy / Allowance / KRW 150 Million

An also-ran in the Korean Derby, (7) BULBANGUL has since won back-to-back races at class 4 level, both over this distance, that latest an easy score in a fast time. That takes his record to four from seven in total and he will be a warm favourite here. He likes to settle back and run on, and he will take some beating. (4) WILD SOCKS enters having won his latest three, the latter two over 1400M at class 4 level. He has posted fast times at this distance too and from a good gate, can sit handy and finish well. (2) VICEROY is firmly established at class 3 level with three placings and a 4^th from four attempts at it since winning at class 4 in February. He is up considerably in the weights from his last start 2^nd but draws well to be on the pace and can be competitive again. (3) TOUGH GUY has only raced up to class 5 but exited that level with a last start over this distance in a very smart time. He is nicely suited under these conditions and can be competitive. (5) JOEUNGIRL, who has had an interrupted career but who has loads of ability, is the wildcard.

Seoul Race 5: Class Open (1200M) Singapore Turf Club Trophy / Allowance / KRW 150 Million

Fascinating filly and mare race with a big prize. (11) WISH ME has nine top two finishes from eleven starts and comes in having finished runner-up to Raon First in the Ttukseom Cup and to Calm Strong in the KNN Cup, both times with plenty of today’s rivals behind her. She comes back in trip, but she likes to be on pace and while the draw is a little wide, she can go close. (1) RAON THE SPURT was one of the standouts of the Filly Triple Crown trail with a 3^rd and two runner-up finishes in the three races. She returned to class 3 company to win over 1800M on July 30^th and while this is her first time back at a sprint distance since she was a juvenile, she had previously excelled at it. She can be on pace and is a big chance. (2) VICTOR MOON and (3) LOVELY K are both front-runners with class 2 form and should be competitive here while (13) LUCKY JAESAN is rising through the grades having won her latest two and has every chance of measuring up in this company.