Day: November 19, 2022

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (November 20)

Sunday’s racing sees 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:15 to 16:40. Feature races of the day are a pair of Listed Juvenile Trophies, one at each track. See here for a full preview of those two races and read on for the race-by-race:

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

Juvenile maidens to open things with seven of the twelve – coincidentally all drawn from gate six and wider – racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience though and (5) SUPER FINISH, the only one to have raced twice before. He ran 5th of ten on debut before going down a very narrow 2nd in a fast time at start number two on October 8th when handy throughout. He could have too much here. (3) HERO SARANG led for much of the way around on her debut on October 22nd, ultimately running 2nd, She should have come on for that run and can go close again. Among the first timers, (12) LUCKY BOUNCE is likely to get the most attention. He won his trial and while the time wasn’t especially fast, he looked competent enough and Moon Se-young being aboard will tempt some. (4) JEONGWOO FOREVER and (1) FINE CAMP may improve from their debut runs.

Selections(5) Super Finish (3) Hero Sarang (12) Lucky Bounce (4) Jeongwoo Forever
Next Best1, 11
Fast Start1, 3, 5, 8

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Another set of juvenile maidens, this time with six of the twelve racing for the first time. (10) INDIANUI BYEOL was well-backed on debut following a trial win and he showed ability, running an on-pace 2nd in a fair time over this distance. He should have come on for the run and while he is drawn a little wider than ideal, but he might be too good here. (2) CATS EYE has also raced twice leading in both and running on well for 3rd in the second of them on October 8th. He is well drawn to lead again and should be in this a long way. (9) DASI TAEEONADO beat three of these in a trial before finishing a creditable 5th of twelve over this distance on debut on October 16th. She can have derived benefit from that experience and can improve today. Among the debut makers, (5) NAOL GONI ran a close 2nd in his trial while (11) ARA DAEJANGGUN is another who could go well first-up.

Selections(10) Indianui Byeol (2) Cats Eye (9) Dasi Taeeonado (5) Naol Goni
Next Best11, 3
Fast Start1, 2, 6, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Competitive maiden for fillies only. We’ll take a chance on (10) TOP POSITION, who after eight starts seems to be figuring things out and comes in off a smart 3rd place over this distance on October 16th. She doesn’t need to lead so the wide draw shouldn’t be too much of an issue and today can be her day. (6) BIG SMART has put in three very solid efforts in three starts so far, posting good times at 1000M and at this distance. She has tended to settle midfield, as finished off her races well, and she can be a big danger here. (7) CITY CHARM returned from six months out to run a good 4th over 1300M on October 22nd when handy throughout.  She should strip fitter for that experience and can match or better that here. (3) MAGIC MOCCASIN was 4th behind Top Position on October 16th, a race which she led. She draws well to be on pace again and once more should be in the race a long way. (12) P N S HER another in at least the minor money frame.

Selections(10) Top Position (6) Big Smart (7) City Charm (3) Magic Moccasin
Next Best12, 4
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 6

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens open proceedings on the south coast with five of the twelve racing for the first time. (3) ROCK AND ROLL is a half-brother to Korean Group race winner Mr. Afleet and he debuts here having run 2nd in a trial to Seungnimagic King, who won on his own debut on Friday (note his time in the trial was 1:02.3; some early editions of the race card may have a different time). He draws well, should be on pace and will be favoured to win. Of the experienced ones, (9) BURUICHUKJE looks the best. Just as she had done in her trial, she came from off the pace to run a close 2nd. She should have come on for the run and the additional furlong can suit. (7) SEONGSIL KING was slow away on debut over 1000M but picked up well to run 4th in a good time. He too may appreciate more distance to play with here. (6) GLOBAL SKY and first-timer starter (5) WITH SUN are others in the placing frame.

Selections(3) Rock And Roll (9) Buruichukje (7) Seongsil King (6) Global Sky
Next Best5, 11
Fast Start3, 4, 8, 9

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

It’s hard to go far past (1) GOMANARU. After an indifferent debut, he has a 4th, 3rd and 2nd from three subsequent outings at distances up to 1400M, racing both on the pace and coming from midfield. He draws well here and can go one better. (6) BURUI SINHWA also looks ready to win. He comes in off an on-pace 2nd over 1200M on October 23rd and while he won’t necessarily lead in this company, he can settle close to the speed and run on. The solitary first time starter (4) CAMINO probably couldn’t have picked a softer race to debut in. He won an October trial exiting from the widest gate to sit midfield and then run on. The time wasn’t fast, but he won’t need to improve much on that to be competitive here. (7) EUREKA beat a couple of these on his way to 4th place last time out, a position he has finished in five of eight outings and may well do so again. (2) BEST PLAN another with placing claims.

Selections(1) Gomanaru (6) Burui Sinhwa (4) Camino (7) Eureka
Next Best2, 9
Fast Start5, 8, 9, 10

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

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Juvenile Fillies Take Centre Stage Sunday

Juvenile fillies take centre stage on Sunday at both Seoul and Busan with the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy in the capital and the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Trophy on the south coast providing a stiff test as well as a big prize for next year’s Triple Tiara hopefuls.

Raon First won the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy in 2019. Can stablemate Raon Giant repeat? (Pic: KRA)

The Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup (1200M Listed) was last run in 2019 when it was won by Raon First. That year, the race was open to all juveniles, irrespective of sex or of where they were bred and Raon First crushed them, scoring by six-lengths. She would go on to dominate the filly and mare ranks for the next two years before returning to take on the boys when 3rd in the Korea Sprint and then last Sunday, winning the President’s Cup.

With just her Korean-bred contemporaries to contend with this time, another Musket Man filly and stablemate of Raon First, RAON GIANT has strong claims to take out this year’s edition of the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy. She has raced three times so far, winning two of them by big margins and her only defeat came at the hands of older horses.

Raon Giant likes to race forward, and despite being drawn the widest of ten, she can carry the green Raon colours home to another big race win. Moon Se-young, who last week had to settle for chasing Raon First home in 2nd place aboard Simjangui Godong in the President’s Cup, will be aboard.

It’s a tough race though. FIRE GIRL is unbeaten in two starts and has equally solid chances. At her second appearance on October 2nd, she overcame an awkward start before settling midfield and running on to win by an impressive five-lengths in a quick time. She seems set for a big show again.

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