Day: November 26, 2022

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup Sunday: Busan & Seoul Race-By-Race Preview (November 27)

The Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup, the final leg of the Queens’ Tour for fillies and mares highlights Sunday’s racing program. A full field of sixteen, including nine who have travelled down from Seoul, will contest the 2000M main event, which is the final event on a 6-race card at Busan that runs from 12:15 to 16:40. See here for a horse-by-horse preview of the big race. There are also 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00. Here is the race-by-race:

Golden Power and Raon The Spurt, who clashed in the Triple Tiara series, meet again in the final leg of the Queens’ Tour (Pic: KRA)

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

Juvenile maidens in the opener with six of the twelve racing for the first time. (4) SOMETHING LOST trialled up very pleasingly on October 28th, getting a smooth start and then cruising around in a fast time without being asked any questions. The experienced Wildly Romantic passed him at the end but it was a very good showing, he draws very nicely and if he can bring that form to the races, he has every chance first up. Experience follows this time. (7) CHALLANHAN BULKKOT ran a solid 3rd place on debut on October 30th, when settling in midfield and running on for 3rd. She draws a slightly better gate and can benefit from that experience. (1) DAEBAK SOCKS can also benefit from his debut on October 22nd when on pace throughout and ultimately running 4th. He draws the same inside barrier and can get closer. (8) MIGHTY SSEN was slowly away on debut but still posted a fair time. He has since looked good when returning to trial and can go better today. Returning to the debut-makers, (11) UPTOWN WHIZ won his trial and is entitled to support first-up.

Selections(4) Something Lost (7) Challanhan Bulkkot (1) Daebak Socks (8) Mighty Ssen
Next Best11, 9
Fast Start1, 4, 7, 11

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

More juvenile maidens but with just two first-timers. (1) YUKWAEHAN SARANG won a September trial before finishing 2nd on debut over 1000M on October 9th when settling midfield and running on. The additional furlong can suit, and she can win. (11) META BLADE looks to be the main danger. After running 2nd on debut over 1000M, she stepped up to this distance on October 16th and dead-heated for 4th. Both times she has come from off the pace, so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she is sure to be working home well. Along with Meta Blade, the only other one to have previously tackled the 1200M is (5) WINNER YOUNG. His form is identical to that of Meta Blade with a 2nd at 1000M followed by a 4th at this distance. He can sit midfield and run into some money again here. (4) LONDON ACE and the first timer (4) MYEOLKONG other minor money hopes.

Selections(1) Yukwaehan Sarang (11) Meta Blade (5) Winner Young (4) London Ace
Next Best4, 10
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 5

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(11) UCHEONGRYUNG has shown significant improvement in his latest two, finishing 4th and 2nd, at 1200M at 1300M. The wide draw isn’t ideal, but his style isn’t to lead, and he has a good finish on him compared to his rivals here. Kim Yong-geun climbs aboard and today can be his day. (2) GOOD CABO ran 6th behind Ucheongryung’s 4th on October 2nd having led for much of the way around. He draws nicely here, the same apprentice jockey keeps his weight nice and low, and he can be looking to get closer this time around. (9) BAEKDU MEOTJAENGI comes up in trip after two promising spins around 1000M. She has been on pace both times and will probably aim to get forward again. She can be in this a long way. (7) YEONHUI SARANG and (8) HWANGOO GANGJA others in the placing frame.

Selections(11) Ucheongryung (2) Good Cabo (9) Baekdu Meotjaengi (7) Yeonhui Sarang
Next Best8, 6
Fast Start2, 5, 8, 9

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

Juvenile maidens open proceedings on the south coast with four of the eleven racing for the first time. There will be a warm favourite in the shape of (7) CHANGCHANG DAERO. He’s raced twice so far, both at this distance and finishing 4rh and 5th when settling midfield and running on. Both times have been good, and he won’t need to improve very much to win this. There isn’t much obvious speed in this race so he may be taken to the front. (6) ARTHUR KING IJI was behind Changchang Daero on what was his second start on October 2nd. He drew wide that day but again, his time was perfectly adequate for the distance, and he can improve here following eight weeks off. Among the first timer starters, (3) BLUE MORE and (11) HWANGWOO MONEY both showed prominently in their trials. Neither time was that fast, but this is a nice race to debut in and bold showings first-up shouldn’t be discounted. (8) B.K. NUMA another potential improver.

Selections(7) Changchang Daero (6) Arthur King Iji (3) Blue More (11) Hwangwoo Money
Next Best8, 2
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 7

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

(6) BOSS BABY has been knocking at the door for some time and comes in off a 2nd place over 1200M and a 3rd over 1700M. He has run well at this distance too with the fastest time among any of these who have tackled it, recorded when 4th from gate twelve three starts ago. He can settle midfield here and can prove too strong. (7) NAOL KING raced twice this spring, registering a 2nd place over 1300M in the second of them. He hasn’t appeared since, but he looked very well when winning a trial two weeks ago and when on pace throughout and if he can bring that form to the races then he s a chance first-up here. (11) SARANG DAMOA has seven top-five finishes from twelve starts including each of her latest four. The draw shouldn’t be a problem as she has a fast finish on her, and she can maintain her consistent record today. (10) DEVIL K and (2) BLUE KAISER others in the hunt.

Selections(6) Boss Baby (7) Naol King (11) Sarang Damoa (10) Devil K
Next Best2, 8
Fast Start1, 5, 10, 12

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens with four of the ten racing for the first time. We’ll take a chance on a first timer namely (4) BACKTOTHELEGEND. He went through two trials, improving significantly in the second of them when he was on pace and stopped the clock in a fast time. He is out of Soseono, a good racehorse herself in Korea, and she can go well first-up. Of the experienced ones, the most convincing is (6) ONNURI CHUKJE. Unfancied on debut following a slow trial, he ran a solid 5th of twelve over 1000M on October 28th, running on well. He should have come on for the experience and the extra furlong can be in his favour. (1) HAPPY BLUE debuted at this distance on November 6th and while he only beat one home, it wasn’t a bad performance, and he can strip fitter for the run. Of the debut-makers, (10) CAPTAIN COMMANDO improved significantly in the second of two trials. (7) HANGANG SAVER another who can improve.

(more…)

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup: Full Preview as Raon The Spurt and Golden Power Take on Wish Me and Calm Strong

The Queens’ Tour reaches its conclusion at Busan on Sunday afternoon with the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) and while the leader of the series and the nation’s top filly or mare, Raon First, isn’t in attendance following her President’s Cup heroics two weeks ago, a solid field of sixteen will take their chance. Golden Power and Raon The Spurt bring their Triple Tiara rivalry on to the senior stage while Group winner Calm Strong and Wish Me return.

Wish Me was a spectacular winner of the Jeju Governor’s Cup (Pic: KRA)

It’s been a long series, kicking off all the way back in March, when Raon First won the Donga Ilbo Trophy (1800M Listed). She then followed up in the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2) in June but put in an uncharacteristically poor run in the KNN Cup (1600M KOR-G3) at Busan the following month. Following a four-month hiatus, the series returns with Raon First still atop the standings and even in her absence, only Wish Me, runner-up in the Ttukseom and KNN Cups, is able to catch her.

Wish Me won the non-series Jeju Governor’s Cup (1400M KOR G3) in track record setting time in October. Both distance and her wide draw will be a question mark here, but she is sure to be among the favourites.

The KNN Cup was won by Calm Strong, another who is done no favours by the draw. She followed up that victory with another at class 2 level over 1800M in August and can’t be ruled out.

When the first leg took place, Golden Power and Raon The Spurt were simply a pair of promising three-year-old fillies.  Since then, Golden Power has won all three legs of the Triple Tiara series while Raon The Spurt ran 3rd in the opening leg and then 2nd in the remaining two. They take on their elders here and Raon The Spurt is the one who may just find more improvement.

The Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup is the concluding event on a six-race program at Busan on Sunday with a local post time of 16:40. There are also eleven races on Sunday at Seoul. Here is a full run-down of all the runners:

1. ECOPIA – A winner up to 1800M at class 3 level when on pace but well back behind Calm Strong and Wish Me in her latest two. Drawn well to lead but an outsider.

2. GREEN DARC – Winner over 1800M at class 3 at Seoul two starts ago but well back when slowly away on latest outing. Can sit handy and run on but others favoured.

3. RAON THE SPURT – Never out of the top four and runner-up to Golden Power in the Oaks and Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup and to Wish Me in the Jeju. Great draw, the distance should suit, and she is a real chance.

4. BURNING PARTY – Won a trophy race at 1800M in a fast time in April but races here for the first time since May. Trialed very nicely, she is a wildcard here. Goes best on pace.

(more…)