It’s Grand Prix Stakes Eve! Before the big race at Seoul on Sunday, the capital track hosts a Saturday meeting with 10 races from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maidens in the opener with five of the eight racing for the first time. We’ll take a chance on one of the debut makers in the shape of (6) J MOTION. He made all to win his trial by a big margin and in a quick time in mid-November. If he can bring that form to the races, he can win first-up. The main danger is one of the ones with prior experience. (8) CLOUD NINE has raced twice, not doing much on debut but then improving to 3rd when stepped up to this trip on October 23rd. He sat right back early before running on and so long as he doesn’t leave himself too much to do, he can be competitive here. (2) SINUI HAMSEONG has been through a load of trials. The most recent (which was voluntary so may not appear on all race cards) on November 11th saw his overcome a wide draw to sit off pace and hen run on very nicely to cross the line 1st in a good time. The distance should suit for his debut here. (4) CLUB D is another trial winner and along with (7) NONSTOP THUNDER is also with claims to go well.
Selections | (6) J Motion (8) Cloud Nine (2) Sinui Hamseong (4) Club D |
Next Best | 7, 5 |
Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Maidens and it’s hard to look far past (11) GEUMBITMA. He has three top-four finishes from his four prior starts, alongside a solid 6th place in the listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy. He comes in off a solid 3rd place last time out on November 5th when sitting handy throughout and while he has the challenge of the wide gate, he should have too much. (5) RAON AMERICAN ran 5th in that November 5th race, settling midfield and finishing off well. He also has a 2nd place to his name at the distance and getting a much better draw than the favourite, can be a danger under You Hyun-myung, who is in town to ride in Sunday’s Grand Prix Stakes. (4) HUMMING BIRD enters off a last start runner-up finish over the distance and while she was well beaten by a good winner, she comes into a much better gate today and can go close again. (3) SUPREME STAR and (1) RAON THE CHARLIE among others with credible placing chances.
Selections | (11) Geumbitma (5) Raon American (4) Humming Bird (3) Supreme Star |
Next Best | 1, 9 |
Fast Start | 3, 5, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies (and one mare) here and it looks to be between two last start winners. (11) WONDERFUL WEEK was a super winner at start number two over 1000M on October 30th, settling handy and running on to stop the clock in a fast time. Neither he extended trip, or the class rise should be a problem and while the draw isn’t ideal, she looks to have plenty of potential. (6) MAPARAM was a fine winner over 1300M at this class on November 5th, making all in a quick time. The engagement of an apprentice jockey keeps the weight down and from a good gate, she should be in this a long way again. (8) CONCORD QUEEN has finished in 6th and 7th in her latest two, but the margins haven’t been big, and she can be a factor here. (4) GEUMA ALLURE and (9) JAKDUKONG are among a lengthy list of other placing contenders.
Selections | (11) Wonderful Week (6) Maparam (8) Concord Queen (4) Geuma Allure |
Next Best | 9, 12 |
Fast Start | 6, 7, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
A very competitive affair in prospect here. We’ll side with (2) EUNPA CHAMPION, an all the way winner on debut in a fast time over 1000M on November 6th having previously won a trial. He is up in class and up a furlong and a half in distance, but he can be equal to both. (5) NAOL CHEONJI was a winner on debut over 1000M in October and then followed up with a 3rd place over 1300M on her first try at this class on November 5th. She should have benefited from that latter experience, she should be on pace here, and she has every chance. (3) YONGBI SEOUL is another who comes up in class having won on debut, in his case on October 29th when settling handy to the lead and running on over 1000M. He too can measure up in this company. It took (9) SECRET KING a few more goes to get his maiden win but he did it in fine style over 1200M on November 19th and can be competitive. (8) GEOMEUN JILJU another in the hunt.
Selections | (2) Eunpa Champion (5) Naol Cheonji (3) Yongbi Seoul (9) Secret King |
Next Best | 8, 4 |
Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
(5) K N POST remains a maiden but it’s about time that changed. She has been consistent across her eight starts to date with her only disappointing recent effort coming when drawn very wide at this trip. She comes in off a strong runner-up finish over 1400M on October 23rd when she settled back and ran on, and today can be her day. (2) WONDERFUL HWASEONG is another maiden. He also comes in off a spin around 1400M when 5th and while he comes up 2.5kg on that effort, he draws a nice gate and can be competitive here. (9) JILJUE BADA beat a coupe of these on his way to 4th place at class and distance on November 5th. He comes in under the same weight and given his running style, the wide gate shouldn’t be a problem. (7) GRAND STAR and (3) DOUBLE TAKE among others in the minor money hunt.
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