It’s turned very cold in Korea the past couple of days and temperatures in the capital are forecast to remain below zero for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the sun will probably be shining and there are 10 races in Seoul on Saturday from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maidens here and every single one of the twelve is racing for the first time so we must head for the trial videos. Most of these took more than one attempt at qualifying and that applies to the probable favourite (5) BLACK MOTION, who wasn’t ready on his first attempt in July. He has since been gelded and looked much more assured when winning a heat on November 25th sitting handy and then running on, crossing the line in a decent time ten-lengths to the good. If he can bring that form to the races, he can win. Going on times, (4) AGAPANTHUS is the second pick. His heat was first due to the presence of Grand Prix Stakes 4th placed Saryeoni First and Korean Oaks 3rd Chamjoeun Chingu but he stuck with both and can go well here. (8) DONGHAENG FIRST and (1) KARIZMA came through the same trial, and both hinted at ability while (9) VILLARRICA is another who offered some evidence of potential when 2nd on his heat two weeks ago in a fair time.
| Selections | (5) Black Motion (4) Agapanthus (8) Donghaeng First (1) Karizma |
| Next Best | 9, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
More juvenile maidens although this time only one of twelve is appearing for the first time with the rest all having raced once apiece. The three lowest drawn look set to dispute it. Of them (1) ACHIM DONGJA is the only one who debuted at this distance, starting slowly on November 5th but running on strong for a good 3rd place in a good time. He should have derived benefit for the experience and with a better start, is the one to beat. (2) STRENGTH showed speed when 4th on debut in a quick time over 1000M on November 27th. He finished off well and the additional furlong shouldn’t prove problematic from a good gate. Similarly, (3) NAOL GONI ran on for 4th on debut over 1000M a month ago and looks to be the other legitimate winning chance. Among the rest, (8) SAVANA CHARLIE was also 4th on debut, albeit in a slower time. He did though finish off very well and the step up in trip can benefit. Debut maker (12) THUNDER PRINCE went through two trials, improving in the latter, and may go well first-up at probable big odds.
| Selections | (1) Achim Dongja (2) Strength (3) Naol Goni (8) Savana Charlie |
| Next Best | 12, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
More juvenile maidens, all with racing experience. (1) G MOTION is the warm favourite, having finished no worse than 4th in three starts so far, with two of them coming over this distance in good times. He draws very nicely here, and he won’t need to improve much to win this. (5) CHROMITE came home 5th to G Motion’s 4th when they raced each other on November 19th. He has three lengths to find on the favourite but that was his first try at this distance and he may improve for the experience. (8) DALGEUM comes up in trip for the first time after back-to-back 3rd place finishes over 1000M. Both times she was doing her best work late on and the additional furlong can suit here under a very light weight. (6) UNICORN KINGDOM is similarly up in class following an improved 2nd over 1000M at start number three and along with (2) MISS WIN STAR is another in the frame.
| Selections | (1) G Motion (5) Chromite (8) Dalgeum (6) Unicorn Kingdom |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Regular maiden open to all ages. (12) EUREKA has never finished any better than 4th but that is something he has achieved on no fewer than five of his nine starts so far. He draws wide here but given his running style, that may not be much of a problem. His times at this distance have not exactly been electrifying, but that’s true for everything else here too and he has as good a chance as any. (10) BEST BIG BANG has the fastest – though that’s relative – time of those who have attempted the distance before. That was achieved when beating Eureka as the pair ran 3rd and 4th on October 16th. He remains nicely weighted under an apprentice and can go close. (6) DEVIL K has a couple of 3rd place finishes to his name and that’s enough to put him firmly in contention in this company. In the absence of any early speed, he may lead and can be in this a long way. (4) CHOEGO POINT and (9) MADISON MOUNTAIN are others who could be in the mix.
| Selections | (12) Eureka (10) Best Big Bang (6) Devil K (4) Choego Point |
| Next Best | 9, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
It’s hard to look too far past (10) HIGH GRAND here. After back-to-back 4th places over 1000M, he stepped up to 1200M on November 5th and very nearly made all, ultimately coming home 2nd in a quick time. He has the challenge of the wide gate here so may need a touch of luck at the stuck but if he can get a forward position, he will take some beating. (2) SERYUNG comes in off 4th places in his latest two outings, both at 1200M. He draws nicely here to sit on pace or handy and the extra half furlong can suit. (1) MORNING PRINCE enters having run good times in his latest two at 1200M for 3rd and 5th. He has tended to get a bit far back in his races so far but runs on well and is another for who the additional trip can suit. (6) BEST PLAN and (12) HOUYHNHNM others with minor money claims.
| Selections | (10) High Grand (2) Seryung (1) Morning Prince (6) Best Plan |
| Next Best | 12, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(4) CHEONMA CHAT will be favourite here based on his last start 4th at this class over 1200M when handy all the way and finishing in a fast time. He was found wanting at Listed level the time before that but in this company should be too good. (9) WONPYEONG TOWN was slightly disappointing last time when tried at 1400M. His form heading into that race had been good though with a 2nd place at class and distance on October 22nd with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. He is worth another chance here. (1) WONDERFUL WOMAN mixes her form but has some good efforts at this class and distance to her name. She draws well here and comes down slightly in he weights and can be a danger. (10) HOEDURYEONG and (12) BURUI KKOT among others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (4) Cheonma Chat (9) Wonpyeong Town (1) Wonderful Woman (10) Hoeduryeong |
| Next Best | 12, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 9, 12 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies only here. (6) SEONGSILGONGJUPINK was an emphatic all the way winner over this distance at Start number two at the end of October before having a hard time in Listed company in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy last month. Returning to shallower waters today, she has solid claims to return to winning ways. It’s a competitive field though. (3) UNICORN HIT won on debut over 1000M in September, before running 3rd on her first try at this class and distance on October 16th. She’s had nine weeks off since then so comes in here fresh and can be a danger. (2) HERO SARANG is yet to win but comes up in class having secured back-to-back runner-up finishes in her first two starts, both over 1000M. Her times were good, she draws well to be on pace, and she can be in this a long way. (5) TOUR QUEEN and (1) WELLBEING CHAMPION among others who can go close.
| Selections | (6) Seongsilgongjupink (3) Unicorn Hit (2) Hero Sarang (5) Tour Queen |
| Next Best | 1, 12 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 10, 12 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Plenty come in with their recent form reading well but (1) LEEWOLMA will be hot favourite. He won his first two starts in emphatic fashion to be rapidly promoted to this class and then and a very fast 2nd in a remarkably fast time for this – or any other – class, on November 13th. He comes up 2kg in the weights but draws well again and should be too good. (9) GRAY THOR also produced a quick time when winning over 1300M at class 5 level on November 19th. He is up in class but down slightly in weight and can measure up in this company. After seemingly losing her way a little (4) SIRIUS ALPHA looks to be back on track with a pair of runner-up finishes in quick times in is latest two efforts at 1300M and 1400M. She goes best on pace so she draws well here and the drop back in trip may suit. (2) HANGANG MAGIC and (5) SAENAE QUEEN, the latter up in class, are others who can enter the calculations.
| Selections | (1) Leewolma (9) Gray Thor (4) Sirius Alpha (2) Hangang Magic |
| Next Best | 5, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 6 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 2 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 90 Million
(9) CHOEGANG GAME comes in having finished back in the pack in the Group 1 President’s Cup at his latest start. That was always going to be a challenge, but he was strong winner at this distance at class 3 level on his first race in five months in October. While up in class compared to that, today’s company is amenable enough for the level and under a sensible weight, he is the one to beat. (1) MIGHTY POP also comes up in class having returned from a lengthy absence to win over this distance on November 6th. He should strip fitter for that run, he comes down 3kg in the weights, and he can be competitive. (6) BALVENIE needs a line drawn through his latest when well beaten over 2000M. Today’s task looks more suitable, and he can be considered. (10) GRAY CAT and (3) ACTIMON are others who can enter the placing equation.
| Selections | (9) Choegang Game (1) Mighty Pop (6) Balvenie (10) Gray Cat |
| Next Best | 3, 7 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 11, 12 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) K N SKETCH may have only finished 6th of eight on his latest start on November 13th, but the margins weren’t huge, and his time was faster than any of the others here have achieved the distance. He is a winner over 1400M already and from a good draw, he is the one to beat here. (5) MIGHTY KICK is yet to win in ten starts but has six top-five finishes to his name, including a runner-up finish at this distance. He has a good finish on him and can settle back and run into some money here. (10) MOONHAK AFLEET has raced just twice, but improved to 3rd in the second of them, running on well. He comes up in trip for the first time and under a very light weight, it may just suit. (6) OCHEONBOK and (12) K N UNDERKING are among plenty of others with at least placing chances.
| Selections | (1) K N Sketch (5) Mighty Kick (10) Moonhak Afleet (6) Ocheonbok |
| Next Best | 12, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 