Day: February 10, 2023

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 11)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 12 races from 10:40 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Moon Se-young is back from suspension on Saturday: Pic: KRA

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens get proceedings under way with five of the twelve racing for the first time. Unusually we’ll take a chance on a first timer and (8) AUSTIN LEADER. He showed well in his trial when handy and running though the line well in a fast time on an admittedly wet track. 1200M can suit first up and if he brings that trial form to the races, he has every chance of a win on debut. Trials don’t always translate to the real thing though as was the case with (1) BULGEUN POKPUNG who barely scraped through qualifying after a strong of slow efforts. That led to him being sent off the longest but one shot on the board on debut on December 17th, but he defied that to come from off the pace for 3rd. The step up in trip should suit and a similar effort will see him in the finish. (2) MAGUMA has a 2nd place at this distance in a good time. Draw a line through his latest at 1300M when drawn widest because he gets a much better gate this time and comes down in weight. Returning to the debut makers and (7) K N GOLDEN KING and (9) YEONGWON FIGHTER look next best.

Selections(8) Austin Leader (1) Bulgeun Pokpung (2) Maguma (7) K N Golden King
Next Best9, 3
Fast Start8, 9, 10, 12

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maiden fillies. (11) RAON EMPIRE has a 3rd and a 2nd from two starts so far most recently over this distance on Christmas Day when handy and running on. She has a strong finish so the wide draw may not be a hindrance and while she has twice been a beaten favourite, it could be third time lucky here. (5) PEERLESS is the main danger. She has finished 3rd in both starts so far with the latest being at this distance on January 14th in a tight finish. It was a good time and from a good draw she can sit behind the speed and run on strong. Those two look a cut above the rest with (9) DAERYUN SIDAE the clear next best. That’s based on her latest effort on January 15th when stepped up to this trip for the first time and settling back and running on for 4th. (4) HERO GANGJA and (7) SKY TEN others who can potentially improve.

Selections(11) Raon Empire (5) Peerless (9) Daeryun Sidae (4) Hero Gangja
Next Best7, 1
Fast Start3, 4, 9, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens and it’s hard to look past (8) DAEWANG SOCKS.  After a midfield finish on debut over 1000M when slowly away and running on he was on pace at start number two over this distance on Christmas Eve, having overcome the widest gate, and ultimately finished a very close 2nd to the favourite. Although he draws wide again, the smaller field should enable him to get an easier run and he will be difficult to get past. (9) GEUMBIT CHEONHA has shown progress over four starts so far with his best finish being his most recent when 3rd over 1300M on January 14th having settled back from a wide draw. He comes down slightly in the weights here and will be running on strongly again. (3) CHOEGANG HYEONMA is another seemingly on the right trajectory having improved on his second outing on January 8th, settling midfield and running on for 3rd, ahead of a couple of today’s rivals. He can aim to match or better that here. (7) SECRET WANGJA and (4) TUAREG NINE others who can enter the calculations.

Selections(8) Daewang Socks (9) Geumbit Cheonha (3) Choegang Hyeonma (7) Secret Wangja
Next Best4, 5
Fast Start1, 5, 6, 8

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

(4) MAGLE DAY was an improved 2nd at start number three over this distance on January 14th when handy to the lead and then running on well stopping the clock in a fast time. He draws well to be on or close to the pace again today and won’t need to improve much here in order to win. (8) RAON THE CHARLIE enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes at 1200M and 1300M having settled back and run on both times. He has the fastest finish of all of these and will be coming home strong again here. (6) EFFEL TAP should be on pace from a good draw. Moon Se-young rode him on his best finish to date when 3rd at 1200M last October and he can go well in this company from the front. (5) THUNDER BRAVO is rarely too far away and comes up to this trip for the first time. (7) DONGBANG SAGI another in the frame.

Selections(4) Magle Day (8) Raon The Charlie (6) Effel Tap (5) Thunder Bravo
Next Best7, 3
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 7

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(1) STRENGTH made all to get his maiden win at start number three over 1200M on January 14th, winning by as many as he pleased. It was an eye-catching performance and while he is up in class and slightly in trip today, he draws the same inside gate and it would be no surprise were he to repeat. (4) RAON AMERICAN is winless in five outings but got promoted to this class with a pair of runner-up finishes. He measured up well on his first try at this level when 4th over 1200M on January 15th and under a light weight again looks firmly in this. Another yet to win, in her case from eleven attempts, is (3) MORNING PEARL. She is very consistent though and has a 2nd and two 3rd place finishes among her latest four outings all at this class. She tends to settle back and run on, and it would be a surprise if she didn’t run into a place again here. (10) DESIRE TO WIN is another up in class following a maiden score, which came over 1400M on January 15th. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she can be competitive. (9) SUNGAN TOUCH another in at least the placing frame.

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