Day: April 14, 2023

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (April 15)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Jocket Lee Dong-ha rode his first Listed or Graded winner aboard Eodigana in last weekend’s Donga Ilbo Trophy. The rider is back in action at Seoul on Saturday (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens and a couple look ready to win. Chief among those is (8) BANFF, who ran 3rd on debut in February before improving to 2nd on March 19th in a good time over this distance. He’ll be on pace here and it can be third time lucky. Any top-three finish will see Banff up to class 5 next time and that’s true too for (7) FINAL JILJU. She also has a runner-up finish to her name over this distance and comes in off a 3rd place over 1300M on March 18th when coming from off the pace. She may be ridden a little handier here with the slight drop in trip and she should be close again. (3) PURPLE WINK is the solitary debut-maker. He won a March trial in a good time and from a nice draw can be a factor first-up. (9) FEDERAL PRESS has shown gradual improvement across three starts so far. He has generally left himself too much to do but his last start 5th was encouraging. (6) TAMRA CHOEGANGJA another in the hunt.

Selections(8) Banff (7) Final Jilju (3) Purple Wink (9) Federal Press
Next Best6, 5
Fast Start3, 4, 6, 8

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(8) DAERYUN SIDAE came close to a gate to wire win over 1300M on March 12th, only to be denied by a neck in the final strides. That was the first time she had been ridden forward and was her second consecutive placing. She comes back slightly in trip and in this small field the widest gate shouldn’t be a problem. (2) DARK ZONE returns to action for the first time since last July. He has a 5th and a 4th on his record and looked well enough in a March trial when on pace and crossing the line 2nd in a fair time. With not much early speed in the race, he should be on pace and in this a long way. (5) WONPYEONG SKY has a 3rd place to his name at this trip when overcoming the widest gate. He followed up with a 5th of ten over 1300M on March 18th and should be competitive here. (7) HOUYHNHNM and (6) CHALLANHAN POKPUNG others to keep safe.

Selections(8) Daeryun Sidae (2) Dark Zone (5) Wonpyeong Sky (7) Houyhnhnm
Next Best6, 3
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 8

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

It’s hard to go too far past (5) STAND BY ME here. He’s been knocking firmly on the door in his latest few including a last start 2nd over this distance on March 18th when handy throughout. There isn’t much speed here so he should get an easy run early on and can go one better today. (11) CHOEGO POINT has run encouragingly in his latest two, running on for 4th last time out over 1400M. He has run some fair times over this trip and Antonio climbing aboard can be in his favour. (8) FLY DAY has finished off well in each of his three starts so far with his best being 3rd over 1200M. He comes up to this trip for the first time and it may well suit. (3) LAST PITCH and (1) GOLDEN PEARL other potential place chances.

Selections(5) Stand By Me (11) Choego Point (8) Fly Day (3) Last Pitch
Next Best1, 7
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 8

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(6) TANGJA’s win came at 1200M at class 6 level back in December and since then he has gone on to perform solidly in three attempts at this class including a close 4th over this distance on March 25th when from a wide draw, he had to settle back. He comes into a better gate today and may take some beating. Having won a trial, (9) WONDERFUL SLEW duly won on debut over 1200M back in December. She reappears for the first time since up in class and up in distance, but she remains nicely weighted, and she can measure up first-up here. (5) HANGANG JIJON also comes up in class having won well over this distance on March 11th. That was a big uptick in form, but he comes down in the weights and a repeat of that run puts him in the finish. (1) ROSE GOLD and (3) HUIMANG OREUM are others in the minor money frame.

Selections(6) Tangja (9) Wonderful Slew (5) Hangang Jijon (1) Rose Gold
Next Best3, 8
Fast Start4, 6, 7, 8

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

(4) BULUI NALGAE comes in off his maiden win at start number six over 1300M on March 18th. It had been coming too as he had been getting progressively closer in his previous outings. He comes up in class here but down in the weights and the slightly extended trip can suit. (11) MONEY JANGGUN remains a maiden but got promoted to this class following two runner-up finishes at class 6. He then overcame the widest gate to run 3rd at this class on February 25th. His style is to settle back and run on and while so far, he has run out of track each time, he is another who may be suited by the seven-furlongs today. (7) BEST JEONSA is another maiden, but he has plenty of experience at this level and has run good times over the distance. He comes into a better gate than in his latest two so may well be on the early speed here and can be in this a long way. (10) ALL FOR YOUR DREAM and (5) NAMSAN MUJEOK among others in the hunt.

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