Day: April 21, 2023

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (April 22)

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

Spring Festival is finally over…

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

Three-year-old maidens in the opener and while the field is small, it’s competitive. (7) HEY CUPID debuted in a nondescript fashion last October and was then put away. He returned to training in February having been gelded and looked very well when leading every step of the way in a March trial. He can make a winning return here. The main danger is (5) CHEOGANG HYEONMA. In four appearances, he is yet to finish any worse than 5th with his best being a 2nd place over 1300M two starts back. In this small field he will probably be ridden further forward today, and he could make the breakthrough.  (8) CLAIR QUEEN has the fastest time among these for the distance and looks to be figuring things out following back-to-back 5th place finishes. First time starter (2) GANGJAUI BIT, who trialled up behind Hey Cupid, and (1) CHOEGANG NICE among others in the hunt.

Selections(7) Hey Cupid (5) Choegang Hyeonma (8) Clair Queen (2) Gangjaui Bit
Next Best1, 6
Fast Start4, 5, 7, 8

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

Fillies (and one mare) in this maiden. (4) EUNBIT DOLPUNG has a 4th and a 3rd from two starts so far at this distance and 1300M, the latter time beating a couple of today’s rivals. She draws nicely here, Johan climbs aboard, and she can make it third time lucky. (8) NANGJU YEOGEOL comes in off an improved 3rd place over 1300M on March 26th. She was ridden closer to the pace that day, just as she was in a previous 3rd, and with similar tactics today, she has a chance. (6) COSMO QUEEN has been consistent over her six outings including a 3rd place two starts back when stopping the clock in a faster time than any of the others have managed for the distance, albeit n a wet and fast track. She is at least a place chance. (3) TOUGH YEOJE and (10) TI AMO others who can enter the calculations.

Selections(4) Eunbit Dolpung (8) Nangju Yeogeol (6) Cosmo Queen (3) Tough Yeoje
Next Best10, 2
Fast Start4, 5, 7, 8

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

It’s hard to go too far past (4) MIR POINT. After a couple of indifferent runs to start with, he has shown good consistency and has been working towards a win in his latest few. He comes in off a 3rd place at 1200M when he settled midfield and ran on, but in this company, he will almost certainly be ridden on pace and may takes some passing. He has been a beaten favourite before though so if you fancy him to be one again then (8) BADAUI KKUM could be the one. Yet to score in fifteen, he has seven top-five finishes to his name and continues to benefit from a 2kg apprentice claim here. He should be on the speed too and he runs through the line well. (2) WONDERFUL WISHING ran out an improved 2nd over 1400M on March 18th. He draws well and can build on that here. The form drops off after that with (3) SPEAR QUEEN and (5) WONDERFUL DEPUTY perhaps next best.

Selections(4) Mir Point (8) Badaui Kkum (2) Wonderful Wishing (3) Spear Queen
Next Best5, 9
Fast Start2, 4, 8, 9

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

Competitive race. (4) ARGO SMILE got his maiden win at start two over 1200M in February when settling midfield and running on. He then ran 2nd on his first try at this class and distance on March 5th behind a winner who has since gone on to place at class 4. An apprentice claim means he carries even less weight today, he draws well, and he has solid claims. (11) BLACK MOTION enters off a 3rd place at 1200M in late February when settling right back and then running on. That effort suggests that the wide draw won’t be a problem and he can be a danger. (10) STRENGTH and (1) ORCHID VALLEY ran 2nd and 3rd respectively when they faced each other at class and distance on March 11th. There is a slight swing in the weights in Orchid Valley’s favour and he also gets the better of the draw, but both can be competitive again. (5) WORLD KING MAN among plenty of others with placing claims.

Selections(4) Argo Smile (11) Black Motion (10) Strength (1) Orchid Valley
Next Best5, 6
Fast Start4, 7, 9, 10

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(1) YEONGWON FIGHTER led from gate to wire to win on debut over 1200M on February 11th. He has had ten weeks off since then and he comes up in class here, but he comes into a much better gate and is down in weight. He can make it two for two. (10) JANGSAN SPO was a similarly good winner at class 6 level in February and while he finished back in the pack on his first try at this level on March 18th, the margins weren’t huge, and he can be given another chance here. (7) YONGBI SEOUL has finished 5th in his latest two. Both at this class and distance and both in quick times. He can settle just behind the speed here and can finish off well. (11) JUMONG CHEONHA and (2) BLOOMING STAR others in the frame.

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