It’s a rare Stakes-free weekend but there is still plenty to keep punters occupied. Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews :
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maidens in the opener. (1) NAOL ROONEY was a solid 4th on debut at this distance on April 23rd, racing in pace throughout. She draws well to be on the pace again and with some natural improvement from that run, she can win. (6) WONPYEONG KINGDOM shapes as the main danger. He’s run 3rd in both starts so far, both times on pace and at 1300M and 1200M. He too will be challenging for the early lead and any top=three finish will see him up to class 5 next time. It could be a win. Another one likely to be at the front early is (5) BULGEUN POKPUNG. His best so far was his 3rd place on debut at 1000M, but he led for a long way last time before being passed by a few for 6th. He can be in this for longer this time. There are three debut-makers and with the exposed form dropping off, they can be considered. Taking into account their trials and draw, (2) LAFEYETTE and (4) GLOBAL CHUKBAE have the best chance of making an immediate impression.
| Selections | (1) Naol Rooney (6) Wonpyeong Kingdom (5) Bulgeun Pokpung (2) Lafeyette |
| Next Best | 4, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 6 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million
More three-year-old maidens. (4) THEME TANSAENG ran a good 2nd two starts back, well behind a decent winner but in a decent time over 1200M. He had a hard time finding position from a wide draw on his latest, but he comes into a better gate here and should get an easier run to the lead. Moon Se-young stays aboard, and he is the one to beat. (7) WORLD FASHION has a 3rd and two 4th place finishes, settling back each tome and running on. He lay in ungenerously last time out to the extent that he was ordered back to trial, but he came through his heat in good order and with a more mature run, can go close again. (10) PURPLE WINK won a March trial before finishing a fair 4th on debut at 1200M on April 15th, running on well. He should have come on for the run and the way he finished off suggests the additional half furlong can suit. (9) HAENGUN BARAM and (8) LEMON BLADE among others in the frame.
| Selections | (4) Theme Tansaeng (7) World Fashion (10) Purple Wink (9) Haengun Baram |
| Next Best | 8, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
A regular maiden here and (9) FINAL CHUKJE looks set to be a warm favourite. He has five top-five finishes from six starts and his most recent outing was his best when 2nd over this distance on March 25th when he posted the fastest time of any of these over 1400M. The one downside is the draw is perhaps a little wider then ideal, but he has a long back straight to overcome that and he can win. (5) EXPECT stepped up to this trop on April 30th and produced his best performance to date when 3rd having raced handy. He’ll be on or near the speed here and can be a danger. (3) SAVANA CHARLIE was 4th in that same race. That was the fourth time in six starts that he has finished in that position, and he should be at least matching that here. (10) UDDUG and (1) HANGANG POWER among others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (9) Final Chukje (5) Expect (3) Savana Charlie (10) Uddug |
| Next Best | 1, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 5, 9 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(6) DALGEUM has five top-three finishes from seven starts so far including her latest two, a 2nd and a 3rd both at this class and distance. She has been on pace in those two and probably will be again and this time she can make the breakthrough. (5) WORLD KING MAN was 5th to Dalgeum’s 2nd when they raced one another on March 26th. He subsequently dropped back to 1300M and beat a couple of these on his way to 4th place on April 22nd. His style has been to drop back and then run on and he can be a danger in the closing stages here. (3) STAR K was a slightly unexpected winner on April 9th, coming from well back to score over 1300M. He comes up in class here, but the distance should suit, and he could have more improvement in him at what will be an each-way price. (8) YEONGCHEON JISANG and (9) POWER DOLPUNG among others with placing chances.
| Selections | (6) Dalgeum (5) World King Man (3) Star K (8) Yeongcheon Jisang |
| Next Best | 9, 4 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
A very competitive race. (8) HWANGWOO CHOEGANG is the likely favourite. She got her maiden win at start number two over this distance on April 1st and then ran a fair 4th on her first try at this class on April 29th in what was a very quick race on a wet track. She comes in under the same light weight and she can sit behind the speed and run on. (1) GANGHAN QUEEN was a good 3rd on her most recent outing on April 16th when she led for much of the way. She’ll be on or close to the pace again and can be in this a long way. (2) GLOBAL CHANGA weakened having led over this distance on March 12th. That was her first start since she ran 5th of ten in a Listed juvenile race last November and while she has had a further eleven weeks off since, she should strip fitter here and will have backers. The up in class pair of (11) BARAMUI HYANGGI and (7) GEOLJAK TOUR are others to consider.
| Selections | (8) Hwangwoo Choegang (1) Ganghan Queen (2) Global Changa (11) Baramui Hyanggi |
| Next Best | 7, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 6 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(7) LUCKY POWER has been a model of consistency across his ten starts so far and enters off the back of two 3rd places and a 4th at this class and has consistently run good times. He can be on pace here and has every chance. (2) DUSON CLASSIC comes in following a 2nd and a 3rd from her latest two, both at class and distance and the latter in a very quick time on a wet track. She is nicely drawn to be on pace here and should be close again. (11) ARGO SMILE too has run quick times in both his runner-up finishes at this class and distance since getting his maiden win in February. The draw isn’t ideal but if he can find a sport just behind the leaders, he should prove strong again. (8) ORCHID VALLEY and the up in class (3) NANGJU YEOGEOL are others to consider for the minors.
| Selections | (7) Lucky Power (2) Duson Classic (11) Argo Smile (8) Orchid Valley |
| Next Best | 3, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Special Weight B / KRW 60 Million
(7) KING HONOR returned from a four-month absence at the start of April to run 2nd over 1700M leading for most of the way. He should have derived benefit from that run and back at a mile today, he is the one to beat. (6) ADELE MUSTANG was a winner at this class over 1400M on April 23rd when he settled right back before finishing strongly. He comes up 3kg as a result, but he has won at this distance in the past and a repeat is possible. (3) STAR BLADE endured a difficult day at the office around 1800M last time out. He’s had nine weeks off since then and comes back to a trip at which he has raced well. He can get a bit far back in his races from a nice draw Johan can pick his spot and he should be competitive. (9) GRAND STAR and (4) YEONGUNG DAEMA are others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (7) King Honor (6) Adele Mustang (3) Star Blade (9) Grand Star |
| Next Best | 4, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(2) MENI ACE has only missed the top-five on one occasion from eight starts so far and has a 3rd and a 2nd in two attempts at this class, both of them over today’s distance. She is tactically versatile, draws well and remains under a light weight. (7) E-DANAEUN comes back in trip following two creditable attempts at a mile and 1800M in his first class 4 outings. He hasn’t tackled this trip before, but he has a smart finish on him, and it could well suit. (1) JANGSAN SPO comes up in class after an on-pace win over 1200M on April 22nd. He is up in distance too but comes down in the weights and draws well to be on the speed. He can measure up at this level and can be in this a long way. (8) HAWK PRINCE and (5) GULJAK SUN among others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (2) Meni Ace (7) E-Danaeun (1) Jangsan Spo (8) Hawk Prince |
| Next Best | 5, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 10 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
(5) TITAN SOCKS has been working back towards another win with back-to-back 3rd place finishes from his latest two starts, both around two turns. He carries his fair share of weight, but he draws well, Moon Se-young gets on, and while it has been a full thirteen starts since his last success, he can put that right here. (3) WONDERFUL WEEK was an also-ran in the Luna Stakes, the first leg of the Triple Tiara, at Busan last month. She skips next week’s Oaks but going on her effort two starts back when she was 2nd at this class over 1800M, she must be given a chance. (1) ULTRA GALAXY won two consecutive races over this distance to get rapidly promoted to this class. He struggled on his first attempt at the level over 1400M but should be better back up to two-turns today. (11) WORLD RACER and (8) MUSTANG POWER are among others in the hunt for the minors.
| Selections | (5) Titan Socks (3) Wonderful Week (1) Ultra Galaxy (11) World Racer |
| Next Best | 8, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 10 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 75 Million
(7) ACHIM HAMSEONG is potentially working back towards another win. She has a 4th and a 2nd from his latest two, both around two turns at this level and she continues to be well treated in the weights. She tends to get a bit far back and leave herself too much to do but with Moon at the controls today, she can win. (10) MIGHTY GOOD is the big danger. He won three races in a row between November and January and reappears for the first time since a shy at the class 2 stumps in late February. He has plenty of weight to carry but the draw shouldn’t be an issue and if he is in striking distance late on, he should have a big say in the finish. (8) TAPDOWN is up in class having won over 1400M on April 15th. He comes up to two turns for the first time as well, but he can measure up. (9) ROYAL ELVIS and (2) BIG YAK are others to keep safe.
| Selections | (7) Achim Hamseong (10) Mighty Good (8) Tapdown (9) Royal Elvis |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 9 |
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