Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Moon Se-young, Jang Chu-youl and Kim Yong-geun are suspended while Antonio Da Silva, Lim Gi-won, Choi Bum-hyun, Yoo Seung-wan, Park Eul-woon, Park Tae-jong, Lee Hyeok, Jo In-kwon and Lee Dong-ha are all in Busan to ride in Sunday’s Korean Oaks so Song Jae-chul, Johan Victoire and David Breux look to be the jockeys to follow. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million
Nine juveniles all make their racecourse debuts. The only trial winner among them is (1) THE PLAYER, who sat handy in his heat before running on well. The time was fair and from a good gate he has solid chances and is the probable warm betting favourite. (6) MAGIC WITH YOU didn’t win his trial, but he did record the fastest time among these when showing prominently throughout and crossing the line 2nd. He should be on pace here and be in this a long way. (3) SMART CLAIR finished off his trial well having settled back in the field. That was a big improvement on an April heat when he failed to qualify and if he keeps on the same trajectory, he can go close first up here. (9) SEOUL DOLPUNG and (8) BAEKDU DAEMUL look the next best coming out of trials.
| Selections | (1) The Player (6) Magic With You (3) Smart Clair (9) Seoul Dolpung |
| Next Best | 8, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 6 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Three-year-old maidens. After running 5th on debut, (9) SILVER PURGE was an improved 2nd at start number two on April 29th having raced much further forward. She comes into a wider gate here but should have enough about her early on to get on or close to the speed and she can win here. (1) MY THUNDER has been 3rd in both starts so far, both at this distance. Last time she overcame gate ten to sit handy and with a much better draw this time, she can get closer. She will probably start as favourite. (2) MENI CHARM was ordinary on his latest effort on April 30th when 7th of ten but the time before he was a very close 2nd at this distance in a fair time when stalking the lead throughout. On that performance, he warrants a chance here. (7) SEONGSIL TAEYANG and (10) GEOSEON CHAMP are among others to consider.
| Selections | (9) Silver Purge (1) My Thunder (2) Meni Charm (7) Seongsil Taeyang |
| Next Best | 10, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Competitive maiden with just one colt alongside nine fillies and a mare. (1) RED TAEPUNG Is the one to beat based on her last start 2nd over 1400M on April 30th when she settled at the front of midfield and finishing off well for a narrow defeat. She has run fairly at this distance as well and from the inside gate, her jockey can pick his spot. The solitary colt, (3) GRAND SILVER comes in off an improved 3rd at start number four over 1200M on April 2nd. He has also run a decent time over this distance, albeit on a wet track, and from a good draw, he should be going close again. (7) SEUNGNI GONGJU has shown improvement across her three starts so far, culminating in a 3rd place over 1200M on May 7th when finishing off well. The step back up to 1300M can suit today. (10) CHALLANHAN BULKKOT and (4) QUEEN TOP among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (1) Red Taepung (3) Grand Silver (7) Seungni Gongju (10) Challanhan Bulkkot |
| Next Best | 4, 11 |
| Fast Start | 6, 9, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(8) SUNGAN TOUCH enters with recent form reading well, including a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two, both at this class and distance and both in quick times. In this company he should be able to get on or close to the speed and he can return to winning ways here. (6) TOUR QUEEN shapes as the main danger. Her win came at 1000M but at her last start, she was an on-pace runner-up over 1400M. She only comes up 1kg in the weights, she draws nicely, and she can be challenging Sungan Touch right from the start. (11) DALMAJI and (9) WONPYEONG CHUKJE both come up in class having finished 1st and 2nd with a length between them when they race each other over this distance at class 6 level on May 7th. Both will need to go a bit quicker this time, but both come down significantly in the weights and could measure up. (10) CHEONDUNGSEJA another in the frame.
| Selections | (8) Sungan Touch (6) Tour Queen (11) Dalmaji (9) Wonpyeong Chukje |
| Next Best | 10, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(2) YEONGWON FIGHTER will be one of the shortest priced favourites of the day. He won on debut at class 6 level in February before running 2nd over this distance on his first try at this class on April 22nd when he led for much of the way around before being beaten two-lengths by Jangsan Spo, who has since won at class 4 level. He draws well here, and it would be a surprise if anything caught him this time. Clear second choice is (9) ARGO TAP. While still winless, he has seven top-five finishes from eight starts and was a close 4th from a wide draw in a good time at this distance last time out. He is probably going to find one too quick here again, but it could just be the one. (6) BEST CLONE is also winless but comes up in class following a pair of close runner-up finishes at this distance. His times have been good, and he can be on pace here and in this a long way. (7) GREEN SHIELD and the up in class last start winner (1) SEOUL SPURT are others likely to attract support.
| Selections | (2) Yeongwon Fighter (9) Argo Tap (6) Best Clone (7) Green Shield |
| Next Best | 1, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(5) HIDDEN BRAIN shapes as a warm favourite here. Her solitary win came on debut in December but in recent efforts she has been going close with a 2nd and a 3rd from her latest two, most recently at this distance on May 7th. In this company and from a good gate she can be expected to be on pace, and she may take some beating. (3) BLACK GUN is one for one over this distance and he returns to it after two tries over 1700M at this class when he has been at the front only to weaken in the closing stages. Drawn well here, and down in the weights, he can be dangerous. (1) JEONGSANG FIGHTING has plenty of experience at this level and enters off a good 4th over 1300M on April 16th when settling back and running on. She comes up to 1400M for the first time, which is a little surprising given her style, and under a very light weight, it may suit. (11) RIVER TAEYANG and (10) HUMMING BIRD, both last start winners, the former at this class, are others to keep safe.
| Selections | (5) Hidden Bran (3) Black Gun (1) Jeongsang Fighting (11) River Taeyang |
| Next Best | 10, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(2) SEONGSILGONGJUPINK has three 2nd place finishes from her latest four starts with the most recent coming on her first try at this class over 1200M on May 13th. She has run good times at this distance, remains lightly weighted, and is well drawn to get on to the lead. She could go all the way. Less favoured by the draw but very much a live contender is (11) SUN DRAGON. After finishing last when well fancied in the Breeders’ Cup Champion juvenile race last December he was found to be lame and was off for five months. On his return on May 21st, he ran a good on-pace 4th at this class and distance, and he should strip fitter for that run. (6) JAY TROSS enters off a quick 3rd place at class and distance on a wet track on April 29th and can match or better that here. (1) PINE FARM and (8) GLOBAL POWER among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (2) Seongsilgongjupink (11) Sun Dragon (6) Jay Tross (1) Pine Farm |
| Next Best | 8, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 11 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) HUNTER BLADE comes up rapidly in class having won his latest two over 1300M and 1400M with front-running efforts. He comes up in distance to a mile for the first time, but he draws well, comes down in the weights, and he has every chance of completing his hat-trick here. (2) HWA SSI BYEOK has plenty of experience at this level and regularly picks up a cheque. Remarkably in twenty-five prior starts, she has never gone further than 1400M but the way she has been finishing off her recent efforts suggests that it is time and under a light weight, she can go close here. (1) HWANGGEUM HAE and (8) SONGAM TIZ are two of only three in the race who have tackled the mile before, albeit in the former’s case, more than three years ago. Both look well in here and they can go close. (6) CRAZY LOVE is up in class but down in weights and should be competitive.
| Selections | (3) Hunter Blade (2) Hwa Ssi Byeok (1) Hwanggeum Hae (8) Songam Tiz |
| Next Best | 6, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 10 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(7) THIS CHALLENGE was a winner at this class over 1200M in February and has since followed up with a 5th place at this distance when overcoming gate eleven, and a 4th back at 1200M. She has the fastest time of any of these at the distance and can be expected to be on or close to the speed here and has as good a chance as any. (8) EAST BAN beat This Challenge two starts back when the pair ran 3rd and 5th over this distance. This Challenge returned the favour at 1200M in April, but East Ban should once more get to the lead here and will take some dislodging. (5) COOL PRINCESS comes back in trip following recent efforts around two-turns. She has won at this trip and under a light weight may make for some interest and each way price. (4) SIMPLE STYLE and (10) SMART JEONSA among others in the placing fame.
| Selections | (7) This Challenge (8) East Ban (5) Cool Princess (4) Simple Style |
| Next Best | 10, 3 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Several of these raced one another at class and distance in a very quick race on April 29th that was won by Cosmo. It was a tight finish and (2) LUCKY JAESAN was only beaten a head into 2nd having led from the gate. She only comes up 1kg in the weights, she draws well, and this time she can go one better. (4) HEUNG DREAM was 4th in that race. He has plenty of experience at this level, regularly finishing in the money, and while he once more carries his fair share of weight, he can be a danger here. (10) NEMO PRINCESS was 3rd on April 29th racing on pace throughout. The draw is less kind to her this time but with a bit of luck at the start, she can find a good position and be competitive. (9) VICEROY was 5th in that race, continuing a short run of slightly underperforming compared to his odds. He is a class and distance winner though so shouldn’t be ruled out. If you don’t like the form of that April 29th race then (8) JILJU BORN, up in class following a comfortable win at this distance the same day at class 3 level when making all, is the one to go for.
| Selections | (2) Lucky Jaesan (4) Heung Dream (10) Nemo Princess (9) Viceroy |
| Next Best | 8, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 8, 9, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 