Day: June 9, 2023

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (June 10)

Saturday is Korean Derby Eve and there are 10 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Who will succeed Winner Star as the Korean Derby winner on Sunday? (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 4 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

A race for new imports open to two-year-olds from the northern hemisphere and three-year-olds from the south.  Seven of the eight race for the first time. The probable favourite is (4) SPURT BIT. The Tiznow colt was an $80,000 purchase from last September’s Keeneland Yearling sale and enters as the only trial winner. He looked assured enough when settling behind the speed and running on in his heat, crossing the line in a fair time and if he brings that form to the races, he can win. (5) ECLIPSE TOWN settled back in his trial but worked through the line well in a decent time. He looks to be the main danger to the favourite here. (8) ACE GUNJU similarly settled midfield and ran on well in his heat and can put in a bold first-up showing. (6) UWARYUNG and the only one with prior racing experience, (2) VICTORY HIT, are others to consider.

Selections(4) Spurt Bit (5) Eclipse Town (8) Ace Gunju (6) Uwaryung
Next Best2, 3
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 6

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

A maiden for juvenile fillies with seven of the nine racing for the first time. And it is one of those two with a race in the books already who will be hot favourite. That’s (4) GEOLJAK ONE who after winning an April trial, ran well for 4th on debut over this journey on May 28th racing handy throughout in a very quick race on a very wet track. She should have come on for that run and with some natural improvement, she may take some beating here. Of the newcomers, (6) APPLE QUEEN was a trial winner, leading every step of the way. She should be on pace here and has every chance of being in front for a long time again. (7) FLYING STAR came from off the pace in her trial and worked home nicely. Look for her challenging at the business end here. (1) TAEPYEONG FIGHTER and the other experienced one, (5) CHEONHAENGCHAT are others who could go close.  

Selections(4) Geoljak One (6) Apple Queen (7) Flying Star (1) Taepyeong Fighter
Next Best5, 9
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 6

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens here with two of the eleven racing for the first time. A few look ready to win and we’ll side with (4) GHANA DREAM. After an inauspicious debut when she started slowly and got a long way back, she has recorded a 2nd and a 3rd, both over this distance and in fair times, settling midfield and running on. She has a strong finish on her and Moon Se-young climbing on could suggest that today is the day. The main danger is (6) MINT PLAY. She has two 3rd place finishes among her three starts so far including last time out on May 14th when she was ridden closer to the pace than previously. Expect her to be on pace again and she can go close. Among the two first-timers, (3) ALLBEST is the best. She was on pace in her trial, crossing the line 3rd in a decent time and from a good draw she can put in a bold first-up showing. Returning to experience, (1) WONDERFUL FOX and (7) SWITCH SONG are others who can improve.

Selections(4) Ghana Dream (6) Mint Play (3) Allbest (1) Wonderful Fox
Next Best7, 8
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 7

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(3) CATS EYE will be a warm favourite here. He enters having led at class and distance on May 13th, ultimately finishing in 3rd place in a decent time. He draws nicely to be on pace again and in this company, he should be going all the way this time. (5) GWANGCHIGI comes up in class having won over 1300M on May 13th when handy throughout. He is nicely weight, draws well and can be a danger here. (2) LUCKY BOUNCE was a narrow winner at this distance at class 6 level two starts back before going quick early and then weakening on his first try at this level on April 2nd. He has had a couple of months off since so comes in fresh and Moon Se-young, who rode him to his win, returns to the ride. (1) AGAPANTHUS was 5th behind Cats Eye on May 13th. He won when he drew this gate and got on speed at class 6 level, and he can be given another chance here. (11) MEOTJIN GANGHO has the challenge of the widest gate but shouldn’t be overlooked.

Selections(3) Cats Eye (5) Gwangchigi (2) Lucky Bounce (1) Agapanthus
Next Best11, 8
Fast Start1, 3, 9, 10

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

(8) MONEY JANGGUN has five to-three finishes from six outings to date without managing to get into the winner’s circle. That could change today though at a distance at which he has the quickest time of any of these and among a field where he has the fastest finish. He likes to settle back and run on and there is a danger he can leave himself too much to do, but if he can be positioned withing striking distance entering the home straight, he can make the breakthrough here. If he does find one too quick yet again, it might be (1) DAEHEUNG CLASS. Another non-winner, he comes up in class here after three good runs over this distance that yielded two 2nds and a 3rd. He comes down in weight, draws well, and can measure up at this level. (5) ACHIM DONGJA does have a win on the board and has run fairly in two subsequent outings at this class. He comes up to this distance for the first time and it can suit. Up in class (2) PEARL POINT along with (9) SEONGUN CROWN are others in at least the placing frame.

(more…)