Sunday see the third leg of the Sprint Series with the running of the SROA Chairman’s Sprint Trophy (1200M KOR-G3) at Seoul Racecourse. Winner of the opening two legs, Raon The Fighter won’t be present leaving the way open for last year’s Korea Sprint Champion Eoma Eoma to return to winning ways. See here for full preview. There are 10 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 7 at Busan from 11:25 to 17:05. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(3) SAEBYEOK BULBIT will be the one to beat in the opener She has run 4th three times out of four so far including last time out in a fair time at this distance when handy throughout. In this company she should be on pace, and she won’t need to improve too much to win this. (1) SAEROUN BITKKAL has a 3rd place to his name at this distance as recently as April and that’s enough to put him in contention in this company. He is one-paced but can settle back and pass plenty. (6) BEAT RACER has picked up in his latest couple, scoring the fastest time for this distance any of these have managed when 5th on his latest appearance on May 21st. He too can be considered as a result of that. (5) BEST SHUNSHINE and (2) CHONGAL COLONEL others with minor money chances.
| Selections | (3) Saebyeok Bulbit (1) Saeroun Bitkkal (6) Beat Race (5) Best Sunshine |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(3) HAMPYEONG FIGHTER is yet to finish in the top two, but she comes in following her best to date when 3rd over 1300M on May 21st when handy throughout. She draws well here and won’t really need to improve much on that to win. The danger is (8) DAEJANGBYEOL. He ran a very good 3rd over 1200M in March and while he got sent back to trail after finishing well back in re-appearance in April, he looked very well when winning a heat just last weekend and so long as he didn’t leave his race there, he can go well first up. This is not a strong race so the solitary debut-maker can be given a chance. That’s (5) WONDERFUL SWEET, who ran fairly in a trial alongside some experienced horses. (1) SSING SSING SSING and (6) TOUGH YEOJE others with potential to improve.
| Selections | (3) Hampyeong Fighter (8) Daejangbyeol (5) Wonderful Sweet (1) Ssing Ssing Ssing |
| Next Best | 6, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 7 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(4) SUCCESS SHOW ME ran a solid 2nd on debut over this distance on April 30th when racing handy throughout. He should have come on for that run and with some natural improvement, he can win here. He will be a short-priced favourite. (1) ROCKS has a 3rd and a couple of 4th places to her name. She tends to settle back and run on and under an apprentice claiming 3kg, she can be finishing strongly here. (2) BARBELL QUEEN has the fastest time among those who have tackled this distance before. That’s not exactly quick but it is enough to put her in the placing hunt in this company. (8) CHOEGANG WEEK and (7) WORLD ROYAL CAT could potentially improve in a race with unconvincing form.
| Selections | (4) Success Show Me (1) Rocks (2) Barbell Queen (8) Choegang Week |
| Next Best | 7, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 7 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(10) GEOSEN CHAMP shapes as a warm favourite here. He enters off his best finish so far when 3rd over this distance on June 3rd and while he comes up a couple of kilos in the weights, he can settle handy or midfield and should prove too strong against this very moderate opposition. (4) LEMON BLADE will be second-favourite simply by virtue of his 3rd place two starts back at this distance. True, he sandwiched that between two very ordinary outings but few others in this field have shown themselves capable of such a run and a repeat would put him right in this. (2) THUNDER GALLOPER has run slow times but does have a reasonably strong finish on him compared to the rest here and should pass plenty late on. (7) MUNHAK CENTRAL and (1) MOON DUST are other potentials for minor money.
| Selections | (10) Geosen Champ (4) Lemon Blade (2) Thunder Galloper (7) Munhak Central |
| Next Best | 1, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(1) HAENGBOKHAN GIL enters following a best to date 2nd over this distance on May 19th when he led for most of the way around. He comes into a good gate here and looks have more development in him. He won’t need to improve much to win here. (8) POWER PLANE has put in some fair performances with a 3rd place at 1300M being his best back in February. In this small field he should be able to get on pace and can be in this a long way. (5) ECTON POWER has never finished inside the top-two in thirty attempts but has finished between 3rd and 5th on no fewer than eleven occasions. This is very much the kind of race that he picks up a cheque in. (2) MORO and (3) KICK’N RUSH perhaps the best of a limited rest.
| Selections | (1) Haengbokhan Gil (8) Power Plane (5) Ecton Power (2) Moro |
| Next Best | 3, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Wildly competitive race. We’ll take a chance on (10) SEONGSIL INDONG, who comes up in class following a maiden win over this distance on May 21st when settling just behind the speed and running on. She only comes down slightly in the weights but has only raced four times and can have more development in her. (6) J MOTION was a winner on debut over 1200M last December before running down the field on reappearance in January. He hasn’t raced since but has been through two trials in May and early June, running very well in both. If he brings that form back to the races he has solid claims first-up. (5) DREAM SKY is yet to win in ten attempts but has two solid 4th places at this class. She comes up slightly in trip and under a light weight, she can be running on strong. (8) BADAUI KKUM and (9) SMART BYEOL others in the frame.
| Selections | (10) Seongsil Indong (6) J Motion (5) Dream Sky (8) Badaui Kkum |
| Next Best | 9, 11 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 6 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(8) MULTI HIT will be favourite here. A very quick winner over 1200M in February, he then put in a couple of ordinary performances in his first two goes at this level before coming back into form with a 2nd place over 1200M on May 12th. He come sup slightly in the weights but in this company, he should be able to get to his favoured forward position, and he can win. (1) NAMYANG BOLT comes up in class having secured his maiden win at the sixth time of asking over 1400M on May 19th. His running style has tended to be to go back and finish well, but he comes down in the weights and from a good draw can be a danger. (6) GEUMA STARRY returned from six months out to get her second runner-up finish and accordingly be promoted to this class. She should strip fitter for that run, she carries a very light weight, and she can measure up. (4) JEOLDAE BOSS and (10) DAMYANGUISIN others in the hunt.
| Selections | (8) Multi Hit (1) Namyang Bolt (6) Geuma Starry (4) Jeoldae Boss |
| Next Best | 10, 2 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Four of these are up in class following last start maiden wins but we’ll side with class 5 experience and (2) YESULIYA who almost managed to lead from gate to wire over this distance on May 14th only to go down very narrowly at the end. He does come up 2kg in t he weights but Johan remains aboard, he draws well, and he can go one better this time. Those up in classers have claims though. (7) CRAZY JACKPOT was an emphatic winner over this distance in a quick time on April 29th. The manner of the win suggests there can be plenty more to come. (5) WONDERFUL PURGE was equally as impressive when sitting handy on May 21st before taking command running away to win by as many as he pleased. Neither should have any trouble being competitive at this level. (11) GEOMIBULU races for the first time since her maiden in back in January but she looked well in a trial earlier this month and she too can go well first-up. (4) RUBY AGAIN another to keep safe.
| Selections | (2) Yesuliya (7) Crazy Jackpot (5) Wonderful Purge (11) Geomibulu |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(5) SEOGWI FLASH got her maiden win on her first try at this class over 1300 on June 2nd in a similar all filly-race to this. She raced handily that day and won well, taking things up late. An apprentice means she doesn’t come up quite as much in the weights as she otherwise would, and a repeat could be on the agenda here. (8) STELL LUNA was 3rd behind Seogwi Flash in that June 2nd race having led for most of the way. That was her second consecutive 3rd place, and she can go close again here. (4) GOLDEN STELLA comes up in class following back-to-back runner-up finishes in her first two appearances. She has posted good times, she should be on pace here, and she can be competitive. The up in class last start winners (6) MIRACLE ONE and (9) HWARANG SHINHWA are among others who can enter the calculations.
| Selections | (5) Seogwi Flash (8) Stell Luna (4) Golden Stella (6) Miracle One |
| Next Best | 9, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
It’s hard to go too far past (9) BLUE INDY here. He overcame gate eleven to get to the speed and then ran a very good 3rd in a super quick time over this distance on May 28th on what was admittedly a very wet and fast track. He draws a touch wider than ideal again, but he should be able to find a decent position and he can then prove too good. (1) WONDERFUL JOY comes back to one-turn for the first time in a long time. His recent form had been adequate, and his last start 4th was encouraging. The change could be exactly what he needs to return to the placings. (3) BURUI KKOT is another whose recent form reads positively enough. She is yet to win in thirteen starts but has finished between 2nd and 5th on eleven occasions and should at least match that here. (7) CAMP SAVER and (10) V QUEEN others who could potentially place.
| Selections | (9) Blue Indy (1) Wonderful Joy (3) Burui Kkot (7) Camp Saver |
| Next Best | 10, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) GOLDEN PLUS has won three of her four starts so far including her latest which was in an all-filly race at class and distance on April 28th when she overcame gate eleven to get on pace and win very comfortably. She comes up a full 4kg in the weights today but that’s balanced by a much better gate, and she can win again. (3) YEONGGWANGUI TANK enters off a solid class and distance 3rd on May 7th when handy throughout. He remains under a light weight, Seo Seung-un climbs aboard, and he can match or better that today. (2) HANGANG SAVER had a poor day at the office when well backed in a valuable trophy race on May 14th. Going on his win at class and distance in a double-quick time two starts back, he can be given another chance today. Back in trip, (8) ARCTURUS may be worth some interest at a probable big price. (4) GRAPHENE KING another in the hunt
| Selections | (1) Golden Plus (3) Yeonggwangui Tank (2) Hangang Saver (8) Arcturus |
| Next Best | 4, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 7 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) S.I. COCO is a winner of three from four so far, including his latest at this class and distance on April 16th when handy throughout. He comes up 3kg in the weights, but he has won under this impost at the lower levels, and it shouldn’t prevent him from continuing on his merry way today. (7) JANGBI MUJIGAE shapes as the main danger. She was an emphatic class and distance winner on May 14th when leading all the way around. She comes up even more in the weights – to the tune of 5kg – but she should be on pace again and can be in this a long way. (11) YEONGUNG DAEMA doesn’t exactly win out of turn, but he has good experience at this level. He comes back in trip after a solid 4th over a mile on May 27th and under a light weight can go close again. (9) BEAT RUNNER and (4) HUIMANG CHAMP are others to consider.
| Selections | (8) S.I. Coco (7) Jangbi Muijigae (11) Yeongung Daema (9) Beat Runner |
| Next Best | 4, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 6: Class 3 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 75 Million
(7) K GOLD BAR has won his latest three in fine style, most recently when making all over this distance on May 26th. He is up in class here but comes down in the weights and while it is (without saying) very unusual for a horse to win four in a row, he has every chance. (5) LANE KILLER beat four of these on his way to victory at class and distance on May 12th, showing at the front throughout. He comes up a full 4kg in the weights, but a repeat is very much possible from a good draw. (8) STAR MATTA and (9) CHOEGANG LIGER are both class and distance winners and while both come in off slightly underwhelming last starts, both should warrant some respect here. (1) B.J. CHIEF, 3rd on his first try at this class on May 19th another in the frame.
| Selections | (7) K Gold Bar (5) Lane Killer (8) Star Matta (9) Choegang Liger |
| Next Best | 1, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 8: Class Open (1200M) SROA Chairman’s Sprint Trophy (KOR G3) Weight for Age / KRW 500 Million
The third leg of the Sprint Series and in the absence of the winner of the first two, Raon The Fighter, (9) EOMA EOMA will be hot favourite. After an out of sorts run in the Busan Ilbo, he was 2nd in the SBS Sports Sprint, just two-and-a-half lengths behind the brilliant winner. At anything like his best, he should be too good here. (7) RAON FIRST hasn’t won since her President’s Cup triumph last November over 2000M. She remains truly dangerous at any distance and in any company and she won’t be far away here. (12) SSONSAL has run 3rd on both legs of the Sprint Series so far and it would be no surprise if he was coming home strong again, especially if there is a good pace for him to target – and there should be. (2) MORFHIS and (6) LEGEND DAY other potentials.
| Selections | (9) Eoma Eoma (7) Raon First (12) Ssonsal (2) Morfhis |
| Next Best | 6, 16 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 9, 14, 15,1 6 |
Busan Race 7: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Competitive race. We’ll take a chance on (3) SEUNGNI MAGICQUEEN, who comes in having finished midfield in the Ttukseom Cup, part of the Queens’ Tour, over this distance at Seoul a month ago. At the start before, she was a class and distance winner here at Busan on April 16th, beating four of today’s rivals in the process and while she carries 3kg more than she did that day, she can win again. (10) DONGTEUJA BOY was 4th in that April 16th race but he was first-up after several months out. He followed up with 2nd place in a trophy race at a mile on May 14th having led, and he can be a big danger here. (5) MAN OF THE YEAR is up in class having won week over this distance on May 21st when he made all. He comes down in the weights, he draws well, and he should be on pace and close again. (11) HANEUL JEONSA and (4) ILBEONJI, both coming off wins, are others to consider.
| Selections | (3) Seungni Magicqueen (10) Dongteuja Boy (5) Man Of The Year (11) Haneul Jeonsa |
| Next Best | 4, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) YOUNGYOUNG SOCKS is set to be a warm favourite here. She has finished in the top-two in six of his eights starts so far, including her latest two, which have both ended in 2nd place over 1400M at this class, leasing both times. She’ll be on pace here and can go one better. (2) GANGNYEOKHANJIGEUM was a fast runner-up at class and distance on May 21st when handy and running on. A repeat of that type of run will put her firmly in the mix again here. (8) GEUMA FIERY was a good winner over 1200M at class 5 level two starts back before running a close 2nd at this class and distance on May 15th. He comes up 2kg in the weights but can be competitive again. (1) TOP CLASS and (11) EUNHYE are the other logical placing contenders.
| Selections | (3) Youngyoung Socks (2) Gangnyeokhanjigeum (8) Geuma Fiery (1) Top Class |
| Next Best | 11, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 75 Million
(1) QUICKLY RUN is favoured to strike in the last. From ten starts she has never finished any worse than 4th and she enters off a strong 3rd in a valuable trophy race over this distance on May 14th. From a good draw, Kim Yong-geun can pick his spot, almost certainly on pace, she may take some beating. (5) SURE WIN comes in having won at this class over 1700M on April 29th. She is a winner over this distance already as well and should be joining Quickly Run on the early speed. (9) WHITE CHARM enters off back-to-back runner-up finishes, most recently at this class and distance on May 20th when on pace most of the way. He comes up slightly in the weights and doesn’t draw as well but he can be competitive. (11) YEONGGWANGUI MISO and (2) TAPDOWN are others in the placing hunt.
| Selections | (1) Quickly Run (5) Sure Win (9) White Charm (11) Yeonggwangui Miso |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 