Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million
Eleven unraced two-year-olds so it’s to the trial videos we head. (8) OKCHEON SNIPER won his heat on May 26th bounding into the lead straight from the gate and did it very nicely without his jockey needing to ask for very much. If he brings that form to the races, he has an excellent chance of winning first-up here. (3) ZIGGURAT ran handily in his trial, crossing the line in 2nd place in a fair time. He was just a neck behind Gana Power, who won on his own debut last weekend. (4) RAON THE SPRINTER is half-brother to Cheongu and Segi Gangja, both of whom won plenty. He looked lively enough in his trial, running through the line well, to suggest he can go well on debut. (5) BREEDO KING STAR and (10) LADY CODI others who hinted at ability in their respective trials.
| Selections | (8) Okcheon Sniper (3) Ziggurat (4) Raon The Sprinter (5) Breedo King Star |
| Next Best | 10, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 8, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(3) WORLD FASHION has two 4th places and a 2nd from his latest three, with a very positive trial in the middle of them. At his latest on May 27th, he came from well off the pace over this distance and didn’t come up short by much. Today can be his day. (7) GEOMUI JEONSEOL has picked up in his latest two, registering a 3rd and a 4th, the latter over this distance in a time quicker than any of the others here have achieved. In this company he can be ridden on pace or handy and he shapes as the main danger. (2) DAONDI enters off a good 2nd in a decent time over 1200M (albeit on a wet and fast track). He comes up to 1300M for the first time and given the way he has finished off his races, it may well suit. (9) HAPPY PLAY and (8) COLITAS among others in the placing hunt.
| Selections | (3) World Fashion (7) Geomui Jeonseol (2) Daondi (9) Happy Play |
| Next Best | 8, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(1) CHOEGO POINT enters off a good 2nd place over 1400M on May 27th when ridden handier than he had been in previous outings. He steps up to 1700M for the first time, he draws well to be close to the front again, and he can win. (6) SAVANA CHARLIE is the logical second pick. He has run 4th on each of his last three appearances (and five in seven in total) including last time out behind Choego Point on May 27th. He too comes up to two turns for the first time and it could be exactly what he needs to get a bit closer. (7) HANGANG TSAR is another who may like the extended trip. He came from well off the pace for his best finish of 3rd over 1300M last time out and can be considered here. (3) TRES VITE, who has tackled the distance before, and (2) GEUMSEONG REVERE are others to consider.
| Selections | (1) Choego Point (6) Savana Charlie (7) Hangang Tsar (3) Tres Vite |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here. (5) HONOR ROSE comes up in class having scored her maiden win at just the second time of asking on April 24th when she made all over 1200M. She ran 3rd over this trip on her March debut and while she has had a couple of months off, she looks the one to beat here, most likely racing on pace again. There are plenty of others in the frame though. (11) APEX comes up in class following a maiden win at start number six on May 20th when she staled the leader before going clear. It’s fair to say she had mixed her form prior to that but the manner of the win – to the tune of ten-lengths – means she can’t be dismissed here. (1) GANGHAN QUEEN has a 3rd and a 5th in her latest two, both at 1200M and both at this class. From a good draw, she should be on pace here and in this a long way. (4) WHITE WITCH and (2) LEGAL HIGH among others to keep safe.
| Selections | (5) Honor Rose (11) Apex (1) Ganghan Queen (4) White Witch |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(1) FINAL CHUKJE made his breakthrough at start number seven on May 27th, making all at this distance. That win had been coming and while he comes up in class here, he draws very nicely to lead once more, and he should be in this a long way. (2) TIZ INDY got her breakthrough back in January and while it took her a couple of goes to find her feet at this level, she has looked good in her latest two with a 3rd and a 2nd, both over the 1300M. This will be her first time at the slightly extended trip, but there is no reason why it can’t suit, and she can go close. (9) EUNBIT DOLPUNG is still a maiden after four attempts, but she has produced some positive performances. She comes up in class here but is down in the weights and should be able to hold her own in this company. (7) GEUMBIT CHEONHA and (4) STAR RUSH among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (1) Final Chukje (2) Tiz Indy (9) Eunbit Dolpung (7) Geumbit Cheonha |
| Next Best | 4, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) BAEDARI WANGJA has won his latest two, both over this distance and both times on pace and he comes up in class here. He comes down in the weights, draws very nicely, and a hat-trick is more than possible. (5) THE FAVORITE won back-to-back races in February and April, the latter at this class and distance. She enters off 3rd place in a quick race over 1300M on May 28th and down in the weights and well-drawn today, she should be a major threat. (6) URUS QUEEN was rapidly promoted to this class following a pair of wins at 1200M. She could only manage a midfield finish on her first try at this class over 1300M on May 14th, but the margins weren’t huge, and she can be given another chance today. (7) HIDDEN BLADE and (4) KING ACE others who are better than their respective latest starts suggest.
| Selections | (1) Baedari Wangja (5) The Favorite (6) Urus Queen (7) Hidden Blade |
| Next Best | 4, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
The second division of the class 4 handicap. (1) BAEDARI CANDY was a good winner over 1300M at class 5 level in April when making all, before running 4th at this class and distance on May 14th. She remains under a light weight, she draws a much better gate, and she can beat this small field. (4) HYPER CAR doesn’t win out of turn, but he is a model of consistency, including with his four consecutive 4th place finishes from his latest four outings, all at class and distance and all in good times. He can get closer here. (7) DAPHNE ran well for 3rd place over 1300M at this class in March. She has had three months off since then but looks nicely in here and the step back up to 1400M can be in her favour. (6) ONLY WINNER and (2) POWERFUL SOCKS the other logical placing chances.
| Selections | (1) Baedari Candy (4) Hyper Car (7) Daphne (6) Only Winner |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) ULTRA SOCKS was a class 5 winner over this distance in a double-quick time on a wet track (which was racing very fast all day) at the end of April. She comes up in class here but remains under a light weight, she draws well, and she can win again. (9) JAY PHOENIX has mixed his form a little since getting to this level, but he has placed in both is latest two tries at this distance. He carries his fair share of weight, but he can go close again. (10) TEUKGEUP DAERO comes in looking for a hat-trick of wins having scored in April and May, both at this distance. She comes up in class, but the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she can be working home strongly late on. (3) EUNHYE CHUNGMAN was a winner at this class and distance on May 13th and wile she is up 3.5kg in the weights, she warrants respect here. (4) TIZ SUCCESS another in the placing frame.
| Selections | (1) Ultra Socks (9) Jay Phoenix (10) Teukgeup Daero (3) Eunhye Chungman |
| Next Best | 4, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 2 (1900M) Special Weight B / KRW 90 Million
Four of the eight come out of the Listed Sports Chosun Trophy over 2000M on May 7th. (6) CHOEGO BLACK ran the best of them in 3rd place, and that is enough to make him the top pick here. He can settle just behind the speed and should prove too strong. (7) NAMSAN SIDAE was 5th in the Sports Chosun. He is a very consistent type who has only missed the top-five once in fifteen outings and while he gives weight away here, he should be there or thereabouts again. So too (5) GEUMA ACME, who ran 4th in the Sports Chosun, defying the status of longest shot on the board. He too carries plenty of weight but can be respected here. Among those who didn’t go in the Sports Chosun, (4) LOOKING GOOD looks the best, while (3) BEST LUCKY is another to consider. None of the field has ever raced at this distance before.
| Selections | (6) Choego Black (7) Namsan Sidae (5) Geuma Acme (4) Looking Good |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(3) HATMURI looks the one to beat here. He has ten to-four finishes from twelve starts and has a 2nd and a 4th from two tries at this class. Under today’s handicap conditions, he comes down 3kg in the weights and that can allow him to score. It can also allow him to overturn the form on (8) ILGYEOK PILSAL, who beat Hatmuri to win at this class over 1800M on May 20th. While this time both weight and gate favour Hatmuri, Ilgyeok Pilsal can be competitive again. (4) NONGBON BADA beat three of these on her way to 4th place at this class over 1800M on May 27th and she can go close once more. (2) ROYAL ELVIS and (9) CHEONMA BISANG are others who come in with recent form reading well and who can be considered.
| Selections | (3) Hatmuri (8) Ilgyeok Pilsal (4) Nongbon Bada (2) Royal Elvis |
| Next Best | 9, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 8, 9, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 