July’s racing program – and the second half of the season – kicks off on Saturday with a 10-race program at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maidens in the opener although three of the eight have raced once apiece already – all in the same race. And they will be the favourites, especially (5) MY CENTER, who ran 3rd on debut on May 28th in a fast time on what was a wet and fast track having been on pace throughout. From a central gate, he should lead again, and this time can go all the way. (4) LUCKY DRAGON and (1) MAGIC STRONG came home 5th and 8th respectively in that same May 28th race and they shape as the main dangers. Both recorded good times and while Magic Strong was some way back, he draws much better here. As for the first timers, (6) SEOCHEON LION was best in trials, running on pace and coming home second in an admittedly slow heat (as many were in June). (3) HANGANG LEGEND the next best.
| Selections | (5) My Center (4) Lucky Dragon (1) Magic Strong (6) Seocheon Lion |
| Next Best | 3, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Standard maiden here. (7) PURPLE WORLD will be the favourite. He has raced just the once and it was all the way back in January of 2022, but he showed promise running in 2nd place over 1000M. Then all sorts of setbacks started. He refused to load for his scheduled second start in March of last year, and while he passe his trials to requalify, he then had a litany of setbacks. He returned to full work at the start of June and looked well when running 3rd in a good time in a June 16th trial. If he brings that form to the races, he should be hard to beat. If he does manage to find something to go wrong again, (11) NAOL ROONEY may take advantage. He has run solid 4ths in both starts so far and while he has the challenge of the wide gate, can go closer today. (1) SHOOT UP SPARK has the fastest time for the distance among these, while (5) WONDERFUL FOX and (8) GRATITUDE are among others in contention for places.
| Selections | (7) Purple World (11) Naol Rooney (1) Shoot Up Spark (5) Wonderful Fox |
| Next Best | 8, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Unusual combination of seven fillies and one gelding in this maiden. (5) FOUR ACE gets the nod based on her last start runner-up finish over this distance when she overcame gate eleven to race handy. From a better draw and in a smaller field, she should get an easier run to the front in the early stages, and she can go one better. (2) GOLDEN PEARL is the logical second choice. She comes in off an improved 3rd place over this distance on June 4th when handy throughout. She too draws a better gate and with an apprentice claiming 2kg, she looks very nicely in. Jockey Lee Hyeon-jong is back from a year in the suspension wilderness (off track things) and he rides the solitary gelding, (6) ONE SPEAR. He enters off his best run to date when 5th over this distance two weeks ago and they look to strike again while the iron is at least lukewarm. It may be enough in this company. Something else has to improve and (7) SAMBA ZONE and (1) GALAXY SOCKS look the most likely.
| Selections | (5) Four Ace (2) Golden Pearl (6) One Spear (7) Samba Zone |
| Next Best | 1, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(5) BYEOLBIT MARU has won just one out of eighteen so far but enters off a strong 3rd place at big odds at class and distance on May 27th when ridden a bit further forward than usual. She has a good finish on her and with Kim Yong-geun taking the mount, it could be her day. (4) DREAM PLAY comes up in class having won over this distance on May 27th when settling in the front end of midfield and running on well. That win had been coming and he can measure up at this level. (11) SAENAE KHAN was slowly away and had an all-around poor day at the office last time out on May 28th. He was favourite that day for a reason though with his prior form reading well and he can be given another chance here. (3) MONEY STONE and (9) CHEONGGYE GISANG others in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) Byeolbit Maru (4) Dream Play (11) Saenae Khan (3) Money Stone |
| Next Best | 9, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Tricky race. (9) CHADOL RUN comes in off a quick 2nd place at class and distance on May 28th on a very wet and fast track when she overcame the widest gate to race handy. At the start before she was a winner at this class over 1300M in similarly swift fashion when coming from well off the pace. She is nicely weighted still, we know the wide draw isn’t a problem, and she can win here. The main danger is (7) MENI WONDERFUL. On May 21st he beat a couple of these on his way to a smart 2nd place at class and distance continuing a positive trend in recent outings. Expect him to be on pace here and in this a long way. (2) NEULGAEUL was 5th in that quick race behind Chadol Run in May and has also placed at class and distance. He draws well here and can go close. (8) COMPLETE LEADER and (4) CLOUTER others with minor money hopes.
| Selections | (9) Chadol Run (7) Meni Wonderful (2) Neulgaeul (8) Complete Leader |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (7) LOVE COWGIRL was an all the way winner over this distance on debut on May 13th having previously done similar in a trial. She comes up in class here but is nicely weighted, she draws fairly, and she has every chance of maintaining her 100% record. The main danger is (3) DANDI. She showed she can compete at this level when 2nd over this distance on April 30th when coming from off the pace. She got her solitary win so far from the front so she is versatile and while she is up in the weights today, that’s balanced by a good draw, and she can go close. (6) CHALLANHAN BULKKOT comes up in class following a maiden win over 1300M on June 3rd. An apprentice means she carries next to no weight, and she can be competitive. (10) FINE CAMP and (5) ARCH MEMORY are others who can enter the placing calculations.
| Selections | (7) Love Cowgirl (3) Dandi (6) Challanhan Bulkkot (10) Fine Camp |
| Next Best | 5, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 7 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Another competitive affair. (11) EUNPA CHAMPION won his opening two races at the end of last year to get rapidly promoted to this class. He then missed five months, returning on May 20th and running down the field, beaten by a couple of today’s rivals. He should have derived benefit from that run and stripping fitter, can show his real ability today. (5) HWANGWOO CHOEGANG is up rapidly in class having won two of her latest three. That most recent score was at class 5 level over this distance on May 27th when after a slow start, she steadily improved, winning by a fair margin. She carries a light weight and should be competitive. (2) POWERFUL HWASEONG didn’t show his true ability when favourite over 1400M on March 26th, racing handily but fading. His form entering that was good though and while he comes in off a fourteen-week layoff, the drop in trip couple with the light weight and good gate mean he can be considered. (1) GO GO STAR and (10) FIRENZE HILL others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (11) Eunpa Champion (5) Hwangwoo Choegang (2) Powerful Hwaseong (1) Go Go Star |
| Next Best | 10, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(2) MEDICI WOLF looks the one to beat here. She is yet to win in eight attempts but has been getting closer with a 3rd and a close 2nd at 1200M, and most recently a quick time at this distance, from her latest two. From a good draw she can sit just behind the speed here and should prove too strong at the business end. (3) MIGHTY KICK is another non-winner, in her case from fifteen starts. She has though finished in the top-five on no fewer than nine occasions and this is the kind of race she can go close in. (9) PINE FARM enters off a smart class and distance 2nd place on June 3rd. In this company she can be ridden on pace, and she should be in this a long way. (6) OKRYONG and (5) B.J. STORM are others to be kept safe.
| Selections | (2) Medici Wolf (3) Mighty Kick (9) Pine Farm (6) Okryong |
| Next Best | 5, 8 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) SECRET PLAY was a winner over 1200M at class 5 level two starts back before running 3rd over that same distance in a very quick race on a wet track on his first go at this class on May 28th, racing on pace throughout. He draws well to be on the speed again, and today can be his day. (1) MOONHAK AFLEET is yet to win in nine attempts but has gone close on plenty of occasions, including his latest two when from wide draws, he has settled back and then ran on very well. He has posted quick times at this distance and should be a danger here. (7) NEW KINGMAN races for the first time since March of 2022 when runner-up at this class and distance. He offered few clues in a trial this March, but he carries a light weight and could make for interesting each-way interest first up. Those who would rather take a watching brief after such a long time away may prefer the placing chances of (8) ACHIM GISANG and (2) MAUIWAY.
| Selections | (3) Secret Play (1) Moonhak Afleet (7) New Kingman (8) Achim Gisang |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
After dead-heating for victory at class 4 level on May 7th, (10) RAON AMERICAN stepped up to this class on June 4th and from a wide gate, ran 2nd at 1400M, having settled midfield. He only comes up 1kg in the weights, the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and while back in trip or the first time in a while, he can win. (4) GIANT KILLING was a winner in a very fast time over this distance on May 28th. He comes up in class here but down in the weights and from a good gate, he can measure up. (3) BEST TORCH was runner-up to Giant Killing in that quick race at the end of May and also comes up in class. She comes down a full 4.5kg in the weights and that should bring her into contention here. (7) GRAY THOR and (8) TOUGH MAN among others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (10) Raon American (4) Giant Killing (3) Best Torch (7) Gray Thor |
| Next Best | 8, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 8 |
Horse Racing in Korea 