Month: June 2023

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (June 3)

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 Best8, 4
Fast Start1, 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 Best10, 4
Fast Start1, 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 Best4, 11
Fast Start6, 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 Best10, 7
Fast Start2, 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.

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Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (June 2)

It’s Korean Oaks weekend in Busan. The filly Classic takes place on Sunday but the weekend starts with a seven-race card on Friday from 12:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens with eight of the eleven racing for the very first time. (6) MAGARITA is a striking grey Hansen filly who was held together very nicely in her trial on May 13th which she won having been prominent throughout and beating three of her fellow debut-makers here. She should be on the speed and can make a winning debut. Raon are seemingly running out of names but (7) RAON THE AGAIN matched Magarita almost stride for stride in that May 13th trial and crossed the line just half a length in arrears. A bold showing first up is possible and she too should be on pace. (3) ROAD TO MAGIC was a trial winner in April, leading most of the way around. He draws very well here and is another first-timer with claims. Among the experienced ones (1) HAERANG ISEUL looks the best. She ran 2nd on debut in March over this distance having raced handily and should have benefited from the experience. (4) LADY VADER is another with the potential to improve.

Selections(6) Magarita (7) Raon The Again (3) Road To Magic (1) Haerang Iseul
Next Best4, 11
Fast Start3, 4, 6, 7

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(5) SOUTHERN JOY will be a warm favourite here. She has five top-four finishes from six starts to date and as posted fair times over this distance. In this company and with a good draw, she should be on the early speed and will take some beating. (8) FANTASTIC TIME didn’t do much in two starts around the turn of the year but was much improved on her reappearance after almost four months off on May 12th. She raced on the pace for the first time and came home a solid 4th. She should strip fitter for that run and can go closer this time. (7) UNJU GLOBAL has shown signs of figuring things out in her latest two with a 2nd and a 4th. Both at this distance and both times showing at the front. She’ll be challenging for the lead again and should be in this a long way. (1) VICTOR BASIUM and (11) SILK FASHION ROAD among others in the minor money frame.

Selections(5) Southern Joy (8) Fantastic Time (7) Unju Global (1) Victor Basium
Next Best11, 4
Fast Start1, 5, 7, 8

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(5) TTANBONG QUEEN comes back in trip following a good 4th over a mile on April 30th when she led for part of the way. At the start before she was 2nd over this distance in a time much quicker than any of her rivals here have achieved and she should have too much. That will mean overturning the form on (1) EONJENA YEONGUNG, who was 2nd in that April race at a mile. A twenty-four-start maiden, that may not change here but from a good gate, if he can get a better start than he usually does, he can be a danger again. (4) SKY SEUNG had nine months between her first two starts but should be fitter for her reappearance on April 28th when she settled handy and ran 5th at this distance. She carries a light weight, draws well, and can get closer. (10) SOLEDAD and (11) BORA CHAMP are other potential improvers.

Selections(5) Ttanbong Queen (1) Eonjena Yeongung (4) Sky Seung (10) Soledad
Next Best11, 8
Fast Start4, 5, 10, 11

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (3) SEOGWI FLASH remains a maiden but has been getting closer and enters off a 3rd and a 2nd from her latest two, both in good times over this distance. She comes up in class here, but the opposition isn’t intimidating and from a good gate, she can make her breakthrough. (2) STELL LUNA has raced on pace in her latest two and ran a good 3rd over this distance on May 7th. From a great draw she can get an easy run to the lead here and can be in this a long way. (6) FOLK ROCK came from off the pace to get her maiden win over 1200M on May 7th. She comes up in class here, but the distance can suit, and she can measure up. (4) HAPPY TAEYANG is another up in class who can be competitive and along with (8) FLYING TOUCH, can be considered for the places.  

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