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 60 Million
Juvenile maidens with all but two racing for the first time. The hot favourite will be (3) TRAUM KING. The To Honor And Serve colt led every step of the way in his trial on June 2nd, crossing the line four-lengths clear of anything else in a decent time. From a good draw, if he brings that form to the races, he will be hard to beat. (4) JANGGUN GARAM is one of the two who have already races. He came home 7th of eleven in a quick race on a very wet track. He should have derived benefit from the experience and can get closer today. That applies too to (11) MULLEBANGA who ran fairly on his debut and with some natural improvement, can be in the placing hunt. Returning to the first-time starters, (2) RAON THE MAN led his trial, ultimately crossing the line 3rd. It wasn’t quick but he showed enough to suggest he can go well first-up. (10) ILINX was a trial winner and while done no favours by the draw, can’t be ruled out either.
| Selections | (3) Traum King (4) Janggun Garam (11) Mullebanga (2) Raon The Man |
| Next Best | 10, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 10 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1000M) Special Weight A / 75 Million
Eleven young imports with ten of the eleven racing for the first time. The one who we have seen before, (9) SPURT BIT, was impressive. Having won a May trial, he debuted on June 10th and sat on the heels of the leader before taking things up in the straight and running on to win by four-lengths. He won’t need to improve much on that to win again. (8) KLIMT WORLD trialled up in that same May heat behind Spurt Bit and he came home just half a length in arrears. It’s taken him a while to get to the races, but based on that trial, he can be a danger first-up. (11) GOOD HAPPY went through two trials, first to qualify in which he was slow away and underwhelming, and then a voluntary trial (which may not appear in all race cards) two weeks later at the end of May. He was a big improver in that one and can be considered here. It’s a similar story with (2) SINUI EREUM, whose official qualifying trial in April didn’t catch the eye but he has subsequently been through two more (again, these may not be on all race cards so do be aware) and improved in both, from wide gates. He draws nicely here and should go well. (10) NANO MASIN won his solitary heat and that’s enough to put him in the frame.
| Selections | (9) Spurt Bit (8) Klimt World (11) Good Happy (2) Sinui Ereum |
| Next Best | 10, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Standard maiden here. (5) BANFF probably warrants favourite status with a 3rd, a 2nd and a 5th from his three starts so far, all at this distance and all in fair times. In this company he should be on or close to the pace, and he can win here. (3) BAEKDU MEOTJAENGI raced three times last summer and autumn, improving each time with a 3rd the best of them over this distance. She hasn’t raced since but looked well when trialling up on June 23rd and from a good draw should be on the speed and in this a long way. (9) TIZ ROCKET has the fastest time among these for the distance, recorded when 4th last time out on what was admittedly a very fat track. He can aim to match or better that 4th here. (8) MOON DUST and (1) TESTA BLUE others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (5) Banff (3) Baekdu Meotjaengi (9) Tiz Rocket (8) Moon Dust |
| Next Best | 1, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
It’s hard to go too far past (10) GEOSEN CHAMP here. He’s been knocking at the door across his six starts so far and comes in off his best finish so far when 2nd over 1200M on June 18th when he overcame the same gate, he has today to race handy. Like all but two of these, he comes up to the 1400M for the first time and it may well suit. (8) SATURDAY finished off pleasingly enough over 1300M last timeout for a best to date finish of 5th. He is another who may appreciate the slight step up in trip today and can go closer. (3) PURPLE SHINHWA has three 5th place finishes from three starts so far, all over 1200M. He has been a touch one-paced but in this company and from this gate he should be on the lead early and “one-pace” could be enough pace to at least place here. (4) BEST PLAN and (5) RED TAEPUNG the best of an ordinary rest.
| Selections | (10) Geosen Champ (8) Saturday (3) Purple Shinhwa (4) Best Plan |
| Next Best | 5, 11 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(2) MORNING PEARL remains a maiden but has no fewer than four placings at this class, most recently when 2nd over 1300M back in February. She hasn’t raced since then but she looked well in a trial just last week when she wasn’t asked to do too much and while she will evidently need this, she has a chance and should be available at an each-way price. (8) DALGEUM is also a maiden, in her case after eight attempts. She comes in off a very narrow defeat at this class and distance on May 27th and shouldn’t be far away again. (9) BEST JEONSA and (3) STAND BY ME came home 4th and 7th respectively when they raced each other at class and distance on June 10th, the latter performing below expectations but had been going well previously. Both should be aiming to improve here. (1) SMART BLUE comes in off a class and distance 3rd and is another in the hunt in a small but competitive field.
| Selections | (2) Morning Pearl (8) Dalgeum (9) Best Jeonsa (3) Stand By Me |
| Next Best | 1, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies only here. (3) NAOL CHEONJI was a winner on debut but after an encouraging 3rd on her first try at this class, lost her way a little. She was off between January and June but returned very encouragingly with another close-up 3rd place at this class and distance on June 11th when close to the pace throughout. She should strip fitter for that run and can win here. (5) NANGJU YEOGEOL comes in seeking a hat-trick of victories having won her attest two, most recently ay class and distance on May 27th when she settled midfield and proved too strong. She comes up 3kg in the weights from that but should be close again. (1) SILVER PURGE is still a maiden but comes up in class following back-to-back 2nd place finishes, both at 1200M. He times have been good; she comes down in the weights and she draws nicely. She can measure up. (2) BICHUI DAERYUK and (7) WIDAEHAN HANMA others in the frame.
| Selections | (3) Naol Cheonji (5) Nangju Yeogeol (1) Silver Purge (2) Bichui Daeryuk |
| Next Best | 7, 8 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (1700M) Special Weight B / KRW 40 Million
Small field here and (4) SAINT LUCCA is the pick. He was a class and distance winner two starts back when settling right back and running on before returning on May 14th and running 3rd, again at this class and distance. He comes into a better gate today and in this company, he can be winning. (8) PEARL POINT looks to be the main danger. She didn’t do much in her first two starts but was a winner third-up over 1200M at class 6 level before running a close 2nd on her first try at this class over 1300M on June 10th. She comes up to two-turns for the first time and she also comes up in the weights under today’s conditions, but she can be a threat. (1) SECRET WANGJA also comes up to the 1700M for the first time. He is also up in class, but he has run on well in his latest two and may fit in here. (2) DESIRE TO WIN was a somewhat unexpected winner at class and distance on June 4th when ridden on pace for the first time and while up 3.5kg in the weights, warrants respect. (3) ARGO GONGJU the best of the rest.
| Selections | (4) Saint Lucca (8) Pearl Point (1) Secret Wangja (2) Desire To Win |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 8 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(2) RAON THE POINT is three for three having led every step of the way on each occasion. His latest was at this class over 1300M and while he is up a full 4.5kg in the weights and he comes up to 1400M for the first time, he will be a hot favourite to maintain his 100% record. None of these should pose much danger to that record although (4) ARA MOA is probably the most likely to take advantage of any slip ups. She is up in class after a good win over 1300M and while she races for the first time in three months, she is nicely weighted, well drawn, and should measure up against all but the favourite. (1) HYPER CAR is generally not too far away and should be aiming for a money finish again. (7) THUNDER FLASH and (5) JAY TROSS the other placing chances.
| Selections | (2) Raon The Point (4) Ara Moa (1) Hyper Car (7) Thunder Flash |
| Next Best | 5, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 7 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(4) SAENAE QUEEN has won two of her latest three most recently a valuable trophy race in a quick time over this distance on May 14th when making all. She has never finished any worse than 3rd and while she comes up to 1400M for the first time, she draws very nicely, she carries a light weight, she should be on pace, and she may take some beating. (10) WONDERFUL INDY comes up in class having won three of his last four. He comes down significantly in the weights here and can be a danger late on. (1) LAST PUNCH was a winner at this class over 1200M on June 10th when settling back and running on and has a 2nd at this distance as recently as April. She comes up in the weights here but that’s balanced a little by a good draw and she can be competitive. (7) COLJOY and (8) SMART JEONSA among others in the minor money frame.
| Selections | (4) Saenae Queen (10) Wonderful Indy (1) Last Punch (7) Coljoy |
| Next Best | 8, 2 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 90 Million
(6) JANGSAN MONSTER ran out a class and distance winner on May 28th in a fast race on a very wet track when on pace throughout and with a few of today’s rivals down the track behind him. That continued a consistent run of form and with just a 1kg rise in the weights, he can win again. (1) CUPID BABE beat a few of these on his way to 3ed ay class and distance on June 10th when leading for much of the way. He draws well to be on pace again and once more should be in this a long way. (4) CHAMJOEUN CHINGU found things tough in the Ttukseom Cup in May against elite fillies and mares. She has won around two turns before though and back in more amenable company today, she looks a fair place chance. (10) BEOLMAL DAEJANG and (7) OXFORD KING are others who may enter the calculations.
| Selections | (6) Jangsan Monster (1) Cupid Babe (4) Chamjoeun Chingu (10) Beolmal Daejang |
| Next Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 7 |
Horse Racing in Korea 