The twilight racing season comes to Seoul on Saturday with 10 races from 14:45 to 21:00 including the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, the final leg of the Triple Tiara. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Juveniles here with eight of the eleven racing for the first time. (6) NAEGILUI CAPTAIN and (4) SEOUL CHOEGANGJA debuted together on June 17th and came home in 2nd and 4th respectively. The time was not quick, but the real race experience should be beneficial, and they shape as the leading two contenders here with Naegilui Captain favoured to score, potentially leading all the way. Of the debut-makers, (11) RAON THE TAP won his trial, leading for most of the way around. He isn’t done any favours by the draw, but if he brings that form to the races, he has at least solid placing chances. (7) YONGBI POWER went through a rare quick trial. She was a long way behind the winner but that is enough to put her in the frame first-up. (3) HANGANG GLORY is another who hinted at ability in his trial and can be considered.
| Selections | (6) Naegilui Captain (4) Seoul Choegangja (11) Raon The Tap (7) Yongbi Power |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 11 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(2) HAENGBOK YEOWANG comes in off back-to-back 4th place finishes. She has rarely found herself in such amenable company as this and from a good draw, she can be on pace and can perhaps go all the way. (9) GHANA DREAM has a 2nd and a 3rd among her four starts so far. She needs to be given a pass on her latest when she got too far back but she generally has a strong finish on her and if she is in striking distance at the business end of the race, she will a danger late on. (11) NEMO SPIRIT comes in having run an improved 5th on her latest appearance on June 11th. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she is another who can be doing her best work late on here. (6) YEJIMONG and (3) JEONGSANG HIT don’t inspire much confidence, but both have shown themselves capable of running a good race in this kind of company.
| Selections | (2) Haengbok Yeowang (9) Ghana Dream (11) Nemo Spirit (6) Yejimong |
| Next Best | 3, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(1) SHARP SUNSHINE has picked up in her latest three with two 4ths and a 3rd, that latter finish coming over this distance on June 17th. Her times haven’t been special but there is not much pace here and from a good gate she can lead and potentially go all the way. (10) BINNANEUN GEUMSEONG showed a sharp uptick in form when 2nd at start number four over 1200M on June 18th, settling back and finishing well. A similar run here will put her in the finish again. (6) EXPECT has mixed his form across five starts so far but going on his 3rd place over 1400M at the end of April, he should come into the calculations here. (7) GOLD MIGHTY, with a 2nd to his name is another, while (8) SMART SOCKS has also hinted at ability.
| Selections | (1) Sharp Sunshine (10) Binnaneun Geumseong (6) Expect (7) Gold Mighty |
| Next Best | 8, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(2) HAENGBOKAN MUNMAK enters in good form with a 2nd two starts back over 1200M followed by a 3rd place at today’s trip on June 17th when she led for much of the way and only went down narrowly. She beat a couple of today’s rivals in the process and from a good gate she can lead again, and this time go all the way. (8) LUCKY POWER had a hard time when stepped up to 1700M last time out, showing close to the pace and then weakening. He may be happier back at one turn here and he has a smart finish on him. (5) ORCHID VALLEY has four top-three finishes from six stats so far including last time out when a solid 3rd at this class over 1200M. In this company he can be on pace and in this a long way. (1) LEMON BLADE comes up in class following a maiden win at start number seven over 1200M. He comes down in weight and from the inside gate can measure up. (11) GRAND POWER another in the placing frame.
| Selections | (2) Haengbokan Munmak (8) Lucky Power (5) Orchid Valley (1) Lemon Blade |
| Next Best | 11, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1700M) Special Weight B / KRW 40 Million
(5) SINUI BANJEON is a ten-race maiden, but she has no fewer than four runner-up finishes, including her latest start at this class and distance on June 4th when, as is her preferred style, she was on pace throughout. She comes up 2kg in the weights, but she really should have the measure of this field and she is the one to beat. (6) CLUB D is also a maiden, but he has been finishing off his races well and the step up to two turns could well suit him. He can go close. (3) P N S AI comes back up to two turns for the first time since a shy at the stumps in last year’s Minister’s Cup (it missed). He has been steadily working back into form across recent starts, culminating in a 2nd place over 1400M last time out and he can be in the mix again here. (7) GREEN FEELSTAR and (2) STAR K are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) Sinui Banjeon (6) Club D (3) P N S Ai (7) Green Feelstar |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(1) NINE EAGLE comes up in class having got his maiden win at start number three on June 11th, leading every step of the way and stopping the clock in a faster time than any of his rivals here have achieved at the distance. While he doesn’t get a weight drop, that’s balanced by the inside gate which gives him a good chance of leading again and he can go all the way again. (2) FLYING STAR was a winner on debut over 1000M on June 10th. She comes up in class and in distance but the way she finished off that day, suggests that neither should be an issue. She has a light weight and a good gate, and she can continue the positive start to her career here. (8) LUCKY BOUNCE actually beat Nine Eagle as the pair raced 1st and 3rd at class 6 back in February. He has had a shaky start to class 5 life but shouldn’t be dismissed here. (4) THUNDER BLUE and the up in class (7) SONGAM DRAGON others in the frame.
| Selections | (1) Nine Eagle (2) Flying Star (8) Lucky Bounce (4) Thunder Blue |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 8 |
Seoul Race 7: Class Open (2000M) Gyeonggi Govenor’s Cup (KOR G3) Special Weight A / KRW 500 Million
The concluding leg of the Triple Tiara (filly Triple Crown) sees (6) JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG set to start a hot favourite to emulate Golden Power last year and complete a clean sweep of all three jewels. A narrow victory in the Luna Stakes was followed by a more dominant showing in the Korean Oaks when she scored by four-lengths. The extended trip can suit again, and she will take some beating. (12) WONDERFUL SLEW was a revelation in the Oaks, finishing in 3rd place having come from well off the pace at what was just her fourth start. She looks to have plenty of scope for more development and may enjoy the 2000M. (10) RAON FOREST was 2nd in both the Luna and the Oaks, and she will probably start as second favourite here. There is little to suggest she can overturn the form on the favourite, but the extra furlong may be interesting. (3) DOCTOR OSCAR and (8) TAURUS QUEEN, the latter a disappointment in the Oaks, are among others in the money frame.
| Selections | (6) Jeulgeounyeojeong (12) Wonderful Slew (10) Raon Forest (3) Doctor Oscar |
| Next Best | 8, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 8, 13 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) PHOENIX SERVE was a winner at this class over 1300M two starts back before running 2nd behind Jeoldae Gachi in a quick time also at 1200M on June 11th when settling midfield and running on strongly. He looks ready to come up back up to 1300M and he is the one to beat here. (8) TUHON TEUKGEUP is rapidly up in class having won her latest two at 1200M at class 6 and most recently over this distance at class 5 on June 11th. That was a quick race and saw her record a faster time than any of the others here have managed for the 1300M. She carries a light weight, and she can measure up. (6) GWANGCHIGI similarly has come up two classes in the space of two races. He too carries a light weight, and he can be competitive. (11) MONSTER POWER and (5) HUNTER BLADE others to keep safe.
| Selections | (7) Phoenix Serve (8) Tuhon Teukgeup (6) Gwangchigi (11) Monster Power |
| Next Best | 5, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1,2, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(5) HI HI returned from thirteen months out to run 3rd in a quick time on a very wet track over 1200M on May 28th. He should strip fitter for that run and coming back up to a trip at which he has won twice, he is the one to beat. (4) COMPLETE ANGEL comes up in class following back-to-back win over 1200M and 1300M. A previous try at this distance didn’t go well but she looks ready for another attempt and under a very light weight, she should be competitive. (6) MAGIC GRACE is also up in class having won well over this distance on May 20th. Franco Da Silva, who rode her that day, is in town again and they will be expected to be on pace and to be in this a long way. (2) RAON THE ARIA and (7) THE REAPER others who can compete for at least the minors.
| Selections | (5) Hi Hi (4) Complete Angel (6) Magic Grace (2) Raon The Aria |
| Next Best | 7, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Fillies and mares only in the finale and it’s a tricky one. We’ll take a chance on (7) AKDONG ARGO, who is still a maiden but has shown great promise in her latest two when 2nd and 4th at 1200M and 1300M, both in good times. She comes up to the 1400M for the first time, can settle just behind the leaders, and has as good a chance as any. (8) HAEUNDAE GALMAEGI is the big danger. She came up rapidly to this class with back-to-back victories in April and May before running a solid 3rd on her first try at this level over 1700M on June 10th. She comes back to a trip at which she has won, and she has every chance here. (1) ARA CHAMP enters off a smart class and distance 3rd on June 10th when on pace throughout and from a good gate can be competitive again. (9) SERVE ACE and (4) GEOLJAK DREAM among others to keep safe.
| Selections | (7) Akdong Argo (8) Haeundae Galmaegi (1) Ara Champ (9) Serve Ace |
| Next Best | 4, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 8 |
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