The Triple Crown concludes under the floodlights at Seoul on Saturday evening with the running of the Minister’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) Korean Derby winner Global Hit returns at the head of full field of sixteen. There are 10 races at Seoul on Saturday from 14:45 to 18:00.
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile filly maidens in the opener with all eleven racing for the first time. The hot favourite will be (5) DALBITJOGAKSA. She sat handy in her trial before running away from the field in the closing stages to cross the line in front by as many as she pleased in a quick time. She draws well, and if she brings anything like that form to the races, she will take some beating. (9) HAENGBOKHAN SEUNGJA showed a good bit of speed in her trial too, running 2nd behind an experienced racehorse. She sat just behind the early leaders and ran on well and should be in with a shout here. (6) GEUMAK JINJU similarly was 2nd in her heat, showing on the speed and should have supporters. (10) TAEPYEONG VISION won her heat and while the time wasn’t hugely quick and she does draw wide, that showing is enough to put her in the numbers here. (1) HAPPY ICTUS, who improved in the second of two trials (it may not be on all race cards) another who hinted at ability.
| Selections | (5) Dalbitjogaksa (9) Haengbokan Seungja (6) Geumak Jinju (10) Taepyoung Vision |
| Next Best | 1, 11 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million
Maidens with northern hemisphere juveniles and southern hemisphere three-year-olds. Eight of the eleven race for the first time. (3) UWARYUNG was 2nd on debut at this distance on June 10th when settling midfield and running on. She was well beaten by the favourite, Spurt Bit, who has since gone on to win again, but she posted a good time and with some natural improvement, she can be the one to beat here. Of the first-time starters, (11) I’M JJANG is the pick. He went through two trials, running fairly for 4th in the first of them and then going through a voluntary one (which may not appear in all race cards) in May, which he won. In a quick time, settling midfield and running on. Moon Se-young is aboard, and he will have plenty of backers. (10) ULTRA DRAGON was slowly away in his first trial and missing the qualifying time, but he was much improved in a second one, leading all the way to win the heat in a good time. The draw is not ideal but if he brings that form to the races, he can go close. (4) MIGHTY JJANG and (8) ENDING FIRE others in the hunt.
| Selections | (3) Uwaryung (11) I’m Jjang (10) Ultra Dragon (4) Mighty Jjang |
| Next Best | 8, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(1) GANGPUNGMA debuted on June 11th and having settled back in midfield, finished strongly for a creditable 3rd place. The time was quicker than any of the others have posted for this distance, and he should have derived benefit from the experience. He draws better this time, he should be closer to the speed, and he has solid claims. (4) AUSTIN LEADER may sound like a regional Texas newspaper, but he’s shown some ability across three starts so far, especially in his last start 2nd over this distance when he led almost the entire way around, just getting headed late on. He comes into a better gate today, can lead again, and can once more be in things a long way. (3) NAOL DAEWANG has a 3rd and a 2nd from two starts so far, both at this distance. In the first he came from well off the pace while in the second he was ridden much handier. Expect the latter today and he has a strong finish on him. (11) GEOMUI JEONSEOL and (2) TAEPYEONGMU others who come in with recent form reading well.
| Selections | (1) Gangpungma (4) Austin Leader (3) Naol Daewang (11) Geomui Jeonseol |
| Next Best | 2, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 7 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(10) SIDAEUI MYEONGJAK’s last start 2nd in a good time over this distance is enough to put him on top here. He has only put in one bad run in five and that latest effort on June 25th saw him race handy and only go down narrowly to a long shot. The draw isn’t the best, but he should have enough about him to find a decent position again and if he does, he is the one to beat. (11) DAONDI beat Sidaeui Myeongjak two starts back when the pair ran 2nd and 5th over 1200M on May 28th. He didn’t run on in his subsequent start at this distance in June but is worth another chance here. (1) JANGHEUNG CLASS is another who will need a line drawn through his latest when he had a wide gate and used up plenty of energy getting close to the lead before weakening. Form a better draw and with Moon Se-young aboard, he will be backed. (5) NAOL JEONGSANG, who returns for the first time since a promising debut last Christmas Day, is the wildcard, while (3) FLYING ZEST was a useful 4th at start number two last time out and can build on that here.
| Selections | (10) Sidaeui Myeongjak (11) Daondi (1) Jangheung Class (5) Naol Jeongsang |
| Next Best | 3, 8 |
| Fast Start | 3, 9, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) MOONHAK AFLEET remains a maiden after ten attempts, but he has an excellent opportunity to put that right here. Since taking a few goes to figure things out, he has been super consistent and was a very close 4th in his last start over 1300M in a quick time. He has finished off his races well and the step up in trip today could be exactly what he needs to make the breakthrough. This is not a strong set of opponents, but if he does find one too quick again, it may be (5) DIRT SURFER. He is the only one of these to have won over a mile and he gets a nice weight drop with an apprentice claim. Those two factors are enough to make him a contender here. (3) KING ACE mixes his form but his last start 4th over 1400M was encouraging. He tires something other than the seven-furlongs for the first time in a long time and it may be to his benefit. (7) NAMSAN LOVE and (9) OKCHEON CHOEGANG others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (1) Moonhak Afleet (5) Dirt Surfer (3) King Ace (7) Namsan Love |
| Next Best | 9, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(4) RAON THE COBRA returned to action following an eight-month absence on May 20th and made all to get his maiden win over this distance. He has had another two months off since then and he comes up in class here, but he looks to be a talent and he can be on pace again and go all the way again. There is one rogue juvenile in the race. (8) MAGIC WITH YOU ran out a winner on debut over 1000M on June 3rd, settling handy and finishing well. He comes up in class and in trip as well as facing older horses, but don’t rule out another big run at possible each-way odds. (2) DAEHEUNG CLASS is yet to win in nine but is consistent and was 3rd over this distance in his first start at this class on June 10th. With a good draw and an apprentice claim, he can be competitive again here. (1) AREUMDAUN SAI is up in class after a quick win at this distance on June 11th and can measure up. (6) SARANG DAMOA another in the placing hunt.
| Selections | (4) Raon The Cobra (8) Magic With You (2) Daeheung Class (1) Areumdaun Sai |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 7: Class Open (2000M) Minister’s Cup (KOR-G2) Special Weight A / KRW 700 Million
The final leg of the Triple Crown. (11) NAOL SNIPER ran 2nd in both the Sports Seoul Classic Trial and the Korean Derby and he can get can finally get his reward here. He finished strongly in both, the step up in trip should benefit, and he can win. That step up in trip should also benefit (15) NUT PLAY, who after getting himself a long way back in both the Cup Mile and the Derby, rattled home well. He has the best finish of all of them but there is a big field again and tiring horses in front of him may cause him problems late on. Nevertheless, if he gets a clean run, he can win. The Korean Derby winner (3) GLOBAL HIT is the most naturally gifted of all of them. He has drawn beautifully here to do similar, but he isn’t the most robust type, and it is hard to be confident that he can follow up that Derby performance so soon. Speaking of natural ability, (8) SPEED YOUNG has an awful lot of it too. Last year’s came up short in both the Cup Mile and the Derby but with the extended trip, don’t rule out a return to form. (2) DOKKI BULPAE, the long-time leader in the Derby before finishing 4th and well-drawn here, is another to consider although as ever, the 2000M is unchartered territory for all.
| Selections | (11) Naol Sniper (15) Nut Play (3) Global Hit (8) Speed Young |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 11, 16 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
The only two juveniles in the race both come in here one for one and they will be at the top of the market. We’ll side with (2) OKCHEON SNIPER, who was the marginally more impressive on debut on June 24th when he went right back and then showed a remarkable turn of foot to improve from 8th to a comfortable winner in the final furlong over 1000M. The extended trip should put him very much in his comfort zone and he can make it two from two. (3) GANA POWER did it from the front on debut on June 17th, making all over 1000M. He will be on pace again and there is no reason why the additional furlong should pose any problems. As for the older horses, (10) DUSON CLASSIC needs a line drawn through her latest, but she comes back to a trip at which she has the fastest time among those who have tackled it before, and she can be a danger. (11) CHEONGGYE GISANG and (1) BEST CLONE others in the hunt.
| Selections | (2) Okcheon Sniper (3) Gana Power (10) Duson Classic (11) Cheonggye Gisang |
| Next Best | 1, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 10 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
After finding herself outgunned in the Ttukseom Cup in what was a somewhat bizarre assignment for such an inexperienced filly first-up following a six-month absence, (8) FIRE GIRL returned to the shallower waters of class 3 on June 10th and ran a solid 2nd. She comes up just the 1kg here and today can be her day. (7) BEST CHEONSANG doesn’t win out of turn, but she rarely misses by much. She has finished 3rd no fewer than eleven times – including on four of her last five outings – and she should be there or thereabouts again. (11) POWER VICTORY was a winner over this distance at class 4 level two starts back before running a solid 3rd over 1400M on her first try at class 3. She comes in off a thirteen-week layoff but is nicely weighted and warrants consideration. (4) HANGANG BOSS and (1) RAON THE PEARL are others to keep safe.
| Selections | (8) Fire Girl (7) Best Cheonsang (11) Power Victory (4) Hangang Boss |
| Next Best | 1, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 1 (2300M) Special Weight B / KRW 110 Million
The Grand Prix Stakes distance is only used a couple of times each year and only three of these have tackled it before. They include (9) JEONGMUN SAI, who enters as the probably favourite having beaten a couple of these on his latest outing back in May at 1800M. He continues under a light weight here and while he isn’t the most spectacular of types, he can grind away for the full distance and can win. (11) CHIEF INDY beat Jeongmun Sai when winning over 2000M on Christmas Day. He has mixed his form since then so it can be hard to catch him on a good day, but the step up to this trip may suit and he shouldn’t be far away. (1) ACTIMON steps up to class 1 for the first time following a tight win over 1800M on June 10th. He has run fairly over 2000M in the past and he has a strong finish on him so he too may appreciate the longer trip. (7) GALLOP CURLIN and (10) HIDDEN SOCKS others in the frame.
| Selections | (9) Jeongmun Sai (11) Chief Indy (1) Actimon (7) Gallop Curlin |
| Next Best | 10, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 9 |
Horse Racing in Korea 