Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with a twilight meeting consisting of 10 races from 14:45 to 21:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maiden fillies with all eleven racing for the first time. Conveniently for us, five of them come out of the same trial on July 14th which was won – and won well – by (10) SPECIAL FORCE, who was quickly into the lead and crossed the line three-lengths to the good in a fair time. If she brings that form to the races, she will take some beating. We’ll return to that heat in a moment. (6) GEOLJAK SKY failed to qualify the first time around but looked much better in a second attempt in early July, running on pace and crossing the line in front in a good time. She draws better than Special Force and should be challenging from the start again. (1) BLUE LEMON was 2nd in the July 14th trial settling handy and running on. She has those three-lengths to make up on Special Force but draws nicely and shouldn’t be far away. (3) LOVE MUNMAK was a further length and three-quarters back in 4th in that trial coming from off the pace but worked him pleasingly enough to consider. (4) ORION ALPHA another who hinted ay ability in her heat.
| Selections | (10) Special Force (6) Geoljak Sky (1) Blue Lemon (3) Love Munmak |
| Next Best | 4, 11 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRE 25 Million
The penny seems to be dropping for (1) HANGANG SKY who comes in following a much-improved 4th and 3rd from his latest two at 1200M and 1300M. both times coming from off the pace from wide draws and most recently beating three of today’s rivals on July 9th. The step up to 1400M for the first time can suit and from a better gate, he is the one to beat. (5) EFFEL TAP has mixed his form across seven starts so far but does have a couple of 3rd places to his name. He weakened late on when returning from five months out at the end of July but should strip fitter for that run and can go closer today. (8) THEME TANSAENG was 4th behind Hangang Sky in that July 9th race. He too comes up to seven-furlongs for the first time, he should be on pace, and he can be in this a long way. Those three look superior to the rest and will make up just about everyone’s top-three in some order. Something has to finish in 4th or 5th though with (3) DINSI CHAMP and (6) GEOMOON perhaps the most likely.
| Selections | (1) Hangang Sky (5) Effel Tap (8) Theme Tansaeng (3) Dinsi Champ |
| Next Best | 6, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(6) TAEPYEONG FIGHTER led on debut before weakening but then stayed on much better for 2nd on her re-appearance on July 9th, well beaten by a good winner but in a quick time, nonetheless. She comes up in trip for the first time, she surely leads again, and she may not get caught. Except when missing the break two starts back, (7) NEW POINT has performed fairly across four outings so far, with a 2nd and a 3rd, most recently in an all-filly race over this trip on July 2nd. She can sit handy here and can still be there at the business end. (4) BANFF has finished no worse than 5th from four attempts. He has the fastest time for the distance among those here who have previously attempted it, recorded when 2nd back in March. He has a strong finish on him and should be a danger late on here. (11) BOREUM DALBIT is a bit of a wildcard having raced just the once back in April. She showed promise finishing 4th and while she has had fifteen weeks off since, she can be given a chance. (9) NURI TAEYANG perhaps the best of the rest.
| Selections | (6) Taepyeong Fighter (7) New Point (4) Banff (11) Boreum Dalbit |
| Next Best | 9, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(4) WONDERFUL JOY led for much of the way around at class and distance on July 8th, ultimately running a close 5th. He has a solid record at this distance and today could well be his day. The main danger and probable betting favourite is (5) CAMINO He has only raced seven times but has a 2nd and a 3rd at this distance with the latter being at this class on June 17th when leading until the closing stages. He comes down slightly in the weights. He will surely be on pace again and may take some getting past. (3) LIONETTE has run fairly in two starts back following a six-month absence. While yet to finish in the top two, she has posted a quick time at this trip, Johan climbs aboard, and third-up this preparation, she may be peaking fitness-wise. (6) DESIRE TO WIN, who is a class and distance winner, and (9) ORGALIM among others with at least placing claims in a competitive race.
| Selections | (4) Wonderful Joy (5) Camino (3) Lionette (6) Desire To Win |
| Next Best | 9, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Since scoring on debut, (9) BLOOMING STAR has been working back up towards another won and most recently ran a very close 2nd at class and distance on July 2nd having led almost the entire way around and just being taken down on the line. He does come up 2.5kg in the weights and he draws a little wider than ideal but neither of those are insurmountable and he is the one to beat. (7) WHIZ UP was a class and distance winner two starts back in June and while he never really got into things over 1400M when 6th on his return on July 8th, the margins weren’t huge, and he shouldn’t be too far away here. (1) ECHO ZONE comes in off a solid 2nd place at class and distance on July 9th when he began well, dropped back to midfield, and then ran on. He draws the same inside gate and won’t be far away. (10) WONDERFUL NAMCHON returned from four months off to get his maiden win over this distance at the end of June. He comes up in class but down in the weights and can measure up. (5) MONEY STONE another in the placing frame.
| Selections | (9) Blooming Star (7) Whiz Up (1) Echo Zone (10) Wonderful Namchon |
| Next Best | 5, 4 |
| Fast Start | 5, 8, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(1) MY THUNDER got his maiden win at start number three over this distance on June 3rd when making all and holding on for a narrow win. He comes up in class here but stays down in the weights and from a good gate, he can be on pace again and go back-to-back. (9) FIRST USER remains a maiden after six attempts but has finished 2nd on no fewer than three occasions, even beating My Thunder back at class 6. Her latest runner-up finish was at this class and distance on July 9th when on pace, as is her style. She draws a touch wide here, but she should have enough speed to challenge for the lead and it’s not impossible she could go one better this time. (7) CUPID VOW came from off the pace to run a strong 3rd at class and distance on July 9th. He was well beaten by a very nice-looking winner, but he comes in here under a light weight again and a repeat of that performance should see him in the finish. (5) RAON HOLIDAY and (2) BARAMUI HYANGGI among those in contention for the minors.
| Selections | (1) My Thunder (9) First User (7) Cupid Vow (5) Raon Holiday |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 8, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) CHEONDUNG HORANGI was slowly away on debut on July 8th over 1000M but rallied very nicely to claim a close 2nd place. He should have derived benefit from that experience, he draws nicely and under today’s handicap conditions, he even comes down slightly in the weights. The additional furlong can suit, and he can win. (11) MOONHAK SONG made all to score in a double-quick time over class and distance on July 9th. He comes up a full 4.5kg in the weights and is done no favours by the draw, but that win was emphatic, and a repeat is possible. (4) POWERFUL HWASEONG has placed at this class over 1400M and enters off a smart 4th in a fast time over this distance on July 1st. He is tactically versatile having run well on pace and from behind and he can go close again. (6) BYEOLBIT MARU comes up in class having won over 1300M on July 1st when coming from well off the pace. She carries a feather weight here which brings her into contention. (5) DOKKAEBE another to keep safe.
| Selections | (1) Cheondung Horangi (11) Moonhak Song (4) Powerful Hwaseong (6) Byeolbit Maru |
| Next Best | 5, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 11 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
A competitive race. (4) RAON EMPIRE has big expectations on her what with the name, and being half-sister to Raon The Fighter and she has performed well so far. She comes in off a 3rd place in off a 4th place in a quick race at class and distance on June 11th and from a nice draw and under a light weight, she can be on the pace here and can return to the winner’s circle. (2) EUNHYE CHUNGMAN won at this class over 1200M two starts back before finishing 3rd on her reappearance, again at the 1200M on June 24th. She is still relatively lightly raced for a six-year-old and while she carries 4kg more than she did at her recent win, she draws very nicely and shapes as a chance. (8) GEUMA ALLURE doesn’t exactly win out of turn but has been a model of consistency with twelve top-five finishes from thirteen starts. She will be on or close to the speed here and won’t be far away again. (1) HUIMANG GADEUK and (6) KINGS EYE others in the placing hunt.
| Selections | (4) Raon Empire (2) Eunhye Chungman (8) Geuma Allure (1) Huimang Gadeuk |
| Next Best | 6, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Since getting promoted to this level with a dead heat win in May, (9) RAON AMERICAN has run 2nd and 3rd in two appearances at 1400M and 1200M. He remains very nicely weighted here and he can make it third time lucky at class 3. It’s been a long time since we last saw (8) ASPENROS in a race; sixty-five weeks to be precise. He shaped as a talent though with three wins from five starts up to class 4 and to 1700M. That means that he returns, hopefully with his injury problems behind him, at a higher class but he carries a light weight, and he looked the part in an unhurried trial back in May. It goes without saying that he will need this, but his past ability is enough to put him in the mix. (3) M J BEST was a class and distance winner on July 8th when racing handy and running on, beating a couple of today’s rivals. He comes up a full 4.5kg in the weights but isn’t to be dismissed. (6) THE REAPER and (7) SMART JEONSA the other placing chances.
| Selections | (9) Raon American (8) Aspenros (3) M J Best (6) The Reaper |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 9 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1900M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
A very competitive race to conclude. (7) YELLOW CAT took a shy at the stumps in the G3 KNN Cup, the final leg of the Queens’ Tour for fillies and mares, over a mile at Busan in June and came away with a very creditable 4th of fourteen. She comes into class 2 company for the first time and also comes up in trip, but she is under a light weight, and she looks an intriguing entry here. Not many (three) of this field have raced before at this rarely used distance (employed primarily because the inner track in the back straight can’t be used under the floodlights which rules out 1800M races after dark) but after a layoff of almost a year, (8) MIGHTY CHIP returned over 1800M to run a strong 2nd on June 10th. He should strip fitter here and has every chance of putting in a big race. (2) COSMO is the wildcard. A winner of five from twelve, he has never gone further than 1400M and comes in having been found wanting in the SROA Chairman’s Trophy at six-furlongs in June. He has a light weight and a nice draw, and he could measure up. (5) BEST LUCKY and (3) SKY DOLPUNG, the latter who has raced at 1900M before, others in the money hunt.
| Selections | (7) Yellow Cat (8) Mighty Chip (2) Cosmo (5) Best Lucky |
| Next Best | 3, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 7 |
Horse Racing in Korea 