Day: August 18, 2023

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 19)

There are 10 races on the afternoon/evening program at Seoul on Saturday, running from 14:45 to 21:00. Here are the previews:

It’s the final evening card of the summer on Saturday (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener with all eleven making their racecourse debuts. (11) BRAVO PLAY was a trial winner in a fair time back in June when handy throughout and running on well. It has taken him a couple of months to get to the races and he does have the challenge of the wide draw, but he has as good a chance as any. (9) CHADOL DIA ran an on-pace 3rd in a competitive trial in a good time on a wet track in July. She too will be on pace and shapes as one of the leading contenders. (8) WONPYEONG GANGJA made all to win his trial on July 21st. Although the time was a little slower than the other two, he did everything asked of him and with some natural improvement, he can be dangerous. (6) CHEONMA BULPAE and (1) CLAIR GOLD others who hinted at ability when qualifying.

Selections(11) Bravo Play (9) Chadol Dia (8) Wonpyeong Gangja (6) Cheonma Bulpae
Next Best1, 10
Fast Start6, 8, 9, 11

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

(6) HAENGBOKAN SEUNGJA ran 2nd on debut over 1000M on July 22nd, well beaten by a good winner but coming from well off the pace and running through the line well. She should have derived benefit from the experience and the slight step up in trip should suit. She will be a warm favourite. (2) TAEPYEONG HERO was an encouraging 3rd on his debut on July 23rd when settling midfield and running on. With some natural improvement here, he should be matching or bettering that finish. Similarly (11) SEOCHEON LION was a close 5th on his first start on July 1st. He has the challenge of the widest gate but showed enough potential to suggest he can get close in this company. Those three will be at the top of most tickets with (3) MONEY TOUCH and (9) GOLDEN DRAGON others with the potential to improve.

Selections(6) Haengbokan Seungja (2) Taepyeong Hero (11) Seocheon Lion (3) Money Touch
Next Best9, 1
Fast Start1, 2, 9, 11

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Competitive maiden. (2) MADE STAR was a beaten favourite when 6th over this distance on August 5th when, as is her style, she settled right back but just didn’t manage to pass as many as hoped for. At her previous start in July, she ran a strong 2nd again at this distance and with Antonio climbing aboard today, she can be given another chance. (10) SMART TAEYANG ran an improved 2nd on his attest appearance on July 16th when racing midfield and finishing off well. His times haven’t been fast, but he looks to be on the right trajectory, and he can go close again. (1) DIVINE PYEONGHWA was 3rd behind Made Star in July and returns here for the first time since. She draws nicely and can build on that result. (11) DAONDI and (8) BRIGHT WINNER are others with the potential to improve.

Selections(2) Made Star (10) Smart Taeyang (1) Divine Pyeonghwa (11) Daondi
Next Best8, 5
Fast Start3, 5, 7, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(7) CHOEGO POINT is yet to win in thirteen attempts, but he has come close on plenty of occasions including his latest on July 23rd when he settled midfield and ran on for 2nd place in a quick race at class and distance. Under today’s handicap conditions, he comes down slightly in the weights and it could be his day. (1) BULUI NALGAE was a close 3rd in that July 23rd race, having gone right back and then run on. That was his first try around two turns and he should have derived benefit from it and can be in the hunt here. (3) DEVIL K enters off back-to-back 2nd place finishes at class and distance. He can be on or close to the pace here and can be in this a long way once more. (9) THUNDER PRINCE has a win over this distance at class 6 level and along with the experienced (2) GREEN FEELSTAR is another in the pacing frame at least. 

Selections(7) Choego Point (1) Bului Nalgae (3) Devil K (9) Thunder Prince
Next Best2, 6
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 11

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Wide open race. (6) YONGBI POWER was a somewhat unexpected winner on debut over 1000M on July 15th when settling back and working through the line well. She is up in class and in distance here but with some natural improvement from that effort, she can maintain her 100% record. (8) JAEWOO SIDAE remains a maiden but comes in off two smart 3rd place finishes, both at this class and distance and in good times. She is another who settles back before finishing strongly and today could be her day. (1) BAEKDU MEOTJAENGI returned from eight months off to get his maiden win over this distance on July 8th, making all. She comes up in class here but should strip fitter for that run and from a good draw, she can be on pace. (2) ICE CREAM and (3) DOLBAE among plenty of others with minor money claims.

(more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 18)

It’s the final weekend of twilight/evening racing and the action gets underway at Busan on Friday with a 7-race program from 15:40 to 21:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens with all but two racing for the first time. We’ll side with the experience, in particular, (1) DOCTOR RICH. He led for much of the way around on debut over 1000M on July 7th, ultimately coming home in 2nd place in a quick time. He should have come on for that run, he can be on pace again, and this time can go all the way. (4) CONTROLLER ran a solid 3rd on his debut on July 14th, settling handy and running on over the 1000M in a good time. He too should improve and the step up in trip can suit. As for the first timers, (10) FLYING KHAN produced the pick of the trial performances, while (5) ARION KING and (2) SUCCESS BAEKPA also posted good times and can go well first-up.

Selections(1) Doctor Rich (4) Controller (10) Flying Khan (5) Arion King
Next Best2, 7
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 5

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

Competitive maiden with two standouts. (7) DOCTOR KANE ran 2nd on debut over 1000M in June before following up with a 3rd place at this distance on July 14th when leading for much of the way and beating plenty of today’s rivals. She has been back to trial since then and with a more mature performance, she can be the one to beat today. The main danger is (1) BORIS MARINE. He too has raced twice, improving to a close runner-up finish at start number two on July 7th. He can settle back and run on here and should pose a danger in the closing stages. (3) JJARITHANISUNGAN debuted all the way back last December, racing fairly, but hasn’t been seen since. He came back to trial in June and showed some ability so can be given a chance first up here. (10) HAERANG YOUNGUNG and (2) MAGIC ELEVEN others to keep safe.

Selections(7) Doctor Kane (1) Boris Marine (3) Jjarithanisungan (10) Haerang Youngung
Next Best2, 8
Fast Start1, 3, 7, 8

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(4) BEOMHAN GOLD shapes as a warm favourite here. After debuting in February, he didn’t reappear until July 23rd when he was a very close 2nd over this distance, having led for much of the way. He should strip fitter for that run and from a good gate he can lead again and has every chance of making all. (2) VELOCIRAPTOR is yet to finish in the top-two in thirteen attempts, but she has had planet of near misses including a useful 5th last time over this distance. She tends to get a bit far back in her races, but she does finish strongly, and she can run into at least the placings here. (3) FLYING DIA races for the first time since a good 2nd over this distance in March when leading for much of the way. She looked well in a trial at the end of July and can be a danger first-up here. (5) LEMON BULPAE and (10) CHOICE ROAD others who can enter the calculations.

Selections(4) Beomhan Gold (2) Velociraptor (3) Flying Dia (5) Lemon Bulpae
Next Best10, 6
Fast Start3, 4, 5, 11

Busan Race 4: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(1) PISTOL STAR found himself a little overmatched when sent up to Seoul for a spin around in the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the Triple Crown on July 22nd. At the start before though he was a good winner over this distance at class 4 level and under a light weight and from a good gate, he can return to winning ways here. (8) MAN OF THE MAN comes up in trip having run a good 2nd over a mile at this level on July 16th. Tactically versatile, he is lightly raced and should still have some improvement in him. (7) EUNSEONG WINNER was one of plenty here who raced one another at class and distance on July 7th. She ran 4th that day having got a long way back and can be expected to be a bit closer today. (2) ALL CROWN and (4) HWANGU FIHGTER others in the hunt.

Selections(1) Pistol Star (8) Man Of The Man (7) Eunseong Winner (2) All Crown
Next Best4, 10
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 5

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(7) SUCCESS MOCCA raced four times around the turn of the year and showed ability, winning over this distance at class 6 level. He returns to action here for the first time since March and looked very well when winning a July trial. He should be on pace here and can go all the way. Another one returning from an absence is (10) FAST FURY. She registered three consecutive 4th place finishes at this level up until April and she too looked very well when winning a trial in double quick time in late July. She races best on pace so may need a touch of early luck from a wide draw, but she has every chance of going close. (6) ACE A MOCA comes up in class following a smart win over this distance on July 30th. She comes down slightly in the weights and can measure up in this company. (8) TITAN K and (4) UNJU GLOBAL others in the frame.

(more…)