There are 10 races on the afternoon/evening program at Seoul on Saturday, running from 14:45 to 21:00. Here are the previews:
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 Best | 1, 10 |
| Fast Start | 6, 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 Best | 9, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 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 Best | 8, 5 |
| Fast Start | 3, 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 Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 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.
| Selections | (6) Yongbi Power (8) Jaewoo Sidae (1) Baekdu Meotjaengi (2) Ice Cream |
| Next Best | 3, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(6) TIZ INDY has been consistent across her eight starts so far, only missing the top-four on two occasions. She enters off a close 4th on what was her first try at this distance on June 24th and from a good draw she can be on or close to the pace here and she should be the one to beat. (1) STAR K had a tough time when tried around 1700M on his latest start. At the time before that, he ran a strong 3rd over today’s trip, settling right at the back and then running on, and he should appreciate the return to one-turn racing here. (4) LEGAL HIGH is another tackling the 1400M for the first time. Since getting her maiden win in February, she has been finding her feet at his level and enters off a close 4th at 1300M in June. (10) GEUMSEONG SEGYE can mix his form, but he comes in off a 2nd place at class and distance in a slow race on June 16th when he led. He may need a touch of luck early from the wide draw, but he shouldn’t be dismissed. (2) GHANA DREAM the other logical place chance.
| Selections | (6) Tiz Indy (1) Star K (4) Legal High (10) Geumseong Segye |
| Next Best | 2, 7 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) HIGH GRAND won three races in a row between February and May, the latest of which was at this class and distance. He ran 3rd on is most recent appearance on June 11th and while he does carry a full 5kg more than the mark at which he got May win under, he comes in here fresh following two months out and he can return to winning ways today. (3) DALGEUM is up in class having got her maiden win at start number nine over this distance on July 8th when racing close to the speed throughout. She comes down a full 3kg in the weights and from a good gate can sit handy and be competitive. (5) ARA CHAMP topped off recent good form with a win over this distance in an all-filly/mare race on July 15th. She comes up 3.5kg but should be on or close to the pace and can be in this a long way. (6) CHEONDUNGSEJA is up in class but significantly down in the weights and along with (10) GWANGCHIGI, is a place hope.
| Selections | (7) High Grand (3) Dalgeum (5) Ara Champ (6) Cheondungseja |
| Next Best | 10, 11 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Tricky race. We’ll take a chance on (2) ARA MOA who weakened from a prominent position on her first try at this class on July 8th over 1400M having previously run out a very good winner at tis distance at class 5 level in March. She remains nicely weighted and draws a good gate and she could return to the winner’s circle here. (5) GANGNYEOKHANJIGEUM was an on-pace class and distance winner on July 15th. He is up a full 5kg in the weights but will be expected to be at the front right from the start again and a repeat shouldn’t be ruled out. (7) CHALLENGE SOCKS comes in off back-to-back runner-up finishes at this class over 1400M. She remains very well weighted, and she should go close again. (3) TAEYANGTAGO and (9) SEONGSILGONGJUPINK among others in the placing hunt.
| Selections | (2) Ara Moa (5) Gangnyeokhanjigeum (7) Challenge Socks (3) Taeyangtago |
| Next Best | 9, 8 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
It’s been a while between drinks for (9) WINNER BLUE but his recent form reads very well with a 2nd and two 3rd place finishes from his latest three, beating a few of these in the process. He has the fastest time among these for the distance and today could very well be his day. (2) MAGIC GRACE was a smart winner over 1400M at class 4 level two starts back before running a fair 5th of eight on her first try at this class, again at 1400M, on July 15th. She comes up to two turns for the first time and from a good draw she can set the pace here and be in this a long way. (8) ROYAL ROAD comes in off a useful 3rd place over class and distance on July 2nd when he settled right back and ran on, and he should be looking to match or better that here. (10) THE QUEEN JUSTICE and (6) A. P. PATEK among others to enter the minor money calculations.
| Selections | (9) Winner Blue (2) Magic Grace (8) Royal Road (10) The Queen Justice |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(6) I’M JJANG ran out a dominant winner over 1000M on debut on July 22nd, settling handy before taking things up early and running on to score by as many as he pleased. He comes up in class and in distance today, but the Sky Mesa gelding has every chance of following up. (9) SPURT BIT also has a 100% record to defend, in his case being two for two already having twice scored at 1000M. The Tiznow entire can settle just behind the pace here and neither the increased trip nor the step up in class should be an issue. (8) BEST TORCH came up to this class on July 1st and ran a super 2nd in a quick time having raced on pace. She continues under a light weight and can be a danger again here. (2) RAON THE QUALITY was last seen in the Korean Oaks but should be more comfortable going sprinting again and along with (1) POWER VICTORY, is another who shouldn’t be dismissed.
| Selections | (6) I’m Jjang (9) Spurt Bit (8) Best Torch (2) Raon The Quality |
| Next Best | 1, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 