Seoul returns to a daytime schedule on Saturday with 10 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maidens with eight of the eleven racing for the first time. The exposed form isn’t very good so we will side with debut-makers. (3) USEUNG CONCORD will be favourite. A half-brother to many winners, most notably the prolific Mirae Yeongung, he ran 2nd in a July trial, settling midfield and running on well. The time wasn’t quick, but he looked accomplished enough and with Moon Se-young up, he will be expected to win first-up here. (4) SEGWANG FIGHTER was similarly a close 2nd in his heat also having settled midfield from a wide gate. He won’t need to improve much on that to go close here. (1) GEUMSE posted a fair time in his heat and looks the best of the rest at this stage. (7) EUNPA PARTNER is another first-timer who hinted at ability in his trial while among the three who have raced already, (9) BAEDARI HYANGGI looks the most likely to improve.
| Selections | (3) Useung Concord (4) Segwang Fighter (1) Geumse (7) Eunpa Partner |
| Next Best | 9, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
The second division of the juvenile maiden although this half has just four of twelve racing for the first time. (1) RAON THE TAP ran 2nd on debut in a similar race at this distance on July 15th when he overcame gate eleven to run on well. He has a much better draw this time around and can be on pace this time and can win. That will mean overturning the form on (7) NAEGILUI WINNER, who ran 2nd in that July 15th race on what was also his debut. He led for much of the way around and will be aiming to do similar here. (5) JECHUK IHO ran close to Raon The Tap in a trial and then ran a good 2nd on debut in a quick time on July 23rd, racing on pace throughout. Like the others he should have derived benefit from that and shouldn’t be far away. Of the first timers, (8) LUCKY PARTY is the pick, having improved in the second of two trials in July. (6) SEOUL DOLPUNG, the only one to have raced twice, the best of the rest.
| Selections | (1) Raon The Tap (7) Naegilui Winner (5) Jechuk Iho (8) Lucky Party |
| Next Best | 6, 12 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million
Valuable maiden for imported juveniles (northern hemisphere) and three-year-olds (southern). We’ll take a chance on a couple of debut-makers in the shape of (11) UWANGRYUNG. The Tapwrit colt won a trial very handily at the beginning of the month leading all the way around and while the draw is a touch wider than ideal, if he brings that form to the races, he can win. (6) DREAM ISLE also goes around for the first time. He went through two trials, improving significantly in the second of them on August 4th (which may not appear on all race cards as it wasn’t a mandatory trial). Moon Se-young’s presence aboard will ensure he is well backed and with some more improvement he can be a danger. As for those with experience, (2) POWER PALIYEONG showed not to rely too much on trial performances as he was the longest shot on the board on debut on July 22nd but defied that to finish a good 2nd over 1000M. He ran through the line well and the step up in trip may suit. (10) ENDING FIRE and (4) SINUI EREUM others who may improve.
| Selections | (11) Uwangryung (6) Dream Isle (2) Power Paliyeong (10) Ending Fire |
| Next Best | 4, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
A weak maiden. (12) HAYAN TAEYANG improved to 4th at start number two all the way back in May. She hasn’t raced since but with Antonio climbing on, that’s enough for her to go on top here. She ran on in both her races so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she can win. (8) DAMJAENGI ARGO has finished 4th or 5th in five of seven starts. She has posted fair times and she should be claiming a best to date finish here. (4) YONGBICHEON managed a 3rd place two starts back over this trip when racing handy. The same apprentice who rode her that day returns so she comes in carrying just 50kg and she should be in the hunt. (6) MENI WIN and (7) ARCH CLASS others to consider in a very modest affair.
| Selections | (12) Hayan Taeyang (8) Damjaengi Argo (4) Yongbicheon (6) Meni Win |
| Next Best | 7, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(11) WINNER DRAGON is the one to beat here. His best finish was two starts back when a close 2nd over 1200M having settled back and run on and he followed that up with a fair 5th over 1300M on August 6th. He steps up to 1400M for the first time and it could well be what he needs to make the breakthrough. (6) JECHUK ILHO has a 3rd place to his name over this trip and while he could only manage 7th on his most recent start, he did finish ahead of a couple of today’s rivals. In this limited field, he shapes as the main danger. (8) CHOEGANG NICE was one of those behind Jechuk Ilho last time out. He tends to get a bit far back in his races, but he has a good finish on him and if in striking range, he can pass plenty late one. (2) SAEBYEOK BULBIT and (9) YEJIMONG others in the minor money frame.
| Selections | (11) Winner Dragon (6) Jechuk Ilho (8) Choegang Nice (2) Saebyeok Bulbit |
| Next Best | 9, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(2) EUNBIT DOLPUNG is yet to win in five attempts, but she has never finished any worse than 4th and comes in having run a good 3rd on her first attempt at this class and distance on June 24th. She comes in fresh here and comes into a better gate. She can be on pace and today can be her day. (5) P N S AI enters in good form with back-to-back 2nd places at this class over 1400M and 1700M in his latest two races. He goes best when on or close to the speed and from a good draw he can get away well and be in this a long way. (3) ARGO MUJEOK comes in in class having scored his maiden win over 1300M back in May. That win had been coming and he can measure up in this company. (4) SINUI BANJEON and (9) SEONGEUN CROWN among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (2) Eunbit Dolpung (5) P N S Ai (3) Argo Mujeok (4) Sinui Banjeon |
| Next Best | 9, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here. (3) HWANGGEUMKKOT shapes as a warm favourite. She comes in having narrowly got the worst of a very tight three-way finish at class and distance on July 23rd, finishing strongly. She draws nicely here, she only comes up marginally in the weights, and a repeat of that performance could see things go her way this time. The main danger is (1) DUSON CLASSIC. She is yet to win in twelve but has seven top-three finishes to her name. On her latest start she ran 4th having overcome a wide draw and with a much better gate here, she can go close. (11) EINSPANNER was a winner on debut before taking a few goes to find her feet at this level. She showed she’s done that with a good 4th over 1200M on July 9th and while she may need a touch of early luck from the widest gate, she can be considered here. (4) P N S GOLD and (10) GLORY K among others to keep safe.
| Selections | (3) Hwanggeumkkot (1) Duson Classic (11) Einspanner (4) P N S Gold |
| Next Best | 10, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(10) AGAPANTHUS was a class and distance winner on July 22nd settling midfield and running on to get the best of a tight finish. He comes up 3.5kg in the weights but looks to have plenty of potential for more development and he can go back-to-back here. (4) RAON THE MAN was a winner on debut on July 8th when making all over 1000M. He comes up in class and distance but is down in the weights, draws well, and he can be competitive. (6) LUCKY BOUNCE has taken a couple of attempts to get to grips with this level but enters off a solid class and distance 3rd on July 15th. Moon Se-young rode him when he got his maiden win and returns to the ride here. (3) SPEAR GOLD and (7) DANDI are among other placing chances.
| Selections | (10) Agapanthus (4) Raon The Man (6) Lucky Bounce (3) Spear Gold |
| Next Best | 7, 8 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) JEOMSUNI GO comes in having competed in all three legs of the Triple Tiara (fill Triple Crown) where she was 6th in the Lina Stakes before running 4th in both the Korean Oaks and the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup. She comes back into more amenable company here, she carries a very light weight, and it would be a surprise were she not to win. (7) RAON THE CHARLIE was a class 5 winner over 1400M two starts back before finishing midfield in a quick race on a wet track on his first try at this class and distance on July 23rd. He should have benefited for that experience, he carries a light weight, and he could be the main danger. (4) TAURUS QUEEN is another who comes out of the Tiara. She was an also-ran in the Oaks but was a creditable 6th in the Gyeonggi. She is a winner at this level already and shouldn’t be dismissed here. (6) ROCK IMPACT and (9) TITAN SOCKS others in the hunt.
| Selections | (10) Jeomsuni Go (7) Raon The Charlie (4) Taurus Queen (6) Rock Impact |
| Next Best | 9, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 10 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(3) RANUT was tried over a mile on her latest start, her first at this class, on July 16th and while she led for much of the way, she capitulated in the straight and saw her four-race winning streak come to an end. She comes back to distance at which she has run some super times and from an excellent draw, she can get an easy run to the lead and will take some beating. (8) TROTTING RILEY comes up in class following a good win over this distance on June 17th when on pace throughout. He comes down 3.5kg in the weights and he can measure up in this company. (6) RAON THE JET beat a few of these on his way to 3rd place at class and distance on July 2nd. He is under the same weight again and can aim to match that here. (1) LAST PUNCH and (7) JILJU BORN other placing chances.
| Selections | (3) Ranut (8) Trotting Riley (6) Raon The Jet (1) Last Punch |
| Next Best | 7, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 8 |
Horse Racing in Korea 