Month: August 2023

Seoul Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 6)

Seoul is the only racecourse hosting live racing on Sunday with a 15-race daytime program from 11:35 to 19:00. Here are the previews:

Complete Value has grown up a bit since he became Champion Juvenile in 2021. He goes in the class 1 feature at Seoul on Sunday (Pic: KRA)

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

Juvenile maidens in the opener with five of the eleven racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience and (8) MIRACLE HANGANG, who ran a solid 2nd on debut over this distance on July 2nd, leading for much of the way, only to be left behind by a good winner in the closing stages. He’ll be on pace again and has every chance of going one better. (11) MORNING BOLD is the only one in the field to have raced twice. He ran 2nd on debut in June before then finishing 3rd behind Hangang Miracle in that July 2nd race having settled handy. He has a length and a quarter to make up but shouldn’t far away again. (6) GOLDEN LINE was an on-pace 3rd in a quick race on debut on July 1st. He should get to the lead again and may take some passing. Among the first-time starters, (2) NICE TIME looks the best He went through two trials clocking similar times in both and from a nice draw can go well first-up. (4) ORAEDAHAMKKE, 4th on debut, another who can improve.

Selections(8) Miracle Hangang (11) Morning Bold (6) Golden Line (2) Nice Time
Next Best4, 10
Fast Start1, 6, 8, 11

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

Tricky maiden. (7) TESTA BLUE gets the verdict having run an improved 2nd over this distance on July 8th when settling just behind the speed and stopping the clock in a good time. Expect similar tactics today and she won’t need to improve much to win this. (9) MUNHAK CENTRAL has a couple of 4th places to her name most recently on June 18th when settling back and running on over this distance. She has run fair times so far and still has some scope for improvement. (4) WINNER JERIN ran 2nd in a trial and was then a creditable enough 5th of nine on debut on July 2nd when racing handy. He should have derived benefit from that experience and can get closer here. (11) NEMO SPIRIT and (1) MISTER STAR, the latter returning ten months after his inauspicious debut but looking much more promising in a June trial, are others to consider.

Selections(7) Testa Blue (9) Munhak Central (4) Winner Jerin (11) Nemo Spirit
Next Best1, 6
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only in this maiden. Nothing especially jumps out so without much confidence we’ll go with (9) SHOOT UP SPARK, who has at least been consistent across ten starts so far, picking up four 5th place finishes. She has run some fair times and facing weaker than usual company, she has as good a chance as any. In an indication of just how weak, (11) CLASS HEEMANG hasn’t raced since a middling debut a full fifty-six weeks ago. She may even start as favourite here though following two very positive trials on consecutive weeks in July where she finished 2nd and 3rd, both in good times. That double trialling should ensure that despite the layoff she arrives race fit, and she couldn’t hope for a softer race to return in. (7) SESANG APERUO showed on pace in her second of two starts so far and that’s enough to put her in the frame here. (3) RAON JUMP and (6) WONPYEONG LIST others who could compete for the minors.

Selections(9) Shoot Up Spark (11) Class Heemang (7) Sesang Apeuro (3) Raon Jump
Next Best6, 10
Fast Start4, 7, 9, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(2) WINNER DRAGON gets the nod here based on his last start 2nd place when he came from off the pace to get close over 1200M on June 11th. He draws well here, carries the same weight and it looks as though he has finally figured things out. (11) VELVETY has steadily improved across three starts so far culminating in a 4th place at 1200M on July 8th. She has the challenge of the widest gate but there isn’t much in the way of early speed here and with a bit of luck, she may well get a forward position and can be on this a long way. The additional half-furlong can suit. (1) ONE SPEAR and (8) FOUR ACE came home 2nd and 4th respectively when they raced each other over this distance on July 1st. The former has raced once – disappointingly – since then but comes into a better gate today and both can challenge. (5) MAGUMA another placing chance.

Selections(2) Winner Dragon (11) Velvety (1) One Spear (8) Four Ace
Next Best5, 3
Fast Start4, 8, 10, 11

Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Wide open maiden. At a potential each-way price we’re happy to take a chance on (1) GEUMA STEADY. After an ordinary debut, she was a much-improved 2nd at start number two on July 2nd when racing handy throughout, albeit beaten by a good winner. She draws nicely to do similar here and has as good a chance as any. (8) PURPLE SHINHWA began his career with three consecutive 5th place finishes before improving to 2nd when stepped up to this trip on July 8th and racing on pace. The time wasn’t quick, but he had a couple of today’s rivals behind him, and he will be expected to get to the front again. (7) JECHUK ILHO was 3rd in that July 8th race having shared the early lead with Purple Shinhwa. That was a big uptick in form, and he can maintain that momentum today. (10) BUTTER K and (6) COLITAS others firmly in the hunt in a race of many chances.

Selections(1) Geuma Steady (8) Purple Shinhwa (7) Jechuk Ilho (10) Butter K
Next Best6, 4
Fast Start1, 4, 7, 8

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Another competitive affair. (3) SAENAE KHAN has only put in one poor performance to date when badly away two starts back. He returned to form with a close 2nd in a quick time over this distance on July 1st when racing handy and he could well go one better today. (4) K N GOLDEN KING will ned a line drawn through his latest when well backed but could only managed 6th of eleven. The margins weren’t huge though and at the start prior he only went down a very narrow 2nd at class and distance. He will be on pace here and may be hard to pass. (6) PEERLESS is yet to win in seven attempts but has six top-four finishes including last time out at class and distance. She should be there or thereabouts again. (5) GEUMBIT CHEONHA and (7) SONGAM DRAGON among others in the frame.

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 5)

Seoul is the only track in operation this weekend and the two day program begins with a 15 race afternoon and evening card on Saturday with 15 races from 13:30 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

Juvenile maidens with all but two racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience and (9) ZIGGURAT who came from off the pace to run 2nd on debut on June 24th over this distance in a decent time. He should have come on for the run and with some natural improvement will take some beating. (6) RAON THE FANTA is the only newcomer who enters having won her trial. She did that on June 9th, beating a couple of these in the process when settling handy from gate ten. If she can bring that form to the races, she won’t be far away. (10) HERE I AM was slowly away in his heat but finished off pleasingly and while he draws wide, with a better start he can get close on debut. Aside from the favourite, the other one with racing experience is (3) SONGAM SKY. He only beat a couple home in a slow race on July 15th but had previously gone quicker in a trial and should strip fitter today. (1) GEUMAK EAGLE took two goes to qualify but improved significantly the second time around and if she can maintain that trajectory if development, can be considered.

Selections(9) Ziggurat (6) Raon The Fanta (10) Here I Am (3) Songam Sky
Next Best1, 11
Fast Start2, 5, 6, 9

Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imports with northern hemisphere juveniles and southern hemisphere three-year-olds. Seven of the eight have already raced, four of them facing each other in a very similar race to this on June 10th. (7) ECLIPSE TOWN came out the best of them that day settling midfield and running on for 3rd in a good time. Like the rest, he should have derived benefit from that experience and looks the one to beat here. The solitary debut-maker has claims. (8) PANORAMA KING. The Tapwrit colt comfortably won his trial settling handy early before dominating in the closing stages and stopping the clock in a fair time. (1) HERO FIGHTER was a big-priced 4th on his debut on July 8th with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. He draws the same inside gate and will be much shorter this time around. (2) KLIMT WORLD was 6th in that same race having shown close to the pace and along with (5) VICTORY HIT, the only one in the race to have appeared twice before, most recently behind Eclipse Town, are others to consider.

Selections(7) Eclipse Town (8) Panorama King (1) Hero Fighter (2) Klimt World
Next Best5, 3
Fast Start2, 5, 6, 8

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Back to juvenile maidens here with all but two having raced before although none at this distance. (5) PERFECT TIARA has raced twice, finishing 3rd and 4th at 1000M. She can race on pace here and it can be third time lucky. (11) TRAUM KING was a June trial winner before running an on-pace 4th on debut on July 8th. He may need a touch of luck from the wide draw ut he too can be on pace and can be in this a long way. (6) VINCENT CAVALLO was slowly away from the widest gat on debut on June 24th. He draws better this time, the additional trip can suit, and Kim Yong-geun climbs aboard. (4) SEONGSIL YEONGUNG and (8) SMART CLAIR among others with the potential for improvement.

Selections(5) Perfect Tiara (11) Traum King (6) Vincent Cavallo (4) Seongsil Yeongung
Next Best8, 7
Fast Start1, 5, 7, 11

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(5) LUCKY HONEY had a dodgy first couple of outings but has put together four top-four finishes on the spin including a 2nd and a 3rd in her latest two, both over this trip when racing just behind the speed. Any top -three finish here will see her into class 5 next time and today could be her day to come out on top. The penny seems to have dropped too for (9) NAOL SKY with two 3rd places and a 4th from her latest two. She has posted fair times and the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem. (7) RAON AIR FORCE was a much-improved 3rd on June 16th when for the first time he led. Expect similar tactics today and he can be in this a long way. (3) GRATITUDE and (10) WONPYEONG SKY are others in the minor money frame.

Selections(5) Lucky Honey (9) Naol Sky (7) Raon Air Force (3) Gratitude
Next Best10, 11
Fast Start3, 4, 6, 7

Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(4) SEVEN BLADE will be hot favourite here. After running 5th on debut in May, he was a close 2nd when sent up to this distance on June 25th, settling just behind the leaders and running on. In this company and from a good gate, he can be expected to be on the speed, and he will take some beating. (11) MENI SHARK has shown steady improvement across six starts so far, culminating in a runner-up finish over this distance on July 9th. She has the fastest time among any of these for the distance and she should be a factor here. (7) KARIZMA picked up significantly in his latest outing, overcoming gate ten to run 2nd. He was ridden much further forward than he had been previously, and similar tactics can be expected here. (5) GOLDEN PEARL and (3) WONDERFUL RULES the other placing chances.

Selections(4) Seven Blade (11) Meni Shark (7) Karizma (5) Golden Pearl
Next Best3, 2
Fast Start4, 5, 7, 8

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

Another race with a strong favourite, in this case (7) MADE STAR. After taking a few goes to figure things out, she has a4th and a 2nd from her latest two, at 1200M and 1300M, both times coming from off the pace. She has a strong finish on her and so long as she isn’t left with too much to do or too much traffic to get through, she should be making the breakthrough here. (11) WONDERFUL FOX is the logical danger. She has been a model of consistency with five top-three finishes from six starts so far and while she is yet to break the top-two, that should change today. Another one with a strong finish, the wide draw shouldn’t be an issue and she can be a danger in the closing stages. (2) SMART SOCKS comes in off a best so far 3rd on July 15th. She comes into a better gate today and a repeat isn’t impossible. (4) SAEBYEOK ANGAE and (8) ARCH RUNNER others in the hunt.

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