Both Seoul (11 races from 10:35) and Busan (6 races from 11:50 to 16:35) host Sunday cards. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
A small field of juvenile maidens with all but one having raced before. (5) ORAEDAHAMKKE ran 4th on debut in June before improving to a close 2nd on August 6th when racing handy throughout. Both of those races were over 1000M and the step up can suit and he looks the one to beat. (7) SEONGSIL YEONGUNG and (6) LEGENDSUN came home 3rd and 4th respectively with little between them when they raced one another at this distance on August 5th. For Seongsil Yeongung it was an improved performance at start number two while Legendsun was making his debut. Both look set for further improvement and can go close here. The solitary debut maker (1) MAGIC PLEASURE won his trial and while it was a very slow time, he did what he needed to. He can go well first up. (2) SINUI UNMYEONG another who can improve from his debut.
| Selections | (5) Oraedahamkke (7) Seongsil Yeongung (6) Legendsun (1) Magic Pleasure |
| Next Best | 2, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 6 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(8) BUTTER K has made steady progress across four starts so far, including a close 3rd place at this distance last time out on August 6th. In the process, he recorded the fastest time of any of these for the distance, and today can be his day. (2) PURPLE SHINHWA was behind Butter K in that race on August 6th, but he does have a runner-up finish to his name over this distance. He goes best on pace so he draws very nicely, and Moon Se-young’s presence will encourage plenty. (5) ONE SPEAR ran a fair 3rd over this distance on August 20th. He tends to get quite far back in his races, but he should be competitive here. The form drops off precipitously after those three with (4) GEOMOON and (7) CATS WOMAN perhaps the most likely of the rest to improve.
| Selections | (8) Butter K (2) Purple Shinhwa (5) One Spear (4) Geomoon |
| Next Best | 7, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 6 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Tricky maiden. (11) SSING SSING SSING enters having posted the fastest time among these for the distance when 4th on August 5th with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. Third-up this preparation, he should be peaking fitness wise, and he can win. He does draw a touch wide though and that may open the door for (8) LUCKY HONEY. She was 5th in that August 5th race but that followed a 2nd and a 3rd in her previous two. She is another who will probably be a shorter price than she should be because of Moon Se-young being aboard, but she should go close. (1) WONPYEONG LIST was an improved 2nd at start number three on August 6th when racing on the pace for the first time. From a good draw, expect similar tactics today and she should be a big chance. (9) LAFEYETTE and (3) K N START the latter for whom it is a fresh start nine months after his debut, are others who can enter the calculations.
| Selections | (11) Ssing Ssing Ssing (8) Lucky Honey (1) Wonpyeong List (9) Lafeyette |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Fillies only in this maiden. (8) PURE DANCE gets the nod following an encouraging debut on July 30th when after a slightly sluggish start, she ran on pleasingly for 5th over 1000M. Like all those here racing for the second time, she should have derived benefit from the experience and the extended trip should be in her favour. (10) MY MELODY also ran 5th on her debut at 1000M on July 23rd, in her case having jumped well and settled on the speed. She faces the challenge of the wide draw here but should be showing some development. (3) TODAY QUEEN was an improved 2nd at start number three over 1200M on July 29th. She raced on pace that day and will be expected to do similar here with another place a strong possibility. (4) B.K. ZENA and (7) PERFECT ACTION others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (8) Pure Dance (10) My Melody (3) Today Queen (4) B.K. Zena |
| Next Best | 7, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 7, 10 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(3) SIDAEUI MYEONGJAK remains a maiden following seven attempts, but he looks set to be a hot favourite here. He got promoted to this level with back-to-back runner-up finishes in June and July and then ran a close 3rd on his first try at class 5 on August 6th when always racing handily over this distance. He draws well here and should prove too good. (2) FLYING CARAVANE comes up in class following a maiden win on debut over 1000M on July 23rd when settling midfield and running on. He comes down in the weights and can be measuring up in this company. (8) DALMAJI was 3rd at this class over 1300M on July 1st. The same apprentice claims 4kg once more and he can be competitive. (5) MR QUALITY and (6) WONDERFUL JOY others in the minor money hunt.
| Selections | (3) Sidaeui Myeongjak (2) Flying Caravane (8) Dalmaji (5) Mr Quality |
| Next Best | 6, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Competitive maiden. We’ll take a chance on (3) DOCTOR LEO. He debuted at 1300M on August 11th and having settled back, he ran on promisingly for 2nd. The time wasn’t quick, but he looks to have plenty of potential for development; he should strip fitter for the run and the experience, and he can go one better. (12) FLYING DIA unseated her jockey as the gates opened on a scheduled start on August 18th and made her own way home. That would have been her first race since March when 2nd at 1300M and she was well-fancied having performed well in a trial. She will be well-fancied here too. (8) FIRE MAGIC started to run on far too late on debut over 1200M on July 29th. He should be better for the experience and the additional trip can suit. (4) MOST RAPID and (9) HANEUL BULPAE among other placing chances.
| Selections | (3) Doctor Leo (12) Flying Dia (8) Fire Magic (4) Most Rapid |
| Next Best | 9, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 12 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies only and (2) HONOR ROSE will be the warm favourite. She got her maiden win in April at 1200M and after almost four months off, she returned on August 13th to run an on-pace 3rd at this class and distance. She should strip fitter for the run, she draws well, and she may take some beating. (3) GRACE K comes up in class having secured her maiden win at start number four, making all over this distance on July 22nd. This is tougher but she is well drawn to lead again, and a repeat isn’t impossible. (8) CHADOL RUN has plenty of experience at this level and enters with consistent recent form. She is another who likes to be on or close to the pace and she should be in this a long way. (5) GLOBAL PRIME and (6) FOUR ACE others to keep safe.
| Selections | (2) Honor Rose (3) Grace K (8) Chadol Run (5) Global Prime |
| Next Best | 6, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(8) NAMHAE MISO came from off the pace to run a very close 2nd at this class over 1300M on July 30th. She has mixed form at 1400M but should be ready for another crack and she won’t need to improve much to win here. (2) SAMBA STEP comes up in class and in trip having got her maiden win over 1300M on July 16th. She draws very nicely here to get to the front again and she could provide some interest at potentially an each-way price. (6) FIRST PARK enters off a useful runner-up finish over class and distance on August 11th when settling midfield and running on. She comes up slightly in the weights but should be in the finish again. (3) SANGSANGGEUISANG, beaten by Namhae Miso last time, along with (1) LET IT GO are among others in the frame.
| Selections | (8) Namhae Miso (2) Samba Step (6) First Park (3) Sangsanggeuisang |
| Next Best | 1, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(10) META BLADE will be the hot favourite. She returns to shallower waters following creditable runs in the Korean Oaks and the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, the final two legs of the Triple Tiara, scoring an excellent 5th in the latter over 2000M. This is a much more amenable assignment, and she should win. (6) MACALLAN was a front-running winner on debut over 1300M on August 6th. He comes up in class and slightly in trip today but can has plenty of scope for more development and can put in a bold showing again. (2) GEUMBIT CHEONHA has finished no worse than 4th in three tries at this class including a runner-up finish at this distance in June. From a good draw, he can sit on pace or handy and can be in the finish. (1) SATURDAY and (3) DAEBAK STAR among plenty of others with placing chances.
| Selections | (10) Meta Blade (6) Macallan (2) Geumbit Cheonha (1) Saturday |
| Next Best | 3, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(5) GOLD ROSE ran out an emphatic winner in a quick time over this distance on August 13th. She comes up in class today, but the manner of that win suggests there can be more to come, and she is hard to oppose here. (8) HONOR CAL had a poor day at the office when well supported on August 11th, showing on pace, and then weakening. She was though first-up that day following six months out and has previously gone well at this distance. She can be given another chance today. (10) GRAPHENE RAP WORLD is a class and distance winner and enters following back-to-back 4th places, most recently at this distance. She has the fastest time of any of these for the distance and can be considered here. (2) OK STAR and (1) DOCTOR CUCKOO will both need their latest forgiven but are capable of solid efforts on their day.
| Selections | (5) Gold Rose (8) Honor Cal (10) Graphene Rap World (2) OK Star |
| Next Best | 1, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) TES GO DAEBO has been ultra consistent, never finishing any worse than 6th from eleven starts. He comes in following two solid efforts over 1700M at this class, both times having to overcome wide gates. He draws fairly this time and comes back to a mile for the first time. Expect him to be ridden a touch further forward today, and he can win. (9) SERVE ACE has plenty of experience at this level and enters following a smart 2nd over 1400M on July 15th. She likes to settle back and run on, and she can dispute the finish here. (8) NONSTOP THUNDER comes up in trip having run a fair 5th of ten in a quick time over 1300M on her first try at this class three weeks ago and she can be dangerous here. (5) HWANGWOO CHOEGANG and (2) NINE EYE others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (6) Tes Go Daebo (9) Serve Ace (8) Nonstop Thunder (5) Hwangwoo Choegang |
| Next Best | 2, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Competitive race. (3) GREAT CAPTAIN returned from three months out to run 2nd at this class over 1400M on July 2nd having been slowly away and settling back and then running on strongly. He won on his only previous try at this distance and from a good gate and under a fair weight, he can win again. (2) CHAMP GO finds himself up in class here following a win and a runner-up finish in his latest two, both over 1800M at class 4 level. He comes down a full 5kg in the weighs and into a nice gate and he could go close here. (6) DOCTOR OSCAR comes off the Triple Tiara trail where she was a disappointing run in the Luna Stakes was followed by a creditable 5th in the Korean Oaks at 1800M and 7th in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup over 2000M. Back in more amenable company today, she should get closer. (8) HAENAM HAMMER and (9) SEOBU TEUKGEUP among other placing hopes.
| Selections | (3) Great Captain (2) Champ Go (6) Doctor Oscar (8) Haenam Hammer |
| Next Best | 9, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) GLOBAL POWER has just the one win from twelve starts but no fewer than ten top-four finishes, five of them being as runner-up. That includes both his latest starts at class and distance when he has settled midfield and run on. He does come up 3kg in the weights, but today’s opposition is not strong, and he should score win number two. If he does manage to find one too quick again, it may be (10) NEW ZEALAND SOCKS. The imported filly has raced just three times, but she has shown improvement in each of them, most recently when 4th in a good time over 1000M. The step up in trip can suit. (4) GO GO STAR was 4th behind Global Power when they met at class and distance on August 5th. She is a class and distance winner and warrants respect. (8) GANGHAN QUEEN and (9) MIGHTY KICK are among others with placing chances.
| Selections | (7) Global Power (10) New Zealand Socks (4) Go Go Star (8) Ganghan Queen |
| Next Best | 9, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 6: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Last year’s champion juvenile, (10) SPEED YOUNG finished midfield in the first two legs of this year’s Triple Crown before running 2nd to stablemate Global Hit in the final leg, the Minister’s Cup over 2000M at Seoul in July. He makes his class 2 bow here under a light weight and he is favoured to return to winning ways for the first time since March. Last year’s Triple Tiara winner (2) GOLDEN POWER was a class and distance winner two starts back before beating plenty of these on her way to 3rd place, gain at class and distance, on August 13th, when settling back and running on. She is a danger here. (5) B.J. CHIEF comes up in class following back-to-back wins at this distance. This is a sterner test, but he comes down in the weights and has run competitive times. His stablemate (11) CLEAR is another in the frame, along with (4) DAEJI CHOICE.
| Selections | (10) Speed Young (2) Golden Power (5) B.J. Chief (11) Clear |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) SINHAN TEUKSEONG ran out a good winner at class and distance on August 5th, racing handy and running on for a narrow score in a good time. She only comes up 1kg, she draws nicely, and she can win again. (6) RAON THE HIGHMAN was a winner at this class over 1200M two starts back before following up with a good 2nd on July 16th. He has raced well at today’s trip too and in this company can be expected to be on pace and to be in this a long way. It took (8) HANGANG HERO eighteen starts to get her maiden win, but she followed it up with a smart 2nd place on her first try at this level on August 6th. She is nicely weighted, and she can go close again. (3) HIDDEN BLADE similarly doesn’t win out of turn and has mixed her form of late but looks very nicely in here and shouldn’t be dismissed. (10) BLACK GUN another who can enter the placing equation.
| Selections | (1) Sinhan Teukseong (6) Raon The Highman (8) Hangang Hero (3) Hidden Blade |
| Next Best | 10, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
It’s hard to go past (10) WONDERFUL SLEW. She comes in having run 3rd in the Korean Oaks and then 2nd in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, the final two legs of the Triple Tiara and enters the regular class 3 ranks looking a cut above. She is nicely weighted; the wide draw should pose no issues and it would be a surprise were she to be beaten. (4) UPTOWN WHIZ was given a spin around in the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the Triple Crown, and while that proved too hard an ask, he entered it having won three on the spin. He too is well in at the weights here and should return to competitiveness. (6) WORLD RACER enters off a close runner-up finish at class and distance on July 9th and should be in the mix again. (5) THE REAPER and (1) SAENAE TOWN, the latter racing for the first time since running 11th in the Korean Derby, among others in the money hunt.
| Selections | (10) Wonderful Slew (4) Uptown Whiz (6) World Racer (5) The Reaper |
| Next Best | 1, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 7 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(2) GIANT INDY saw a run of three straight wins come to an end when tried in the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the Triple Crown, in July. He is racing out of class here but has tons of talent and under a tiny weight and from a good gate, this shy at the class 2 stumps may well pay off. Speaking of shies at stumps, (10) LOVELY K did exactly that when tried at class 1 over 2300M in July and it worked, as she ran a good 2nd. Coming back into class 2 means a big weight rise but she has plenty of ability and while she has the challenge of the wide gate, she can be a danger. (6) ROYAL ELVIS enters in consistent form and was a solid 4th from the widest gate on his first class 2 attempt at a mile last time out. He can go close. (1) HWANGGEUM LUCKY and (8) ASPEN TAEYANG others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (2) Giant Indy (10) Lovely K (6) Royal Elvis (1) Hwanggeum Lucky |
| Next Best | 8, 4 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 8, 9 |
Horse Racing in Korea 