Day: September 8, 2023

Seoul Trophy Race Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (September 9)

Saturday is the eve of the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint and there are six trophy races on the 10-race card which runs from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

Juvenile maidens in the opener, with three of the ten racing for the first time. Among those with experience, the standout is (9) EXCELLENT MATTA. Following a fair trial, he ran a solid 5th of eleven in a decent time over this distance on debut on August 12th when racing handy throughout. He should have come on for the run and with some natural improvement is the one to beat. A couple of the first timers have promise. (5) JERAQUEEN won her trial having led for much of the way. The time wasn’t fast, but she did everything she needed to do and if she brings that form to the races, she’ll go close. (4) MISS CONCORD showed handy in her heat and while a long way back behind the experienced trial winner, she held her own against the rest and can put in a bold first-up showing. Returning to the already tried ones, (6) HAKSAN MACHO and (8) BUNDANG TSUNAMI can improve from their respective debuts.

Selections(9) Excellent Matta (5) Jeraqueen (4) Miss Concord (6) Haksan Macho
Next Best8, 10
Fast Start4, 5, 8, 9

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

(1) BOREUM DALBIT will be a warm favourite here. She’s run 4th and 3rd in two starts so far, most recently over this distance on August 12th when settling back and running on well having had to overcome gate eleven. From the inside gate this time, she should be much closer to the speed, Moon Se-young climbs on, and she will take some beating. (9) FINE DAY looks the only credible danger on form. She comes in off a close 3rd place on August 13th when getting up to sit on pace. In this relatively small field, she should have enough early speed to get to a forward position again and she should be in this a long way. (6) TIZ ROCKET mixes his form but going on his close 4th two starts back and given he gets a 4kg apprentice claim, he makes for a place chance here. (4) FEDERAL PRESS and (5) CHEONGPAUI KKUM others in the hunt.

Selections(1) Boreum Dalbit (9) Fine Day (6) Tiz Rocket (4) Federal Press
Next Best5, 8
Fast Start1, 5, 6, 9

Seoul Race 3: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight B / HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB TROPHY / KRW 150 Million

(3) RAON GIANT comes in off disappointing runs in first the Korean Derby and then the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, the latter the 2000M final of the Triple Tiara. She was 4th in the Luna Stakes over a mile in April and comes back to a sprint trip for the first time in a while. She draws nicely to lead and in this shallower company the three-year-old, who still boasts a 50% win-rate, can return to winning ways. (12) COSMO is the main danger. She too came unstuck when tried in Graded Stakes company two starts back but was a super winner over this distance at class 2 level in April. She carries 5kg more than she did that day, and she has the challenge of the widest gate, but she should be in the frame here. Whenever (7) SOBERANIA gets off to a good start, she goes close, and she looks nicely in here. (1) ACHIM GISANG and (9) RAON THE ARIA, the latter up in class after an eye-catching win at 1400M last start, are among plenty of others with at least a placing chance.

Selections(3) Raon Giant (12) Cosmo (7) Soberania (1) Achim Gisang
Next Best9, 8
Fast Start3, 6, 11, 12

Seoul Race 4: Class Open (1400M) Special Weight B / MACAU JOCKEY CLUB TROPHY / KRW 150 Million

(3) RAON FOREST is only behind Triple Tiara winner Jeulgeounyeojeong in the three-year-old filly standings, having run 2nd in both the Luna Stakes and Korean Oaks and then 3rd in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup. The last time she raced at this distance, she won at it, back in March at class 4 level and down in weights and drawn very nicely, she is very much the one to beat. (7) TROTTING RILEY is ultra consistent and enters off a close 4th at class 2 level over 1200M on August 26th. He’s gone well at this distance too and should be on or close to the pace here and has a big chance of going close. (5) GLOBAL BOBAE has a 3rd and two 2nd place finishes, all over this distance since being promoted to class 2 (which is essentially the level of this race). He likes to settle back and run on, and he should be doing his best work late here. There is plenty of depth in terms of place chances with (2) QUICKLY RUN and (8) SURE WIN among them.

Selections(3) Raon Forest (7) Trotting Riley (5) Global Bobae (2) Quickly Run
Next Best8, 11
Fast Start1, 2, 7, 9

Seoul Race 5: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight B / GOLD CIRCLE TROPHY / KRW 150 Million

(4) RAON THE POINT is a perfect four for four and hasn’t been behind a horse at any point in his races so far. He has won up to class 1400M and class 4 level; this is the equivalent of class 3, and while he is set to face by far his sternest test so far and carries his fair share of weight, he can continue on his merry way today. (11) S.I. COCO has won four of his latest five, most recently at 1300M in a very quick time on August 5th. He has to contend with a wide draw, but he has overcome that before and he is a more than credible danger to Raon The Point’s record here. (8) SUPER FINISH is another on a streak having won his latest two at class 4 level, both over 1400M. He can race on pace or come from behind and he too can measure up in this company. Plenty more can enter the calculations with (10) SUN DRAGON and (5) YOUNGYOUNG SOCKS chief among those to be considered for at least the minors.

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