Day: November 25, 2023

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (November 26)

No Graded or Listed races this Sunday but still plenty to get stuck into with 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 11:50 to 16:35. Here are the previews:

Late autumn at Seoul (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener with all but one having raced at least once before. (8) YONGAM MARENGO has the fastest time among these for the distance, recorded when 3rd on October 29th when coming from well off the pace and he shapes to be a hot favourite. (10) BLACK BELT dead-heated for 3rd place on debut over 1000M in July before following up with a standalone 3rd at this distance on October 28th when coming from well off the pace. He has proven able to finish off his races well so the wide draw isn’t a problem, and he can be a danger. (12) LUCKY PARTY has raced three times and has never been worse than 4th. He was sent off as favourite on his latest over 1300M on October 22nd, leading for most of the way before ultimately coming home 3rd. He has the challenge of the widest gate here but could well be market leader again (2) GALSAEK DOJEONJA and (1) CHEONHAENGCHAT others in the frame.

Selections(8) Yongam Marengo (10) Black Belt (12) Lucky Party (2) Galsaek Dojeonja
Next Best1, 3
Fast Start1, 3, 11, 12

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

More juvenile maidens. (4) STUNNING SKY wasn’t fancied at all on debut, but nobody told him that as he pulled off a very solid runner-up finish over this distance having sat handy and then briefly led in the straight stopping the clock in a time for the distance faster than any of the others here have managed. He should have come on for the run and he can go one better today. (5) CHEONGRYANGSAN ran 3rd on debut before following up with a 2nd place at start number two over this distance three weeks ago when racing handy throughout. He should be on pace here and is a big danger. (11) DONGJIN TEUKGEUP has shown progress across three starts so far, culminating with a 3rd place at this trip on October 22nd. He came off the pace to secure that so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and he can be doing his best work late again. (1) SEONGSIN CHEONHA and (2) ROYAL BEST didn’t disgrace themselves on their respective debuts and can improve second-up.

Selections(4) Stunning Sky (5) Cheongryangsan (11) Dongjin Teukgeup (1) Seongsin Cheonha
Next Best2, 12
Fast Start2, 5, 11, 12

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Decent maiden. (9) SEOUL CHOEGANGJA has made steady progress across five starts to date, culminating in a runner-up finish over this distance on October 22nd when on pace throughout and setting a time faster than any of the others here who have tackled the distance before have achieved. He should be on the early speed again, and this time can go one better. (4) BRIGHT WINNER was a much-improved 2nd at start number six over this distance on October 28th, settling just behind the speed and running on well. He draws nicely for Jo In-kwon to be able to pick his spot, probably behind the speed again, and he can run on and threaten. (5) TAENGGEURI was 4th behind Bright Winner in that October 28th race, his best finish so far. He can settle back and run on here and can go even closer. (8) SHOUT KURO and (3) WONDERFUL WELLS among others in the hunt for the minors.

Selections(9) Seoul Choegangja (4) Bright Winner (5) Taenggeuri (8) Shout Kuro
Next Best3, 11
Fast Start1, 6, 9, 10

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Juvenile maiden fillies with nine of the twelve racing for the first time. We’ll side with one of those first-timers and (11) DRAGON PUNCH. He trialled up very well, settling behind the speed and running on well. He was nine-lengths behind Korea Sprint runner-up Beolmaui Star but there is nothing wrong with that and he had plenty in hand on the rest. Handily, the three with prior experience debuted together over this distance on October 20th. (2) RAINBOW ROAD was the best of them, coming home in 2nd place having settled midfield and run on, but he was only a head in front of (3) SAMAKUI KKOT, who came from well back for 3rd. It may be hard to split them again. Only another head behind Samakui Kkot was (1) TROUBLEMAKER, who defied big odds to run a strong 4th. All should have benefited from the racing experience. Returning to the first timers (8) SKY ROAD came through the same trial as Dragon Punch and didn’t do much wrong positing a similarly quick time.

Selections(11) Dragon Punch (2) Rainbow Road (3) Samakui Kkot (1) Troublemaker
Next Best8, 7
Fast Start5, 8, 11, 12

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (5) PERFECT TIARA has a 3rd and two 4th place finishes in three starts so far, most recently when returning from three months out over 1200M on October 15th. She has raced close to the pace in her outings so far and draws very nicely to do the same here, with every chance of winning. (3) JEONGSANG HIT started her career well but seemingly lost her way slightly across the summer, but she returned to some semblance of form when 3rd over this distance in a similar all filly maiden on October 28th. That wasn’t a quick race, but she previously posted a good time for this distance and from a good gate, she can be a contender here. (8) GLOBAL CHUKBAE did nothing on debut back in May, but she looked well when leading for most of the way in a trial earlier this month. She could well be a different proposition this time around.  (11) JERAQUEEN and (1) TAEPYEONG VISION others who could feature in the finish.

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