Day: January 12, 2024

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (January 14)

There are the usual 17 races across the two tracks on Sunday although unusually, it is Busan that kicks things off. Busan hosts 8 races from 10:35 to 17:00 while Seoul has 9 races from 11:00 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Ilgan Sports Trophy winner Nut Play is in the Seoul feature and finale on Sunday (Pic: KRA)

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Unusually for a Sunday, we begin on the south coast and a maiden with six of the eleven racing for the first time. (5) SAENAE HIT is the only one to have raced three times already, and she will be favourite. Her best was her latest on December 29th when she was handy throughout and ran on for 2nd. She was well beaten by a good winner that day but won’t need to improve much to win here. The best of the first timers looks like (2) TOP LINE. She only went through the one trial, but she led for most of it, ultimately crossing the line 2nd in a fair time. She draws nicely to lead again and can be in this a long way. (10) MONSTER DRAGON also trialled fairly enough and in this kind of race can be given a chance first-up. Among the others with experience, (3) HARVEST MOON and (9) GWANGSOKMA look the most likely to improve.

Selections(5) Saenae Hit (2) Top Line (10) Monster Dragon (3) Harvest Moon
Next Best9, 11
Fast Start2, 3, 5, 9

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) DRAGON SQUARE has finished in 3rd place in both his two starts so far at 1400M and most recently at this distance, coming from off the pace both times. Third-up today, he can be peaking and Tony Castanheira’s charge is the one to beat. (8) HAMPYEONG JANGMI has shown steady improvement across six appearances to date, culminating in a 2nd place over this distance on December 2nd when on pace throughout. Expect her to be on the speed again here and she can go close. (11) TONNERRE comes into slightly softer company than he has faced in his two prior outings and that, combined with the slight step up in trip, can see him more competitive today. (3) JEONGSANG HIT and (9) GANGHAN NURI are other possibles.

Selections(5) Dragon Square (8) Hampyeong Jangmi (11) Tonnerre (3) Jeongsang Hit
Next Best9, 10
Fast Start4, 8, 9, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Tricky one. (10) LOLLY comes in having run a solid 3rd over 1400M on Christmas Eve, beating a couple of these in the process. She has proven herself a good finisher and the step up to a mile for the first time could very well suit. Four of these raced each other over this distance in a different race on Christmas Eve. (3) HERE THE QUEEN was the favourite that day but while showing handy, ultimately finished in 5th. Seo Seung-un climbs aboard today and third up this preparation, she can be peaking fitness-wise, and she will have plenty of supporters again here. The best of those in the mile race on December 24th was (2) YEONGGWANGUICLASS, who came from off the pace to run 3rd. He only comes up 1kg in the weights and he can be in the mix again. (1) MIRACULUM was 4th in that race and along with (6) LEMON DOKKI, is another to consider for the minors.

Selections(10) Lolly (3) Here The Queen (2) Yeonggwanguiclass (1) Miraculum
Next Best6, 11
Fast Start5, 8, 9, 11

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only for this maiden and (9) SHACKLE POINT will be a hot favourite. After running 3rd on debut over 1200M, she then ran 4th on a snowy day on December 16th, again at this distance. Given the running style she has displayed so far, the wide draw won’t be a problem, and she can win here. The most credible danger is (3) ASSI JANGGUN. She was the longest shot on the board for her third career start on December 16th but made a mockery of that to come from off the pace for a fast-finishing 2nd. Her time was significantly quicker than that Shackle Point recorded over the same distance on the same day (although in a very differently run race) and she can be taken seriously here. (7) LADY HANABI and (8) TIZ MORNING both hinted at ability in their respective first outings and can improve here. (1) BEATRIZ debuted almost a year ago and wasn’t seen again but did win a trial last week and is the wildcard.

Selections(9) Shackle Point (3) Assi Janggun (7) Lady Hanabi (8) Tiz Morning
Next Best1, 4
Fast Start1, 7, 9, 11

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

A small but competitive field. (7) SUCCESS BAEKPA got his maiden win at start number four on December 10th when he led for most of the way around the 1300M and ultimately won by ten-lengths. He comes up in class and slightly in distance today, but the manner of that last start win suggests there is more to come, and he goes on top again. (2) SEUNGNI TAKEN is similarly up in class following a last start maiden win. In his case, it was over this distance on December 17th when he made all and from a good draw and slightly down in the weights, he can be in this a long way again. (6) HUIMANG CANDY got her maiden win two starts back before running 2nd on her first try at this class and distance on December 8th. She is another who likes to be on pace and who can be a threat. The rest will all need a line drawn through their respective latest outings with (5) YONGSAN KEUNBYEUL and (1) QUEEN’S ROAD perhaps best placed to return to form.

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 13)

There are 11 races at Seoul on Saturday from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Seoul Racecourse was looking well in the snow earlier this week. The weekend should be dry though.

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Three-year-old fillies only in the opener and ten of the twelve are racing for the first time. We will tentatively side with experience though and (6) VIVA CHEONGSU, who came from off the pace to run a close 3rd in a decent time over this distance on December 16th. She should have come on for the run and can go one better here. The pick of the first timers is (2) BYLONG STAR. She raced handy in her trial before taking things up late on and crossing the line 1st. She draws nicely to be on pace here and should go well. (3) SOFT POWER came through the same heat and was just a head back in 2nd place and clocking the same time. She too will have supporters first up. (5) WONPYEONG NURI has raced once before, leading for much of the around on October 28th over this distance before ending up in 4th. She has had eleven weeks off since but will be in the market. (10) AWESOME CREDIT took three goes to qualify but is the next best of the newcomers.

Selections(6) Viva Cheongsu (2) Bylong Star (3) Soft Power (5) Wonpyeong Nuri
Next Best10, 9
Fast Start2, 5, 7, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

The most experienced in the race gets the verdict in this maiden and that’s (6) SEOCHEON LION. He has raced five times and is yet to finish outside of the to-five with his best being a runner-up two starts back over this distance when close to the pace throughout. He did weaken having led on his most recent appearance, but he should have too much here. There are two first-time starters and (8) P N S NALA may make for some appeal. He was on-pace in his trial, crossing the line 3rd in a fair time and if he can get a forward position here, he can be a factor. (3) MIGHTY BOM was 2nd in his trial before finishing in midfield on debut on December 10th. He should have derived benefit from the experience and can get closer this time. (4) BEAUTIFUL HWASEONG and (11) THUNDER DRAGON are others in contention for the minors.

Selections(6) Seocheon Lion (8) P N S Nala (3) Mighty Bom (4) Beautiful Hwaseong
Next Best11, 7
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 8

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Small field but it’s competitive. (8) RAON JUMP has eight top-five finishes from fourteen starts and comes in off a useful 4th place over 1300M on December 3rd when coming from well off the pace and beating a couple of today’s rivals. She tends to get a bit far back in her races but the combination of the step back up to 1400M as well as less likelihood of traffic problems with a small number of rivals may make it her day. Should she leave herself too much to do again then (6) WONDEFUL WELLS, who will be betting favourite, may oblige. She has been solid, if unspectacular across her six starts to date and in the absence of any speed in this race, should get to a more forward position than usual. The step up to 1400M can suit. (1) SUPER ONE has hinted at ability, especially when 4th of twelve two starts back. He will probably be on pace too. (3) NEXTLEVEL and (2) DANGCHAN NANGBO others who could pick up a cheque.

Selections(8) Raon Jump (6) Wonderful Wells (1) Super One (3) Nextlevel
Next Best2, 4
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 6

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Two standouts here. By virtue of a better draw, the nod goes to (3) CHAMJOEUN INYEON. She comes in off her best finish so far, when 2nd over 1200M on December 9th having raced handy throughout. From a great gate, she should be close again. (10) ACRO MARINE also has a 2nd place to his named, achieved over 1200 last October. The wide draw need not be too big an issue as he can finish off well and he should be a danger late on here. (5) GANGCHEOL YEOGEOL was 4th behind Chamjoeun Inyeon last time out. She is yet to finish in the top two but has no fewer than seven finishes between 3rd and 5th and she should be there or thereabouts again. (4) HAMPYEONG FIGHTER and (2) THORUI MANGCHI among others in the frame.

Selections(3) Chamjoeun Inyeon (10) Acro Marine (5) Gangcheol Yeogeol (4) Hampyeong Fighter
Next Best2, 9
Fast Start1, 2, 6, 9

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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