Day: February 16, 2024

Segye Ilbo Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (February 18)

The 2024 Stakes program gets underway on Sunday as the long road to the Korea Sprint starts with the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy at Seoul. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 11:25 to 16:05. Here are the previews:

Daehan Jilju (Pic: Ross Holburt/KRA)

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

(8) STUNNING FLATTER didn’t catch the eye in trials but instead saved it for races, running a good 3rd on debut on January 7th over this distance, settling back and running on. He should have derived benefit from that experience and with some natural improvement, he is the one to beat here. (12) STAR CHANGER has made progress across four starts so far and enters off a close 3rd place in a slow race over this distance on January 14th. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she can get closer this time. (4) SOLAIRE has a 3rd and a 4th from his latest two, both at 1300M. He has the best finish on him among these and can be a danger late. (10) BLUE RACER and debut-maker (3) MR. TROT others who may feature.

Selections(8) Stunning Flatter (12) Star Changer (4) Solaire (10) Blue Racer
Next Best3, 7
Fast Start3, 7, 10, 12

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(4) CHEONMA BULPAE comes in having beaten a couple of these on his way to a to date best finish of 3rd over this distance on January 21st when racing handy throughout. He is under the same weight today and comes out of the same gate and with Breux climbing up, he can make the breakthrough. (5) FLYING KING has been getting steadily better across four starts, culminating in 3rd place last time over 1300M. He comes up to the 1400M for the first time today and should be on pace and in this a long way. (1) BLOOD MOUNTAIN was 4th behind Cheonma Bulpae in that January 21st race, coming from off the pace. That was his best finish so far and he should be there or thereabouts again. (6) CRAZE CHANG and (12) TONNERRE others in at least the placing frame.

Selections(4) Cheonma Bulpae (5) Flying King (1) Blood Mountain (6) Craze Chang
Next Best12, 7
Fast Start5, 7, 9, 12

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

Three first-time starters in this field and we’ll take a chance on one of them (1) THE GREY MAN ran 2nd in a quick trial two weeks ago, running on pace. He draws nicely to be on pace and the apprentice engaged means both a light weight and probably a slightly better price than otherwise. (9) WORLD MAID CAT will probably jump as the favourite. She came from well off the pace to run 2nd over this distance on debut on January 12th with a couple of today’s opponents behind her. She should have come on for that run and can be a big danger late on here. (6) YEONGGWANGUI ROSE ran 4th behind World Maid Cat in that race having led for much of the way. She should be on pace, and she too should show some natural improvement. (4) MR.KEYMAN and (12) MASTER ROAD are others who have hinted at ability and can be considered.

Selections(1) The Grey Man (9) World Maid Cat (6) Yeonggwangui Rose (4) Mr.Keyman
Next Best12, 10
Fast Start3, 6, 8, 12

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Weak maiden here. (4) ASSI JANGGUN has a 2nd place to her name over 1200M in a decent time back in December when coming from off the pace. She wasn’t completely horrible when 6th on her return on January 14th and won’t need much improvement to win this. (5) YEONGWON POTEN overcame a wide draw and a slow start to run on for a midfield finish on debut on January 6th. With a bit more experience, a better draw and hopefully, a better start, she can get much closer here. (3) GALSAEK DOJEONJA has a 3rd place to his name over the distance and while he has been ordinary in two subsequent starts, that’s enough to put him in contention in this company. (2) AWESOME BRAIN did nothing on debut on New Year’s Eve but has since been back to trial and looked better. (6) FEDERAL PRESS another who may improve.

Selections(4) Assi Janggun (5) Yeongwon Poten (3) Galsaek Dojeonja (2) Awesome Brain
Next Best6, 11
Fast Start3, 8, 9, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

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Seoul Saturday – Wonderful Slew v Nut Play: Race-By-Race Preview (February 17)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00 and it features the first real heavyweight clash of the season as promising four-year-old colt Nut Play faces filly Wonderful Slew in the class 1 finale. Here are the previews:

Nut Play (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Three-year-old maidens in the opener with all tackling the 1400M for the first time. Of two debut-makers. (7) MIGHTY BOM was an improved 2nd at start number two on January 13th over 1200M, settling midfield and running on but unable to get to the winner. Third-up he can be peaking fitness-wise, and the step up in trip should suit. Debut-maker (10) GLOBAL GUNJU won a trial, racing handy throughout and finishing off well. In this limited company, he has to be given a chance first-up. (6) SPACE RUBY came from well off the pace to run 3rd on debut over 1200M. She should have come on for the run and she may well appreciate the additional furlong here. (11) SEGWANG JILJU and (3) ÉCLAIR POWER among others with the potential to improve.

Selections(7) Mighty Bom (10) Global Gunju (6) Space Ruby (11) Segwang Jilju
Next Best3, 1
Fast Start1, 2, 10, 11

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (8) CHANIGO has raced three times and was an improved 2nd in the latest of those, over this distance on January 21st when on pace throughout and stopping the clock in a good time. She can be on the speed here and this time can go one better. It’s a competitive race though. (11) MAGIC IMPACT looks a good debut-maker. She got quicker over the course of three trials, winning the latest at the start of this month in a good time and racing on pace. The draw does her no favours, but she can put in a bold showing first-up. (2) THUNDER STORM came from off the pace to run 4th on debut. She gets a better draw here and with some natural improvement can get closer. (9) LADY HANABI and (5) HERO JILJU others with claims for improvement.

Selections(8) Chanigo (11) Magic Impact (2) Thunder Storm (9) Lady Hanabi
Next Best5, 10
Fast Start5, 6, 7, 9

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(3) JEONGSEONGTIGER has improved across four starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place over 1200M on Christmas Eve when, as has been her style, she raced handy throughout. She draws nicely here, the slight step up in trip can suit, and she can go one better. The big danger is (1) PASALUBONG. He also has a runner-up finish to his name and comes in off back-to-back 4th place finishes over this distance. He likes to race on pace, so he gets a great draw to be on speed and he could well lead all the way. It would be a surprise if those two don’t fill out the quinella as the rest of the form is very patchy. (6) BEAUTIFUL HWASEONG has hinted at ability, while (2) TURN TABLE and (4) GRATITUDE look to be others with the most chance of challenging for the minors.

Selections(3) Jeongseongtiger (1) Pasalubong (6) Beautiful Hwaseong (2) Turn Table
Next Best4, 9
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(9) SEOBU TEUKSONG obliged as favourite at start number two over 1200M on January 6th, settling handy and running on. She comes up in class and in distance here, but she carries a nice light weight, and she could repeat. (4) HAKSAN MACHO is yet to win in seven attempts but has plenty of near-misses and was 4th on his first try at this class over 1300M on January 21st. He can race on pace or from the back and he can be a danger here. (5) VIVA CHEONGSU is also yet to win but comes up in class having run 2nd in both her first two races over 1200M She has been doing her best work late on so the step up to 1400M may well suit and she comes in under a light weight. (8) BEAT RACER and (10) HANGANG POWER, who is back in trip and has been back to trial since his latest effort, are among others to consider for the places.

Selections(9) Seobu Teuksong (4) Haksan Macho (5) Viva Cheongsu (8) Beat Racer
Next Best10, 6
Fast Start1, 6, 7, 9

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

Small but competitive field. (2) LEGENDSUN was thought highly enough of to be given his chance in a Listed race for juveniles last autumn. That didn’t go well, but he has more than held his own at this class with back-to-back 3rd places at this distance and while he carries his fair share of weight here, he will surely be in the finish again (9) DONGJIN BULPAE was a winner at start number two over this distance on January 20th when he began fairly before being ridden to the pace and ran on to score well in a time considerably quicker than any of the others here have achieved. He comes up in class today but won’t need to improve much on that to win this. (6) BEOLGYO VERITAS was a convincing winner on debut over 1200M before running a close 4th on his first try at this class and distance on January 6th. He will be on pace here and has every chance of going all the way. The wildcard is (8) GHOST WOLF, who won her only start to date all the way back in July 2022. She offered few clues in her December trial but is worth keeping an eye on. (5) ARCH RUNNER among plenty of others with claims.

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