Day: February 23, 2024

Classic Trials Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (February 25)

Seoul and Busan host their Classic trials on Sunday with both the Listed Sports Seoul Trophy in the capital and the Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy on the South Coast. There are 11 races in Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 in Busan from 11:25 to 16:05. Here are the previews:

Hangang Class was champion juvenile last year and starts his 3yo campaign in Busan’s Classic trial (Pic: KRA)

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

Not the worst maiden to start with and (9) CUPID MIR will be favourite. He has made steady progress across three starts so far with his latest on January 20th being his best when an on-pace 3rd over 1300M. He should be on or close to the speed here and he can win. (12) RAON THE CLIPPER did nothing on debut last summer but was then put away for a few months. He trialled well in December and then ran a much-improved 3rd on his return over this distance on January 28th. He should strip fitter for that and can be a danger here. (3) MONEY TOUCH has shown signs of figuring things out in her latest two and should be challenging late on here. (8) GEUMAK MYEONGJANG and (4) MARU STAR others who have hinted at ability and shouldn’t be far away.

Selections(9) Cupid Mir (12) Raon The Clipper (3) Money Touch (8) Geumak Myeongjang
Next Best4, 11
Fast Start1, 4, 9, 11

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

(4) YONGAM SESANG was 2nd on debut all the way back in May of last year but didn’t re-appear again until this January 20th when he ran an on-pace 3rd over this distance. He was favourite that day but evidently needed the run and with some natural improvement, he will be the one to beat here. That will require him to overturn the form on (12) RAON THE SPRINTER. He too returned from a layoff in that January 20th race, in his case of five-months since an underwhelming debut. He won his December trial and then was a smart 2nd on his return, two-and-a-half lengths clear of Yongam Sesang. He has the challenge of the widest gate today, but he should be close. With a 2nd and a 4th over 1300M from his latest to, (10) STUNNING MONEY looks to be the logical third pick while (1) YEJIMONG and (2) CROQUIS are others who may warrant support on a place line.

Selections(4) Yongam Sesang (12) Raon The Sprinter (10) Stunning Money (1) Yejimong
Next Best2, 11
Fast Start2, 4, 7, 12

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

It took (2) GWANGYAEUIHAMSEONG a couple of goes to figure things out but on the evidence of his latest two, he is getting there. He has recorded a 3rd and a 4th over 1300M both in fast times and running through the line well. He has by far the fastest final furlong average time and the slight step up in trip can suit. (11) BIG WILD is getting there too. She has recorded back-to-back 3rd places over this distance and while the times weren’t quick, they were in much slower conditions than those experienced by the favourite. She has the challenge of a wild draw but should be a danger. (4) WONDERFUL FEVER will also be disputing favourite status. After running 3rd on debut, he was 2nd over this distance on January 26th, settling midfield and running on. Again, his times haven’t been quick, but he will be competitive here. (12) LUCKY HIT and (5) CHRYSOL HERO other place chances.

Selections(2) Gwangyaeuihamseong (11) Big Wild (4) Wonderful Fever (12) Lucky Hit
Next Best5, 8
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 11

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

(1) DAEMUL SOCKS comes in off a best to date 2nd place when stepped up to this distance on February 4th. He draws very nicely to be on the speed again and he can go one better this time.  (9) NARAOLA enters following a 5th and a 4th from his latest two, most recently beating a couple of these on January 28th on his way to posting the quickest (it’s all relative) time that any in this field has achieved for the 1400M. In this company, he should be able to get on to the pace from the start and will be in this a long way. (10) SHOUT KURO was away slowly and never a factor behind Naraola on January 28th. Prior to that though he had been in good form with a smart 3rd place over 1300M and he can be given another chance here. (4) SHARKTEN and (2) NEXTLEVEL among other minor money chances.

Selections(1) Daemul Socks (9) Naraola (10) Shout Kuro (4) Sharkten
Next Best2, 5
Fast Start1, 2, 5, 9
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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 24)

Saturday’s action is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00. There was a lot of snow in Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday and while it will probably all have melted by the time racing gets underway, there could accordingly be a very wet track surface. Here are the previews:

Plenty of snow around this week

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

Three-year-old maidens with four of the twelve racing for the first time. It is the experience that will be favoured though and chief among them is (7) GIANT STEP. After winning a trial he debuted on January 20th and came from off the pace to run a solid 4th in a decent time over 1300M. He should have come on for that run, the extra half furlong can suit, and he is the one to beat. (2) MK LEE was slowly away on debut but worked home very well to run 4th over 1200M. Moon Se-young remains aboard, and he too should appreciate the extra trip. (8) TAENG TAENG BALL. He raced handy on debut, coming home in 2nd place over 1200M. In this company he should be on or close to the pace and should be in this a long way. (11) NESSUN DORMA and (9) BEAT YEONGUNG are others who hinted at ability on debut and should show some natural improvement here. All of them tackle 1400M for the first time.

Selections(7) Giant Step (2) MK Lee (8) Taeng Taeng Ball (11) Nessun Dorma
Next Best9, 4
Fast Start4, 7, 8, 11

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

This is a very ordinary maiden with four of the twelve racing for the first time. Given the paucity of the exposed form, we’ll take a chance on newcomer (3) BARO DANAEUN. The Hansen filly only went through one trial, but she ran second in it and while the time was only fair and it was all the way back last November, she draws nicely and can put in a bold showing first-up. After a poor debut, (1) MAX WEEK has finished midfield twice in better company than this. He gets a much better draw today and should be a danger. (10) SHINE BOLT similarly improved to 5th at start number two, albeit in a very slow race on January 14th. She came from off the pace and a similar run should see her closer. (5) MO CHUISLE has the fastest time among those who have tackled the distance before – not exactly an impressive feat, but enough to put her in the numbers. She trialled up fairly at the end of last month having last raced in September. (6) HERO GOLD another who could improve.

Selections(3) Baro Danaeun (1) Max Week (10) Shine Bolt (5) Mo Chuisle
Next Best6, 11
Fast Start4, 5, 8, 10

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (8) GENERAL POWER has steadily improved across three starts so far culminating in a 3rd place over 1200M on New Year’s Eve. She has come from off the pace all three times and the additional half furlong may be what she needs to get the breakthrough. (4) STUNNING CHAMP comes in having beaten a few of these on her way to a close 4th at 1200M on January 27th. She also has a 3rd place to her name and shapes as the main danger here. (5) DIVA LAURA has raced just the once, but it was a good showing, with her finishing 2nd at 1200M in a similar race to this. The time wasn’t quick, but she should have benefitted from the experience and can go well again. (7) NATURAL SOUND and (12) RAIN STAR others to consider for the places.

Selections(8) General Power (4) Stunning Champ (5) Diva Laura (7) Natural Sound
Next Best12, 3
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 9

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

(5) CHEONGUCHAT will be a warm favourite. After a couple of ordinary showings, he has been figuring things out in his latest couple, running 2nd and 3rd at 1200M and most recently this distance on January 28th. He draws well, Moon Se-young climbs on, and today should be the day. (3) HEUNGHAENG BULPAE led on his latest on January 7th but was ungenerous in the straight to the extent he was sent back to trial despite still finishing 4th. He passed his heat in good fashion and with slightly better manners and from a great draw, he can be a danger. (2) BAEKRYONG has a 2nd place to his name over this distance which he achieved on Christmas Day when settling midfield and running on. He led in his latest start over 1400M, ultimately coming home in 5th and he should be closer here. (10) TOJONG GLORY and (4) SAENAE PARK others in the frame.

Selections(5) Cheonguchat (3) Heunghaeng Bulpae (2) Baekryong (10) Tojong Glory
Next Best4, 7
Fast Start2, 3, 7, 10

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

(4) STORM GUY got his win at 1200M last November making all and has since run 2nd and 5th in two tries at this class and distance, most recently on January 13th. He draws very nicely to lead here, Moon Se-young gets on, and he can go all the way. That will mean overturning the form on (12) LAST PITCH. He ran 3rd in that January 13th race, making light of a wide draw to close strongly. He draws even wider today but his one win came at this distance in December, and he shouldn’t be dismissed here. (1) SLAM DRAGON comes up in class having won at this distance on January 21st with a front-running effort. He comes down in the weights, he draws nicely, and he can be competitive here. (5) GLOBAL MENI and (11) GUKDAE FIGHTER also both come up in class and in distance following maiden wins on their respective latest starts and both can measure up in this company. 

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