Day: March 1, 2024

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (March 3)

Sunday racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00 and at Busan with 6 from 11:25 to 16:05. There are no Listed or Graded races, but plenty of action to get stuck into nonetheless. Here are the previews:

Thomas Gillespie’s Wonderful Lear won last week’s Gyeongnam Shinmun Trophy (Pic: KRA)

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

A weak maiden to start with. (7) GOLDEN BALL has picked up in her latest two, registering back-to-back 3rd place finishes over 1200M and 1300M, coming form off the pace both times. So long as she doesn’t leave herself too much to do, she has as much chance as any here. (2) EXCELLENT TAN is the other logical winning chance. He enters off a much-improved 3rd place finish over this distance on February 3rd when settling midfield and running on well. He draws better today, and he also has the fastest time among these for the distance and will probably start as the betting favourite. (10) JEWELRY FASHION did nothing on January 28th but that was her first appearance since a solid 3rd on debut all the way back last May. She should strip fitter today. (5) SPALTA will at least be on pace and along with (1) SARYEONI FOR HONOR is a potential improver.

Selections(7) Golden Ball (2) Excellent Tan (10) Jewelry Fashion (5) Spalta
Next Best1, 6
Fast Start1, 2, 5, 10

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

Fillies only in this maiden and (7) WONDERFUL PASS will be the hot favourite. After an ordinary debut, she has recorded two 4th places from her latest two, both at 1200M and in contrasting styles. In this company she should be on pace and stepping up to 1300M for the first time, she can win. (8) GANGCHEOL YEOGEOL is yet to finish in the top-two but has no fewer than eight top-five finishes from thirteen starts. She has shown some aptitude for this distance and should be aiming for a career best finish here. The form falls off significantly after those two. (2) FLYING LION was an improved 5th last time out at 1200M coming from well off the pace and a similar run should see her closer today. (5) CAPTAIN TIME and (10) SARYEONI NIKE others in the hunt.

Selections(7) Wonderful Pass (8) Gangcheol Yeogeol (2) Flying Lion (5) Captain Time
Next Best10, 1
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 7

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

(5) SKY GRIT didn’t do much on debut early last summer but returned in December and has finished 4th twice, both at this distance and both times racing on pace. Franco gets on today and she should be on pace again and looks like the one to beat. (10) OAK RIDGE looks to be on the right trajectory too, having beaten a couple of these last time out on February 2nd when 4th at this distance. He is drawn a touch wider than ideal but should be able to get across and sit handy and can go closer. (6) KWAEHAN YEONGUNG was 6th in that February 2nd race having led for part of the way. He had previously beaten Oak Ridge and with Seo Seung-un aboard today, will have plenty of backers. (8) BLACK FALCON and (11) DANCING BOY among others in the minor money frame. 

Selections(5) Sky Grit (10) Oak Ridge (6) Kwaehan Yeongung (8) Black Falcon
Next Best11, 3
Fast Start5, 6, 10, 11

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

(5) MOMO K got his maiden win at start number three on December 23rd, making all over 1300M, before then running 4th on his first try at this level, again over 1300M, on January 27th, this time starting slow and settling back before running on. In this company, he should be on pace, and has every chance of going all the way again. (9) BELOTERO comes up in class following a maiden win over 1300M on February 3rd when settling handy and running on to score narrowly. That win had been coming and she is down in the weights here with every chance of measuring up. (1) ONE SPEAR is the only one in the field to have won at this distance already and while he can mix his form and carries his fair share of weight, he draws very nicely here and shouldn’t be dismissed. (11) SHOOTING REVERSE and (3) JANGHEUNG CLASS are the other placing contenders.

Selections(5) Momo K (9) Belotero (1) One Spear (11) Shooting Reverse
Next Best3, 10
Fast Start5, 7, 9, 10

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

(1) AWESOME SUNRISE has been knocking at the door and comes in after a 3rd and a 4th from her latest two, both over 1400M. She is somewhat one-paced but that pace could well be enough here, and the additional furlong may suit her in shaking off the rest. (7) CLOUD LOVE is yet to finish in the top-three in seventeen attempts but that should really change here. He enters following back-to-back 4th places over a mile and will probably only need to run his usual race to get on the board here. (5) FUERTE ran 6th behind Cloud Love on January 26th having run 4th on debut a month earlier. There is plenty of scope for more development here and she can be considered. (8) HEUIMANG FLYING and (4) TOKYO K other potentials for the minors.

Selections(1) Awesome Sunrise (7) Cloud Love (5) Fuerte (8) Heuimang Flying
Next Best4, 6
Fast Start1, 6, 8, 11

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

One of the most competitive races of the day. (10) UJU JEONJAENG won at start number two last April and then didn’t reappear until December when he finished down the field over 1200M. He stepped up to this distance on January 27th and ran a much-improved 2nd, coming from off the pace. Third up today, he should be peaking fitness-wise, and he can win. (7) HWASANGWIHWAN remains a maiden after eight attempts, but has four top-three finishes, including a 2nd and a 3rd at this class. He likes to run on pace, and he should be in this a long way. (2) AUSTIN LEADER comes in off a smart 4th place at class and distance on January 28th when coming from well off the pace. He carries less weight and comes into a better gate and can go close. (3) SEOUL CHOEGANGJA and (4) MANDAERO others in the frame.

Selections(10) Uju Jeonjaeng (7) Hwasangwihwan (2) Austin Leader (3) Seoul Choegangja
Next Best4, 11
Fast Start1, 3, 7, 9

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

(2) DRAGON FIRE comes up in class having won at start number two on January 28th when settling right back and coming from off the pace. He comes down in the weights, he draws well, and the additional half-furlong can suit. (1) FANTASTIC HUMOR is similarly up in class following a maiden win, in his case at start number three on January 21st when racing on pace and stopping the clock in a fast time over 1300M. He too is down in weight, draws well and can measure up at this level. (3) HOTFLEX is yet to win in eight attempts but has a runner-up finish on his record over this distance and can be a threat. (10) ANOTHER ONE and (9) ASTIN MARINE among other placing hopes.

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (March 2)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Former Singapore based jockeys Harry Kasim and CC Wong will both make their Korean debuts during the card. Here are the previews:

Nice Time won the Sports Seoul Trophy last Sunday (Pic: KRA)

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

(4) ACAPEL was well supported on debut on January 27th but started slowly from a wide gate before running into 4th. She should have come on for that run and from a better gate and with a better start, she can win. (10) BEST DAERO and (7) PROCEED weren’t especially fancied when they both debuted in the same race on January 28th, but they acquitted themselves well, coming home in 4th and 5th place respectively, with just a neck separating them. Both should have derived benefit from that experience, and it is hard to split them here. (9) MAX MA is a bit more experienced and while he has weakened after leading I his latest two, he does have a runner-up finish to his name and is not to be dismissed. (6) JEONGSANG HIT another possible for the minors.

Selections(4) Acapel (10) Best Daero (7) Proceed (9) Max Ma
Next Best6, 8
Fast Start1, 7, 9, 10

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

Weak maiden here. (3) MENI WIN comes in following a last start runner-up finish over this distance when leading for much of the way around. Without the benefit of an apprentice claim, he comes up a full 4kg in the weights, but that’s balanced by a nice draw and third-up this preparation, he may be peaking fitness-wise. (5) GLOBAL CODIE came from well off the pace to run a fair 5th at 1200M on February 3rd. In this company he will probably be ridden further forward and won’t need to improve much to go close. (10) EUNPA JOY finished midfield at this distance last time out but going on his 4th place two starts back in a quick race at 1200M, must be given a chance here. (9) MR. POWER and (7) MAGIC SILENCE others who may improve.

Selections(3) Meni Win (5) Global Codie (10) Eunpa Joy (9) Mr. Power
Next Best7, 2
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 7

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

(4) DREAM CARD has been getting closer across his three starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place over 1300M on January 27th. He has come from off the pace each time, doing his best work late, so it is possible that the additional half furlong can suit, and he can go one better. (10) VICAR NAREUMA has two 5th places and two 3rd places from four starts so far, most recently at a mile on February 3rd. He too likes to come from off the pace and he shapes as the main danger and possibly the betting favourite (he started as favourite last time out). Harry Kasim takes his first ride in Korea and while it may not be his best chance (7) BAEDARI HYANGGI comes in off a pair of 4th places from her latest two appearances and can match or better at her best. (6) TAENGGEURI and (5) GIANT M are others in the hunt.

Selections(4) Dream Card (10) Vicar Nareuma (7) Baedari Hyanggi (6) Taenggeuri
Next Best5, 3
Fast Start3, 5, 7, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies and mares only here. Since getting her maiden win, (3) RAON THE DAESE has a 2nd and two 3rd place finishes in three attempts at this class (along with an also-ran in a Listed race for juvenile fillies). She has a very smart finish on her and while she is back in trip, she draws well and could have too much. (1) GEUMAK JINJU comes in having got her maiden win in a very similar race at class and distance on February 3rd when she settled midfield and proved too strong. She comes up 3kg in the weights, but a repeat shouldn’t be ruled out. (10) BEOLGYOWISU got her maiden win at start two but finished down the field on her first try at this class on January 21st over 1300M. She got bumped at the start before being ridden up to be handy then weakening and is worth another chance today. (6) SMART BYEOL and (9) GLOBAL CHANGA among other place chances.

Selections(3) Raon The Daese (1) Geumak Jinju (10) Beolgyowisu (6) Smart Byeol
Next Best9, 5
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 9

Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) BADEN BADEN showed plenty of ability with two wins before her three-year-old campaign was cut short. She returned from nine-months out to run fairly over 1400M on January 27th and with some natural improvement from that run, has every chance here. (1) LEGEND K got his maiden win two starts back over 1200M and was then 3rd over 1300M on January 28th. He tackles a mile for the first time, but his recent running style suggests that it can suit, and he can be a danger here. (6) KWAEHYANG returned from an absence of almost five months to run a solid class and distance 3rd on February 3rd, albeit well beaten by a good winner. He should strip fitter for that run and should go close today. (5) CHALLENGE SOCKS and (4) DIA KEY among others who can enter the calculations.

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