Spring is starting. The football season got underway last weekend and the baseball pre-season this weekend. It’s not long until the cherry blossoms come out but what really marks Spring being firmly on the agenda is the start of the Sprint Series and it duly kicks off with the Busan Ilbo Sprint (1200M KOR-G3) on Sunday afternoon. Eoma Eoma headlines the big race which is race 5 on a 6-race Sunday card at Busan which runs from 11:25 to 16:05. There are also 11 Sunday races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

(7) STAR CHANGER is the one to beat in the opener. She comes in having run 3^rd in both her latest two, both over this distance and most recently in a quick time on February 18^th when close to the pace throughout. She’ll be on the speed again here and will take some beating. (2) BUNDANG TSUNAMI has actually recorded a just as quick time for the distance as Star Changer. That came when running 4^th back last October. We need to draw a line through his latest when he had a hard time from a wide gate, and from a much better draw, he shapes as the main danger. (9) JEONGSEONG VICE will also need a line drawn through his latest, but he is the only one in the field to have a runner-up finish to his name and that’s enough to put him in the numbers here. First time starter (1) BLACK SIDAE along with (6) ALL EYES ON ME are others to consider.

Selections	(7) Star Changer (2) Bundang Tsunami (9) Jeongseong Vice (1) Black Sidae
Next Best	6, 10
Fast Start	2, 6, 7, 9

Seoul Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(3) YEONGGWANGUI WORLD got his maiden win at start number three on February 4^th when making all over this distance. He comes up in class but is slightly down in the weights, he draws nicely, and he can win again. (9) LONDON VICTORY has near identical form, winning at the third time of asking having made progress from his debut. In his case, his victory came on January 21^st over 1200M when settling handy and running on and similarly there is no reason why he can’t measure up in this company. (10) SSEULMO is yet to win in ten attempts but has six top-four finishes including a very narrow 2^nd at this class over 1200M two starts back. That was followed by a 3^rd place at this distance, and he should be there or thereabouts again. (8) HERO JEONSA and (1) KOREA GOLD other placing chances.

Selections	(3) Yeonggwangui World (9) London Victory (10) Sseulmo (8) Hero Jeonsa
Next Best	1, 11
Fast Start	2, 3, 4, 10

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

Fillies only in this maiden and while it isn’t strong that does make for plenty of chances. (12) SEOGWI STAR has hinted at ability across three starts so far and has the fastest time among those who have tackled this distance before. She has the challenge of the widest gate but with a bit of luck at the start, she can find a forward position and she can win. (4) SAVAGE GIRL has shown steady progress over her latest few including back-to-back 4^th places in her most recent appearances. She can be a touch one-paced, but she is nicely drawn to sit prominently in the field and can shake plenty off. (5) RAID HIT has a 5^th and a 4^th in tow starts so far and while her times haven’t been quick that’s enough to put her in contention here. (7) DIA GRIT and (8) ARA NURI others in the hunt.

Selections	(12) Seogwi Star (4) Savage Girl (5) Raid Hit (7) Dia Grit
Next Best	8, 2
Fast Start	3, 8, 9, 12

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

Fillies and mares only here. (7) GOLDBERG got her maiden win two starts back over 1200M racing handily before getting caught back on her first try at this level on February 3^rd, ultimately running on for 5^th. She tackles the 1400M for the first time, but given her running style it can suit, and she can spear the field here. The main danger is (5) BEOLGYO CHADOL. She was an emphatic all the way winner over 1200M on December 17^th, despite veering badly towards the stand side in the closing stages and getting sent back to trial. She didn’t run on when tried at this class for the first time on January 27^th, but evidently has talent and is worth another chance here. (10) MYUNGJINBULLPAI similarly had a very ordinary day at the office on her first try at this class on February 3^rd but had shown plenty of ability when winning over 1300M in December and should be closer today. (3) VELVETY and (4) DONGHAENG FIRST others who can enter the calculations.

Selections	(7) Goldberg (5) Beolgyo Chadol (10) Myungjunbullpai (3) Velvety
Next Best	4, 8
Fast Start	3, 5, 7, 8

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

After an indifferent debut, (3) HUNTER DRAGON stepped quickly up to a mile at start number two on February 23^rd and seemed to immediately thrive at it, running an improved 2^nd having led for most of the way. He draws nicely here and won’t need to improve much at all to win here.  (5) MOUNTAIN DADDY overcame gate ten to run 3^rd over 1300M on February 18^th at what was start number four for him. A previous effort at a mile saw him lead before going back through the field in the closing stages but he should be ready for another crack at it with a better gate and Seo Seung-un climbing on. (8) ILNYEOM SINHWA and (4) ILCHUL GOLD came home 5^th and 6^th respectively when they raced each other at class and distance on February 16^th and both should be aiming to get a bit closer this time. (7) DORAON ZETTA another in the hunt for the places.

Selections	(3) Hunter Dragon (5) Mountain Dady (8) Ilnyeom Sinhwa (4) Ilchul Gold
Next Best	7, 10
Fast Start	3, 5, 8, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) BRIGHT HANSEN is two for two having picked up two front-running wins over 1200M to come up rapidly in class. The latest of those was back on December 17^th so she comes in off a twelve-week layoff but despite that, and that it was in all-filly company, the manner of the nine-length score suggests that she has to go on top again. (10) STAR TREK was a good winner over 1300M on January 21^st when leading all the way. He comes up in class but is down in the weights and should be able to measure up. Another up and comer is (8) CITY KING. He didn’t win at class 5 but comes up following a 3^rd and a 2^nd place, both at this distance in fair times. He comes down significantly in the weights and should be challenging on the speed here. As for the more experienced ones, (11) TEN BAGGER is rarely far away and Moon Se-young climbing on will tempt plenty. (4) RAON THE CHARLIE another in the frame.

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