Day: March 15, 2024

Herald Business Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (March 17)

The Stayer Series gets underway at Seoul on Sunday afternoon with last year’s Korean Derby winner Global Hit set to be sent off as the favourite for the Group 3 test over 2000M. We’ll have a full preview of the big race here soon. In the meantime, here are all the previews for Sunday at Seoul (11 races from 10:35 to 18:00) and Busan (6 races from 11:25 to 16:05):

Global Hit won last year’s Derby (Pic: KRA)

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (1) PINK WIND will be the warm favourite. She has made steady progress across four starts to date, culminating in a runner-up finish over 1200M on January 27th when settling midfield and running on. She draws nicely here, the slight raise in trip can suit, and she can win. The main danger is (4) JERAQUEEN. She too has raced four times with her best being a 3rd place in a similar race to this last October. She races for the first time since a front-running 4th at the end of December and should be on pace here and in the mix for a long way. (3) TAP DIA was an improved 2nd at start number two on February 4th. It wasn’t a quick race but with some more natural improvement here, she can go close. (7) GEUMSEONG REVERE and (5) CLAIR GOLD among other placing chances.

Selections(1) Pink Wind (4) Jeraqueen (3) Tap Dia (7) Geumseong Revere
Next Best5, 10
Fast Start3, 4, 7, 8

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

Not the strongest of maidens. (1) MO CHUISLE is the only one of these to have a top-three finish on her resume, which she did at start number three last September. She then didn’t race again until February 24th when she was on pace before weakening back through the field. She should strip fitter here and from the inside gate, must have a chance. (9) DANGCHAN NANGBO was a much-improved 4th at start number ten on March 3rd when settling midfield and finishing well. Moon Se-young climbing on today means she probably starts as the betting favourite. (7) BLUE RACER has recorded the fastest time among these for the distance and that’s enough for him to go in the numbers. (3) STUNNING QUEEN and (5) BUGANGJILJU, the latter a well beaten favourite on debut who previously trialled well, others who could improve.

Selections(1) Mo Chuisle (9) Dangchan Nangbo (7) Blue Racer (3) Stunning Queen
Next Best5, 2
Fast Start1, 3, 5, 7

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Franco Da Silva had a very solid book of rides – and plenty of winners – on Friday, and he continues here on probably hot-favourite (5) EUNSEONG CHAMPION. He has shown steady improvement across his six starts and most recently beat a couple of these on his way to 2nd place when stepped up to this trip on February 16th. He’ll race on pace and won’t need to be much better to win this. (6) LOLLY is the logical second choice. She was well back behind Eunseong Champion on that February 16th race but at the start before she ran 2nd over this distance so she warrants another chance. (2) AMZAING CURLIN beat a couple of these when an improved 4th at this distance on March 3rd and comes into a better gate in this small field. (3) SEOBU CAPTAIN and (7) BLUE POINT others who could dispute the minors.

Selections(5) Eunseong Champion (6) Lolly (2) Amazing Curlin (3) Seobu Captain
Next Best7, 8
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 7

Seoul Race 3: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

After running a fair 5th on debut, (1) DRAGON BULPAE beat four of these in a similar race to this over 1400M on February 25th when overcoming gate ten to get on pace. He draws much better here and will be a short price to come out on top this time. (5) SARANG WANGJA also overcame a wide draw in that race to come home strongly and finish in 4th. The followed a 3rd place on debut at this distance in a decent time and he shapes as the main danger here. (2) SOUL BEAT was 6th in the same race, showing on pace before dropping back and then running on. That was his debut having previously won a trial and he should have derived benefit from the experience. (4) DREAM RIDGE and (3) BONGHWA STAY, the latter a trial winner last month, are others to consider for the minors.

Selections(1) Dragon Bulpae (5) Sarang Wangja (2) Soul Beat (4) Dream Ridge
Next Best3, 7
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 6

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Another short price favourite here and it’s Franco again. This time he is on (8) MONSTER DRAGON, who was a winner on debut over 1200M in January before following up with a smart 3rd place when stepped up to this class and distance on February 16th when he was on pace and beat a couple of these in the process. The Shackleford colt can lead again and this time they may not get past. (1) SEOGWI CHUKJE is yet to win in twenty-two starts but she has no fewer than nine top-three finishes. That includes her latest at class and distance on February 23rd when coming from well off the pace. She will probably find at least one too quick here, but this is the kind of race she places in. (11) BIG WILD remains a maiden but comes up in class here following two 3rd places and a 2nd, the latter being at this distance on February 25th. He comes down 3kg in the weights and his times have been quick enough to be more than competitive at this level. (5) SKY JILJU and (4) CAPTAIN CHARLIE other sin the placing frame.

Selections(8) Monster Dragon (1) Seogwi Chukje (11) Big Wild (5) Sky Jilju
Next Best4, 7
Fast Start2, 5, 8, 12

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

(8) STUNNING SKY remains a maiden, but he has three runner-up finishes from his four starts so far, including his latest which came at this class over 1200M on February 4th, when handy throughout. He comes up 3kg in the weights, but he can settle behind the speed again and the additional half-furlong could be exactly what he needs to see him home on top. (5) CHEONGUCHAT similarly remains winless but comes up in class here following too many near-misses. They include a 2nd place at this latest start over this distance on February 24th and down in the weights here, he can measure up. (6) SUNGANUI CHANCE also comes up in class, in her case having won over this distance on February 18th. She carries a light weight and can be competitive. (7) SSING SSING SSING and (4) MEOTJIN GIROK are others to keep safe.

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (March 16)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Seo Seung-un is among a number of Busan jockeys in Seoul this weekend (Pic: KRA)

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

Challenging opener with four of the eleven racing for the first time. (11) BAZOOKA BOY has raced twice and improved in the second of those to run 2nd over this distance on February 17th, coming from well off the pace. He has to contend with the widest gate but that 1400M experience can stand him in good stead and third-up he can be peaking. (3) APPLE QUEEN ran once last June and put in a decent performance over 1000M. She hasn’t been seen since, but she looked very well when racing on pace in a trial last month and can put in a bold showing first-up here. Moon Se-young partnering a first-time starter is always going to catch the eye, and (8) AMAZING ROCK is no exception. The Indie Band filly went through two trials, improving to win the second, and she should be in this a long way. (1) BEAT YEONGUNG and (2) AWESOME BRAIN are among the other contenders.

Selections(11) Bazooka Boy (3) Apple Queen (8) Amazing Rock (1) Beat Yeongung
Next Best2, 4
Fast Start2, 3, 7, 8

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

(4) SHARKTEN has shown steady progress across four starts so far, culminating in a very close runner-up finish over this distance on February 25th when as has been his style, he settled in midfield before finishing off well. He comes in under the same weight and draws the same gate and has every chance of going one better. (7) MIGHTY BOM has a 2nda and a 3rd from his latest two, most recently when tried at this distance for the first time on February 17th. Moon Se-young climbs aboard and he is sure to have plenty of support here. (11) SHADOW HUNTER came from well off the pace run 5th over 1300M at start number two on January 20th. With a better start and with the slight step up in trip, he should be going closer here. (6) SINUI UNMYEONG and (1) E.H. COCO among other placing chances.

Selections(4) Sharkten (7) Mighty Bom (11) Shadow Hunter (6) Sinui Unmyeong
Next Best1, 10
Fast Start1, 6, 9, 11

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

Two standouts here. (10) FLYING KING has made solid progress across five starts so far with his latest being his best when 2nd over 1500M on February 18th having led almost the entire way around. The draw here is not ideal but with a bit of luck he can be on pace again and this time can go one better. (7) SOLAIRE has a 3rd and two 4th place finishes from his latest three, coming from off the pace each time. He has the fastest final furlong average time among these, and shapes as the main danger. (8) INFINITE HONOR was an improved 5th at start number two over this distance on January 28th. He is another who likes to race on pace and can continue to get closer here. (11) SEOUL DOLPUNG and (2) MARUBYEOL are among others in the minor money hunt.

Selections(10) Flying King (7) Solaire (8) Infinite Honor (11) Seoul Dolpung
Next Best2, 1
Fast Start1, 6, 8, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(1) WONDERFUL WELLS was beaten into 2nd place when favourite over 1400M on January 13th, settling midfield and running on but not quite being able to get there. She comes up to two turns for the first time, she draws nicely, and today can be her day. (8) NEXTLEVEL was 3rd in that January 13th race and has since raced twice more, beating a couple of these over 1400M on her latest on February 25th. She does have experience of two-turn racing and she has every chance of going close here, probably from on the pace. (11) BLOOD MOUNTAIN looks to have the right profile for the step up in trip, having been doing his best work late in his races. He can run into some money here. (9) QUEEN ABIGAIL and (10) EVER THE CROWN are other minor money hopes.

Selections(1) Wonderful Wells (8) Nextlevel (11) Blood Mountain (9) Queen Abigail
Next Best10, 6
Fast Start1, 5, 8, 9

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

(8) MR. TROT ran out a narrow all the way winner on debut over 1200M on February 18th. He comes up in class here as well as in trip, but he is down in the weights and has every chance of maintaining his 100% record. The main danger is (1) HANGANG POWER. He enters after a smart 2nd place at this class and distance on February 17th when settling just behind the speed and running on well. He comes into a much better gate this time and can be close once more. (10) YONGBI POWER took a couple of tries to get accustomed to this level but enters off a solid 3rd and 2nd from her latest two. She is versatile as well as they were over 1200M and 1700M, and she should be handy to the speed and in this a long way. The up in class (9) SUNNY ROAD, along with (6) THEME TANSAENG are others who can be considered.

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