Day: March 22, 2024

Donga Ilbo Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (March 24)

Sunday sees the start of the Queens Tour Spring & Summer Series with the Donga Ilbo Trophy (1800M KOR-Listed) for fillies and mares at Seoul. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10.35 to 18.00, plus 6 at Busan from 11.25 to 16.05. Here are the previews:

Can Wonderful Slew defeat Jeulgeounyeojeong in the Donga Ilbo? (Pic: KRA)

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

Two standouts in this maiden and their form is almost identical. (4) BEST WHIZ has steadily improved across three starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place over this distance on January 7th when racing on pace. He comes in fresh after eleven weeks out and from a good draw, should be on the speed again and can win. (10) SPINNING BOOM has steadily improved across three starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place over this distance on February 3rd when racing handy throughout. The draw isn’t ideal, but he has a strong finish and should be a big danger. (5) LOVE O MINE ran 3rd on debut in an all-filly maiden at this trip on January 27th, settling back but running on well. She should have derived benefit from that experience and can go well again. (3) BEAUTYWONDERFUL along with debut-maker (7) SONGDANGMANGCHI are others in the hunt.

Selections(4) Best Whiz (10) Spinning Boom (5) Love O Mine (3) Beautywonderful
Next Best7, 9
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 9

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

It’s hard to go past (1) RAON THE CLIPPER here. After an inauspicious debut last September, he didn’t race again until January when, freshly gelded, he proceeded to post a 3rd and a 2nd, most recently on February 25th over this distance when racing on pace. He draws very well here and third-up this preparation, it should be his day. It isn’t a strong set of opponents. (11) BEAUTIFUL HWASEONG is the only other one for whom a winning case can be made and that’s based on his last start 4th over 1300M when coming from well back. CC in the saddle is a plus. (2) MONEY TOUCH does have a 3rd place to his name and that is enough to get him into the numbers here. (7) SINUI BLUE and (9) HAKSAN DAESE other possibles for the minors.

Selections(1) Raon The Clipper (11) Beautiful Hwaseong (2) Money Touch (7) Sinui Blue
Next Best9, 10
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 4

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

(12) BUSAN TODAY sounds like the title of a provincial newspaper, and she could make the headlines here. There was six months between her first start and her second start, that latter one coming on February 18th over 1200M when she showed on pace before finishing in 4th.  She should strip fitter here and can overcome the wide draw. The main danger is drawn only one gate inside. (11) YEONGGWANGUIFIRST was 2nd on debut over 1000M last September and then followed up with a pair of 4th places, both over 1300M. He doesn’t need to lead so the draw shouldn’t be a problem, and he has a strong finish. (5) DREAM TREE is the solitary debut-maker, and this is a nice race to start off in. She came from off the pace to run 5th in her trial in a fair time and the 1300M may suit first up. (2) OAK RIDGE and (7) PUREUN YEOLJEONG other minor chances.

Selections(12) Busan Today (11) Yeonggwanguifirst (5) Dream Tree (2) Oak Ridge
Next Best7, 6
Fast Start2, 6, 7, 12

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

(5) THE GIANT comes in off a much-improved 2nd place at start number five over 1300M when for the first time, he led, and only got narrowly taken down in the final strides. From a good draw, expect similar tactics today and while he is slightly up in trip, he can go one better. (4) BREEDO KING STAR is the main danger. He debuted fairly but without distinction last June and then didn’t reappear again until February 24th. Newly gelded, he made a positive return, finishing 3rd over this trip and he should strip fitter here and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was sent off as the betting favourite. (8) TRES VITE is yet to finish in the top-three in eighteen starts but he has picked up plenty of minor money – seven times in 4th or 5th – and in this company, he can aim for a to-date best. (2) LONDON GOLD and (7) JECHUK ILHO are the other placing chances.

Selections(5) The Giant (4) Breedo King Star (8) Tres Vite (2) London Gold
Next Best7, 6
Fast Start4, 5, 7, 10

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

(4) MORPHEUS will be a strong favourite here. He has mixed his form a little across his five outings but comes in off a strong 4th place over 1400M when overcoming a wide draw to lead for much of the way. The step up to a mile can suit, he comes into a better gate, and he may take some beating. (1) NANGMAN DAERO too dealt well with a wide draw when 4th over this distance on February 23rd. He comes up 2kg in the weights, but that’s balanced by the inside this time and he can go close. (7) UNJU LEGEND came from off the pace to run 3rd at a mile, also on February 23rd. She makes just her fourth start here and looks to have scope for more progress. (6) LUCKY HIT and (2) BABEL DREAMY are others in the placing hunt.

Selections(4) Morpheus (1) Nangman Daero (7) Unju Legend (6) Lucky Hit
Next Best2, 8
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 9

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

(11) GIANT M took a couple of goes to figure things out but he got his maiden win at the fourth time of asking over this distance on March 2nd when making all. He come sup in class here and has the challenge of the outside gate, but he looks to have more progress in him, and he has a chance here. (4) ACRO MARINE was a winner two starts back at 1300M before running 2nd over that same trip on his first try at this level on February 24th. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights as well as coming up slightly in trip but he should be equal to both challenges. (1) STORM GUY will need a line drawn through his latest when favourite at class and distance on February 24th bit fading badly late. His previous form was good though and Moon Se-young stays loyal so we shall too. (5) HANGANG GLORY and (10) MUJANG among other placing hopes.

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (March 23)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00. It is the last daytime Saturday meeting until late April as for the next four weeks, Saturday (as well as Fridays) will run on an afternoon and evening schedule. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Maidens in the opener and there’s not much reason to go past (1) BREEDO THUNDER. After a decent trial, she ran a close 2nd on debut over 1200M on December 30th, settling handy and running on pleasingly. She has had twelve weeks off since then so comes in fresh and won’t need to improve much to win this. The one concern would be (6) SOFT POWER. She was an improved 3rd at start number two on February 17th coming from off the pace over 1200M. Her times haven’t been quick but the step up in trip may well suit. (7) AMAZING STAR debuted in that February 17th race and ran a fair 4th. She is the only one in this field to have shown anything resembling gate speed so should get an easy lead. The three first timers don’t make for much appeal so (3) ECO FORE and (9) SEGWANG JILJU are others who may improve.

Selections(1) Breedo Thunder (6) Soft Power (7) Amazing Star (3) Eco Fore
Next Best9, 10
Fast Start1, 5, 6, 7

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

Fillies only in this maiden and this time we will go with a debut-maker. (3) UASEN trialled up competently at the end of last month, showing handily and running through the line well. She draws nicely and if she brings that form to the races, she can win first-up. (5) ROYAL PLUS has improved across three starts so far most recently when 3rd at this distance on February 3rd. She should be on pace here and can be in it a long way. (2) MODERN DANCE was slow away on debut on Christmas Day but ran on well for 4th place over this distance. She finally comes back for another go here and from a good gate and with a better start, she can go close.  (11) YEONGWON POTEN and (7) BIG BRIDGE the other placing chances.

Selections(3) Uasen (5) Royal Plus (2) Modern Dance (11) Yeongwon Poten
Next Best7, 4
Fast Start1, 3, 5, 7

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

Not a very strong maiden. (8) SUNSHINE QUEEN will be favourite, based purely on her last start when she was a much-improved 2nd over this distance having done nothing in her first three runs. She raced handy and ran on well and won’t need to be much better to win this. (6) YEJIMONG comes in off back-to-back 4th place finishes over 1300M. She settles back and works home well and should be in the mix again in this limited company. (3) TOJONG GLORY has the fastest time among these for the distance, recorded when 3rd two starts back. She can leave herself too much to do but can be threat at the business end of the race again. (7) ANYANG TSUNAMI and (11) NONSTOP YEOLCHA other placing hopes.

Selections(8) Sunshine Queen (6) Yejimong (3) Tojong Glory (7) Anyang Tsunami
Next Best11, 4
Fast Start1, 2, 7, 8

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

With a 3rd and then a very close 2nd in two starts so far, both at this distance, and both times coming from off the pace and finishing strongly, (9) STUNNING FLATTER will be hot favourite to make the breakthrough here. The widest gate shouldn’t be a problem and the step up in trip should suit. (5) CRAZE CHANG comes in off back-to-back 3rd place finishes at 1300M and at this distance. He can get a bit far back, but he should be a danger late on. (2) BAEKRYONG mixes his form but has a 2nd and a 3rd among his most recent three outings and from a good draw he can be on pace and be in the finish. (6) DAEMUL SOCKS and (7) YONGBISU are other placing candidates.

Selections(9) Stunning Flatter (5) Craze Chang (2) Baekryong (6) Daemul Socks
Next Best7, 4
Fast Start2, 4, 6, 8

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

(3) BEOLGYO VERITAS was a winner on debut in December and has since run 4th and 2nd in two starts at this level, most recently when almost leading the whole way around over 1300M. He likes to be on pace, so he draws well, and he will be a short price to go one better this time. The main danger is in the adjoining gate. (2) CHEONGRYANGSAN is yet to win but has finished no worse than 4th in five starts. Most recently he dead heated for 2nd at this class and distance on February 25th when settling midfield and running on and he can go close again. The horse he dead heated with that day was none other than (7) NAOL DAEWANG. He too is yet to win but has proven competitive at this level and should be in the finish again. (8) AUSTIN LEADER and (4) HANGGU STAR are among plenty of others who can have placing aspirations.

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