We’re heading into peak cherry blossoms as the festival continues for Saturday’s action at Seoul where there is an afternoon/evening card of 11 races from 14:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews.

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

Competitive opener with two standouts. (4) WONDERFUL PASS has shown steady improvement across four starts to date, culminating in a 2^nd place over 1300M on March 3^rd when only breaking fairly but getting onto the lead and in being in front for most of the way. She draws nicely here and can go one better today. The danger is (6) SAMAEBEONJJEOK. She too has been showing progress with her latest being her best when 3^rd over this distance on February 25^th. She’ll be on pace here and will be a big threat. (1) FINAL GO enters off an improved 2^nd place on February 17^th when coming from midfield over this distance. He was well beaten by a good winner, but a similar run should see him not far away. (7) MAX MA will be on pace and may be an each-way chance while (3) HAMPYEONG JANGMI is another in minor money contention.

Selections	(4) Wonderful Pass (6) Samaebeonjjeok (1) Final Go (7) Max Ma
Next Best	3, 8
Fast Start	2, 3, 6, 7

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

It’s hard to go too far past (1) DREAM CARD. He’s finished no worse than 5^th in four starts to date with his best being a runner-up finish over 1300M in January. He came up to this distance last time out on March 2^nd and ran a fair 4^th, coming from off the pace, and he should prove too strong for this small field. (5) DRAGON SQUARE has a tendency to run ungenerously, something he has done on three of fours starts. He has shown ability though and looked well in a mid-March trial. Harry Kasim may be able to straighten him (literally) out here. (7) NAOL JEONGSANG returned from a more than five-month absence to run 2^nd over 1700M at the start of February. That was a tough ask first-up, but he has since had a further nine weeks off and is a place chance again here. (8) E.H. COCO and (4) SHOUT KURO others to consider.

Selections	(1) Dream Card (5) Dragon Square (7) Naol Jeongsang (8) E.H. Coco
Next Best	4, 3
Fast Start	1, 3, 7, 8

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

(2) CAPTAIN TIME ran out an emphatic winner at start number three over 1300M when racing handy before pulling well clear in the final furlong in an all-filly maiden. She comes up class here, but the manner of that win suggests there is more to come, and she can win again here. (7) MOMO K has been ultra-consistent over his five outings. He got his maiden win just before Christmas at 1300M and has since run 4^th and 3^rd at this class, most recently over this distance on March 3^rd, when he led for much of the way. He can go close again. That will mean overturning the form on (5) WORLD KING MAN, who won that March 3^rd race at odds of nearly 30/1. He comes up a full 5kg in the weights but warrants more resect this time. (11) SHOOTING REVERSE was 2^nd in that same race and shouldn’t be far away, although once more must contend with the widest gate. (4) HIGH BORN ME another to consider for the places.

Selections	(2) Captain Time (7) Momo K (5) World King Man (11) Shooting Reverse
Next Best	4, 9
Fast Start	2, 7, 9, 10

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

Competitive race. (10) BELOTERO was a maiden winner two starts back over 1300M before weakening and finishing back in the pack over 1400M on her first try at this class on March 3^rd. She comes back slightly in trip today, the in-form CC Wong climbs in, and she can return to winning ways. (9) MYEONGJINBULLPAI got her maiden win in the snow just before the turn of the year and enters having run a solid 3^rd place over 1400M on March 10^th. She likes to settle back and run on and can be a danger late here. (5) SPECIAL HILL comes up in class having won handsomely over 1200M on March 3^rd, making all. He is nicely drawn and while he may not get such a soft run to the front this time, he can measure up. (4) EXCELLENT TAN and (6) WONDERFUL SEEKING other possibles.

Selections	(10) Belotero (9) Myeongjinbullpai (5) Special Hill (4) Excellent Tan
Next Best	6, 1
Fast Start	1, 3, 5, 11

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

Tricky race for fillies and mares. (11) BAEDARI KWAEGEOM enters off a 2^nd place at this class over 1300M on March 2^nd when he led for much of the way around. He comes back to the distance at which he registered his sole win, and while he comes up 3.5kg in the weights, he has strong claims here. (1) SAENAE VIVA got her maiden win two starts back before finishing midfield on her first try at this class at the end of January. She comes in here off ten weeks out and from a good draw, can be on pace and in this a long way. (8) JEONGSEONGTIGER remains a maiden after six outings but comes up in class after a few too many near-misses, including as runner-up to Saena Viva. She is lightly weighted and shouldn’t be out of her depth here. (3) FINE DAY and (7) ICE CREAM are others who can enter the calculations.

(more…)