Day: July 19, 2024

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (July 21)

Sunday’s racing is at Seoul (10 races from 10:35 to 18:00) and Busan (6 races from 11:30 to 16:30). Here are the previews:

Raon The Point (centre) won the Busan Ilbo Sprint in March and goes in Seoul’s Sunday feature (Pic: KRA)

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

Maiden fillies in the opener. (8) KYLIE has been slowly figuring things out and comes in off her best finish to date when 3rd over this distance on June 30th. She races on pace or handy and she won’t need to improve much to win this. (7) FLYING LION has three 5th places to her name which is enough to put her in contention in this company. One of those was her most recent outing on June 15th when she raced a little more forward than usual and with CC climbing up, she should be aiming for a best finish so far here. So too should (2) HAKSAN DAESE. She has also finished no better than 5th but she draws nicely here and should have the beating of most. (10) CHALLANHAN NALGAE and the debut-maker (11) GANDAGO are perhaps the best of the rest of an uninspiring bunch.

Selections(8) Kylie (7) Flying Lion (2) Haksan Daese (10) Challanhan Nalgae
Next Best11, 9
Fast Start5, 6, 8, 11

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

(7) DAEMYEONGJANG ran 2nd two starts back over 1200M before following up with a 4th place at this distance on June 22nd when going right back and running on. He has a runner-up finish to his name over this trip as well and so long as he doesn’t leave himself too much to do, has every chance here. (5) GREEN CONCORD has been making progress lately and enters off two 4th places and most recently a 3rd over this distance on June 15th when coming from off the pace in a filly only maiden. She will probably settle back again here and will be challenging late. (6) MR. POWER used up plenty of energy to get on pace from a wide draw on his latest outing on June 16th before weakening but two starts back he came from off the pace for a smart 3rd and that’s enough to put him in contention here. (1) JURING SKY and (11) MODERN DANCE others in the frame.

Selections(7) Daemyeongjang (5) Green Concord (6) Mr. Power (1) Juring Sky
Next Best11, 10
Fast Start1, 4, 9, 10

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

(10) BABEL DREAMY has six top-five finishes from her seven starts so far and enters here having run 3rd and 4th in her latest two, both over a mile and with a couple of today’s rivals behind her. She has the fastest time among those who have tackled the distance before and comes from off the pace so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she’ll be a warm favourite. (3) MUNMAK USANG and (1) SEONGSILCHAMPION came home 2nd and 3rd when they raced each other over 1400M on June 21st, both coming from off the pace and running on well and both may be ready for another crack at a mile. (9) SUPER KANEL is a twenty-four-race maiden, but his recent form reads relatively well, and this is the kind of company in which he can pick up some minor prize money. (7) ILNYEOM SINHWA is the other placing chance.

Selections(10) Babel Dreamy (3) Munmak Usang (1) Seongsilchampion (9) Super Kanel
Next Best7, 5
Fast Start4, 6, 9, 11

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

(10) EAST QUALITY has made steady progress across four starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place on his first try at this distance on June 15th when racing handy. He has the challenge of a wide draw, but should prove equal to it, and can win here. (11) BREEDO GIRL has had a wind op since her disappointing run when favourite on her third start back in April. She previously ran 2nd over this distance and while she may need this, she can be considered. (2) SINUI UNMYEONG raced on pace last time out over this distance on June 22nd, ultimately finishing 4th. He draws nicely to get forward again and can be in this a long way. (3) YONGBICHEON ran 5th behind East Quality last time out and along with (6) WHIZ LOVER is another to consider for the minors.

Selections(10) East Quality (11) Breedo Girl (2) Sinui Unmyeong (3) Yongbicheon
Next Best6, 4
Fast Start2, 4, 5, 10

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

Fillies and mares only here. (9) ARI DRAGON was a winner on debut over 1200M on June 28th when settling handy and running through the line well. She comes up in class and in distance, but neither should be a problem, Munro climbs on, and she can go two for two. (10) DAESEUNGNIJA is yet to score in ten tries but has plenty of near misses including last time out on June 21st when she led for most of the way around only to be ultimately passed by a good winner late on. She doesn’t need to lead, so the wide draw shouldn’t be a concern and while she comes up 2kg in the weights, she is the clear second favourite. (1) DAEHO NARA enters off a front-running 2nd place over 1400M at this class on June 23rd and from a great draw can be in the mix again. (3) MASTER ROAD and (6) AWESOME SUNRISE among plenty of others with placing claims.

Selections(9) Ari Dragon (10) Daeseungnija (1) Daeho Nara (3) Master Road
Next Best6, 5
Fast Start1, 3, 8, 9

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

(7) AMAZING ROCK obliged when favourite to get her maiden win over 1700M on June 29th, leading all the way around. She comes up in class but down in the weights, and she can win again. She probably won’t be favourite though. That’s likely to be her fellow three-year-old filly (9) MYUNGJINBULLPAI who comes out of a spin around in the final leg of the Triple Tiara. That didn’t go well but it was at 2000M, and she comes back to a distance at which she has the fastest time among these and a level at which she has placed three times. She’ll be firmly in the mix. (3) GANGCHEOL YEOGEOL was winner at this class over 1300M two starts back. She followed it up with a 3rd place at the same distance a month ago and is in the placing frame again here. (8) P N S CAR and (5) RAIN STAR others to consider.

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 20)

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

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Eleven previously unraced two-year-olds make their debuts here and (7) REAL DEAL will be the hot favourite. He went through two trials, qualifying in the first of them but then completing another voluntary one (which may not appear in all race cards so be aware) on June 20th when leading all the way and stopping the clock in a time significantly superior to what any of the others here clocked. If he brings that form to the races, he will take some beating. (5) GLOBAL HAMSEONG also went through a couple of trials, improving in the second and he can go well first up. (2) BEOLGYO D Y was on pace in the second of his trials (also voluntary so again, be aware) and with a good draw and Moon Se-young booked, will have backers. (10) MORE THAN JOKE and (11) HWANGGEUM MASK others who hinted at ability.

Selections(7) Real Deal (5) Global Hamseong (2) Beolgyo D Y (10) More Than Joke
Next Best11, 6
Fast Start2, 3, 7, 8

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

Not the strongest of maidens so we might as well take a chance on solitary first-time starter (4) MARU JANGGUN came from midfield to win his trial two weeks ago, stopping the clock in a fair time. He draws nicely here and the 1200M may well suit first-up. (5) CHRYSOL MAJOR ran twice as a three-year-old without distinction and returned on June 16th following six months out and was an improved 5th over 1300M having overcome a wide draw. He should strip fitter for that run and can be close here. (9) RUNNING ARTIST has made progress across three starts so far, most recently a 4th place at this distance on June 23rd. She draws wide here but there is no early speed so she may well go forward herself and she has as much chance as any. (6) CHOCO BEAUTY and (2) ÉCLAIR STAR others who may improve.

Selections(4) Maru Janggun (5) Chrysol Major (9) Running Artist (6) Choco Beauty
Next Best2, 10
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 9

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) CHEONGRYANGSAN is yet to win in seven attempts but has no fewer than six top-four finishes and registered back-to-back runner-up efforts at this class in February and March. His worst was his latest on June 1st, but he can have a line drawn through that as he was slow into strode, took a bump, and was later found slightly lame. Back fit today and with Moon on, he can win. (7) INFINITE HONOR got his maiden win over 1400M in April and, following a shaky effort in May, confirmed he can compete at this level on June 23rd, when a front-running 5th, again at 1400M. The slight step back in trip can suit and he looks the main danger. (9) BIG BRIDGE is winless but has finished no worse than 5th in five starts. She carries a light weight here and can be finishing strongly. (1) DOWN THE ZONE and (6) EDENUI DONGJJOK other place chances who are perhaps better than their respective latest efforts.

Selections(2) Cheongryangsan (7) Infinite Honor (9) Big Bridge (1) Down The Zone
Next Best6, 3
Fast Start1, 6, 7, 8

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

Competitive race. (1) BEST THOR got his maiden win three starts back over this distance and has since run 2nd and 4th in two tries at this level, most recently coming from off the pace to beat a couple of today’s rivals on June 8th. He has the fastest time among these for the 1400M and he may be available at an each-way price. (9) GEUMAK MYEONGJANG is yet to win but enters with recent form reading well and only went down very narrowly on his first try at this class on June 22nd. In this company he can be close to the place and is a big danger. (8) GLOBAL JINGYEOK also comes in following a last start class and distance runner-up finish. He carries his fair share of weight here but should be in the mix again. (2) WONDERFUL WELLS and (4) BULGEUN POKPUNG among others in the hunt.

Selections(1) Best Thor (9) Geumak Myeongjang (8) Global Jingyeok (2) Wonderful Wells
Next Best4, 7
Fast Start2, 3, 7, 9

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

After getting his maiden win at this distance in January, (11) SAHARAMOND didn’t race again until May when finishing midfield on his first run back over 1300M. That was followed by a close 2nd place on June 22nd and while he comes up in the weights and has the challenge of the widest draw, he can be peaking fitness-wise here and is the one to beat. (4) BEAUTYWONDERFUL is yet to win in seven attempts but comes in off three consecutive 2nd place finishes, most recently at this class over 1300M on June 16th. She is lightly weighted here and can be a danger. (1) GLORY AND HONOR can mix her form, but she looks nicely in here and was 3rd last time out at this class and distance. (8) ELITE ROYAL and (7) GEOSEN YEOJE others in the hunt.

Selections(11) Saharamond (4) Beautywonderful (1) Glory And Honor (8) Elite Royal
Next Best7, 2
Fast Start2, 3, 5, 8

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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