With no Jeju this week, there is a rare Saturday card at Busan (Busan will be off on Sunday) joining the regular Seoul Saturday program. There are 9 races in Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 in Busan from 11:35 to 16:55. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens in the opener with five of the ten racing for the first time. We’ll side with a debut-maker. (9) GLOBAL TIME took two goes to qualify but looked well in the second of them when coming from off the pace for a close 2nd in a quick time. The 1200M should suit first up and Moon Se-young being booked catches the eye. Seo Seung-un is in town to ride Jeulgeounyeojeong in the KRA Cup Classic on Sunday and he picks up a live chance with (3) CHEONGONGUI SEOM. He beat two of the other experienced ones here when they debuted together over 1000M in a very quick race on July 6th. He came from off the pace, so the extra furlong can be in his favour, and he is the danger. (6) LONG RUN BULPAE finished 7th in that same race and can improve. (4) FUNNY TAP and (5) EODIGADO are other first-timers who hinted at ability in trials.
| Selections | (9) Global Time (3) Cheongongui Seom (6) Long Run Bulpae (4) Funny Tap |
| Next Best | 5, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
A couple of standouts here. (8) RAON THE KLAMMER has been getting closer across his latest few starts culminating with a 3rd and most recently a 2nd, from his latest two. That runner-up finish case over this distance on July 7th when he led for most of the way, ultimately getting passed by the favourite late on. He has the fastest time among these for the distance and today can be his day. (9) GEUMSEONG POWER enters off a best to date 2nd place over 1200M on June 30th when settling midfield and running on. He too has seemingly started to figure things out over his latest few and he is the man danger by some margin. (7) YEONGWON FANTASTIC has only raced twice and managed a 4th on debut before running 6th from a wide draw at 1400M at start number two. He can be closer here. (1) JILPUNG JAZZ and (3) GROUPER others in the hunt.
| Selections | (8) Raon The Klammer (9) Geumseong Power (7) Yeongwon Fantastic (1) Jilpung Jazz |
| Next Best | 4, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden and with two 3rd places and a 4th from three starts so far, (4) GUKDAE MIRACLE will start as a warm favourite. All three of those outings were in similar filly maidens over 1200M and stepping up slightly in trip for the first time, she can be expected to be on pace and is the one to beat. (3) HAEUNDAE SUNSHINE managed three top-four finishes from four starts before a layoff. She returns here for the first time since March and having trialled up fairly and drawn well, she can be considered to go close. (2) RUNNING FASHION also comes in off a layoff having not run since April. She has a 3rd and a 2nd among her latest four and can be in the mix here. (10) HEUIMANG YEOSIN and (5) MOTHER WONDERFUL others in the frame.
| Selections | (4) Gukdae Miracle (3) Haeundae Sunshine (2) Running Fashion (10) Heuimang Yeosin |
| Next Best | 5, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden and (1) SKY TEN has been getting closer across her latest few, culminating in a 2nd place on July 6th over 1200M when coming from ff the pace and beating a few of today’s rivals. She comes into a much better gate today and will be warmly favoured to go one better. (5) DIVA FESTIVAL was slowly away on debut on July 14th. She put in a super final furlong time and while it was only good enough to get her up into 7th place, with a better start and here, she could be dangerous late. (10) MERIT SUNSHINE has been showing steady improvement over four starts so far and can improve on her latest 4th. (2) SINUI BLUE and (3) YONGBICHEON among others who can be in the mix.
| Selections | (1) Sky Ten (5) Diva Festival (10) Merit Sunshine (2) Sinui Blue |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 8, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(8) CHOEGANG CHONGAL is a nineteen-race-maiden but in this limited company, that really should chance. He comes in off a 4th place finish at this class on July 21st when he set the fastest time any of these have achieved for the mile and he won’t need to improve much, if at all, to win this. (2) CHEONGMAUI JILJU enters off back-to-back 5th places at this distance and 1300M and from a good draw can be further forward today and is a place chance. (7) ALLURE is two starts into a comeback following three months off. She has a couple of 4th places on her record and third-up this preparation, she may be peaking. (4) GREEN LEGEND and (1) AMAZING CURLIN perhaps the best of an unconvincing rest.
| Selections | (8) Choegang Chongal (2) Cheongmaui Jilju (7) Allure (4) Green Legend |
| Next Best | 1, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 6 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) LAFAYETTE got his maiden win at start number ten on June 30th but came at this class in a good time over 1400M. He comes up 3.5kg in the weights as well as coming down slightly in trip but he has every chance of backing up here. It’s been a while between drinks for (1) GANA POWER but he has been working his way back into form in recent starts with back-to-back runner-up finishes in June. He could only manage 5th on his latest outing on July 21st but the margins weren’t big and an apprentice claiming 4kg puts him right in the mix here. (4) KHAS got his maiden win at start number two on June 16th coming from off the pace over this distance. He comes up in class but down in weight, and there can be more to come. (8) TOHOMARKET and (5) HERO JEONSA are the other placing contenders.
| Selections | (9) Lafayette (1) Gana Power (4) Khas (8) Tohomarket |
| Next Best | 5, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 6 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Competitive race. (11) HAVE A GOOD YEAR returns to action for the first time since January. He is a winner and two-time placer and this distance and looked good when 2nd in a decent time in a trial on July 20th. He has as good a chance as any first up here. (3) BREEDO KELLY comes rapidly up in class having begun her career with back-to-back runner-up finishes at 1300M and this distance. She is nicely weighted, well drawn, and can measure up at this level. (6) EVERY KING IJI came from a wide draw and well off the pace to beat a couple of today’s rivals when 4th at this class and distance on July 7th and can get closer here. (8) DAESUNG DOLPUNG and (1) ALICE MARINE others to consider.
| Selections | (11) Have A Good Year (3) Breedo Kelly (6) Every King Iji (8) Daesung Dolpung |
| Next Best | 1, 7 |
| Fast Start | 5, 8, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) ROYAL BEST has only missed the top-four on one of ten occasions so far and is right at the top of class 5. He has the fastest time among these for the 1200M and can race on pace or come from behind. He carries his fair share of weight, but he can return to the winner’s circle here. (2) DANAEUN REX got her maiden win at start number eight on June 23rd when she overcame gate ten to lead all the way. She is up in class but is down in the weights and draws well to lead again. She can measure up in this company. (9) CRAZY SHAH and (1) SAMAEBEONJJEOK are both winless, but both come up in class following near misses and under light weights can be competitive at this level. (7) DANCING GANGHA another in the hunt.
| Selections | (10) Royal Best (2) Danaeun Rex (9) Crazy Shah (1) Samaebeonjjeok |
| Next Best | 7, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) BLAZING MAN is the one to beat. Having secured his maiden win at start number six over a mile on June 7th, he came up to this class on July 5th and ran 2nd, again at 1600M. He comes up to two turns for the first time with no reason why it can’t suit, and he can win, probably from on the pace. (10) GOOD DADDY has been working back into form with a 4th and most recently a 2nd from his latest two. The most recent of those was at this class and distance on July 14th when coming from off the pace to strike the front in the straight and ultimately finish 2nd. He comes up in the weights but can be close again today. That pair will fill out most quinellas, though (6) COLONEL FLYING was 4th behing Balczing Man last time out and can get close again. (2) EONJENA YEONGUNG and (1) STAR DRAGON other possibles for the minors.
| Selections | (9) Blazing Man (10) Good Daddy (6) Colonel Flying (2) Eonjena Yeongung |
| Next Best | 1, 5 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(7) MK LEE registered his maiden win two starts back over 1400M before running 4th over the same distance on his first try at this level on July 6th. He comes in under a similar weight and in this company can be on or close to the pace and can score again. (1) P N S CAR is yet to win in ten attempts but has six top-five finishes. He back down to a trip at which he has registered two runner-up finishes and from the inside gate, he can be a danger here. (3) SUMMER PARTY was a surprise winner at this class and distance on July 7th and while normal service was resumed two weeks later, she shouldn’t be ruled out in this company. (2) CROQUIS and (4) EUNSEONG NOEUL others to keep an eye on.
| Selections | (7) MK Lee (1) P N S Car (3) Summer Party (2) Croquis |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) DAESUNG DREAM is a winner of three of his latest four, most recently at this class and distance on July 5th when on pace throughout. He comes up 3kg in the weights but has won under more and with Munro getting on, he can win again. (7) UNJU MACH was 2nd in that July 5th race, getting to within less than a length. She was a class and distance winner in June, and she can be a big danger again with a weight swing in her favour. (9) STRIKE ZONE and (6) SEOGWI FLASH and came home 3rd and 2nd respectively when they raced one another at this class and distance in a different race on July 7th. Strike Zone was the favourite that day while Seogwi Flash was a long shot, but both ran well and can be in the finish again. (3) SKY JILJU another in the placing frame.
| Selections | (8) Daesung Dream (7) Unju Mach (9) Strike Zone (6) Seogwi Flash |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(5) HWASANGWIHWAN finally got his maiden win at start number twelve over this class and distance on July 6th when coming from well off the pace. He had previously run 2nd on five occasions. He comes up a full 4.5kg in the weights but with Harry on, he can go again. If this proves a race too far, then (2) YESULIYA is the most likely to take advantage. A class and distance winner two starts back, he ran 3rd in that July 6th race, sitting handy throughout. The weight swing is in his favour, he comes into a better gate, and he will probably start as the betting favourite. (8) NEMO PRINCE has been working back towards another win in recent starts culminating in a runner-up finish at class and distance on June 15th. He is another who carries his fair share of weight here but can be in the finish. Up in class last start winner (1) LADY TAEPUNG along with (6) RAON TAP PLAY are others in the frame.
| Selections | (5) Hwasangwihwan (2) Yesuliya (8) Nemo Prince (1) Lady Taepung |
| Next Best | 6, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 6: Class 1 (1200M) Special Weight B / KRW 110 Million
After three near misses, (7) GANGSEO GIANT surely prevails among this small field at set weights. She comes in off three runner-up finishes, the first two being in the Ttukseom and KNN Cups, both Group races in the Queens’ Tour, before being the beaten favourite at this class and distance on July 7th when getting a bit far back, but still beating plenty of these. She will settle back as usual, and this time should go one better. (3) FANTASTIC KINGDOM ran a solid 5th in the SROA Chairman’s Sprint at Seoul in May before finishing 5th when favourite at this class and distance on June 28th. From a good draw, he will be on pace here and he is the one they’ll need to get by. (5) CHOEGANG SSONSAL and (8) MIRACLE DREAMING came home 3rd and 5th respectively in that July 7th race behind Gangseo Giant and can match or better today. Racing in more amenable company than his latest two, (6) HAPPY FEVER is another possible for the minors.
| Selections | (7) Gangseo Giant (3) Fantastic Kingdom (5) Choegang Ssonsal (8) Miracle Dreaming |
| Next Best | 6, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(9) GEOSEN BANGYEOK has six top-two finishes from ten stats so far, most recently at this class over 1400M on June 16th when leading for much of the way. He only comes up 1kg in the weights, Moon Se-young gets on, and he has won at this distance already. (1) RAON THE MAN is up in class after a strong of near misses at class 4 level. He too has won at this distance and down 5kg in the weights, can be competitive. (4) YEONGWON FIGHTER has finished between 3rd and 5th in three starts at this class since winning at this distance back in March. He carries a light weight, draws nicely, and should be in this a long way. (3) ACHIM DONGJA and up in class last start winner (5) WONPYEONG KILLAR others to look out for.
| Selections | (9) Geosen Bangyeok (1) Raon The Man (4) Yeongwon Fighter (3) Achim Dongja |
| Next Best | 5, 10 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
After finishing 2nd on debut, (6) CROWN HAMSEONG has won four on the spin with his latest being at class 3 level on June 29th when, as is his style, he led every step of the way. Once more he comes up in class and faces his sternest test to date, but he has already run a fast time over this distance and under a light weight, he can continue on his merry way here. To keep his streak going, he will need to beat the Korean Derby winner. (1) EUNPA SARANG followed up his Classic win with 4th place in the final leg of the Triple Crown and comes back to one-turn racing here. He has won at the distance before and looks to have a bright future. (9) ACE GUNJU is putting together a decent winning streak of his own having scored in each of his latest three to come up to this class. He has a smart finish on him and can be challenging late. (3) MAUIWAY and (2) M J BEST among others in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (6) Crown Hamseong (1) Eunpa Sarang (9) Ace Gunju (3) Mauiway |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 8 |
Horse Racing in Korea 