Day: August 30, 2024

Seoul & Busan Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (September 1)

Sunday sees daytime meetings at both Seoul (10 races from 10:35 to 18:00) and Busan (7 races from 11:25 to 17:00). Here are the previews:

It’s Just a week until the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 4 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Small field of imported maidens with six of the eight racing for the first time. We will side with experience though and (7) NAVY CAPTAIN was 2nd on debut over 1200M on July 28th racing on pace throughout and stopping the clock in a good time, albeit well beaten by the winner. That should stand him in good stead here and with some natural improvement, he will take some beating. (4) CHEONDUNG LION debuted at this distance on July 13th and ran well, settling handy and running on for 4th, again a long way behind a very quick winner, but showing potential. He should have come on for the experience and be close. Of the debut makers, (1) M G BEST looks the best. He was slowly away in his trial but gathered up speed and ran on well for 4th in a decent time. If he gets away a bit better, he can put in a bold showing. (2) DREAMER WHIZ and (5) WORLD PEOPLE the others who hinted at ability in their trials.

Selections(7) Navy Captain (4) Cheondung Lion (1) M G Best (2) Dreamer Whiz
Next Best5, 6
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 7

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

Two standouts here. (10) ASSI JANGGUN has been knocking at the door in her latest few and while she hasn’t shown much in the way of speed, she isn’t alone in that regard. She can race on pace or settle midfield and grind her way on and she will be in the mix. The danger and probable betting favourite is (9) K POWERFUL. After an inauspicious debut, the Shackleford juvenile ran an improved 4th at start number two over 1200M on August 3rd, leading for much of the way around. He will aim to lead here and can go all the way. (7) IRON LEG may not be the greatest name of hoping for some speed, but he ran fairly for 5th place on debut at 1200M at the end of July and should have come on for the run. (3) NONSTOP YEOLCHA and solitary debut-maker (2) WONDERFUL ENERGY are others to consider.

Selections(10) Assi Janggun (9) K Powerful (7) Iron Leg (3) Nonstop Yeolcha
Next Best2, 6
Fast Start4, 7, 9, 10

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

Juvenile maidens with all but three racing for the first time. The limited experience is positive though and we will have those three on top. (4) SAENAE HUNTER went through two trials, improving in the second and then ran well for 3rd place on debut over this distance on August 2nd when on pace throughout. The winner of that race won by fifteen-lengths in a Korea Sprint-esque time, but it was an assured debut and with some natural improvement, he is the clear favourite. (2) KYUNGNAM DRAGON was 4th on debut over this distance on August 2nd having settled midfield and run on. He finished off well, the step up in trip can suit, and he is a big danger. (7) WIND KINGDOM rounds out the experience. He debuted in the same race as Saenae Hunter on August 2nd and ran 5th having been in midfield throughout. He should have derived benefit from the experience and can build on that here. Among the debut-makers, (8) DRAGON NINJA was the best in trials, with (12) ASTRE also showing potential. 

Selections(4) Saenae Hunter (2) Kyungnam Dragon (7) Wind Kingdom (8) Dragon Ninja
Next Best12, 5
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 8

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(7) HANGANG CAPTAIN stepped up to this distance for the first time on July 28th and beat three of today’s rivals on his way to a solid 3rd place finish, settling midfield and running on. Coming in under the same conditions today, he will be a short price to come out on top. (1) MARUBYEOL was 4th in that race and came back out two weeks ago over 1400M when she could only manage 7th but did beat a couple of these. From the inside gate she can be on or close to the speed and is a big chance. (10) DAEMYEONGJANG has a 2nd and a 3rd on his record, and he steps up to two turns for the first time. He has got a solid finish on him so it may well suit and while one-paced, he can stay on. (8) OPUS PURPLE and (2) SPEED HERO others in the frame.

Selections(7) Hangang Captain (1) Marubyeol (10) Daemyeongjang (8) Opus Purple
Next Best2, 6
Fast Start1, 5, 7, 10

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

(5) LIME TREE ran 5th on debut over 1000M on July 5th before improving to 2nd at start number two over 1200M on August 2nd, fifteen-lengths behind an excellent winner, but ahead of Saenae Hunter who we should have seen in race 1 and who may give us a marker. Third-up he can be peaking, and he is under a light weight. The rather unkindly named (2) FAT BOY (who is actually on the light side) comes in off a useful 4th place in a good time over 1200M on August 10th. He draws nicely and can be a danger. (1) STORMING MAGIC has the fastest time among these for the distance, recorded when 2nd two starts back and beating Fat Boy. She followed up with a 4th place on August 11th and she can be in the mix again. (8) DREAMING BOY and (9) STORM FIGHTER among plenty of others with at least placing chances.

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 31)

The short night race program continues this weekend on Saturday at Seoul where there are 11 races from 14:20 to 21:00. Here are the previews:

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

Juvenile maidens in the opener with just three of the twelve having raced before. We will side with one of those in (4) WANGCHOEGO, who did nothing on debut in June, but returned on July 20th and ran 2nd over this distance. He was miles behind an eye-catching winner but showed enough to be backed to go one better here. Among the first timers (8) HYEUKMUSANG led all the way to win a trial on July 25th stopping the clock in a good time. He can be on pace here and can be in this a long way. (6) MIGHTY RUSH and (7) BEST JOY both clocked the same time in their respective heats with the latter winning his and they can be supported first up too. (1) KARA K another who hinted at ability in trials and can go well.

Selections(4) Wangchoego (8) Hyeukmusang (6) Mighty Rush (7) Best Joy
Next Best1, 3
Fast Start1, 4, 7, 8

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

(5) TRIPLE ACE enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes at this distance, racing close to the pace both times. She has the fastest time among these for the distance and from a good gate she should be on the speed again and with Moon Se-young on, today can be the day. She will vie for favourite status with (10) CHEONGUNG STORM, The Shackleford colt raced on pace for much of his debut over 1000M, ultimately coming home 2nd in a fair time. He should have derived benefit from that experience and while up in trip and with the challenge of a wide draw, he can be a big danger. (8) YEONGWONHARA was a much-improved 2nd at start number four on July 27th, leading for much of the way and beating Triple Ace. Expect her to be on pace again and in the mix. (1) TALITHA CUMI and (6) ELDORADO HEUNGBU others who can improve.

Selections(5) Triple Ace (10) Cheongung Storm (8) Yeongwonhara (1) Talitha Cumi
Next Best6, 3
Fast Start1, 5, 8, 10

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

Fillies only here and (10) KHAN NUT shapes as a short-priced favourite. After running 5th on debut, she was an improved 3rd over this 1200M on July 28th, when she led for much of the way around and beat a couple of today’s rivals. Despite the wide draw, she can be on pace here and offers jockey Ruan Maia a good chance of opening his Korean account. (6) SILVER MOON ran 4th behind Khan Nut in that July 28th race. She also has a 3rd place on her resume already and can be in the mix again here. (11) SKY TEN beat Khan Nut on the way to 2nd place two starts back on July 6th in a similar filly maiden to this. She led in her latest over this distance on   August 3rd but from the wide draw here can be ridden a bit more patiently and challenge late. (3) DONKEY PLAY and (7) MISS CONCORD others in the frame.

Selections(10) Khan Nut (6) Silver Moon (11) Sky Ten (3) Donkey Play
Next Best7, 2
Fast Start6, 8, 9, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) SAMAEBEONJJEOK got her maiden win at start number nine at this class and distance on August 3rd when racing handy and running on with a couple of today’s rivals behind her. She comes up 3.5kg in the weights but draws well and a repeat isn’t impossible. (6) MINT PLAY remains a maiden after sixteen attempts but enters with recent form reading consistently well at this class. She has a 2nd and a 3rd from her latest two, both at this class and distance and under a light weight, she should be a big danger. (11) FINAL GO got his maiden win three starts back over this distance and enters off a smart runner-up finish at this level on June 9th. He comes in fresh after twelve weeks out and the wide gate shouldn’t be a problem. (8) MO CHUISLE and (1) ULTRA MANGCHI the other main placing chances.  

Selections(2) Samaebeonjjeok (6) Mint Play (11) Final Go (8) Mo Chuisle
Next Best1, 7
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 8

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

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