The eve of the OBS Korea Cup and Sprint sees an absolute feast of a card at Seoul Racecourse on Saturday, featuring the Group 3 Jeju Governor’s Cup where the nation’s top fillies and mares will clash, as well as the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy for juveniles. Additionally there are Trophy races for the Singapore Pools, Japan Racing Association, Selangor Turf Club, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Gold Circle (South Africa) and OSAF (South America). In total there are 11 races from 13:55 to 21:00. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class Open (1700M) Special Weight B (Gold Circle Trophy) / KRW 150 Million
(4) MEGA DRAGON was an also-ran in the Korean Derby in May but has since put in two solid 3rd place finishes at class 3 level over a mile and at 1800M. In this company he can settle behind the speed and run on and with Alan Munro aboard, today can be his day. It has been a while between drinks for (1) COMPLETE TIME, but she enters with recent form reading well including a 4th place in double quick time over 1400M at class 2 level on August 3rd. She is one for one over 1700M and from the inside, should be on pace and in this a long way. (11) JJARITHAN JAYU beat Mega Dragon when winning at class 3 level over 1800M on August 4th and he shouldn’t be dismissed here. (6) TAURUS QUEEN and (2) UPTOWN WHIZ among plenty of others in good form and with at least placing claims.
| Selections | (4) Mega Dragon (1) Complete Time (11) Jjarithan Jayu (6) Taurus Queen |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 6 |
Seoul Race 2: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight B / OSAF Trophy / KRW 150 Million
Fillies and mares only. (6) BRIGHT HANSEN is a winner of four from six including her latest on July 14th when on pace throughout and stopping the clock in a quick time for this distance at class 3 level She is nicely in here and from a central gate, can get to the lead and take some beating. (10) STARTER is the main danger and may even begin as the favourite. She was an also-ran in the first two legs of the Triple Tiara but has since won back-to-back races at class 4 over 1400M and class 3 at a mile. She has won at this distance too and while she has the challenge of the widest gate, with a bit of luck early, she can get forward and can win. (9) MILLION PARTY has won her latest three all over this distance and up to class 3 level. She is another one who likes to get forward and can be a danger. (4) FURIOSA and (8) GEUMA ALLURE among other place chances.
| Selections | (6) Bright Hansen (10) Starter (9) Million Party (4) Furiosa |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 3: Class Open (1400M) Special Weight B / SLTC Trophy / KRW 150 Million
(7) SPEED ONE scored three consecutive wins between December and April to get up to class 3 level and then ran 3rd over a mile on July 27th. He tackles 1400M for the first time under a light weight and Moon Se-young, who doesn’t ride in either the Cup or Sprint tomorrow, will be keen to take out this valuable trophy race. (11) SUPER FINISH comes in having recorded a scorching time when winning at 1200M on June 22nd. He is a two-time winner over this trip too, and while he has the widest gate to contend with, he will be a danger. (3) DAEMUL was a strong winner in a tight finish at quite big odds over 1200M at class 2 level on August 24th. He makes a quick return here and while he is up 4kg in the weights, can be considered. (5) GLADIUS and (9) DREAM PLAY are others in the frame.
| Selections | (7) Speed One (11) Super Finish (3) Daemul (5 Gladius |
| Next Best | 9, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class Open (1800M) Special Weight B / JRA Trophy / KRW 150 Million
(7) GANGPUNGMA is the one to beat here. Having run 3rd in a similar Trophy race over a mile in April, he then won the Listed Sprots Chosun Trophy over 2000M in May and then ran a close 2nd to the excellent Naol Sniper, again at 2000M at class 1 level on July 7th. Under today’s conditions, he carries an additional 4kg, but that shouldn’t be a problem. (4) MY CENTER won that aforementioned April Trophy race at a mile and while he was well back in both the Korean Derby and Minister’s Cup, he returned to winning ways on July 20th, again back at the mile. He too has his fair share of weight but draws nicely and is a danger. (6) DRAGON STAR was 4th in the Sports Chosun and has since registered back-to-back runner-up finishes at class 2 level. He has won at this distance and has registered a quick time at it and can be in the mix again. (11) BLACK BELT and (13) COMPLETE LEVEL among plenty of others who can be in the hunt for the money.
| Selections | (7) Gangpungma (4) My Center (6) Dragon Star (11) Black Belt |
| Next Best | 13, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 13 |
Seoul Race 5: Class Open (1400M) Special Weight A / Jeju Governor’s Cup (KOR G3) / KRW 500 Million
The latest round of the Queens’ Tour sees fifteen top-class fillies and mares line up and (8) WONDERFUL SLEW and (12) JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG will renew their rivalry. The latter dominated last year but Wonderful Slew won when they met in the KNN Cup over a mile at Busan in June. Jeulgeounyeojeong had an excuse that day as she got interfered with in the back straight to the extent her jockey did well to stay on, but they raced one another again when taking on the boys in the KRA Cup Classic over 2000M here in August and Wonderful Slew ran 4th to Jeulgeounyeojeong’s 9th. It isn’t necessarily a two-filly race though. (14) CROWN HAMSEONG ran 2nd on debut and has since strung together a series of five wins up to class 2 level and up to this distance. She has recorded some super times, and she has every chance of measuring up. (13) ECLIPSE BERRY won the first two legs of this year’s Triple Tiara and while she came up short in the final leg over 2000M, that was an unusual race and back at one turn, she can be a danger. (1) RAON FOREST another in the hunt in a tremendous looking race.
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