Day: September 13, 2024

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (September 14)

The short night race season comes to a close on Saturday (there are, of course, daytime meetings on Sunday) with an 11-race card at Seoul from 14:20 to 21:00. Here are the previews:

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

Twelve unraced two-year-olds line up for the first time so we head to the trial videos. It won’t take long to alight on (9) AQUA LINE, who posted the fastest time among these by some margin when narrowly winning his heat on August 1st. He has the challenge of a wide draw, but any kind of progress from the trial can see him win. Second quickest was (10) RAON NIZHINSKII. He too was on pace in his heat and crossed the line 3rd in a fair time. (3) EAST GANGJEOK was similarly 3rd in his trial, a long way behind an experienced winner and showed enough to be considered first-up. (8) GLOBAL SERVE and (5) HAKSAN CAIRO are others who hinted at ability.

Selections(9) Aqua Line (10) Raon Nizhinskii (3) East Gangjeok (8) Global Serve
Next Best5, 7
Fast Start1. 3. 4. 9

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile filly maidens here with five of the eleven racing for the first time. The favourite has experience though with (7) HANSEN BRACING having already raced twice, with a 4th and a 3rd, the latter over this distance on August 24th when settling just behind the speed and running on well in a good time. Third-up she can be fitter, and she will be a short-price to win. (3) HIGH CLASS ran a fair 3rd on debut over 1000M on July 25th. She should have derived benefit from that experience and can be a danger here. Of the first timers, (6) SMART TAKE looks the pick. She was much improved in her second trial on August 22nd, settling handy and finishing off well for 2nd having drawn a wide gate. She won’t need to improve much on that to have a chance here. With the rest of the newcomers not having shown much in trials, (11) QUEEN DIA and (8) BLUSHING ROSE may improve on their debuts. Incidentally none of these have shown any gate speed in races or trials, so the pace map may be a headache and any horse that takes the initiative may have a chance.

Selections(7) Hansen Bracing (3) High Class (6) Smart Take (11) Queen Dia
Next Best8, 2
Fast Start3, 6, 7, 8

Seoul Race 3: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported juvenile maidens here (with one southern hemisphere three-year-old). Two of them have raced before and one of those, (7) A PURE GOOD WOMAN, is the pick. Having trialed well, she ran 3rd on debut in a very quick race over 1000M on July 13th, showing on pace. She should have benefited from that experience, the additional furlong can help, and she is the one to beat. A few debut-makers caught the eye in trials. (11) MIGHTY NEO won his, leading all the way and stopping the clock in a good time. The draw isn’t ideal here but with a bit of early luck, he can be in this. (3) PEPPER X similarly led all the way to win narrowly in his second trial (it was voluntary so be aware it may not be in all racecards – the time was 62 seconds). He has no problems in terms of his draw, and he is a chance. (12) BREEDO SIRIS, who was quicker than both, and (4) GWANAKSAN O TWO are others who can go well first-up.  

Selections(7) A Pure Good Woman (11) Mighty Neo (3) Pepper X (12) Breedo Siris
Next Best4, 6
Fast Start3, 7, 11, 12

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Standard maiden here. (1) DANGDAECHOWOL has run 4th in both starts so far at this distance and at 1200M. He draws well, he has the fastest final furlong average time (albeit from the smallest sample size) and he can win here. The danger is (4) MAX PARTY. He two has a pair of 4th places on his record with one of them coming at this distance. In this company, he should be on or close to the speed and he can be in this a long way. (6) JILPUNG JAZZ has managed 3rd place at this distance. He doesn’t benefit from an apprentice claim this time but that’s balanced by Kim Yong-geun climbing on and he can match or better that here. (5) POETIC NUBI and (3) YEONGWON GIANT others to consider.

Selections(1) Dangdaechowol (4) Max Party (6) Jilpung Jazz (5) Poetic Nubi
Next Best3, 10
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 9

Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(7) OKCHEON WIN STAR was 3rd on debut and followed up with a fair 5th over this distance on August 17th when settling midfield and running on. Third-up she can be peaking and with similar tactics today, could prove too strong late on. (5) SINUI BLUE is a twelve-race maiden but enters off back-to-back 3rd places, most recently over 1300M on August 3rd when settling midfield before finishing off well and beating a couple of today’s rivals. She looks nicely in here and Maia climbing on is a plus. (1) JOSE has finished behind Okcheon Win Star in both his latest two but his 2nd place on debut suggests he has ability and, in this company, he can be considered for the places. (9) MISS CONCORD and (3) MERIT SUNSHINE others in contention for the minors.

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