Day: October 18, 2024

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup Sunday Busan & Seoul: Race-By-Race Preview (October 20)

Plenty going on Sunday around Korean racing with the G3 Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup, featuring another clash between Jeulgeounyeojeong and Wonderful Slew the highlight. Both Busan and Seoul also host legs of the Juvenile Series. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 11:25 to 16:05. Here are the previews:

Jeulgeounyeojeong and Alan Munro will be back in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup on Sunday (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Small field of juvenile maidens with (3) GLOBAL TIME as the warm favourite. He comes in having run 3rd and 2nd in his two starts so far, most recently over 1200M on September 15th when he led until the closing stages. Third up he can be peaking and from a good draw he can lead again, and this time go one better. (4) MUNHAK BOY debuted in that September 15th race and ran a very solid 3rd, coming from off the pace. He was five-lengths behind Global Time so he has plenty to make up, the slight step up in trip can suit and he should have some natural improvement. (1) GWANAKSAN GLOBAL did nothing on debut make in July but has since been back to trial where he looked a better prospect, and he can improve today. Debut-maker (8) RAON THE AFFIRMED trialed up with Munhak Boy, finishing 3rd to his 2nd and she can go well first up while the other first-timer (2) BEOLGYO BAKGANGGUL also hinted at ability in a trial. 

Selections(3) Global Time (4) Munhak Boy (1) Gwanaksan Global (8) Raon The Affirmed
Next Best2, 7
Fast Start1, 3, 6, 8

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Standard maiden here with (2) WONDERFUL NORTHERN the standout. He didn’t do much on debut but in two subsequent starts, has landed a close 2nd followed by a 3rd, both at 1200M. Both times he did his best work late on and stepping up to 1400M may be just what he needs to make the breakthrough. (7) CHRYSOL MAJOR came from well off the pace to land a best to date 2nd place over 1300M on September 29th, well behind a good winner, but showing promise and he won’t need to improve much to go close here. (5) ORANGE TIME too improved to 2nd place at his latest start on September 15th and is another for who the additional distance may benefit. (8) CRAZE CHANG and (3) GANGCHEOL DRAGON among others in at least the placing frame.

Selections(2) Wonderful Northern (7) Chrysol Major (5) Orange Time (8) Craze Chang
Next Best3, 4
Fast Start2, 4, 5, 6

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

Maidens with four of the eleven racing for the first time. Moon Se-young is in town to ride Wonderful Slew in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup later and he picks up a potential winner here on the shape of (7) FLYING CHAMPION. After an inauspicious debut, he has finished 2nd and 4th in two subsequent outings at 1200M and 1400M and he won’t need to improve much, if at all, to beat this lot. (9) EUNBIT DAERO is the only other experienced one with any form to speak of, having run 4th on debut in a decent time over 1000M. With some natural improvement she can get close here. (10) DOCTOR CURLIN did nothing at start number two but if we go on his 5th of eleven form a wide draw on debut, he can shape as a place chance. Other than that it is the debut-makers and (1) DAEGIL HERO and (3) WONDERFUL FORTUNE were the best in trials.

Selections(7) Flying Champion (9) Eunbit Daero (10) Doctor Curlin (1) Daegil Hero
Next Best3, 6
Fast Start1, 6, 9, 10

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

(4) SCALE KING is yet to win in eight attempts but got promoted to this level with a few too many near-misses and then showed he can compete with a 3rd place over 1200M on September 14th when handy throughout. He has raced well at this trip already and today can be his day. Probably betting favourite is (6) STING JET. After running 4th on debut, he was a winner at start number two over 1200M on September 15th when tracking the leader and pulling away late. He is up in class and slightly in trip but is down in the weights and can measure up. (3) AUSTIN LEADER mixes his form, but this is the kind of company among which he can compete for at least a place. (11) BELOTERO and (7) EAST RISING among others in the frame.

Selections(4) Scale King (6) Sting Jet (3) Austin Leader (11) Belotero
Next Best7, 1
Fast Start5, 6, 7, 10

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

(11) NINETY PLUS got his maiden in at start number two on August 11th before running 2nd in the valuable Gangseo-gu Mayor’s Trophy for juveniles on September 8th, settling midfield and running on. He has by far the quickest final furlong among these, and the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem (2) HAPPY CHARMING was a front-running winner on debut over 1200M on September 8th. She comes up in class and in distance here and from a good draw, she can get on pace, and she can win again. (7) ROAD TO FIGHTER is up in class following a maiden win over 1200M at start number three on September 13th. He doesn’t get much of a weight break, but he can measure up here. (8) WE LIKE MONEY and (6) DOCTOR FIGHTER among plenty of other place chances in a competitive race.

Selections(11) Ninety Plus (2) Happy Charming (7) Road To Fighter (8) We Like Money
Next Best6, 10
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 7

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

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (October 18)

It’s another big weekend of racing with the Queens Tour Fall/Winter continuing on Sunday with the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup, as well as a pair of big races in the Juvenile Series the same afternoon. Saturday’s action is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

Juvenile maidens with three of the nine racing for the first time. We’ll side with the experience though (6) HYEUKMUSANG won a July trial before running 2nd on debut over this distance on August 31st beaten only by a winner who has gone on to score again. He should have come on for the run and will be a warm favourite to prevail here. (1) SAENAE CLASSIC was given a tough assignment on debut in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy but he acquitted himself fairly, running 6th of eleven having raced just behind the speed. He should have derived benefit from that and can improve here. (2) DRAGON K ran 8th in the same race having finished 4th over 1000M on debut. He too can get closer here. (4) SMART TAKE and (3) HAKSAN CAIRO both hinted at ability on their respective debuts.

Selections(6) Hyeukmusang (1) Saenae Classic (2) Dragon K (4) Smart Take
Next Best3, 8
Fast Start1, 2, 6, 8

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

(4) CHEONGSAN JIJLU registered a 4th and a 3rd from his first two starts before finishing a good 5th of eleven in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy at start number three on September 7th when he beat a couple of the leading contenders for race 1 today. He got a long way back that day before running on and with a better start and in more amenable company, he should be too strong. (3) BREEDO TROPHY has made solid progress across four starts so far with his latest, on September 15th, being his best when 3rd over this distance coming from well off the pace. He’s got a smart finish on him and from a good draw, Kozzi can pick his spot, and they will be a danger. (1) MAGIC SILENCE comes in having run an improved 3rd place at this distance on October 6th. She makes a quick return here to strike while the iron is at least lukewarm and from her best draw to date, she can get her best result to date. (9) KYLIE and (2) YEONGWON FANTASTIC other chances.

Selections(4) Cheongsan Jilju (3) Breedo Trophy (1) Magic Silence (9) Kylie
Next Best2, 10
Fast Start1, 7, 9, 10

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

(1) RAON HIT MAN enters having beaten a couple of these on his way to 2nd place on what was his first try at this distance on September 15th, coming from well off the pace. The extended trip seemed to suit, and he can make it twelfth time lucky today. (5) WITH DIS KURO has finished off well in each of his three outings so far, up to 1300M. Each time he has run out of track, and he too should appreciate the chance to run at further today. (6) P N S ME and (4) NATURAL SOUND came home 3rd and 4th respectively behind Raon Hit Man in that September 15th race. Both have run once since, putting in good efforts and then can be in the mix here. (8) SUN GALLANT the other placing chance.

Selections(1) Raon Hit Man (5) With Dis Kuro (6) P N S Me (4) Natural Sound
Next Best8, 2
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 7

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

Fillies only here and (10) SERGEANT LIGHT shapes as the warm favourite. She has been getting progressively closer across her six starts to date, culminating in a close 2nd place over this distance on September 14th when slightly slow away before being ridden up to race handy. The wide draw shouldn’t matter, and she can go one better this time. (5) MERIT SUNSHINE beat a couple of these on her way to 3rd place at 1200M on September 14th, his best finish so far. In this company, she can be ridden forward today and can be in this a long way. (3) DIA ROOK did nothing in her first two starts but only went down by a very narrow margin at start three on August 17th at this distance having led for much of the way. She can lead here too and be a danger. (11) OKCHEON WIN STAR and (7) CALIPH others in the placing frame.

Selections(10) Sergeant Light (5) Merit Sunshine (3) Dia Rook (11) Okcheon Win Star
Next Best7, 2
Fast Start2, 5, 8, 10

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

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