Day: November 15, 2024

Seoul & Busan Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (November 17)

Juveniles take centre-stage at both Seoul and Busan on Sunday with Listed races open to the very best young imports at both tracks. 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:

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

Juvenile maidens in the opener and (4) ECLIPSE BLACK will be a hot favourite. An extremely tough assignment on debut in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy went about as well as could be expected by the was much better when tried in regular company at 1400M on October 6th when he overcame gate ten to run 3rd. The Shackleford colt gets a much better draw this time and he should win. (11) WONDERFUL REASON was a fair 4th on debut over 1200M on October 5th when handy all the way around. He doesn’t benefit from an apprentice claim this time but should have come on for the run and can be closer. (3) HAKSAN CAIRO has a 3rd and a 5th from two starts so far, coming from off the pace both times. Nicely drawn, he can sit behind the speed and run into the money. (9) DURAY SHOW and (2) HIGH CROWN are others who can improve from their debuts.

Selections(4) Eclipse Black (11) Wonderful Reason (3) Haksan Cairo (9) Duray Show
Next Best2, 5
Fast Start4, 8, 10, 11

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (8) HANGANG FASHIONED has a couple of 4th places and a fifth among four starts so far up to 1200M. The slight step up in trip can suit, and she has as good a chance as any here. She will need to overturn form though on (6) ECO WORLD, who beat her when the pair ran 4th and 5th on October 12th over 1200M. Harry stays up and from a better gate, she is a big danger. (4) HYEWONYONGMA enters off a much-improved runner-up finish when stepped up to this distance for the first time on October 19th when she led for much of the way around. A similar effort will see her very close here. (10) NESSUN DORMA and (3) GANDAGO are the other placing chances.

Selections(8) Hangang Fashioned (6) Eco World (4) Hyewonyongma (10) Nessun Dorma
Next Best3, 1
Fast Start4, 6, 8, 10

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

Small field of juvenile maidens in the opener and (2) YOUNG SKYWALKER is the one to beat. After winning a trial, he was a smart 2nd on debut on October 13th racing on pace and going close in a quick time. He draws well to lead and will be hard to hold out. (5) MAENGNYONG was similarly 2nd on his debut which came over 1300M on October 18th when he led for most of the way, only to get passed in the final furlong. He too will be on pace and can be dangerous. Continuing with the runner-up theme, (1) FLASH RUN came from off the pace to finish 2nd on debut in a filly only maiden over 1000M on October 11th. The step up in trip can suit and she can be a danger too. Debut-maker (6) FLYING RACE ran 2nd in his trial, well beaten by an experienced horse, but hinting at ability and he can go well first-up. (7) BEOLMA KING was 3rd on debut and can build on that here.

Selections(2) Young Skywalker (5) Maengnyong (1) Flash Run (6) Flying Race
Next Best7, 3
Fast Start2, 5

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies and mares only here. We’ll give (5) RISING MO a pass on her latest which came in the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy for juveniles when he was slow away and always a long way back. Instead, we’ll go on her first two outings when he led from gate to wire on debut over 1000M and then was 3rd at 1300M at start number two, both in quick times. If she brings that form, she can win. (10) BRIGHT KAI comes in off a 3rd and a 2nd from her latest two at 1300M and 1400M suggesting she is getting to grips with this level. The cut back in trip is a minor surprise but, in this company, she can be dangerous, settling behind the speed and running on. (3) GULJAK SUN enters off a 2nd place at class and distance in a very similar race on October 20th. She was well beaten by a good winner, but a similar effort will put her in the mix again. (6) MISS FINAL and (2) HWIPARAM are the other placing chances.

Selections(5) Rising Mo (10) Bright Kai (3) Guljak Sun (6) Miss Final
Next Best2, 1
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 7

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

It’s hard to go past (1) MIRAGE here. After a solid trial, she ran 3rd on debut over 1200M in an all-filly maiden on October 18th, racing on pace throughout. She should have come on for that run and she won’t need to improve much – if at all – to win this. (10) FLASH DAY races for the first time since June when he ran a solid 4th over this distance. He didn’t offer too many clues in a fair trial at the end of October but on the best he has shown, he can be a danger. (6) DIA X has the fastest time among these for the distance by some margin, recorded when 7th on debut (admittedly on a week in August when the track was running the fastest it has ever been). He has trialed well since his latest race in early September and that’s enough to put him in the mix here. (3) RACE MAN and (9) PINE BLUE others who could improve in this moderate company.

Selections(1) Mirage (10) Flash Day (6) Dia X (3) Race Man
Next Best9, 2
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 6

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) MAGIC IMPACT has really taken to the 1700M, getting her maiden win on her first try at it at class 6 level in September before following up with a close 2nd on her class 5 debut on October 12th when she led for most of the way and had a couple of today’s rivals behind her. She carries an additional 2.5kg this time but that shouldn’t be a problem, and she will be favourite to go one better. (9) DANGDAECHOWOL is yet to win in four attempts but comes up in class following back-to-back runner up finishes over 1300M. He tackles 1700M for the first time and given his running style so far, it may well suit. (10) COMPLETE PARTY was a somewhat unexpected winner at this class over 1400M on October 13th when leading all the way. She comes up 3.5kg in the weights and is up to 1700M for the first time, but she can be competitive. (4) PURPLE SHINHWA and (7) NATURAL SOUND are the other place chances.

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (November 16)

Saturday’s racing 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 all but three racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience though and (6) NAEGILUI YEOJEONG, who overcame a wide draw to settle handy and run on for 4th place on debut at this distance on October 13th. He should have come on for that run and from a better gate, he looks the one to beat. (10) GEOLJAK CHUKJE bled on debut over 1000M on September 14th but still managed to finish 2nd, only beaten less than a length. He came through a trial unscathed in October and can be a danger here. Turning to the first timers, (1) CHUPUNGNYEONG was the best in trials, settling just off the speed and running on for 3rd in a fair time. If he brings that form to the races, he won’t be far away. (5) GOLD QUEENS and (8) CHEONGRYONGUI CAL others who hinted at ability in their heats.

Selections(6) Naegilui Yeojeong (10) Geoljak Chukje (1) Chupungnyeong (5) Gold Queens
Next Best8, 3
Fast Start1, 6, 8, 11

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

(11) YEONHUI HERO was a close 2nd on debut at this distance in August and while he had a poor day at the office when favourite on September 15th, getting a difficult trip and ultimately finishing 6th, he comes in fresh here and in this modest company can be given another chance.  That modest company means we can give a chance to debut-maker (2) UPPERHAND. The Testa Matta filly went through two trials, improving in the second (which was voluntary so may not appear on all race cards, but it was on October 10th, and she was 4th in 63.7) and from a good draw she can put in a bold effort. (9) BEST SHARK improved at start number two and can so do again here. (8) BLACK RUSSIAN and (5) GRAY PHANTOM, others who can get closer.

Selections(11) Yeonhui Hero (2) Upperhand (9) Best Shark (8) Black Russian
Next Best5, 1
Fast Start2, 6, 10, 11

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) GANGNARU ran 3rd on debut on October 27th, settling back and finishing off well over 1200M. He should have come on for the run, the step up to 1400M can suit, and he is the one to beat. (1) YEONGWON GIANT Has a best of 2nd and has picked up again in his latest two, registering a pair of 4th place finishes, most recently at this distance on October 20th when racing further forward than usual. From the inside gate, expect similar tactics today and he can be a danger. (8) BEST KINGDOM is two starts into a comeback following almost eight months out. He comes in off a useful 4th place at this distance at the end of September and can get closer here. (5) OKCHEON WIN STAR and (2) HIPPODROME are other possibles.

Selections(6) Gangnaru (1) Yeongwon Giant (8) Best Kingdom (5) Okcheon Win Star
Next Best2, 7
Fast Start1, 2, 5, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) PROMISE began his career with a win and followed it up with a 2nd place at this class and distance on October 5th when settling midfield and running on. He struggled when sent up to 1700M two weeks ago, but back at one turn today, he can return to winning ways. (11) MARU JANGGUN is a winner of two from four so far, most recently at this class and distance on October 13th. He comes up 2.5kg and has the challenge of the widest gate, but neither should be insurmountable, and he may start as the betting favourite. (10) YEONGWON FANTASTIC comes up in class following a maiden win at start number five on October 19th over 1200M. He tackles the 1400M for the first time but is lightly weighted and he can measure up. (7) GANGCHEOL JEONSA and (6) JURING SKY other chances.

Selections(2) Promise (11) Maru Janggun (10) Yeongwon Fantastic (7) Gangcheol Jeonsa
Next Best6, 9
Fast Start6, 9, 10, 11

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

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