Day: December 13, 2024

Seoul & Busan Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (December 15)

Sunday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00 and at Busan with 6 races from 11:25 to 16:05. Here are the previews:

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

Juvenile maidens with six of the twelve racing for the first time. Experience is preferred though and (11) NURI CHEONWANG came from off the pace to run 2nd on debut over this distance on November 10th, well beaten by a good winner, but showing more than enough to suggest he has potential. She should have come on for that run and can prove too strong late here. (8) DIXIE MAN ran 3rd on his debut at this distance on November 2nd, settling midfield and running on. The time was slower than that of Nuri Choegang but with Moon Se-young climbing on, he will be vying for favourite status. (2) BEOLGYO LAVA ran 4th on his first outing on November 2nd, overcoming a wide draw. He comes into a better gate today and like the other two, should have come on for the run. Among the first timers, (12) MUSKET DAY and (3) RYAN HEART looked the best in trials.

Selections(11) Nuri Cheonwang (8) Dixie Man (2) Beolgyo Lava (12) Musket Day
Next Best3, 4,
Fast Start3, 4, 9, 12

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

Fillies only in this maiden and (6) I AM GO will be the warm favourite. She registered a 4th and a 2nd in two tries at 1000M which led her to be sent off as favourite on her first try at this distance on November 9th when she was on pace early only to ultimately run 5th. She should have learned from that and can win here from the front. That will mean overturning the form on (9) B.K LOVE, who ran a significantly improved 2nd in that November 9th race, leading for much of the way around. She can be on pace again and in this a long way. (1) CHOCO BEAUTY is another with a best of 2nd place, in her case recorded two starts back at this distance when also recording the fastest time among those here who have already tackled the 1300M. From the inside gate, she can sit behind the early speed and run on. (2) UPPERHAND and (8) P N S PA are other placing chances.

Selections(6) I Am Go (9) B.K Love (1) Choco Beauty (2) Upperhand
Next Best8, 3
Fast Start2, 4, 6, 9

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

Juvenile maidens with five of the seven racing for the first time. (9) WIND FREE ran 2n don debut over 1200M on November 22nd, settling towards the rear of midfield before steadily improving. She should have derived benefit from the experience, the additional half furlong can suit, and she is favoured to go one better. Of the newcomers, (1) SEOBU GAMBLE looks the best. He ran 3rd in a fair time in his trial and with franco on and from the inside gate, he can put in a bold showing first up. (4) GRAND CRU has raced twice, improving to 2nd in the second of them behind Wind Free on November 22nd. He looks to be on the right trajectory and can continue to make progress here. (2) SEOUL DRAGON and (7) DAEJI DAEBONG the other probably place hopes.

Selections(9) Wind Free (1) Seobu Gamble (4) Grand Cru (2) Seoul Dragon
Next Best7, 8
Fast Start1, 4, 6, 8

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

(6) PROCEED is yet to finish in the top two in eight attempts but has no fewer than six finishes between 3rd and 5th. He comes back in trip following a 4th place over 1700M on November 9th, and from a central draw he can be on pace and should be aiming for a career to date best finish here. (5) GANDAGO came from off the pace to run 2nd in an all-filly race over 1300M on November 17th, her best so far. She has a strong finish on her, the slight additional distance can suit, and she can be a big danger late here. (8) CRAZE CHANG was well back over this distance on his return from four months out in October. He should strip fitter here and can be in the placing mix. Without a huge amount of confidence, (3) AMENO and (1) COMMANDING LEAD are possibly the best of a limited rest.

Selections(6) Proceed (5) Gandago (8) Craze Chang (3) Ameno
Next Best1, 7
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 6

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

(9) MIRAGE ran 3rd on debut on October 18th before improving to 2nd at start number two on November 17th, both over this distance and both times racing handy to the speed. She comes in under the same weight, the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she will be a warm favourite to make it third time lucky. (4) FAST MELODY improved to 3rd at start number two at 1300M on November 10th. It wasn’t a quick race, but she showed good early speed, and she can be challenging right from the start here. The form falls off precipitously after those two. (3) BABEL COME ON was 5th on debut over 1000M and at least managed to show on the early speed before fading second-up. Munro climbs on and that combined with a good draw is enough to make her an each-way chance. (2) GOD NIKE and (10) HANNAM QUEEN others who may – may – improve.

Selections(9) Mirage (4) Fast Melody (3) Babel Come On (2) God Nike
Next Best10, 11
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(8) STUNNING PEARL ran 3rd on debut before getting her maiden win at start number two in an all0filly maiden on November 9th over 1200M when she settled handy before romping away to score by as many as she pleased. She comes up in class and slightly in distance, but neither should be an issue, and she can win again. (7) ANYANG GIPPEUM was a winner two starts back over 1200M before running a solid 4th in a similarly competitive race at this class and distance on November 16th when she led for much of the way around having got across from gate eleven. She draws slightly better this time and can be in this again. (1) BLUE RACER returns to action for the first time since his maiden win in July. He won a trial in August and while he will have to be taken on trust match fitness-wise, he was first=up for that August race and can go well again. (10) GLOBAL TIME and (4) SHINE BOLT other placing chances.

Selections(8) Stunning Pearl (7) Anyang Gippeum (1) Blue Racer (10) Global Time
Next Best4, 3
Fast Start1, 7, 10, 11

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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

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

Maiden juvenile fillies in the opener with five of the eleven racing for the first time. (4) INSIGNIA did nothing on debut over 1000M in October, slow away and always well back. She has trialed since and looked well, leading for much of it. From a good draw and with CC up, she can be a much different prospect this time around. (8) UNJU TIME looks the best of the first timers, settling midfield and running on for a close 4th in her heat in a good time. If she brings that form to the races, she can be close. (9) WINNER GLORY ran 3rd on debut on November 9th. The time wasn’t quick but with some natural improvement, she can be a danger in this limited company. (10) SEOMDOLMORU and (11) GRACE ROUTE debuted further back in the same race but also can have come on for the run.

Selections(4) Insignia (8) Unju Time (9) Winner Glory (10) Seomdolmoru
Next Best11, 2
Fast Start3, 4, 6, 9

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens and it should be competitive. (1) GANGNARU has finished 3rd in both his starts so far at 1200M and 1400M, first from off the pace and then from handy. His times at both have been good and from the inside gate, Kim Jeong-jun can pick his spot behind the speed and they can prove too strong. (2) GRAND KWAEMA has a 3rd and a 4th from his two outings, the latter in a decent time over this distance on October 27th. In this company and drawn well, he can be expected to be further forward earlier, and he can be a danger. (3) LUCKY SUNNY improved at start number two on November 3rd when 4th at this distance. He draws much better this time and further improvement can be on the agenda. Solitary debut-maker (8) ALIFER ran a close 2nd in a quick time in his trial and has to be considered first up in this field. (6) EAST GANGJEOK another in the hunt.

Selections(1) Gangnaru (2) Grand Kwaema (3) Lucky Sunny (8) Alifer
Next Best6, 5
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 9

Seoul Race 3: Class 4 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported juvenile maidens (they have to start at class 4) with five of the twelve racing for the first time. Conveniently for us, six of the seven with prior experience raced each other over 1200M on November 10th and with (4) PALATINO finishing the best of them, he is the automatic top pick. Having trialed well, he settled midfield that day and ran on strongly for 2nd place and he won’t need to improve much to go one better. (6) BRAVAZO EMPIRE ran 4th in that race having showed close to the pace early. He has over four-lengths to find on Palatino but can be on the speed and in this a long way again. (2) ART CATCHER was 6th having also been handy early and from a good draw can be up there again. Turning to the first-time starters, (8) NAMSAN BLACK dead-heated for 1st place in a quick trial and (12) NICE FORCE ran 2nd in an identical time. Both can put in bold showings first up.

Selections(4) Palatino (6) Bravazo Empire (2) Art Catcher (8) Namsan Black
Next Best12, 9
Fast Start2, 6, 9, 12

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Weak maiden. (1) JOSE led for part of the way around at her latest start before ultimately finishing 4th at this distance. She also has a 2nd place to her name at 1000M. She comes in fresh after thirteen weeks off and drawing well to lead, she has as good a chance as any. (6) DRAGON K is the other standout. He has two 4th place finishes to his name, one at this distance and he will be challenging Jose for the early lead. (4) TROLL will need a line drawn through his latest effort (and most of his thirteen) but going on his 3rd place two starts back, he can be considered for the places with an apprentice claiming 3kg. (3) MANI NODAGI and (7) MG FIRST the best of a limited rest.

Selections(1) Jose (6) Dragon K (4) Troll (3) Mani Nodagi
Next Best7, 9
Fast Start1, 3, 6, 7

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

After winning a trial, (5) WESTERN GUN was sent off as faovurite on debut over this distance on October 6th and duly ran out a seven-length winner, leading for most of the way. He has had ten weeks off and is up in class, but the manner of that win suggests there is more to come, and he will be favourite to score again. (2) YES MADAM was 2nd in that race back in October at class 6 and then followed up with a 3rd place, again at this distance, on November 3rd, which brings her up in class here. She is drawn well to get on pace, and she can measure up. (9) K POWERFUL got his maiden win in similar emphatic style to Western Gun two starts back before running 4th on his first try at this class on November 3rd. He is another front-runner who will be looking to get forward early and can be in this a long way. (6) JURING SKY and the up in class (11) OKCHEON WIN STAR among plenty of others with at least placing hopes.

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