Day: January 2, 2025

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 4)

The capital track’s 2025 season kicks off on Saturday with an 11-race card from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

Three-year-old filly maidens with nine of the twelve racing for the first time. (8) SAMJEONG LADY ran 3rd on debut in a similar filly only maiden to this at the end of October, settling midfield and running on. She’s had ten weeks off since then, but that experience can be key in seeing her home on top here. (9) CLAIR BIG BANG is the pick of the debut-makers. She led every step of the way in her trial, winning it by plenty and in a quick time. If she brings that form to the races, she is a big chance first-up. (5) TTOSUNI SEOUL was a fair 5th of eleven on debut over this distance on November 23rd and she can have come on for the run. Returning to the first timers, (11) HERO CHOICE and (6) SALVADOR hinted at ability in trials.

Selections(8) Samjeong Lady (9) Clair Big Bang (5) Ttosuni Seoul (11) Hero Choice
Next Best6, 4
Fast Start7, 8, 9, 11

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

After a couple of goes to figure things out, (10) LEMON K has a 3rd and a 2nd from her latest two, most recently beating three of these over this distance on December 8th when handy throughout. Expect similar tactics here and she can go one better. (7) GLOBAL SERVE was 3rd in that December race having led for much of the way around. He also has a 2nd place to his name and from a fair draw, can be on pace and in this a long way again. (9) RAON SPILETTA did nothing on debut in September but was much improved at start number two on November 30th when an on-pace 4th. An apprentice claim means he carries 2kg less this time and can continue to make progress. (11) CHEONJI LADY and (1) WONPYEONG NURI other placing chances.

Selections(10) Lemon K (7) Global Serve (9) Raon Spiletta (11) Cheonji Lady
Next Best1, 3
Fast Start1, 5, 7, 10

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

(1) JISAN FORCE was ordinary on debut in October but came up to this trip for start number two on December 1st and having drawn the widest gate, came from off the pace to run a strong 2nd with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. Drawing much better and without much speed in this race, he may well be on pace from the start this time and will be favoured to win.  (6) YEOLJEONGMA was slow away on debut over 1200M on December 8th but ran on well to finish in midfield. He should have derived benefit from the experience, the additional trip can suit, and he should be closer this time. That will mean overturning the form on (9) TURBO CHARGE, who ran 4th in that December 8th race. That matched her previous finish, and she is another who may enjoy the step up in distance. (10) ECO FORE and (4) THUNDER LUCKY others to consider.

Selections(1) Jisan Force (6) Yeoljeongma (9) Turbo Charge (10) Eco Fore
Next Best4, 3
Fast Start1, 5, 9, 10

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

Fillies (and one mare) only in this maiden. (8) DONGBANG FORCE enters off 2nd and a 3rd from her latest two, both at 1200M and both times racing on pace. She should be the quickest to the front here and she has every chance. (6) DIA ROOK was very narrowly beaten into 2nd three starts back when she led and was 3rd on her latest coming from off the pace. She’ll be challenging for the lead here and Moon Se-young being booked for the first time means she will probably start as the favourite.  (3) GRACE ROUTE improved to 3rd at start two on December 14th and from a much better draw can be in the finish again. (9) LADY FOX and (2) SWITCH POWER among other place chances.

Selections(8) Dongbang Force (6) Dia Rook (3) Grace Route (9) Lady Fox
Next Best2, 1
Fast Start1, 4, 6, 8

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

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Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 3)

The 2025 racing season gets underway at Busan on Friday with 9 races from 11:25 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

2024 Horse of the Year Global Hit arrived in Seoul on Thursday for pre-export quarantine ahead of travelling to Dubai (Pic: KRA)

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

The 2025 racing season kicks off with a maiden with two of the eleven racing for the first time. (6) DOCTOR KAREN ran an improved 4th at start number two when she led for much of the way around over this distance. She weakened late and the time was slow, but she showed enough to suggest that in this company she can lead again and will be the one to beat. (11) JEONGMUN FELIX went through two trials in fair times, improving to 3rd in the second of them. He has the challenge of the widest gate but if he brings that trial form, he can go close first-up. The other debut-maker, (2) HANEUL BOSS, is the next best. He was a solid 5th of nine in his trial in a decent time and from a good draw has nothing to fear in this field. Returning to the first timers, (7) BEOLGYOUI HIM and (3) HANNAM QUEEN may be the best of a very limited rest.

Selections(6) Doctor Karen (11) Jeongmun Felix (2) Haneul Boss (7) Beolgyoui Him
Next Best3, 10
Fast Start2, 4, 6, 11

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

(1) SHACKLE LAUD has been knocking at the door in his lates three and comes into a much better gate this time than when he drew the widest when 4th at this distance on December 13th. Tanaka climbs on and he is the one to beat. That will mean overturning the form on (8) PINE BLUE, who was 3ed in that December 13th race. That was an uptick in form, and he can maintain his momentum here. (2) EAST SUN has steadily improved across three starts so far culminating in a 3rd place in an all-filly maiden at this distance on December 6th. From a very good draw, she can be on pace, and she can be in this a long way. (3) DIVINE KINGDOM and (4) HI LEGEND other place chances.

Selections(1) Shackle Laud (8) Pine Blue (2) East Sun (3) Divine Kingdom
Next Best4, 7
Fast Start2, 5, 7, 9

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

Fillies and mares only in this maiden. (11) TEAM SURPRISE has been getting closer and closer across her seven starts to date and comes in following a 3rd place at this distance on November 24th when she was ridden a bit further forward than in other recent outings. Despite the widest draw, expect similar tactics today and she can win. (3) DREAMMA is yet to finish in the top two but has no fewer than seven finishes between 3rd and 5th. In this company and drawn well, she can be expected to be on pace, and she shapes as the main danger. (9) SINCHEON FREEDOM picked up at start number three when 5th at 1200M on December 20th and with Munro booked for the first time, can go closer today. (4) COME ON GLORY and (8) GOLDMASK are the other placing chances.

Selections(11) Team Surprise (3) Dreamma (9) Sincheon Freedom (4) Come On Glory
Next Best8, 6
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 9

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

(1) YONGBI PAEWANG registered back-to-back 3rd place finishes in Listed juvenile company in September and October before finishing in midfield in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie in November. He is yet to win but has shown enough against promising horses to suggest that back in more amenable company, he can win. (10) ALL TIME LEGEND is also winless having been promoted to this class with a pair of runner-up finishes from his first two starts before running 3rd on his first try at this level at 1200M on December 1st. He comes up in trip here but should be a danger late on again. (2) BIG JAWS comes up in class having won over 1200M on December 1st and well-drawn and down in weight, can measure up. (4) HYPER FORCE and (11) GOLDEN NICE others to consider.

Selections(1) Yongbi Paewang (10) All Time Legend (2) Big Jaws (4) Hyper Force
Next Best11, 3
Fast Start2, 3, 9, 10

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(11) NINETY PLUS will be a warm favourite here. The Instagrand colt comes in having run 2nd at this class and distance back on November 24th and having previously finished 2nd in Listed juvenile company, he is very much the one to beat. (3) BABEL DREAMY enters off back-to-back runner-up finishes most recently beating a few of these over this distance on December 6th when coming from well off the pace. Yet to win from fourteen starts, she has no fewer than five 2nd place finishes, and she should be in the mix again. (9) HOLY RUN is yet to finish outside of the top four from five attempts and in this company should be there or thereabouts again without looking a winning chance. (10) BLACK SPEED and (5) NANGMAN DAERO are other place chances.

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