Racing will take a one week break, with the action not resuming until February 7. We head into the holiday with Sunday cards at Seoul (11 races from 10:35 to 18:00) and Busan (6 races from 12:05 to 16:30). Here are the previews:

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

Competitive maiden to open with. (1) SMART A ONE was a front-running 3^rd on debut over this distance back on October 26^th. She had a setback after that (ligament strain) but has been back in work since early this month and from a good draw, she can be on pace and has every chance here. (3) GINSHARI BOY led on debut at this distance on December 22^nd HE ultimately fell away and finished back in the pack, but he should have come on for that experience and can be in this for longer. (2) INDIAN TAPIT ran a fair 5^th on debut at the end of last month and she too can have derived benefit from the experience. (10) TROLL and (6) NAEGILUI ACE others who could be in the minor money frame.

Selections	(1) Smart A One (3) Ginshari Boy (2) Indian Tapit (10) Troll
Next Best	6, 8
Fast Start	1, 3, 8, 11

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

(10) ECLIPSE BLACK will be the warm favourite. After a shaky debut, he has put together a run of 3^rd, 4^th and most recently 2^nd when stepped up to this distance for the first time on December 28^th. He will want to be on pace, so he has the challenge of a wide draw, but CC stays on and he is very much the one to beat. (8) UMA DACHI was slow away at start two in that same race on December 28^th but ran on very nicely to finish in midfield. With a better start, he can get much closer this time. (3) KING WARRIOR enters off an improved 3^rd place at 1300M on December 22^nd when on pace throughout. He comes up to the 1400M for the first time and from a good draw, it can suit. Debut maker (1) CHRYSOL DONGHAE along with (9) CYCLONE STAR are others to consider.

Selections	(10) Eclipse Black (8) Uma Dachi (3) King Warrior (1) Chrysol Donghae
Next Best	9, 5
Fast Start	3, 7, 9, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (6) FLYING DAY ran out a winner on debut over 1200M in a filly maiden on December 29^th when racing handy throughout. She comes up in class and in distance here, but neither should be an issue, and she can maintain her 100% record. (10) STUNNING PEARL got her maiden win at start number two in November and then ran 2^nd on her first try at this class on December 15^th over 1300M. She comes up slightly in the weights, but the draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she can maintain her record of never being outside of the top three. (7) GAMUN PARTY enters off a maiden win on December 29^th. It was at this class, so she comes up a full 3.5kg in the weights, but she warrants respect. (5) SEMYEONG DIA and (2) GROW other placing chances.

Selections	(6) Flying Day (10) Stunning Pearl (7) Gamun Party (5) Semyeong Dia
Next Best	2, 1
Fast Start	1, 5, 7, 9

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies and mares only in the opening maiden on the south coast. (1) GLOBAL HEROINE ran 5^th on debut before improving to 3^rd at start number two over 1300M on December 27^th, with a couple of today’s rivals behind her. She led for much of the way that day and from the inside gate can so the same here and this time go all the way. (10) GWANGPUNG STAR has been 4^th on both her outings so far, most recently behind Global Heroine in that December 27^th race. She can settle back and run on and can be getting closer this time. (9) KKEUTPAN YEOGEOL improved to 4^th at start two on November 29^th. There isn’t much early speed in this race so she is one of the contenders to join Global Heroine on pace and she can be in this a long way. (8) WONDER MOCCASIN and (6) DOLPHIN KICK others in the hunt.

Selections	(1) Global Heroine (10) Gwangpung Star (9) Kkeutpan Yeogeol  (8) Wonder Moccasin
Next Best	6, 2
Fast Start	1, 5, 8, 9

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

Competitive race. (6) SEOUL BINGO got her maiden win at start three over this distance on December 21^st when ridden on pace for the first time. She comes up in class here but is down in the weights, Moon Se-young climbs on, and with similar tactics, she can win again. (8) SCALE KING got his maiden win at the eleventh time of asking at this class and distance on December 22^nd, settling midfield and proving too strong. He comes up 3kg in the weights but can be competitive again and a danger late on. (7) BAEDARI KWAEGEOM saw her form go a little cold across last summer, but she finished off 2024 well with a 3^rd and a 2^nd. She comes in fresh off a nine-week lay off and can be in the mix again. (3) NAOL INDY and (5) WONPYEONG GWANGYA other minor money chances.

Selections	(6) Seoul Bingo (8) Scale King (7) Baedari Kwaegeom (3) Naol Indy
Next Best	5, 10
Fast Start	3, 5, 7, 11

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

(7) YOUNG SKYWALKER was a beaten favourite three times before finally breaking through at the fourth time of asking on December 29^th when racing handy and running on. That was at this class and distance so he does come up 3.5kg in weight, but in this company, he should be on or close to the pace and the force can be with him once more. It only took (10) TOHAMSAN TIGER two attempts to get his maiden win, which he did at this distance on January 5^th. He makes a quick return here up in class but down in weight and he can measure up. (5) SWORD MASTER was an also-ran in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie for juveniles in November but bounced back to run 2^nd at this class over a mile just before Christmas, albeit a long way behind a very good-looking winner. He comes back to the trip at which he got his win and Munro knows him well. (4) YONGBI PAEWANG finished 3^rd in two Listed events as a juvenile last term and back down in trip can be given a chance. (9) WORLD WINNERS MAN another to consider on a place line.

Selections	(7) Young Skywalker (10) Tohamsan Tiger (5) Sword Master (4) Yongbi Paewang
Next Best	9, 2
Fast Start	1, 2, 5, 8

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

(8) DREAM CARD returned from six months out in December and has run 3^rd twice, both at this class and both over 1400M. He steps up to 1700M for the first time, but his style suggests it can suit and third up he can be peaking fitness wise. (6) SPEED CARA enters having beaten a few of these when an on-pace 3^rd at this class over 1800M on December 28^th. He is one for one at this distance and shapes as the main danger. (11) ELDORADO HEUNGBU was 4^th in that race behind Speed Cara. He is yet to win in six attempts but should have derived benefit from his first go around two turns and can be there or thereabouts today. (1) LOVE O MINE and the up in class (3) LUCKY FAMOUS are others in the hunt.

Selections	(8) Dream Card (6) Speed Cara (11) Eldorado Heungbu (1) Love O Mine
Next Best	3, 7
Fast Start	2, 3, 8, 11

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

(7) RICH TREE looks the one to beat here. After running 2^nd at a mile two starts back, he stepped up to two turns for the first time on December 27^th and after a slow start from a wide gate, ran on for 5^th. He should have benefitted from that experience and from a slightly better gate and with a better start, he can win. That will mean overturning the form on (12) THE WIND, who ran 4^th in that race, coming from well off the pace. The wide draw is no problem, Munro stays on, and he can be there or thereabouts again. (10) BLUE POINT is yet to win in twelve attempts but has been getting closer and comes in off a smart class and distance 2^nd just two weeks ago. He is another who likes to settle back and run on, and he can be danger late. (3) FAT BOY and (1) HI CHAMP others in the placing frame.  

Selections	(7) Rich Tree (12) The Wind (10) Blue Point (3) Fat Boy
Next Best	1, 8
Fast Start	1, 5, 6, 9

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(more…)