Day: February 14, 2025

Segye Ilbo Trophy Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (February 16)

For the first time in more than two months Stakes race action returns to Korea as the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy over 1200M takes place at Seoul on Sunday afternoon. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:05 to 16:30. Here are the previews:

Last year’s Segye Ilbo was won by Vics Go, who doesn’t return to defend his title (Pic: KRA)

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

(2) ROAD TO A SPUR has made steady progress across three starts so far, culminating in 3rd place over this distance on December 22nd. CC stays on, he draws well to lead and today can be the day. (11) SPARTAN has mixed his form across seven appearances so far with his best being a pair of 3rd places over this distance. He has the fastest time among these for the 1200M and while he has the challenge of the widest gate, he can be a danger. (8) BS STORM was a fair 5th on debut over 1300M on December 28th, starting well before getting shuffled right back but then running on. He should have come on for the run and be closer here. (9) STUNNING WORLD and (6) NONSTOP SERVE others who can be considered.

Selections(2) Road To A Spur (11) Spartan (8) BS Storm (9) Stunning World
Next Best6, 5
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 10

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

Fillies only in this maiden and plenty look ready to win. (6) TURBO CHARGE ran 4th a couple of times before an improved 2nd over 1400M on January 4th when she led for much of the way around. She comes back slightly in trip, she draws well to lead again, and she can win. (2) MUNHAK BELL was 6th on debut before running 2nd at start number two over 1200M on January 5th, settling in the front end of midfield and running on. Third up she can be peaking fitness wise and has every chance. (5) RAON THE AFFIRMED ran 3rd in that January 5th race having also shown on the speed. She has two-and-a-half lengths to make up on Munhak Bell but looks good for at least another place finish. (7) GRAY PHANTOM and (4) GWANAKSAN WONDERFUL are among plenty of others who have shown potential.

Selections(6) Turbo Charge (2) Munhak Bell (5) Raon The Affirmed (7) Gray Phantom
Next Best4, 10
Fast Start2, 5, 6, 9

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

(3) LADY BLUE beat three of these on her way to an improved 2nd place on January 18th, racing on pace throughout over 1300M. Like most of these, she comes up to1400M for the first time, she draws well to lead again, and she can go one better. (4) BLACK SMILE ran 5th in that January 18th race having gone well back and run on. That continued signs of her having started to figure things out and Maia climbing on means she can continue to make progress here. (5) YONGAM GIPPEUM also looks to be on the right trajectory and comes in off a 4th place at this distance last time out. He likes to settle back and run on, and he can be a danger late here. (8) HEEMANGBAND and (10) EAGLE WINGS are others who may improve.

Selections(3) Lady Blue (4) Black Smile (5) Yongam Gippeum (8) Heemangband
Next Best10, 2
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 7

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (9) KYUNGNAM DRAGON ran twice last summer for a 4th and a 2nd at 1000M and 1200M. She hasn’t raced since but she looked well when 3rd in a January trial and Seo Seung-un partnering with Bart Rice means she should be sent off as favourite. (8) RIGHT CHAMP has been getting closer in recent starts, most recently when 3rd at 1400M on January 19th. In this company, she can be on pace and has a chance (4) THE NOMINATE was 7th on debut last May and then didn’t reappear until January 19th when she was a solid 3rd place at this distance. She should strip fitter for that run and can press again here. (12) QUEEN TYCHE was 2nd in that January 19th race, her best so far and she can be in the mix again. (10) ILLUSION another place contender.

Selections(9) Kyungnam Dragon (8) Right Champ (4) The Nominate (12) Queen Tyche
Next Best10, 1
Fast Start1, 8, 9, 12

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

It’s hard to go far past (1) ECLIPSE EDGE here. He got his maiden win at start three over this distance last November and then following a dodgy day at the office on his first try at this level, ran 3rd on January 18th, again over this trip. He likes to race on pace or handy and won’t need to improve much to win this. Plenty of others enter in form though. (5) BAEKDU ILSEONG is one for one having scored on debut over 1200M on November 11th. The way he ran on suggests the increase in trip can only suit and the class rise shouldn’t be a problem. (2) HAKSAN CAIRO was 5th behind Eclipse Edge on January 18th on his first try at this class. He comes into a much better gate today and can get closer. (6) ORANGE TIME and (3) EAST GANGJEOK are the other main chances.

Selections(1) Eclipse Edge (5) Baekdu Ilseong (2) Haksan Cairo (6) Orange Time
Next Best3, 10
Fast Start1, 3, 10, 11

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

(8) INDY GHOST has finished 3rd in both outings so far most recently in a slow (even by current standards) race at this distance on January 12th when midfield and running on. Third up she can be peaking, Munro is on, and she can win. (10) GOD NIKE has picked up in her latest two, with back-to-back 3rd places. She likes to settle back and run on so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she can get even closer today. (11) DOCTOR CASTLE has mixed his form across his four appearances so far. Three of those have been over a mile but he does have the fastest time at this distance (in as much as times are relevant presently with the slow track) and can be a danger here. (5) BARBELL TROFEO, who needs a line through his latest, and (1) RAON FLATTER are others in the hunt.

Selections(8) Indy Ghost (10) God Nike (11) Doctor Castle (5) Barbell Trofeo
Next Best1, 6
Fast Start1, 5, 9, 10

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

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 15)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00. It was very hard to pick a winner last weekend in the capita. Whether that was because of the return from the week off, the sub-zero temperatures or the relatively new sand on the track will perhaps become clearer this weekend – when there hasn’t been a holiday, the temperatures are comfortably above zero, and any track maintenance has had another week to bed in. We shall see. Here are the previews:

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

Nine unraced fillies and three unraced colts open proceedings. (11) SWEET SONG is half-sister to Classic winner Betelgeuse and enters having made all to win a trial on January 9th. CC is aboard and if she brings that form to the races, she can win. (1) MUNHAK FIGHTER went through two trials, running 4th and 3rd in fair times. From the inside gate, she should be on pace, and she has every chance of being in this a long way. (7) SEOUL NONGBU is another who showed on pace in his trial, leading before ultimately finishing in 4th place and he can be supported first up. (10) NUMBER ONE SOCKS and (12) BEST DREAM are others who hinted at ability in their respective heats.

Selections(11) Sweet Song (1) Munhak Fighter (7) Seoul Nongbu (10) Number One Socks
Next Best12, 8
Fast Start1, 2, 7, 11

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (6) JOY LIGHT went back to trial after an inauspicious debut last November and was much better when returning on January 11th, leading for much of the way around over this distance and ultimately running a solid 2nd. In this company she can be on pace again and this time she can go one better. (8) GOOD FRIEND similarly ran an improved 3rd at start number two on January 18th, coming from off the pace. Kozzi climbs on and she can continue to progress. After winning a trial (11) CLAIR BIG BANG was sent off as favourite on debut over this distance on January 4th. She started slowly and was at the back a long time before running on well for 5th and she can get better here. (5) RAON THE CAVIAR and (1) BEOLGYO LAVA others with potential for improvement.  

Selections(6) Joy Light (8) Good Friend (11) Clair Big Bang (5) Raon The Caviar
Next Best1, 7
Fast Start3, 6, 9, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(1) MR. STORM was 4th on debut before running 2nd at start number two over this distance in November when in the speed throughout. That led him to be sent off as favourite for his 2025 debut on January 5th but having drawn gate eleven, he had a hard time finding position and ultimately ran 5th. He comes into a much better gate today and warrants another chance. (2) CHEONJI LADY similarly has a best of 2nd place recorded two starts back when settling midfield and running on. She was 4th on her latest outing on January 4th when handy throughout and in this field and with this draw, she can be expected to be on pace and can go close. (5) CHEONGRYONGUI CAL led for much of the way around over this distance on January 11th, ultimately running 2nd to a good winner. He’ll join the other fancied pair on the early speed and can be in this a long way. (11) THUNDER MARVEL and (9) GWANAKSAN GLOBAL among plenty of other place chances.

Selections(1) Mr. Storm (2) Cheonji Lady (5) Cheongryongui Cal (11) Thunder Marvel
Next Best6, 4
Fast Start1, 2, 5, 9

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

Fillies and mares only here. (7) RAON DESPERATE was 3rd on debut in December before getting her maiden win at start two over this distance on January 5th when always close to the pace. She comes up in class here but looks to have plenty of potential, and she can win again. (6) CHOWON DOLPUNG got her maiden win in December leading all the way around at this trip. She had an ordinary day when sent off as favourite for her first try at this class last month, bumping on jumping and finishing midfield. Moon Se-young stays on and the manner of that previous win suggests she is worth another chance. (3) HAKSAN CLEAR is a maiden but is up in class following two runner-up finishes from three starts. She draws nicely and can measure up in this company at a probable each-way price. (2) WONDERFUL PASS and (11) HAKSAN DAESE are among others to consider.

Selections(7) Raon Desperate (6) Chowon Dolpung (3) Haksan Clear (2) Wonderful Pass
Next Best11, 8
Fast Start6, 7, 8, 9

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

It’s hard to be sure which version of (1) BLUE RACER will show up. He returned from a five-month absence in December to only beat one home with the jockey ordered not to use his stick as the horses has been extremely wayward at times in the past. He looked very well when leading all the way in a January trial and against this modest opposition, if he runs straight, he can win. (6) ELITE PEACE will also have to be forgiven his latest on January 18th when slow away and then shifting out late. A run similar to his 4th place effort over 1400M the time before will see him in the mix here. (11) HAEJE YEOGEOL enters off a 4th place at this class over 1300M last time out and while she is up 2.5kg in the weights, can match or better that here. (3) GEUMSEONG YEOJE and (4) MINT PLAY perhaps the best of a limited rest.

Selections(1) Blue Racer (6) Elite Peace (11) Haeje Yeogeol (3) Geumseong Yeoje
Next Best4, 2
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 7

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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