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 Best | 12, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 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 Best | 1, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 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 Best | 6, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 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 Best | 11, 8 |
| Fast Start | 6, 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 Best | 4, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 7 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(4) HAKSAN SPEED led from gate to wire to win by as many as he pleased over 1300M on January 19th. Ruan Maia has given the field the slip on front-runners a few times lately so he will be marked and he is up in class, but the manner of that win suggests there can be more to come. (1) MUSKET DAY was a winner on debut on December over 1200M coming from well off the pace, before running 3rd on his first try at this class and distance on January 18th when ridden more forward. He can sit behind the early speed here and can challenge late. (3) CHEONJI SKY was 4th in that same race and with CC engaged can be a danger here. (6) GEUMSEONG POWER and (7) PASA KING, 2nd and 3rd respectively when they raced one another over this distance on November 11th, are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (4) Haksan Speed (1) Musket Day (3) Cheonji Sky (6) Geumseong Power |
| Next Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here. After being found wanting in Listed company to finish off her juvenile campaign, (2) GWANAKSAN O TWO began 2025 in style beating three of these on her way to victory at this class and distance on January 5th. She comes up 3kg in weight, but that’s balanced a little by a good draw and she can be on pace and win again. (5) UASEN returned from six months out on January 12th and ran a strong 2nd over 1200M. She won two from three prior to the layoff and stripping fitter today, she has every chance. It took (9) QUEEN DIA a few goes to figure things out, but she has won her latest two in fine style from the front., most recently dominating at this distance on January 11th. That brings her rapidly up in class, but she can measure up. (3) MIGHTY WHI and (7) DIANA among others to consider.
| Selections | (2) Gwanaksan O Two (5) Uasen (9) Queen Dia (3) Mighty Whi |
| Next Best | 7, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(2) NAVID has made steady progress across three starts so far and beat a couple of these on his way to 2nd at 1400M on January 18th. He has been doing his best work late so the step up in trip can suit and he can go one better today. (3) BAZOOKA BOY was a winner at class 5 level over 1800M before running a fair 5th on his first try at this class on January 25th, leading for much of the way. He draws well to be on the speed again and can be in this a long way. (7) CHOEGO GAME ran 4th behind Navid in that January 18th race. Yet to win in eleven attempts he comes up to two turns for the first time and he can be competitive. (6) MIGHTY NIC and (8) M G BEST others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (2) Navid (3) Bazooka Boy (7) Choego Game (6) Mighty Nic |
| Next Best | 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Competitive race. (4) BOLLIN’s second win had been coming, and it arrived at this class and distance on December 29th when stalking the leader throughout before coming past late. He comes up a full 4.5kg in weight but has every chance of going back-to-back. (1) CHEONJANGSA enters having won his latest two at 1700M in November and most recently at this class on January 11th, both times settling midfield and running on. He also comes up in weight by 4kg, but it’s balanced by the inside gate and a hat-trick isn’t impossible. (5) RAON HIT MAN was well back behind Cheonjangsa in that January 11th race but was a winner at class 5 the start prior. He can get a bit far back but the slight step up in trip can help in that regard and he can be a danger late on. (2) KING GO TAEYANG and (8) GOLD MUNGCHI are others firmly in the hunt.
| Selections | (4) Bollin (1) Cheonjangsa (5) Raon Hit Man (2) King Go Taeyang |
| Next Best | 8, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 6 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(5) URUS KHAN has won three out of his last four including his most recent two, making all at this class and distance on January 4th and beating some of today’s rivals in the process. With an apprentice engaged today, he only comes up 1.5kg in the weights and that can put him firmly in the frame for a repeat. (8) MIGHTY SWEET led all the way to win over this distance on debut on December 28th. That brings him up in class but Moon Se-young stays on, the weight is light, and he looks to have plenty of potential. (3) DUSON OPEN was one of those behind Urus Khan on January 4th, running home in 5th having been handy throughout on her first try at this class. She draws well to be close early again and she be a danger. (4) A PURE GOOD WOMAN and (9) WONPYEONG KILLAR among other placing chances.
| Selections | (5) Urus Khan (8) Mighty Sweet (3) Duson Open (5) A Pure Good Woman |
| Next Best | 9, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(10) MIGHTY NEO ran 3rd behind Wonpyeong Storm and Final K in a Listed race for juveniles last November before completing his two-year-old campaign with a win at class 3 level over 1400M on December 21st. He comes up in class again as well as up to the mile for the first time and while he has the challenge of the widest gate, he can win again. (2) GLADIUS was an on pace winner at this class over 1800M on December 28th. He only comes up2.5kg in the weights but that’s more than balanced out by a much better draw, and he can repeat. (7) MANDAERO is a two-time winner at this distance and while he ran only fairly for a midfield finish last time out, he has a fine finish on him and if Harry can have him in striking distance, he can go closer. (5) CONCORDE SPURT and (9) THUNDER DREAM among others to consider.
| Selections | (10) Mighty Neo (2) Gladius (7) Mandaero (5) Concorde Spurt |
| Next Best | 9, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 8, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 