Day: February 21, 2025

Sunday Seoul & Busan Classic Trials Day: Race-By-Race Preview (February 23)

We’re just over a month away from the first leg of the Triple Crown and both Seoul and Busan host their respective main Classic Trials on Sunday. 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:

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

A rather ordinary maiden to open with. (7) MISS FAMOUS has a 4th and a 6th from two starts so far, both at this distance. Ignore the times as the track was very slow, but she ran through the line fairly enough on both occasions. CC gets on and third up she be peaking. After an inauspicious debut, (8) RAON SPILETTA has posted a 4th and a 5th, both at this distance. In this company she can compete for the early lead and can be in the finish. (1) CRAZY MARI debuted fairly last August but didn’t run again until December when she was less impressive. She does draw the inside gate though and may be a bit fitter this time. (4) LASER RUN has been back to trial since a woeful debut and should be better this time around. Debut-maker (10) GREAT CHARM trialed adequately and in such a weak race, has to be given a chance first-up.

Selections(7) Miss Famous (8) Raon Spiletta (1) Crazy Mari (4) Laser Run
Next Best10, 6
Fast Start1, 4, 7, 8

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 is yet to finish outside of the top five across her five starts to date and enters off a 3rd place at 1200M on January 11th. She should get quite an easy lead here and can go all the way. (7) SWITCH POWER actually finished ahead of I Am Go when they ran 4th and 5th over this trip last November. She has since picked up a 5th and a 3rd in two subsequent starts and shapes as the main danger. (4) JUNMA FORCE came from well off the pace to run an improved 4th at start number two on December 29th and can continue to make progress here. (11) SAMJEONG WINNER and (10) MODERN DANCE are the other main place chances.

Selections(6) I Am Go (7) Switch Power (4) Junma Force (11) Samjeong Winner
Next Best10, 5
Fast Start5, 6, 7, 11

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

(6) TAPDINE has run twice and finished 3rd twice, both at 1200M and most recently when slightly slow away on January 11th before quickly being ridden up to the pace. He steps up to 1400M for the first time and can win from the front. (2) RAON NOTHERN DANCE has made good progress across four starts, culminating in 2nd place at 1300M on January 19th. In this company and well-drawn, he can also be expected to be on the speed and to be in this a long way. (7) GRAND KWAEMA has been consistent across his four starts so far, never finishing worse than 4th. Moon Se-young stays on and he should be there or thereabouts today. (9) GWANAKSAN CHECK IN may appreciate the additional distance today and along with (8) DYNAMIC SONG is another to consider for the minors.

Selections(6) Tapdine (2) Raon Nothern Dance (7) Grand Kwaema (9) Gwanaksan Check In
Next Best8, 11
Fast Start2, 6, 7, 9

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

Twelve fillies in the south coast opener. (2) QUEEN LIRUN debuted on December 22nd but laid out and became unmanageable before being discontinued with three furlongs left. She was ordered to take two trials as a result and came through them very nicely, finishing 3rd in one and winning another. She draws nicely to lead and if she behaves, she can win. (11) BLACK TREE was an improved 4th at start number two over this distance on December 13th. She comes in fresh after ten weeks off and with Seo Seung-un climbing on, may well start as favourite. (10) GLOBAL HEROINE was found to be lame after a disappointing outing last month. She came back into work on February 9th and going on her 3rd place at the start before, has to be in this. (5) QUEENS DRAGON and first-time starter (7) FINAL ATTACK are others to consider.

Selections(2) Queen Lirun (11) Black Tree (10) Global Heroine (5) Queens Dragon
Next Best7, 3
Fast Start2, 5, 8, 10

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

(3) GOLD QUEENS was a winner on debut in November before running a fair 4th on her first try at this class, again at 1200M, on January 11th, settling midfield and running on. She draws well, stays under a light weight, and she can win here. (1) NAEGILUI YEOJEONG got promoted to this class with a pair of runner-up finishes and then immediately got his maiden win on January 19th. He comes up 4kg in weight, but from the inside gate can get to the lead and can repeat. (8) WONDERFUL DONGCHON is up in class having scored at this trip aon January 5th and he can measure up in this company. (2) GAMUN PARTY and (9) HAKSAN DARK HORSE others who can be in the mix in a competitive race.

Selections(3) Gold Queens (1) Naegilui Yeojeong (8) Wonderful Dongchon (2) Gamun Party
Next Best9, 7
Fast Start1, 7, 8, 11

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

(7) FLYING THE KHAN enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes over 1300M. He has a smart finish on him so the slight step up in trip can be to his benefit and he can win here. (5) FAST QUEEN came from well off the pace for an improved 2nd place on what was her first try at this distance on January 12th with a couple of today’s rivals behind. The track was very slow that day so ignore the time, and she is another who can be dangerous late on. In contrast, (3) SEOGWI WORLD should be on pace. He weakened on debut but should have derived benefit from the run and nicely drawn he can be in this a long way. (11) STAR FORCE and (4) ROCK CANDY are among other place chances.

Selections(7) Flying The Khan (5) Fast Queen (3) Seogwi World (11) Star Force
Next Best4, 1
Fast Start2, 3, 9, 12

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

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Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 22)

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 30 Million

Maiden fillies in the opener. Ruan Maia has been in excellent form since the short Lunar New Year break, and he can continue here with (7) KOTAP. She has a best of 3rd and comes in following 5th place in a tougher race than this on January 4th. She draws well to lead, and she can go all the way. (10) EXCELLENT HANSEN took a few goes to figure things out but raced on pace for the first time on December 29th and finished a much-improved 2nd. He has the challenge of a wider gate but can build on that here. (2) NAEGILUI ACE was a well beaten but improved 5th at start two and from a good draw can get closer. (3) GIDAEHARA and (5) FLYING LION others to consider.

Selections(7) Kotap (10) Excellent Hansen (2) Naegilui Ace (3) Gidaehara
Next Best5, 4
Fast Start4, 6, 7, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported maidens with four of the twelve racing for the first time and we’ll take a chance on one of them with (4) WHIZ REALITY. He went through two trials, winning the second of them when leading all the way (on January 2nd, beware it may not appear in all racecards). He draws very nicely to lead and if he brings that form to the races, he can win. (9) GRAY CANDY didn’t do much on debut but was much more accomplished at the second time of asking at this distance on January 25th, leading for most of the way and running 2nd in a good time. He too will be aiming to get on-pace, and he can go one better. (8) TIARA SUA was 3rd in that January 25th race. She has four-lengths to find on Gray Candy but can improve. (6) NOBLE MY DEAR and (11) FLYING OAKS also in the frame.

Selections(4) Whiz Reality (9) Gray Candy (8) Tiara Sua (6) Noble My Dear
Next Best11, 1
Fast Start4, 5, 8, 9

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

(4) DIXIE MAN had a poor day at the office two weeks ago when sent off as favourite over 1400M. Except for copping a bump at the start, he doesn’t really have any excuses but Moon Se-young stays on and so shall we, going on his effort two starts back when 3rd at this distance. He can sit handy here and is worth another chance. (6) JEULGEOUN SANGSANG has a 3rd and a 4th from two starts so far at 1200M and last time out at this trip on January 26th when going right back and running on. Third-up he can be peaking fitness wise and has every chance of going better. (5) BEATRIZ has been ordinary in her latest three, but she should at least be on pace and if the track is anything like it was last week, she can be in this for longer. (3) CAPTAIN RISE and (7) BEST SHARK the other placing chances.

Selections(4) Dixie Man (6) Jeulgeoun Sangsang (5) Beatriz (3) Captain Rise
Next Best7, 10
Fast Start1, 5, 8, 10

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(3) CHRYSOL MAJOR returned from three months out to run 4th at 1300M on January 19th. He steps up to two turns for the first time, but his running style suggests that it can suit and stripping fitter for that effort a month ago, he can win. (7) SANBANG BOMNAL beat three of these on his way to 2nd place at this distance on January 25th. That was by far his best effort to date and from a similar gate and against similar opposition, he can repeat. (8) SAVANA CHARLIE was 5th in that race settling back and running on. He has never finished inside the top two but has been between 3rd and 5th on no fewer than twelve occasions and should be there or thereabouts again. (6) GRAND FLYING and (9) MARUBYEOL others in the hunt for the minors.

Selections(3) Chrysol Major (7) Sanbang Bomnal (8) Savana Charlie (6) Grand Flying
Next Best9, 11
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 11

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

Plenty enter with recent form reading well, but (3) CUPID IT will be favourite.  An also-ran in the Rookie Stakes, he got his maiden win at start three over 1200M in October before running 2nd on his first try at this class and distance in a double-quick race at the end of November when leading for much of the way. He had a couple of issues after that but has been back in work this month and from a great draw he can lead all the way. (7) YONGBI TAEYANG and (10) UGWANGMYEONG came home 2nd and 4th respectively when they raced one another at this class and distance on January 18th. The former was on speed with the latter coming from well back and with similar tactics expected from both, they can be in the mix again. (2) GREEN FEELSTAR and (11) WANGCHOEGO among plenty of other placing chances.

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