Sunday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00, and at Busan with 6 races from 12:05 to 16:30. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Not the strongest of maidens to kick off with. (1) BILLION BOY trotted along at the back on debut but was a much-improved 2nd at start two over this distance on January 19th, leading for much of the way. He draws well to lead again and won’t need to improve very much to win this. (3) DUSON EUTTEUM also picked up on her latest when 4th in a filly only maiden at the end of December. She comes in fresh after nine weeks off and can build on that here. (11) SEMYEONG STRONG has a 2nd place on his record and while he must contend with the widest gate, he has a decent finish on him and can challenge late. (6) COMMAND BLUE and (8) CYCLONE STAR are others who could improve.
| Selections | (1) Billion Boy (3) Duson Eutteum (11) Semyeong Strong (6) Command Blue |
| Next Best | 8, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 5 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(1) CUPID K has been knocking at the door across her five starts so far, most recently a 2nd place over this distance on January 25th when slow away and running on well. If she can be a bit further forward a bit earlier, she is very much the one to beat here. (7) JOSE also has a 2nd place on her record and comes in following a 4th at 1200M on January 19th. She should be on pace in this company and can be in this a long way. (2) GOOGOO ran 2nd last time in a slow race at 1400M. She has placed at this trip too, and from a nice draw can sit behind whatever early speed there is and can challenge. (6) DIRT SPOON and (8) KING WARRIOR are among others with at least placing chances.
| Selections | (1) Cupid K (7) Jose (2) Googoo (6) Dirt Spoon |
| Next Best | 8, 10 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) UMA DACHI ran a shock 2nd place at this distance at odds of 65/1 on February 9th, settling midfield and running on. While that may have been unexpected, in this company a similar effort can see him go one better. (10) PERFECT DANAEUN hinted at improvement last time out on January 18th when 4th over this distance. He can settle back in this field and can run into some money again. (2) BLUE SUN has finished 5th in both starts so far at 1200M and 1400M. He draws well here and with Maia climbing on, can get closer. (9) K N STORM beat a couple of these on his way to 3rd place at this distance on January 26th and in a race that is no stronger can be in the hunt again. (4) HIGH FOLLY perhaps the best of a limited rest.
| Selections | (3) Uma Dachi (10) Perfect Danaeun (2) Blue Sun (9) K N Storm |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 7 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) PLUTO won a trial at the tail end of last year and then ran a solid 2nd place on debut on January 24th, leading for much of the way around and beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process. He should have come on for that run and will be a warm favourite to go all the way this time. (10) BEOLGYOUI HIM was 4th in that same race after a slow start saw him settle right back. He also has a 2nd place to his name and with the wide draw not a problem he can challenge late here. (6) SO GOOD was an improved 3rd place at start number three on January 17th only narrowly on the wrong side of a tight three-way finish. Seo Seung-un stays aboard and he can be a danger. (4) CHOEGANG TRIPLE and (8) JEONGMUN FELIX are the other contenders.
| Selections | (3) Pluto (10) Beolgyoui Him (6) So Good (4) Choegang Triple |
| Next Best | 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (9) BEOLGYO GRAMMY got her maiden win at 1000M last October and then took a couple of goes to get to grips with this level. Last time out she overcame a wide draw to come from off the pace for a solid 3rd place over this distance and while she carries 2kg more this time, she can win. (7) ANDAMIRO was a beaten favourite in a similar race to this on February 9th when settling midfield but only managing to run on for 5th. At her previous start she was a good 3rd and from a slightly better gate today, she can be given another chance. (4) SEOMDOLMORU is yet to win but is up in class following back-to-back 2nd places at this distance. She carries a light weight, she draws well, and she can measure up in this modest company. (3) SEMYEONG DIA and (10) GULJAK SUN are perhaps the best of a limited rest.
| Selections | (9) Beolgyo Grammy (7) Andamiro (4) Seomdolmoru (3) Semyeong Dia |
| Next Best | 10, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(4) MORNING DEW got his maiden win three starts back and has since raced twice at this class, both times ending in 3rd place at 1200M, most recently on January 24th when beating a couple of today’s rivals. In this company he can be expected to be on or close to the pace – as he was when he won – and he is the one to beat here. (10) MONSTER DRAGON returns to action for the first time since last May. Before the layoff he registered a win and three 3rd places from four starts and has been gelded since. He trialed up well and while his match fitness will have to be taken on trust, he has quality. (11) MAENGNYONG is yet to win but has four 2nd places from five starts and should be there or thereabouts again. (1) EVERY KING IJI and (7) STORMING MAGIC others in the frame.
| Selections | (4) Morning Dew (10) Monster Dragon (11) Maengnyong (1) Every King Iji |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
It’s been seven starts since (6) SHINE BOLT got his maiden win, but he has put in a few decent efforts since, not least last time out on January 25th when he was an on pace 2nd at this class and distance. Ruan Maia rode him for the first time that day and he stays on here with every chance of going one better. (10) NURI CHEONWANG got his maiden win at this class and distance on January 18th, coming from off the pace. He comes up 3.5kg in weight but he has never finished worse than 2nd and he can be firmly in the mix again. (7) MORE THAN JOKE has been the beaten favourite on each of his last three outings. His latest effort was his only poor one though and from a slightly better gate he can be given another chance today, if not as favourite. (3) LEGEND WOW and (5) SCALE KING the other contenders.
| Selections | (6) Shine Bolt (10) Nuri Cheonwang (7) More Than Joke (3) Legend Wow |
| Next Best | 5, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) EMPIRE DAY is yet to win but is yet to finish outside of the top three and enters here off back-to-back runner-up efforts over 1300M and 1400M. Munro climbs on and the slight step up in trip may be what she needs to come out on top. The main danger is (5) FAIRY. He got his maiden win on February 7th with an on pace effort over this distance and while he is up in class, he comes down in weight and can lead again. (8) WANNABE WITH YOU was slow away on her first try at this class over 1300M two weeks ago. She finishes off her races well and she is another who can appreciate the step up in trip. The form drops off rapidly after those with (2) HWANHUIUI MOON and (1) ZET CASH the others who will be supported on a place line.
| Selections | (10) Empire Day (5) Fairy (8) Wannabe With You (2) Hwanhuiui Moon |
| Next Best | 1, 11 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Very competitive. (9) ÉCLAIR POWER enters off back-to-back 3rd places most recently at 1800M on February 9th when coming from well off the pace and almost getting there. He’ll be finishing strong again and this time can get it right. That will mean overturning the form on (1) TONNERRE, who ran 2nd in that race having led for much of the way around. He draws ideally to lead; Johan stays aboard and the slight cut in trip can help. (11) HIPPODROME got his maiden win in absurd circumstances at this distance on February 8th when Ruan Maia caught his rivals napping and gave them the slip. He is up in class here and the others will surely be a bit wiser, but sixteen-lengths is still sixteen-lengths, and he warrants respect. (5) LUCKY FAMOUS and (6) WONDERFUL FAPPY others to consider for the minors.
| Selections | (9) Éclair Power (1) Tonnerre (11) Hippodrome (5) Lucky Famous |
| Next Best | 6, 4, |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 11 |
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(5) GOLDEN AIR has won his latest two, making all over this distance both times. He comes up in class but is down in trip, and while being fourth up he may have peaked, he looks nicely in here and can go all the way again. (10) GEUMA DOMINANT was a maiden winner two starts back before running a disappointing 9th of twelve over 1400M on her first try at this class on January 19th. She comes back down to the distance at which she won and should be much better today. (8) BEOLMA BROWN is another who was ordinary on his latest but two starts back he beat a couple of these on his way to 2nd place at this class and distance and that’s enough to put him in the market here. (2) BLUE SKY and (1) NAKDONG MYEONGJAK other place chances.
| Selections | (5) Golden Air (10) Geuma Dominant (8) Beolma Brown (2) Blue Sky |
| Next Best | 1, 12 |
| Fast Start | 5, 8, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) MOONHAK HOLIDAY is winless in fourteen attempts, but it is about time that he put that right here. He enters with consistent form and was most recently 3rd at this class and distance on January 19th, when on pace and today can be the day. (8) GWANAKSAN LEO beat three of these including Moonhak Holiday two starts back when scoring an upset win at this class and distance. She struggled on her return on January 19th but comes into a slightly better gate today and shouldn’t be dismissed. (4) WONDERFUL A ONE has raced just twice, improving to 4th at start number two on January 25th. Third up he can be peaking and get even closer. (2) BYEOLNARA BIMA and (6) BOREUM DALBIT others in the frame.
| Selections | (3) Moonhak Holiday (8) Gwanaksan Leo (4) Wonderful A One (2) Byeolnara Bima |
| Next Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 5, 8 |
Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(3) BEOLMAUI ACE has been ultra consistent, finishing inside the top five in all of his ten starts to date. He stepped up to this class and distance for the first time on January 26th and ran a good 3rd, settling midfield and running on and he can win this. He gets a 2.5kg weight swing on (12) SMART BOSS, who won that January 26th race, settling handy and running on for his second consecutive win. He also placed in Listed juvenile company at what was just his second start last November. The weight and the draw can be a challenge, but he can be equal to it. (10) FANTASTIC VALUE is a winner of three from seven and is up in class and distance having scored at a mile on January 24th and he can measure up. (7) DALBITSANYANGKUN and (4) GREAT ONE others in the mix.
| Selections | (3) Beolmaui Ace (12) Smart Boss (10) Fantastic Value (7) Dalbitsanyangkun |
| Next Best | 4, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 8, 10, 12 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
After an indifferent debut, (8) BEOLGYOUI STAR won back-to-back races to get rapidly promoted to this class and kicked off his three-year-old campaign with a 3rd place on his first try at this class and distance on January 26th when settling midfield and running on. He remains under a light weight and is the one to beat here. (4) CHANG CHANG SOCKS was a winner at this class over 1400M on January 25th. He comes up 3kg in the weights, but he can be a danger from off the pace. (5) THEME TANSAENG ran 5th behind Beolgyoui Star on January 26th, his first try at this class. Harry has won on him, and they look a solid place chance here. (1) MISS WIN STAR and (3) GLORY CITY others to consider.
| Selections | (8) Beolgyoui Star (4) Chang Chang Socks (5) Theme Tansaeng (1) Miss Win Star |
| Next Best | 3, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 6: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(12) CONTROLLER is a winner of five from eleven including each of his latest three most recently beating six of today’s rivals on his way to victory at this class and distance on January 24th, leading all the way. He comes up 5kg in the weights and has the challenge of the widest gate, but his quality can see him through. (2) HANGANG SAVER was 3rd in that race, coming from well off the pace. He is a four-time winner over the trip and from a better gate he looks to be the main danger. (6) KING ANYDAY was 2nd that day but finished out of the money in a subsequent start at 1400M. Back in trip he can be in the mix again. (9) FINAL SEVEN and (4) CATCH THE VICTORY are others who can challenge.
| Selections | (12) Controller (2) Hangang Saver (6) King Anyday (9) Final Seven |
| Next Best | 4, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 12 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Fillies and mares only. (11) HANSEN BRACING is yet to finish any worse than 4th in six starts and comes in after winning over 1200M on January 4th, leading from gate to wire. She comes up in class and in trip and does have to deal with the widest gate, but she has won from gate ten already and is down in weight. She will be a warm favourite to win again. It took (2) B.K LOVE a couple of tries to figure things out, but she has the hang of it now and is rapidly up in class having won her latest two both at 1300M, both times from on pace. She draws very well and under a light weight, she can make it three in a row. (10) LEGAL HIGH struggled in her latest at a mile at the end of December. She has since won a trial looking very well and may make for some each way appeal. (8) STUNNING LADY and (7) CHALLENGE SOCKS others in the hunt.
| Selections | (11) Hansen Bracing (2) B.K Love (10) Legal High (8) Stunning Lady |
| Next Best | 7, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(2) BULUI NALGAE has a 3rd and a 4th from his latest two, both at class and distance and both times settling back and running on. He looks nicely in here, Johan climbs aboard and he can return to winning ways. He has to overturn the form on a couple who beat him on January 19th. (11) SEIRENE, who won the final leg of last year’s Triple Tiara, won that day racing handy throughout. She has to carry an additional 4kg today but should be competitive again. (10) HOLIDAY CHARM was 3rd in that race and followed up with 4th, again at this class and distance on February 16th. He likes to come from well off the pace and can be a danger late on. Among those who didn’t go on January 17th, (3) SAENAE POWERFUL and (6) STILL PLAY look the best.
| Selections | (2) Bului Nalgae (11) Seirene (10) Holiday Charm (3) Saenae Powerful |
| Next Best | 6, 5 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Tricky finale. (10) VET CAPTAIN comes up in class having won at a mile on January 26th, racing on pace. He is a three-time winner over 1400M and down in weight, he has as much chance as any. (2) DAESARI returns to action for the first time since last November. He has looked well in a pair of trials, most recently two weeks ago and from a good gate he can make for an attractive each-way option. (11) MIRACLE HANGANG is better than his latest two efforts suggest and while he may need a touch of luck at the start, he can be a danger. (6) SINHAN TEUKSONG has won four times at this distance and, along with (4) MR QUALITY, is another who could play a role in the finish.
| Selections | (10) Vet Captain (2) Daesari (11) Miracle Hangang (6) Sinhan Teuksong |
| Next Best | 4, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 8, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 