Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Small field but it’s competitive and four of the eight race for the first time. We’ll take a chance on a debut maker and (6) WHITE CARLA, who went through two trials (the latter was voluntary and may not be in all race cards) improving to win the second of them running on pace and stopping the clock in a good time. If he brings that form to the races, he has an excellent chance first-up. Of the experienced ones, (2) AWESOME QUEEN was 2nd on debut over this distance on January 25th, coming from off the pace. She should have come on for that run and can go close again. (5) QUANTUM K put in a solid 5th on her first start, and she too can have benefitted from the experience. (8) CHEONGRYONG GIUN trialed behind White Carla and Moon Se-young’s booking will tempt some. (9) BODY CHECK can improve.
| Selections | (6) White Carla (2) Awesome Queen (5) Quantum K (8) Cheongryong Giun |
| Next Best | 9, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden. (11) UNJU TIME has a 4th and a 3rd from two starts so far, most recently beating a couple of these on January 12th when settling midfield and running on. She had a wide draw that day too and third-up she can be peaking. (6) MUNHAK FIGHTER was a solid 2nd on debut over this distance on February 15th, stalking the leader throughout but unable to get by. She should have come on for that run and she can be in this a long way too. (10) UPPERHAND enters off an improved 2nd place over this distance in a similar all-filly maiden on February 8th. That continued a positive trajectory of results, and she is another who can be coming home strong here. (7) RACE ROSE and (9) CRAZY MARI among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (11) Unju Time (6) Munhak Fighter (10) Upperhand (7) Race Rose |
| Next Best | 9, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(2) CHEONGRYONGUI CAL will be a hot favourite here. He has a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two, both over 1300M and both times racing on pace. He draws well to get a soft lead, and he should prove too good. (6) STUNNING STEP has made progress across three starts so far, culminating in a very close 2nd place over 1200M on February 9th when settling back and running on. In this company he may be ridden further forward, and he can be a danger late. (3) GYEOUL JANGMI has been well supported in both starts so far, most recently an improved 4th place on February 8th. Moon Se-young stays on and they can settle just behind the speed and run into some money. (7) RAON THE CAVIAR and (1) JOY CHEONHA others who can be in the mix.
| Selections | (2) Cheongryongui Cal (6) Stunning Step (3) Gyeoul Jangmi (7) Raon The Caviar |
| Next Best | 1, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 6 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(11) HAKSAN SPEED got his maiden win two starts back over this distance before running a close 2nd on his first try at this class on February 15th having led almost the entire way over 1400M. He comes up 2kg in weight and he has the challenge of the widest gate, but Maia stays on and he can return to winning ways. (5) HYEUKMUSANG was a winner at this class and distance on January 12th, settling midfield and proving too strong. He has the steadier of an additional 3.5kg today, but he draws well, and a repeat isn’t impossible. (3) CANVASEN GO got his maiden win two starts back before running a fair 4th on his first try at class 5 on February 8th when slow away and coming from a long way back. With a better start he can get closer. (2) HANGANG FANTASTIC and (4) CAPTAIN RISE among others to look out for.
| Selections | (11) Haksan Speed (5) Hyeukmusang (3) Canvasen Go (2) Hangang Fantastic |
| Next Best | 4, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 9, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(3) ROPPONGI DRAGON may be winless and up in class, but he enters off a pair of sharp runner-up finishes over 1700M, racing handy both times. He is down in weight, draws well, and the slight step up in trip can be exactly what he needs to come home on top. (10) CHRYSOL MAJOR comes up in class following a win over 1700M on February 22nd coming from off the pace. He is down 3kg in weight, the wide draw won’t matter, and he can measure up in this company. (7) GOLDEN BALL is yet to finish inside the top two, but he has plenty of minor money finishes and this is the kind of race in which he can go close. (8) MAX WEEK and (11) YEONGUNG JARYONG are the other placing chances.
| Selections | (3) Roppongi Dragon (10) Chrysol Major (7) Golden Ball (8) Max Week |
| Next Best | 11, 6 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(9) LEMON K has won her latest two and accordingly comes up rapidly in class. They were both at this distance and both times she led all the way to score very handsomely. She doesn’t get a weight break as she didn’t carry much last time, but the manner of those wins suggests she can more than handle this company and she can complete her hat-trick. The rest enter with recent form reading patchy at best. (1) SIDAEUI MYEONGJAK returns to action for the first time since last October. He has won and placed at this distance and from a great draw and under an apprentice claim, he can go well first-up. (8) AMAN BAROWS is a two-time winner at this distance. He comes back in trip today and can be competitive. (11) HWASANGWIHWAN and (3) BEST CLONE others in the minor money frame.
| Selections | (9) Lemon K (1) Sidaeui Myeongjak (8) Aman Barows (11) Hwasangwihwan |
| Next Best | 3, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 9 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) CAPTAIN GUNJU has been getting progressively closer across four starts so far, culminating in 2nd place at 1700M on February 15th when racing handy throughout. He was well back behind a good winner, but the mile can suit, and, in this company, he can potentially lead and go all the way. (4) CHOEGO GAME was 4th behind Captain Gunju in that February 15th race, continuing a consistent run of form. He is yet to win in twelve and that may not change here, but he shouldn’t be far away. (9) VISION POWER has taken to the mile well, running 2nd and 3rd in his first two tries at it, both at this class and while he draws a touch wider today, he should be there or thereabouts again. (2) JACHE BALGWANG and (1) HI KHAN others to consider.
| Selections | (7) Captain Gunju (4) Choego Game (9) Vision Power (2) Jache Balgwang |
| Next Best | 1, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(8) DUSON OPEN has six top three finishes from seven starts so far, including last time out on February 15th when always handy and finishing 2nd at this class and distance. She remains nicely weighted, she should be on pace, and she can go one better today. (5) MUNHAK EAGLE was a big-odds 4th place on January 25th, beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process. She comes up 2.5kg in weight, but draws well, and she can beat plenty again. (7) SPALTA will need a line drawn through his latest couple, but he is a winner at this distance and a multi-placer at this class so is worth another chance in this modest company. (4) TANGJA and (1) BLOOMING STAR others who can compete for the minor places.
| Selections | (8) Duson Open (5) Munhak Eagle (7) Spalta (4) Tangja |
| Next Best | 1, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 7, 8 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(2) SMART CLAIR will be a short-price favourite. A winner at this class and distance two starts back, he then beat a couple of these on his way to 3rd place, again at class 3 and 1800M, on February 2nd when settling back and running on well. In this company, he actually comes down 1kg in weight, he draws well, Moon Se-young climbs on, and there is little reason to oppose him. (9) GWANGCHIGI is the danger. He was a somewhat unexpected winner over 1400M at this class on February 16th and while two previous tries at this distance didn’t yield success, he could well be ready for another crack. (6) THE SUN FIGHTER was well back behind Gwangchigi last time out but is better than that and may appreciate the extended trip. (7) THE FAVORITE and (3) BEAT RUNNER are others to consider on a place line.
| Selections | (2) Smart Clair (9) Gwangchigi (6) The Sun Fighter (7) The Favorite |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(3) MIGHTY NEO is one of the brightest prospects among the three-year-old imports that isn’t called Wonpyeong Storm. True, he was beaten by a couple of these on his first try at this class and distance on February 15th, but he comes into a much better gate this time around and he should win. That will mean overturning the form on (5) MANDAERO, who was 2nd in that race. He is a two-time winner at the mile and remaining under a light weight, will be dangerous again. (2) RAON AMERICAN was 3rd on February 15th, having settled in midfield and finished off strongly. He too is lightly weighted, draws well, and can be in the finish again. Among those who didn’t go in the February 15th race, (6) GIANT STEP and (8) DAEMUL are perhaps the most likely to have a say.
| Selections | (3) Mighty Neo (5) Mandaero (2) Raon American (6) Giant Step |
| Next Best | 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 7, 9 |
Horse Racing in Korea 