It’s supposed to be the first of two weekends of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival at Seoul although as of Thursday, the chilly weather has meant those blossoms are not actually out yet. Nevertheless, racing switches to a slightly later schedule with Saturday’s 10 races at Seoul taking place between 13:25 and 20:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden. (5) FASHION STAR has two 3rd places and a 5th from three starts so far, coming from off the pace each time. She can do similar here, and in this company, she has a winning chance. (6) EXCELLENT HANSEN has a 2nd place to her name over 1300M and enters off a 4th place in a very similar race to this in February. She’ll be on pace and shapes as the main danger. (11) RAON PARANOMA debuted without distinction on the last day of 2023 and hasn’t been seen since. She looked well in two February trials and could go ok first up in this company. (9) BROWN SUGAR along with first time starter (3) JILJUUI YEOWANG are others to consider.
| Selections | (5) Fashion Star (6) Excellent Hansen (11) Raon Paranoma (9) Brown Sugar |
| Next Best | 3, 8 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) BILLION BOY didn’t do much on debut but has since managed a 2nd and a 3rd, both at 1200M and both times racing on pace. He comes up in trip, but he draws well to be on pace again, Moon Se-young climbs on, and today can be the day. (7) MORNING WONDER has made steady progress across three starts, culminating in a close 2nd over 1300M on March 9th when racing handy throughout. She has a strong finish on her and the slight step up in trip can be in her favour. (9) TEN KOREA debuted with 4th place behind Morning Wonder back in February. It’s taken him eight weeks to return but he should have come on for the run and can be in the mix here. (1) ECLIPSE THE QUEEN and (2) SONGDANG HWANGTAEJA others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (3) Billion Boy (7) Morning Wonder (9) Ten Korea (1) Eclipse The Queen |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 6 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(1) YEONHUI HERO is yet to win in five but has three runner-up finishes including his latest at this class over 1200M on February 8th when having to settle back and then run on. He comes into a much better gate today and this time should be on pace with every chance of going all the way. (11) KKUMUI HYANGGI is another maiden, in her case from eleven outings. He’s finished in the top four on no fewer than eight occasions including last time on March 16th when 2nd at 1400M. She likes to settle back and run on so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she can be close again. (2) REMEMBER AGAIN has won, back at start number two at 1200M in November. He has since raced twice at this class with a 2nd and a 5th and from a good gate should be forward early and a threat. (9) ÉCLAIR and (5) GRIFFON are the other place chances.
| Selections | (1) Yeonhui Hero (11) Kkumui Hyanggi (2) Remember Again (9) Éclair |
| Next Best | 5, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Competitive race. (8) LEGEND TANSAENG got his maiden win two starts back before running a solid 4th place on his first try at this class over 1300M on February 22nd. He comes up to two turns for the first time as well as coming up 2kg in weight, but neither should be a problem, and he can win again. (6) WITH DIS KURO has steadily progressed across his five starts and he got his maiden win at this distance at the end of December when leading all the way. He is up in class here and he hasn’t raced or trialed since then so his match fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he has plenty of potential to measure up. (4) MEGA STEP has never been worse than 5th in seven appearances and comes up to this distance for the first time. She has proven capable of coming from off the pace and she can be a danger. (3) CAMP DAVID and (1) THUNDER STORM others in contention for the minors.
| Selections | (8) Legend Tansaeng (6) With Dis Kuro (4) Mega Step (3) Camp David |
| Next Best | 1, 11 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) GOLD QUEENS was a winner on debut in November and has since followed up with a 4th and a 3rd from two outings at this class, both times settling behind the speed and finishing well. She draws nicely for similar tactics today and she can come out on top this time. (1) GINA SONG did nothing on debut in January but came back out on March 1st and was a 33/1 winner over this distance. She comes up in class but is down significantly in weight, she draws a better gate, and she can be competitive in this company. (8) CHEONGUNG STORM has been only ordinary in his latest couple, but he has been on pace. He comes back to the trip at which he got his sole win, and he can be a danger. (3) HAPPY ICTUS and (7) CUPID HEART other placing chances.
| Selections | (2) Gold Queens (1) Gina Song (8) Cheongung Storm (3) Happy Ictus |
| Next Best | 7, 6 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) HANGANG CAPTAIN is a winner of two of his latest three, most recently scoring at this class and distance on March 16th when settling just behind the speed and proving too strong. He comes up slightly in weight but that’s balanced by a much better draw, and he can back up here. (3) JACHE BALGWANG began at this class and took a few goes to figure things out. He comes in off back-to-back runner up finishes at 1200M and a mile and from a good draw he could be ready to break through. It’s been twelve outings since (8) HEART K got his sole win, but he has plenty of decent finishes in races like this and he looks nicely in here on an each-way line. (7) BICHUICA and (11) TAEKHAN are others who may have a say in the minors.
| Selections | (1) Hangang Captain (3) Jache Balgwang (8) Heart K (7) Bichuica |
| Next Best | 11, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) HAKSAN SPEED got his maiden win at start three before posting back-to-back runner-up finishes at class 5 level at 1400M and 1300M. That brings him up in class here but he comes down a full 4.5kg in the weights and from a good draw, he is favoured to get to the lead and to go all the way. (1) ULTRA MANGCHI arrested a cold run of form since getting promoted to this class when 3rd over this distance on March 9th. From the inside gate he can be forward early and can be in this a long way. (11) AUSTIN LEADER was 4th in that same March 9th race, running handy throughout. He was a winner from this same wide gate two outings back and while that was at class 5 level, he can continue his run of positive form here. (9) SCALE KING and (4) MISS CONCORD others with strong placing claims.
| Selections | (3) Haksan Speed (1) Ultra Mangchi (11) Austin Leader (9) Scale King |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 6 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) GEUMBIT CHEONHA has only won once but has been ultra consistent with fourteen top five finishes from seventeen starts. That includes his latest on March 9th when he was 2nd, well beaten by the highly thought-of Gangnaru, at this class and distance. He carries his fair share of weight again but in the absence of a horse like Gangnaru, he can go one better. (8) BAEKRYONG mixes his form, but he may appreciate the step back in distance after recent spins around two turns. He likes to race on or close to the speed and with Moon engaged for the first time, he will have plenty of supporters. (10) NANO MASIN is the only one in the field to have won over this distance, something he did in February. He carries 4kg more than he did that day, but he can be competitive. (4) GOLDEN DRAGON and (1) GLORY CITY are the other contenders,
| Selections | (3) Geumbit Cheonha (8) Baekryong (10) Nano Masin (4) Golden Dragon |
| Next Best | 1, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 2 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(4) ELDORADO GANGNAM is a winner of three from six and is up in class having scored on his first try over a mile on March 1st when he led from gate to wire. He carries a light weight, he draws well, and he has little to fear in this company. (5) SHADOW HUNTER is similarly up in class. A winner of five from eleven, he scored over 1400M on March 8th, racing on pace. He doesn’t get a weight break, and he tackles 1600M for the first time, but neither should be an issue, and he is the main danger. The form falls off rapidly after those two. (8) SINHAN TEUKSONG ran 3rd at this class over 1400M on March 2nd, beating a couple of these in the process and can aim for the places again. (10) VET CAPTAIN was one of those behind Sinhan Teukseong that day after a slow start, but he was a winner over this distance two starts back at class 3 level and is worth another chance here. (1) MR QUALITY perhaps the best of the rest.
| Selections | (4) Eldorado Gangnam (5) Shadow Hunter (8) Sinhan Teukseong (10) Vet Captain |
| Next Best | 1, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 10 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Tricky finale. We’ll go for (7) NEW DOLKONG, successful at this distance three starts back, to return to winning ways after two slightly underwhelming performances, including his last start 4th at class and distance on March 9th. He can race just behind the speed and prove too strong late on. He is assisted in his task by a 3kg weight swing on the March 9th race winner (2) ARGO RICH. The latter led all the way that day and kept on finding and while it won’t be so easy here, he warrants respect from another good draw. (3) STORM BREAKER has five top two finishes from eight tries at this distance including his last start 2nd place. He comes in fresh after eleven weeks off and can be in the mix again. (5) SAINT LUCCA and (9) FUN CRAZY are the other place chances.
| Selections | (7) New Dolkong (2) Argo Rich (3) Storm Breaker (5) Saint Lucca |
| Next Best | 9, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 8, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 