Day: July 17, 2025

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 19)

Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 9 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Aqua Line, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Rookie winner, makes a long overdue return on Saturday (Pic: KRA)

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

Fillies only in the opening maiden. (7) JISAN FRIEND has shown progress across her five starts to date, culminating in a runner-up finish over this distance on June 21st when close to the pace throughout. Kozzi knows her well and she can go one better today. Joining her on the early speed will be (1) DALBIT SONATA. She enters off a significantly improved 3rd place at 1300M on June 28th when she led for much of the way. She should be in this a long way too. There are three debut makers and all three showed enough in their respective heats to suggest they can be given a chance first up in this company. (6) NAMSAN MINYEO and (4) CHIEF STAR both showed on pace in their trials and can do so again while (8) VOSTOK took a couple of goes to qualify but similarly stopped the clock in good time and can be a factor.

Selections(7) Jisan Friend (1) Dalbit Sonata (6) Namsan Minyeo (4) Chief Star
Next Best8, 11
Fast Start1, 4, 6, 7

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(3) YONGBI SHINHWA ran 3rd on debut over 1000M on May 31st having led for most of the way. The time wasn’t quick, but he should have come on for the run and from a great draw he can lead again and potentially go all the way. (2) CHEONGRYONG GIUN needs a line drawn through his latest on June 22nd when knocking up quite fast. His form going into that was good though and Moon Se-young staying on will mean plenty give him another chance. Those two will top most quinellas although the step up in trip may suit (11) JILPUNGA, who has run on well twice to no avail at 1000M. (7) BS STORM and (4) GOLDEN MAKER others in line for the minors.

Selections(3) Yongbi Shinhwa (2) Cheongryong Giun (11) Jilpunga (7) BS Storm
Next Best4, 6
Fast Start2, 3, 7, 8

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) GOLD QUEENS was slow away when well-fancied over 1400M on June 15th and ultimately ran last, albeit in a race where the margins weren’t huge. She came into that race off a 3rd place and then back-to-back runner-up finishes so from a good draw, is worth another chance in this company. (11) HANEUL GAMDONG has mixed his form across six outings but enters off a close 2nd place this class over 1200M on June 21st when coming from a long way back. CC stays on and the wide draw can suit again. (4) HOLY KAISER did nothing in his first two starts before running out a surprise winner on June 14th over this distance. He is up in class but down in weight and could provide some each-way interest. (9) RAON NIZHINSKII and (10) MENI SHARK are others in the frame.

Selections(2) Gold Queens (11) Haneul Gamdong (4) Holy Kaiser (9) Raon Nizhinskii
Next Best10, 5
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 5

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(7) HAKSAN CAIRO is yet to win in eleven attempts but has never finished any worse than 5th and enters off a desperately close 2nd place at this class and distance on June 15th when handy throughout and just getting edged out late. Ruan Maia stays on and today he can go one better. (1) EUMSEONG POWER has a 3rd and a 2nd from his latest two, most recently at this class and distance on June 1st. He likes to settle back and run on, and he can be a danger late here. (5) RAON THE AFFIRMED is another maiden but all of her starts have ended with her placed between 3rd and 5th. In this company she can be on pace and can be there or thereabouts again. (6) YEONGGWANGUI SKY and (4) GOOGOO others to consider.

Selections(7) Haksan Cairo (1) Eumseong Power (5) Raon The Affirmed (6) Yeonggwangui Sky
Next Best4, 9
Fast Start3, 4, 5, 6

Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

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Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 18)

It’s been a wet week on the peninsula but racing is set to get underway on Friday at Busan with 8-races from 11:25 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Boryeonglightqueen won the final leg of the Triple Tiara and she returns on Friday (Pic: KRA)

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Ten previously unraced juveniles so we must head to the trial videos. By some margin (10) SUPEX WINNER was the standout leading for most of the way in his trial and crossing the line 1st in a quick time. The track was running very fast that week nevertheless, the manner of that effort means he has to go on top. (7) CLEARLY WINNER ran a close 2nd in her heat, settling midfield and running on well. If she brings that form to the races, she can go close first up. (3) JEONGMUN SKIP showed on pace in his trial and from a good draw can do similarly here. (8) POWER HIT and (1) SUCCESS DAY are others who hinted at ability. As ever in these kinds of races, watch the market for further clues.

Selections(10) Supex Winner (7) Clearly Winner (3) Jeongmun Skip (8) Power Hit
Next Best1, 6
Fast Start3, 7, 8, 10

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only in this maiden, with five of the eleven racing for the first time. There isn’t a huge amount of convincing form but (1) NAMYANG RUBY does have a 3rd and a 2nd on her record, and while they were recorded in her first two starts last year before a five-month layoff, she showed signs of returning to form with a 5th place last time out. She won’t need to improve much to win this and in a race with zero obvious early speed, might as well lead from the inside gate. (8) OWNER CHAMP has a pair of 5th places. She was well back behind a god winner in a very quick race on June 29th, but a similar effort will see her in the mix here. (7) TOP BLUE improved at start number three on June 20th and can continue to make progress in this company. The debut-makers do not catch the eye so (5) CHAMPUI SIDAE and (2) WONDERFUL WIND are probably the safest other alternatives.

Selections(1) Namyang Ruby (8) Owner Champ (7) Top Blue (5) Champui Sidae
Next Best2, 11
Fast Start1, 2, 7, 8

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

After taking a couple of goes to figure things out, (1) SUN LIGHT has come from well off the pace to register a 3rd and two 4th place finishes from her latest three starts. The step up to a mile can suit, and she can win here. She may have more improvement in her than probable favourite (3) DIA MATE. The latter enters off back-to-back 3rd places, both at this distance and with Seo Seung-un staying on seems sure to start as the market leader. (8) COME ON GLORY ran 2nd on her only previous try at this distance in March and in this company should be close to the pace with every chance of being in the finish. (9) DOCTOR CARA and (5) CHAMP KING others in the frame.

Selections(1) Sun Light (3) Dia Mate (8) Come On Glory (9) Doctor Cara
Next Best5, 4
Fast Start2, 4, 8, 9

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies only here and very competitive. (6) DOCTOR KAREN comes in having run 2nd at this class over 1200M at big odds on July 4th, leading for much of the way. Her win came at 1400M so she can lead again with every chance of staying all the way. (10) STAR FORCE comes up in class having led all the way over a mile on June 27th. She is down 3kg in weight and can measure up. (11) BREEDO MIRACLE was a winner at this class over 1200M in a similar all-filly race on June 15th. She only comes up 1.5kg in weight, the wide draw shouldn’t matter, and she has solid claims again. (8) QUEEN SPICY and (4) JINJU BIT among plenty of others with at least placing chances.

Selections(6) Doctor Karen (10) Star Force (11) Breedo Miracle (8) Queen Spicy
Next Best4, 2
Fast Start2, 3, 8, 9

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

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