The eve of the Korea Cup and Sprint sees an 11-race card at Seoul between 13:15 and 20:00 with no fewer than five international Trophy exchange races on the card, all looking very competitive. There will also be a “drone show” immediately after racing. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens with all but three racing for the first time. For once we will side with a newcomer and (4) SEONGSIL WINNER. She led for much of the way around a trail at the end of July, crossing the line a close 3rd and stopping the clock in a good time. Drawn well, if she leads, she may be hard to get past. (8) BEST CHEONHA was the next best in trials, showing on pace and also running 3rd. Moon Se-young being booked means she will have plenty of supporters. (9) HORIZON STAR took two goes to qualify but improved second time around and can also make an impact first up. Of the experienced three, (1) BLACK SUN and (7) GHOST have both raced twice and their match sharpness can see them improve.
| Selections | (4) Seongsil Winner (8) Best Cheonha (9) Horizon Star (1) Black Sun |
| Next Best | 7, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
After finishing 5th on debut, (9) NAMSAN MINYEO was 2nd at start two over 1300M on August 17th, racing handy throughout. An apprentice jockey claims 3kg today, third up she can be peaking, and she can win here. Probable betting favourite is (2) JILPUNGA, who enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes from his latest two, most recently in that August 17th race behind Namsan Minyeo. He only has a head to make up and he comes into a much better gate. After an inauspicious debut, (5) TRIPLE JENNY has three consecutive top five finishes and she should be aiming to improve again. (1) HERO CHOICE and (4) GRAND PARK are others who can be in the mix.
| Selections | (9) Namsan Minyeo (2) Jilpunga (5) Triple Jenny (1) Hero Choice |
| Next Best | 4, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) FREE TIME was a winner on debut and then took a few goes to figure things out at this class before winning over 1300M on June 29th when on pace throughout. He comes up 3.5kg in weight today but that’s balanced by a similar draw to last time that should allow him easy passage to the front, and he looks to have the most upside here. (10) WINNER GLORY comes up in class and in distance having got her maiden win in comprehensive fashion at start number five on June 15th. She has had almost three months off, but she is down 3kg in weight and can measure up. (6) SHINE BOLT enters off a 2nd at this class over 1300M on August 17th at a big price and warrants more respect here. (7) HAKSAN PRINCE and (11) YES MADAM others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (2) Free Time (10) Winner Glory (6) Shine Bolt (7) Haksan Prince |
| Next Best | 11, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight B / SPPL Trophy / KRW 150 Million
The first of five valuable Trophy races and while it is rating capped to the equivalent of class 3, it’s an absolute cracker of a race with no fewer than seven last start winners. (3) SILVER RAIN won a Listed juvenile event on this weekend a year ago but missed the Triple Crown through injury. He won on his return at class 4 level at the end of June and then beat a couple of these on his way to 2nd at class 3 level and 1400M on July 27th. From a good draw, he can lead all the way. (13) CHAN FAMOUS won Seoul’s Classic Trial in February but found things hard in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. He returned to winning ways at a mile at class 3 on August 16th and while this may be a little short, can be worth a go at an each-way price. (10) BEST RACE is a winner of three of his last four and should be close. (11) HAKSAN SPEED and (7) GOLDEN DRAGON among plenty of other chances.
| Selections | (3) Silver Rain (13) Chan Famous (10) Best Race (11) Haksan Speed |
| Next Best | 7, 14 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class Open (1700M) Special Weight B / Race Coast KZN Trophy / KRW 150 Million
Capped at a rating of 80 so equivalent to class 2, and while it’s a small field, it is competitive. (3) ONE PUNCH DRAGON is a winner of six of his eight starts, including his latest three, most recently at class 2 over a mile on July 19th. He’ll be on pace and is very much the one to beat. (8) BROWN GOLD might have taken a shy at the Korea Cup stumps, but he goes here instead having won all of his last four up to class 2 and 2000M. Weight is no problem, the draw is no problem, and five in a row is not impossible. (2) GANGNAMBULCHUNGGAK is a half-brother to champion mare Jeulgeounyeojeong and he was a winner of a Trophy race on this day a year ago. He has had his setbacks since but returned from a four-month layoff to run 3rd at 1200M on August 3rd. That should serve as the ideal lead-up to this and he can be in the finish having been 2nd on his only previous spin around 1700M. (1) KING HONOR and (4) DRONE KILLER are other place chances.
| Selections | (3) One Punch Dragon (8) Brown Gold (2) Gangnambulchunggak (1) King Honor |
| Next Best | 4, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 8 |
Seoul Race 6: Class Open (1400M) Special Weight B / Selangor Turf Club Trophy / KRW 150 Million
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