Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens with seven of the twelve racing for the first time. With none of those who have raced before having finished better than 10th on their respective debuts, we will side with the newcomers. (5) GLOBAL CHAMP won two trials, the second in emphatic fashion on December 4th when he crossed the line eleven-lengths to the good. If he brings that form to the races, he will win. (6) POWER MAGIC led in her trial, ultimately finishing 4th behind Global Champ (in his first and less impressive trial win). She’ll be on pace and can be in it a long way. (7) SSOARA HAHA led Global Champ’s second trial and while ultimately was well beaten in 2nd, he showed enough to suggest he can be competitive. (1) DONGBAEK wasn’t awful in her trial while of the experience, (8) MR.CREDIT is perhaps the most likely to improve.
| Selections | (5) Global Champ (6) Power Magic (7) Ssoara Haha (1) Dongbaek |
| Next Best | 8, 4 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(11) RAON BLAIDE has finished 3rd in both starts so far at 1200M and most recently at 1300M on November 8th when coming from midfield. He has demonstrated a quick finish so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and third-up, he can be peaking. (3) ROAD TO STAR has been working towards a maiden win and enters having been 2nd over 1400M on November 29th when close to the pace throughout. Maia climbs on for the first time and that may be enough to make him the market elect. (9) BLACK KINGDOM was an improved 2nd at start number two on November 22nd. He seemed much happier over this trip than at 1000M on debut and should be in the finish. (7) EUNPA BOOSTER and (2) BEST JOY are the other two who will be in the market.
| Selections | (11) Raon Blaide (3) Road To Star (9) Black Kingdom (7) Eunpa Booster |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden. After running 4th on debut, (1) CATCH RACE was 5th of thirteen in Listed Juvenile company and then a solid 7th of fifteen in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie over this distance at Busan a month ago. Back in much shallower waters today, she will be hot favourite to get her maiden win. (3) WONDERFUL TUNE UP was an improved 4th at 1300M on December 6th. She makes a quick return here and from a good gate, she can get closer. (10) MACHEON WORLD has a 2nd place on her record as recently as October and that’s enough to put her in the placing frame here. (7) WORLD HWAHAP and (2) OUTSTANDING GIRL are others who can compete for the minors.
| Selections | (1) Catch Race (3) Wonderful Tune Up (10) Macheon World (7) World Hwahap |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
After an ordinary debut, (11) MYEONG DREAM has won back-to-back races at 1200M and most recently and all filly affair at this class over 1400M on November 16th when handy throughout. She gets to stay at this class and only comes up 1.5kg and she will be a hot favourite to make it three in a row. (7) JIJON BULPAE is up in class following a maiden win at start four over 1400M on November 9th when handy all the way. He comes down 3kg in weight and that’s enough to have him in the finish again. (5) TAEGISAN KING returned from eight months out on November 22nd and while he finished down the field, the margins weren’t big and he should strip fitter for the run. (6) WANGCHOEGO and (9) STUNNING SERVE are other place chances.
| Selections | (11) Myeong Dream (7) Jijon Bulpae (5) Taegisan King (6) Wangchoego |
| Next Best | 9, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
After running 4th on debut (6) CLUTCH MAGIC was a winner at start number two over 1300M, showing on pace throughout and scoring comfortably. He is up in class but down 3.5kg in weight and he can go back-to-back. (10) REVERENCE is also up in class following a maiden win, in his case at the fifth time of asking. It had been coming and it arrived at this distance on 1300M when he raced handy throughout. He is down in weight and while he draws a touch wider than ideal, he can measure up. (8) SILLAUI FIGHTER hasn’t made much of an impact in two tries at this level since an August win but an apprentice claiming 4kg can bring him into contention. (9) WIDAEHAN HAMSEONG and (5) LASER RUN are other place chances.
| Selections | (6) Clutch Magic (10) Reverence (8) Sillaui Fighter (9) Widaehan Hamseong |
| Next Best | 5, 7 |
| Fast Start | 7, 8, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Two stablemates on top here. (1) POWERFUL SLEW stepped up to this distance for the first time on November 30th and it clearly suited as he secured his maiden win, coming from well off the pace. He is up in class but down 3kg in weight and he can back up. (11) NAMSAN MINYEO is also one for one at 1700M having got her maiden victory over it back in September. She has since run 3rd and 2nd in two tries at this class, both over 1800M, and she has every chance of overcoming her barn-mare here. (2) MR. TAEYANG came from well back to win on debut over 1300M on November 8th. He is up in class and in trip, but neither should be a problem, and he can be in the finish. (9) CHRYSOL DONGAHE and (3) WONPYEONG GANGJA others in the hunt.
| Selections | (1) Powerful Slew (11) Namsan Minyeo (2) Mr. Taeyang (9) Chrysol Donghae |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(5) NASSAU CHAT broke through at start fourteen in August at class 5 level and has held his form in three goes since returning to this class with a 4th and a pair of 2nd place finishes, all at this distance. He stays under a light weight, he draws well, and he can win this. (9) CHRYSOL STONE won her first three starts to get rapidly promoted to this level before having a hard time when drawn wide over a mile and using up plenty of energy to get on pace before wilting on November 22nd. She has been back to trial since then and under a light weight and with CC on, she can be given another chance. (3) ART CATCHER picked up a little bit over 1700M last time out and may be worth a chance at an each-way price on her first try at 1800M. (4) VICTORY QUEEN and (10) POWER ETCHED others to consider on a place line.
| Selections | (5) Nassau Chat (9) Chrysol Stone (3) Art Catcher (4) Victory Queen |
| Next Best | 10, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) BEST PITCH is a perfect three for three with wins coming between 1000M and 1300M and settling both handy, and off the pace. He is up in class and slightly in trip, but neither should be an issue, and he can continue on his merry way here. (7) COMPLETE BRO won back-to-back races in August and September and then ran 4th at 1300M at class 5 level on November 15th. He runs out of class here but that gives him a full 5kg weight drop which should make him very competitive. (11) VINCERO KING was a winner at this class and distance two starts back and while his is 4.5kg higher than the mark he won off that day, he enters in consistent form and can be close again. (5) WONDERFUL ALONG and (1) POWER BAND other contenders.
| Selections | (6) Best Pitch (7) Complete Bro (11) Vincero King (5) Wonderful Along |
| Next Best | 1, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) CRAZY STAR was a maiden winner at start three at the end of September in a double-quick time over 1200M. He returned on November 16th and ran 4th in Listed Juvenile company, and the Omaha Beach gelding will be a warm favourite to return to winning ways today. (8) SEJONG POWER was a fair 3rd on debut at this class and distance on November 8th, settling midfield and running on. He should have come on for the run and can be in this. (11) GAMSAUI HIM was 2nd on debut before running 7th in the same Listed Juvenile race as Crazy Star was 4th in and that’s enough to have him in contention here. (7) WHIZ FIGHTER and (9) UNIVERSAL are the other main chances.
| Selections | (4) Crazy Star (8) Sejong Power (11) Gamsaui Him (7) Whiz Fighter |
| Next Best | 9, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(1) DOKKI DRAGON was a beaten favourite when 2nd at this class over 1400M on November 8th but it wasn’t a bad effort, and he had two of today’s rivals behind him. He comes back to a trip over which he has won twice and from the inside gate, he is the one to beat today. (2) DUSON OPEN was 4th in that November 8th race, having led early. She was a smart class and distance winner two starts back and while she carries 4kg more than she did at that win, she draws well to lead here and can be in the finish. (5) REAL DEAL was further back in the same race but that was his first start in five months and with five top three finishes from six tries at this distance, he can be given another chance here. (8) BONGHWA STAY and (9) ENDING FIRE others in the frame.
| Selections | (1) Dokki Dragon (2) Duson Open (5) Real Deal (8) Bonghwa Stay |
| Next Best | 9, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Wide open finale. (5) ECLIPSE THE KING was 3rd in the Korean Derby in May and 3rd in the Listed Ilgan Sports in September with a class 3 win over a mile sandwiched between them. His latest was another 3rd on what was his first try at this class on November 1st when racing on pace. He tackles 2000M for the first time, and he can win. (10) G MOTION was 4th in the Ilgan Sports but then won at this class and distance on October 18th. He followed up with 2nd place on November 16th, again at this class and distance, but an apprentice takes 4kg off his back today and that puts him right in this. (6) JISAN FORCE has won his latest three at 1800M and steps up in class here. He is down 4.5kg in weight and can be competitive. (11) DRONE KILLER, who beat G Motion when winning that November 16th race, and (3) BROWN GOLD are the other main chances.
| Selections | (5) Eclipse The King (10) G Motion (6) Jisan Force (11) Drone Killer |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 5, 9, 10, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 