Sunday’s racing is at Seoul with 10 races from 10:35 to 17:55, and at Busan with 7 races from 11:25 to 16:55. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Fillies only in the opening maiden. (8) CALL ME SKY ran 2nd on debut to Holly Tiara in a quick similar filly maiden over this distance on December 13th. She’s had eight weeks off since but she can improve for the run and will be a short-price favourite to win here. (1) STUNNING POINT was an improved 5th at start two over this distance. She continues under an apprentice claim and from a better draw than in her first two outings, can get closer. (5) MISS CHRISTIE and (4) RAON THE PLUMA similarly improved to 5th on their respective second appearances and both can be fitter here. Continuing the theme of finishing 5th, (6) BEAT CODE did that on debut and can have come on for that effort.
| Selections | (8) Call Me Sky (1) Stunning Point (5) Miss Christie (4) Raon The Pluma |
| Next Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Competitive maiden. (7) BANK LINE has made steady progress across three starts so far with her close 2nd last time out over this distance being her best. She led that day and from a fair draw, she can lead again and this time go all the way. (1) GRACE DAY has similarly raced three times and comes in following a 2nd place last time out when he was slower away than in his first two but ran on well. He shapes as the main danger here. (11) SEOPOKCHAT came from well off the pace to run 3rd on January 11th. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and he can challenge late. (9) HAKSAN HENNY and (3) BEOLGYO EMPEROR among plenty of others who have hinted at ability.
| Selections | (7) Bank Line (1) Grace Day (11) Seopokchat (9) Haksan Henny |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(1) TRICK SHOT has led in his latest two for 2nd and 3rd at this distance, most recently beating three of today’s rivals on January 11th. He should get an easier run to the front here and will be favoured to go all the way. (11) MAGIC HAMMER was 4th in that race on January 11th. He has the challenge again of the widest gate and doesn’t get an apprentice claim this time, but third-up he can be peaking and he can run on strongly. (9) QUEEN WIND was an on pace 2nd at start number two over this distance on January 9th. She can show on pace again and once more be in this a long way. (2) BRAVE RUN and (10) MOST WANTED are the other main chances.
| Selections | (1) Trick Shot (11) Magic Hammer (9) Queen Wind (2) Brave Run |
| Next Best | 10, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Not the strongest of maidens. (5) SANGIM YEONGUNG will need his latest forgiven which was the worst of his four starts to date. Before that he registered three top four finishes, coming from off the pace each time, and similar efforts to those can see him win this. (9) K N STORM ran 4th over 1200M on January 3rd, coming from a long way back to beat a couple of today’s rivals. The same apprentice keeps his weight light and he can challenge here. (4) JAZZ PURPLE hinted at an uptick in form with a front running 5th at 1300M at the end of December. He is up to 1400M for the first time but can be on pace again and in this a long way. (7) TRIPLE S and veteran (1) P N S PA in the placing frame.
| Selections | (5) Sangim Yeongung (9) K N Storm (4) Jazz Purple (7) Triple S |
| Next Best | 1, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(10) MYSTIK JIN has raced three times, running 2nd on debut and most recently 3rd when stepped up to this trip for the first time on January 9th, showing on pace and beating a couple of today’s rivals. He has a wide gate to contend with but should be ready to win. (8) RED KING improved to 4th at start two over 1200M on January 16th. His racing style suggests that the increased trip can suit and an apprentice takes his weight down significantly. (1) ROYAL CRYSTAL has a 3rd place at this distance and from the inside gate can be on pace and in the finish again. (7) JEONGMUN SKIP and (2) SILVER STONE are place chances.
| Selections | (10) Mystik Jin (8) Red King (1) Royal Crystal (7) Jeongmun Skip |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(5) CONCORD BLUE was a winner on debut over 1200M on January 10th, showing on pace throughout. He comes up in class and in trip, but he is down 3kg in weight, CC Wong climbs on, and he can win again. (8) RAON THE BELMONT finally broke through at this class and distance in a filly only affair on December 28th. The win had been coming and while she is up 2.5kg, she can be in the finish again. (9) ELITE PEACE has a 4th and a 2nd from his latest two, both at this class and distance, and he can be there or thereabouts again. (3) BISANG BELL is next best before the form drops off, with (11) THE EXCELLENT perhaps the most likely of the rest to challenge the places.
| Selections | (5) Concord Blue (8) Raon The Belmont (9) Elite Peace (3) Bisan Bell |
| Next Best | 11, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 5 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(6) UNJU MAGIC has been working back towards a second win and enters off a smart runner-up finish over 1800M on January 9th. Franco stays on and the pair can come out on top here. (5) GEUMA PANTHER races for the first time since recording back-to-back victories in May and June last year. He looked well when 2nd in a January trial and he will have plenty of supporters first-up. (4) TOHAMSAN DRAGON has won at this class and while he has only been ordinary in his latest two, the step up to a mile can suit. (12) SEOBU GAMBLE and the up in class but down in weight (8) DOCTOR ACE are among others who can compete for the placings.
| Selections | (6) Unju Magic (5) Geuma Panther (4) Tohamsan Dragon (12) Seobu Gamble |
| Next Best | 8, 7 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Competitive race. (8) EODIDEUNJI got his win at start two over 1200M and has since registered a 6th and a 4th in two tries at this class, getting a bit far back both times. He can be a bit nearer today with Maia climbing on for the first time and he can win. (4) MAEUM HANA was a well beaten favourite on debut but got it right at the second time of asking on January 17th when close to the pace throughout. He’s up in class but down in weight and can be dangerous. (5) CHOEGO GOLD runs for the first time since breaking through at start three in November. He led all the way from the widest gate to win a trial last week and so long as he didn’t leave his race there, she can be in this. (7) WONDERFUL SEEKING and (10) SINHAN ACE other minor money chances.
| Selections | (8) Eodideunji (4) Maeum Hana (5) Choego Gold (7) Wonderful Seeking |
| Next Best | 10, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 6 |
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) FLEX ENGINE was a winner at this class and distance two starts back before running 4th over the same on January 4th. He comes into a much better gate this time and is well worth another chance. He will need to overturn the form on (4) BREEDO MIRACLE, who ran 3rd in that January 4th race. That was his best finish in three tries at this class and in this company, he should be aiming to at least match it. (3) APDOJEOK NUMBERONE is up in class after winning over this distance on January 9th in emphatic fashion. He got twelve points for that, but the same apprentice stops his weight coming up too much and leaves him competitive here. (5) TTANBONG QUEEN and (7) DOCTOR CITY other place chances.
| Selections | (1) Flex Engine (4) Breedo Miracle (3) Apdojeok Numberone (5) Ttanbong Queen |
| Next Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
A winner on debut in November, (5) AMOS CHEONHA has run 3rd in both tries so far at this class at 1300M and 1400M, coming from well off the pace both times. His racing style suggests that the big step up in trip can be in his favour and he can return to winning ways today. (11) THUNDER STORM is yet to win in eighteen attempts but she has thirteen top five finishes. Both her 2nd places have come over this trip, and she can match that here. (8) GEUMBIT POWER has a win and three 3rd place finishes from four starts. His latest 3rd came when beating three of today’s rivals over 1700M on January 3rd and given how he has finished off his races, the additional half furlong can suit. (10) SAVANA CHARLIE and (4) SHARKTEN other place chances.
| Selections | (5) Amos Cheonha (11) Thunder Storm (8) Geumbit Power (10) Savana Charlie |
| Next Best | 4, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(9) DOCTOR CHRIS had a bad day at the office when favourite at this class and distance on January 9th, racing keenly and battling with his jockey early behind a slow pace and then laying out. That was his first time out of the placed and he has won over 1800M, and a wider gate today may help him settle. If he does, he can win. He will need to overturn the form on (1) FLYING THE KHAN, who won that race, settling midfield and running on. That continued a positive run of form which has seen him beat plenty of today’s rivals. He is up 3kg in weight, but a repeat isn’t impossible. (3) UNJU CHALLENGE was 2nd at class and distance three weeks ago, leading for much of the way. He can lead here and be in this a long way again. (10) FAT BOY and (6) MILK DAY, others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (9) Doctor Chris (1) Flying The Khan (3) Unju Challenge (10) Fat Boy |
| Next Best | 6, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) AIRFORCEONE struggled against the best juveniles in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie at Busan in November but rounded out his juvenile campaign with victory at this class over 1800M on December 28th when he led from gate to wire. He comes up 3.5kg in weight and has to contend with the widest gate, but he can win again here. (2) PERFECT DANAEUN won four in a row between July and December with his streak coming to an end after Di Ne ran the legs off the field on January 10th. He is up to the mile for the first time, but there Maia stays on and he should compete. (6) CHOEGO BELT is an import who started at this level. He has a 3rd and a 5th from two outings so far and under a light weight he can be nice and fit for this. (5) HANAM ELDORADO and (1) ROYAL PLUS are the others who will be in the place market.
| Selections | (10) Airforceone (2) Perfect Danaeun (6) Choego Belt (5) Hanam Eldorado |
| Next Best | 1, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 10 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Fillies and mares only. (10) CLEARLY WINNER won her first two outings in July and September in fine style at 1200M and 1400M but then went lame which kept her out of work for three months. She looked very well when winning a trial on January 22nd and she can pick up from here she left off here in a soft event. (9) JINJU BIT beat three of these on her way to 3rd place at this class and distance on January 18th. She was at big odds that day, but it was a continuation of recent positive form, and she is worth a chance at an each-way price again. (1) QUEENS DRAGON and (3) BROWN ROOKIE came home 4th and 5th respectively behind Jinju Bit in that January 18th race and both can aim to go better here. Up in class (7) WORLD BLUE PIN CAT another in the placing frame.
| Selections | (10) Clearly Winner (9) Jinju Bit (1) Queens Dragon (3) Brown Rookie |
| Next Best | 7, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) SAMJEONG SPIDER is three for three with his latest having come at this class and distance on December 28th when close to the pace throughout. He begins his four-year-old campaign up 3kg in the weights, but he will be a short price favourite to make it four in a row. (8) POWER BAND enters having run 3rd at this class and distance on January 17th, coming from well off the pace. She carries a light weight and can run into a place again. (3) GOLD CATCHER needs a line drawn through his latest when he led before weakening over 1700M. He has won at this trip and from a good draw can be on pace. (1) CHEONHAENGCHAT and (2) SSAK DANAEUN others in line for the minors.
| Selections | (4) Samjeong Spider (8) Power Band (3) Gold Catcher (1) Cheonhaengchat |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 7: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(12) VANGIE was a winner over 1200M at class 3 level two starts back before finishing 3rd at this class and distance on January 4th, settling midfield and running on, and with three of today’s rivals behind him. He has never finished outside the top four, he comes in under a fair weight, and with Seo Seung-un staying on, he is the one to beat. (1) AMAZING KHAN also enters having beaten a few of these on his most recent appearance, in his case at this class over a mile on December 21st. He can mix his form but should be a danger here. (10) TAEWANG SINGI and (6) BREEDO PRINCE finished 3rd and 4th respectively in a valuable Sprint race at the end of November. The latter was then behind Vangie a month ago, but both can be in the mix here. (11) PERFECT ACTION, 5th behind Vangie on January 4th, is another in the frame.
| Selections | (12) Vangie (1) Amazing Khan (10) Taewang Singi (6) Breedo Prince |
| Next Best | 11, 7 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(1) TANSEONGUI BANSEOK has nine top four finishes from ten starts and both wins having been at this distance, most recently at this class on December 14th, He comes up 2.5kg in weight, but Maia gets on, and he should win again. (9) DRAGON SQUARE has been consistently close in recent outings, including three consecutive 3rd places. He hasn’t raced since October so match fitness must be taken on trust, but he can be there or thereabouts. (2) FLYING CRUISER was a class and distance winner two starts back before running 4th on December 28th. He carries 4kg more than the mark at which he won, but he draws well and can be in this. Up in class (4) GLORY CITY, along with (8) BLUE NELLO, are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (1) Tanseongui Banseok (9) Dragon Square (2) Flying Cruiser (4) Glory City |
| Next Best | 8, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 1 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million
(10) WONPYEONG STORM was a fair 6th in the Grand Prix and rounded out his three-year-old campaign with a win over 2000M on December 28th. He seems set to be pointed at the Sprint Series this time around so he comes back to a trip at which he is one for one over and he can win. He does though have the steadier of 58lg meaning he is giving a full 5.5kg to the excellent (9) MAGIC POTION. He won a valuable sprint race (at the equivalent of class 2 level) over this distance at the end of November before scoring over a mile on January 4th, both in very quick times. He has been an all or nothing type so far with seven wins but no other top five finishes, but he seems to be getting better. (6) YONGAM SESANG was a close 2nd behind Magic Potion on January 4th over a mile having led for most of the way and he can be close again. (1) SPEED ONE and (3) WOW WOW also in the frame. 2022 Korea Sprint winner (7) EOMA EOMA returns as a nine-year-old having last raced in April of last year. He did win a slow trial on Boxing Day but this is hard first-up.
| Selections | (10) Wonpyeong Storm (9) Magic Potion (6) Yongam Sesang (1) Speed One |
| Next Best | 3, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 9, 11 |
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