Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 17:55. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Maidens with five of the twelve racing for the first time. (7) FLYING HONOR took a few trials to get to the races but ran a good 4th on debut over this distance on January 17th, settling midfield and running on. He should have learned plenty from that and can win today. Among the debut-makers, (3) NAOL AURORA took two trials to qualify and improved significantly in the second of them, showing on pace. From a good draw if she can bring that form to the races, she will be close. (10) GOLDEN MATCH was also on pace in debut and while he weakened late for a midfield finish, he can have come on for the run. (5) METAL INVADER and (1) AREUMDAUN BIT can also improve from their respective debuts.
| Selections | (7) Flying Honor (3) Naol Aurora (10) Golden Match (5) Metal Invader |
| Next Best | 1, 12 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(8) IKKEULIM raced twice without distinction last summer before going lame. He returned to action, gelded, on January 24th and ran a solid 2nd place over 1200M. He should have come on for that run, and he can go one better here. After winning a trial, (5) RAPID THUNDER was a smart 2nd on debut in December when he led for much of the way over 1200M. He’s had eleven weeks out since but can build on that here. (1) TWOTWO MAGIC came from a long way back to run 5th on debut over 1200M on January 31st. He should have come on for the run and the slight step up in trip can suit. (6) GOD SPEED and (2) STUNNING CALIBER others who can improve.
| Selections | (8) Ikkeulim (5) Rapid Thunder (1) Twotwo Magic (6) God Speed |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
After an ordinary debut, (5) CHRYSOL POSH was an improved 2nd at start number two over 1400M on January 4th, coming from off the pace. Expect similar here and third up he can be peaking fitness wise. (8) SMART RISE enters off 3rd place over this distance on January 31st when settling midfield and running on smartly. That was just his fourth start, and he shapes as the main danger. The rest will need to pick up in form. (6) AMOS STAR has shown a couple of glimpses but has tended to get a bit far back. With a central gate and not much speed on his inside, he may be further forward today and can be aiming for a better result (10) BEST FREEDOM and (2) B.K. VIVACE are other potential improvers.
| Selections | (5) Chrysol Posh (8) Smart Rise (6) Amos Star (10) Best Freedom |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(1) CRAZY MANGO had been working towards a second win, and it arrived at this class and distance on February 7th when he led for most of the way. An apprentice claiming 3kg means he comes in under the same weight and from the inside gate, he can be on pace again and can win again. (11) COMEBACK HOLYMOELY remains a maiden but is up in class following back-to-back 2nd place finishes at 1300M. He has the challenge of the widest gate but is down significantly in weight, and he can be a threat. (9) CHEONGSAN DOLPUNG was the beaten favourite behind Crazy Mango on February 7th, not really becoming involved having settled back. He previously had three 2nd places from four starts and is worth another chance here. (2) AFLEET RUN and (6) HEART KING others in the hunt.
| Selections | (1) Crazy Mango (11) Comeback Holymoely (9) Cheongsan Dolpung (2) Afleet Run |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. It’s been a while since (5) I AM GO got her solitary win but she showed signs of coming back into form with a 3rd place at this class and distance on February 8th when settling just behind the speed and finishing well in a quick time. She is up 2kg in weight but in this company, she can be on pace, and it can be her day. (8) COWBOY SOCKS broke through at start number three over this distance on January 31st, racing on pace throughout. She is up in class and while she only comes down 1kg in weight, she can measure up. (11) UNJU TIME has finished in midfield in all three tries at this class, but her maiden win came at this distance and against this set of opponents, she should be close. (7) RAPTURE and (6) WONDERFUL SPIRIT are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) I Am Go (8) Cowboy Socks (11) Unju Time (7) Rapture |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) JISAN LABEL is up in class following two 2nd places and a 4th from three outings to date. He stepped up to this distance at his latest on January 25th and it seemed to suit and while up in class, he is down a full 4kg in weight, and that can see him home on top. (7) MR.CARA is the danger. It took him a while to figure things out but two turns has been the making of him with a pair of runner-up finishes at 1700M followed by a win at this class over 1800M on January 24th, when he made all. He is up 3.5kg in weight but surely won’t be far away. (9) WILD MAGIC is another maiden but was 2nd over 1800M on his first try at this class on February 8th and under the same light weight can threaten again. (10) WITH DORTIE and (4) JILPUNGA among other chances.
| Selections | (2) Jisan Label (7) Mr.Cara (9) Wild Magic (10) With Dortie |
| Next Best | 4, 8 |
| Fast Start | 6, 8, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Fillies and mares only. (3) AWESOME QUEEN won her first two starts and while she hasn’t repeated, she has only missed the top four once and has finished 2nd on no fewer than seven occasions, including both her latest two at 1700M and 1800M at this class when leading. In this company and from a great draw, she should go one better. If she does manage to find one too quick again, it might be (7) FASHION STAR. She comes in having run 3rd behind Awesome Queen on January 25th. There was just half a length between them, and they should be close again over a trip Fashion Star has won at three times. (9) M J CLASS is an import who began at this level and looks to be figuring things out after four starts. She was 3rd at this class and distance on February 1st and can aim to at least match. (2) VICTORY QUEEN and (11) LADY FOX others in the frame.
| Selections | (3) Awesome Queen (7) Fashion Star (9) M J Class (2) Victory Queen |
| Next Best | 11, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(11) GWANAKSAN RICKEY returned more than six months after his debut to run 2nd to Rooftop at this class and distance on January 31st. He should have come in for that run and he can win here. (2) MAJOR CROWN had a hard time from a wide draw last time out over 1400M but back at 1200M and with a better gate, can be closer today. (10) CHALLANHAN BULKKOT mixes his form, but an apprentice claim contributes to a 5.5kg weight drop today and that can put him in contention. (4) RAON ECLIPSE needs a line drawn through his latest but us a two-time winner at this distance and can be a danger. (6) SFORZA another one in the placing frame.
| Selections | (11) Gwanaksan Rickey (2) Major Crown (10) Challanhan Bulkkot (4) Raon Eclipse |
| Next Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) DANANEUN KINGDOM returned to action on February 1st following nine months out, during which he was gelded. It was a successful comeback as he finished 4th at this class and distance, beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process and, stripping fitter for that run, he can go be the one to beat today. (10) PINE PINK has never finished any worse than 4th and was 2nd on her only previous try over a mile two starts back. She’ll be there or thereabouts again. (2) VINCERO KING was a bit disappointing behind Danaeun King on February 1st. That was his first try over a mile and the veteran can go closer today. (4) MIGHTY CODE and (9) GLOBAL PHAROAH others in the hunt.
| Selections | (3) Danaeun Kingdom (10) Pine Pink (2) Vincero King (4) Mighty Code |
| Next Best | 9, 3 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 8, 10 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(2) STAR TREK was a class and distance winner three starts back and enters off a 4th and a 3rd from two subsequent outings. He comes into a much better gate to get on pace today and he can return to winning ways. (10) DAEHEUNG CLASS is yet to win but has a mildly ludicrous eleven runner-up finishes as well as eight 3rd places. I’ve given up putting him on top (so he’ll probably go and win) but this is the kind of race where he can add to that tally of near misses. (3) PALO ALTO is better than her recent record suggests and from a good draw and with an apprentice claim keeping her weight down, she may offer some each-way interest. (1) REAL DEAL and (9) WILD SOCKS are the other main contenders.
| Selections | (2) Star Trek (10) Daeheung Class (3) Palo Alto (1) Real Deal |
| Next Best | 9, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 8 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(7) SILVER RAIN was overmatched behind Speed Young in the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy three weeks ago but last November ran a strong 2nd in the KRA Sprint at Seoul over this distance. He carries a very light weight today with an apprentice claim and he has as good a chance as any in a competitive finale. (1) CUPID IT comes into a much better gate than on his first try at this class in January. A four-time winner at this distance, he can be competitive. (10) EXCELLENT TAN comes up in class but is significantly down in weight and is an each-way chance. (3) NICE FORCE and (2) BEOLGYO VERITAS are among plenty of others in the hunt.
| Selections | (7) Silver Rain (1) Cupid It (10) Excellent Tan (3) Nice Force |
| Next Best | 2, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 7, 9 |
Horse Racing in Korea 