The Stayer Series gets underway at Seoul on Sunday afternoon with an all-star line up of twelve facing the starter in the Herald Business (2000M KOR-G3). There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:35 to 17:55 and 7 at Busan from 11:25 to 16:55. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(5) CHAOS was ordinary on debut last October but was much better when returning on January 31st leading for most of the way around and finishing in 3rd place ahead of a couple of today’s rivals. She should strip fitter for that run and with no other early speed in the race, is clear favourite here. (2) COWBOY QUEEN was a fair 5th on her debut on February 1st over this distance, settling midfield and finishing off well enough. She is under an apprentice claim again here and can improve. There are four debut makers. (11) ORATORIUM was 3rd in trial and looks the best placed to make an impact first up. (10) CLOVER ONE and (6) CHEONGGANG GYEOUL also hinted at ability in their heats.
| Selections | (5) Chaos (2) Cowboy Queen (11) Oratorium (10) Clover One |
| Next Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 5, 8 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(4) FIVE STAR has been knocking on the door over his five starts to date, with a 3rd and a 4th from his latest two, both times coming from off the pace. He can get a bit far back but if Furkan can have him in touch in the straight, this race is there for the taking. (2) MR.CREDIT has mixed his form across four outings, but he did register a smart 3rd over 1200M in December. Things didn’t work out for him when he was midfield in a slow race over this trip on February 14th but he is worth another chance here. (9) KING SPICY has made progress each time, most recently a 4th place at 1300M and the slight step up in trip again can suit. (11) QUEENS FLYING and (10) PRIMERO are other place chances.
| Selections | (4) Five Star (2) Mr.Credit (9) King Spicy (11) Queens Flying |
| Next Best | 10, 8 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 11 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Franco Da Silva might not have retained the ride on Clean One in the G3 at Seoul today, but he can still have a very good day at Busan, and he kicks off with a very good chance in the shape of (3) VICTORIA CHUKJE. After a 2nd place on debut, she has registered a 5th and a 4th in two subsequent starts, at 1200M and most recently this distance on February 15th. From a good draw she can be expected to be further forward earlier, and she is the one to bet. (9) VELOCI QUEEN was 2nd at start two, narrowly missing out in a tight finish over 1200M on January 23rd. The slight step up in trip can suit and she is a danger. (4) SUPER HIT enters off her best to date when 3rd at this distance on February 1st and can match or better that here. (10) DIA X and (2) NORTHERN QUEEN are the other chances.
| Selections | (3) Victoria Chukje (9) Veloci Queen (4) Super Hit (10) Dia X |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5 ,12 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only (1) RAON THE BELMONT had a poor day at the office last time out February 8th when only making it to midfield and never traveling. We’ll draw a line through that and instead go on her class and distance win two starts back on December 28th and in this more limited company, give her another chance. (4) FINAL JILJU ran 2nd at big odds at class and distance on February 14th and while up 2kg in weight, can aim to repeat. (5) POETIC NUBI enters with recent form reading adequately and that’s enough to have her among the place chances. (7) HAKSAN DAESE and (3) RED DRAGON others who can pick up in what is a weak race and where all of what passes for early speed is drawn wide.
| Selections | (1) Raon The Belmont (4) Final Jilju (5) Poetic Nubi (7) Haksan Daese |
| Next Best | 3, 8 |
| Fast Start | 8, 9, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(8) SUCCESS DAY has been getting closer across his four starts so far, culminating in 2nd on hos first try at this distance on February 13th when handy throughout. He can be on pace here and can go one better. Solitary debut-maker (2) WONDERFUL FASHION went through two trials, settling back in one and showing at the front in the other and finishing 3rd in both. He draws well to get forward early and can put in a bold showing in this company. (9) CARAT KING enters off a best to date 2nd at this distance on March 1st. He makes a quick return and an apprentice claiming 3kg keeps him competitive. (11) DOKKI TIGER and (6) ROYAL CRYSTAL others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (8) Success Day (2) Wonderful Fashion (9) Carat King (11) Dokki Tiger |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) CONCORD BLUE was a winner on debut over 1200M in January before running 3rd on his first try at this class over 1400M on February 8th. He draws wide here but should have enough about him early to get to the lead, and he is the one to beat. (9) ROAD TO STAR has a 3rd and a 4th in two starts at this level since getting his maiden win back in December. He can settle behind the early speed here and be a threat late on. (5) LOVERMAN comes up in class having scored his maiden win at this distance on February 14th. The time wasn’t quick, but he is down 2kg in weight and he can be competitive. (4) BLISS STAR and (6) THUNDER MARVEL are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (10) Concord Blue (9) Road To Star (5) Loverman (4) Bliss Star |
| Next Best | 6, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) BUNKER BUSTER got his maiden win at start two at the end of January and then came desperately close to following up when 2nd on his first try at this class and distance on February 27th. He comes up 1.5kg in weight, but he will be on pace, and he is favoured to go one better today. (1) BREEDO ARENA came from off the pace to win over this distance two starts back and while she only finished midfield over 1300M on her first try at this level two weeks ago, she carries a light weight and can be in the finish here. (11) DREAM RACER has beaten a couple of today’s rivals in both his latest two outings, most recently when 4th at this class and distance on February 1st and should beat plenty again. (12) SUCCESS COW and (3) TIP TAP others with place chances.
| Selections | (9) Bunker Buster (1) Breedo Arena (11) Dream Racer (12) Success Cow |
| Next Best | 3, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 8, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) GLOBAL HAMSEONG was a winner at class 5 level over 1300M two starts back before running 5th of ten on his first try at this class and distance on February 14th when coming from well back. He can settle back again here and could prove too strong late on. (7) MUSKET CLEAVER had a hard time when drawn in the widest gate over 1700M on his first try at this class on February 7th. This is his first time at a mile and if he gets a good start he can be on pace and potentially go all the way. (2) SAHARAMOND beat a couple of these on his way to a fair 5th at 1700M on January 18th and while up 4kg in weight with no apprentice claim, he can beat plenty again. In a race without much depth, (4) KING KALLE and (6) CHANG CHANG SOCKS are the next bests.
| Selections | (8) Global Hamseong (7) Musket Cleaver (2) Saharamond (4) King Kalle |
| Next Best | 6, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Nothing enters this race in much resembling form, but the best is (5) ROAD TO ACE. He was ordinary on his return from six months out in December but was an improved 5th over 1200M on January 25th, beating a couple of today’s rivals. He has won at this trip before and third-up this preparation, he can be peaking fitness wise. (1) FLYING THE FORD has been ordinary in his latest two but he won at this class over a mile in December and the inside gate and an apprentice claim should make him competitive here. (9) GOOGLE CAR has a win and two placings from five attempts at the distance which is enough to draw a line through his latest two and give him a chance. (11) BLACK JILJU and (8) TAEYANG EUTTEUM others who can arrest their respective recent slumps.
| Selections | (5) Road To Ace (1) Flying The Ford (9) Google Car (11) Black Jilju |
| Next Best | 8, 3 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
We’ll take a chance on (4) GANGCHEOL JEONSA here. He mixes his form and had a poor day at the office when well supported last time out over 1800M but at the start before he ran a solid 3rd in better company than this. He draws well and could even be an each-way price. (1) CAMP DAIVD is another form mixer but if he can reproduce his effort on February 7th when he was an on-pace class and distance 3rd, then he should get closer today. (6) BLACK SIDAE has a win and five placings from eleven tries at this distance and under a light weight, can be very competitive. (10) BLOOD MOUNTAIN was a bog price class and distance winner on January 31st and warrants more respect here. (7) BAZOOKA BOY could challenge for minors.
| Selections | (4) Gangcheol Jeonsa (1) Camp David (6) Black Sidae (10) Blood Mountain |
| Next Best | 7, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Fillies and mares only. (2) ARI DRAGON races twice last summer for a win and a 2nd place and then didn’t race again until January. She picked up from where she left off with 2nd over 1300M on January 11th and then won from a wide draw over 1300M on February 13th. She is up in class and slightly in trip but looks to have plenty of potential for more. It’s a long time since (11) JINJU BIT got her sole victory to date but she hasn’t been far away in recent starts and she can run into some money here. (7) FLY TO THE MOON enters off a 4th place over 1200M on February 6th. She is yet to win in thirteen attempts but has twelve top five finishes and should be there or thereabouts again. (5) SEONGSIL SIHWA and (8) QUEEN AND SERVE others in the frame.
| Selections | (2) Ari Dragon (11) Jinju Bit (7) Fly To The Moon (5) Seongsil Sinhwa |
| Next Best | 8, 4 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 10, 12 |
Seoul Race 7: Class Open (2000M) Weight for Age / Herald Business (KOR G3) / KRW 500 Million
The first leg of the Stayer Series. (6) CLEAN ONE blitzed the Grand Prix, leading from gate to wire and winning by the biggest margin in thirty years. He races for the first time since, although he looked well in a February trial, and if he brings his form from that day, he will take some beating. (2) GANGPUNGMA was runner-up in both the President’s Cup and the Grand Prix before winning at this distance at class 1 level at the end of December. He has a bit of an issue with the start which finds him at a disadvantage right away against the elite, but if he makes a clean getaway, he is a real chance. Reigning horse of the year (10) SPEED YOUNG won the President’s Cup before finishing 3rd in the Grand Prix. He showed he can turn his hand to anything by winning the Listed Segye Ilbo over 1200M three weeks ago and he will be challenging late. Defending champion (7) SUCCESS BAEKPA mixes his form but on his day can mix it with anyone. (5) YEONGGWANGUIFIRST could be the wildcard.
| Selections | (6) Clean One (2) Gangpungma (10) Speed Young (7) Success Baekpa |
| Next Best | 5, 9 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 6: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(2) WONDERFUL JONES was a class and distance winner on February 6th when on pace throughout and scoring comfortably. He comes up 3.5kg in weight, but that’s balanced by a better draw, and he will be a short price to repeat. (5) WIDAEHAN SEONTAEK is vastly experienced and while he doesn’t win out of turn, he came from off the pace to run 4th at 1400M on January 25th and this is the kind of race he can place in. (3) JULGEOUN DONGHANG won at this distance on January 25th, settling midfield and running on. She is up in class but down in weight and from a good gate, she can measure up. (10) DAEHO NARA and (8) VERLUC among plenty of other place chances.
| Selections | (2) Wonderful Jones (5) Widaehan Seontaek (3) Julgeoun Donghang (10) Daeho Nara |
| Next Best | 8, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 8, 9, 12 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) REVERENCE ran a fair 4th over a mile at this class on February 14th, running on from midfield but not being able to get up in a close finish. He drops back to a trip at which he is two for two, and he can return to winning ways today. (5) ROYAL SOCKS is a three-time winner at this distance, most recently at class 5 level in January when he made all. He was a close 2nd in a quick race on his first try at this class on February 7th and an apprentice claim today keeps his weight from going up by much and keeps him competitive. (10) WHIZ PERFECT got his maiden win at start two over 1200M on February 14th from the front, and while he has to contend with plenty of weight and a wide gate, he can measure up. (4) GLOBAL KINGDOM and (7) BILLION BOY among others to consider.
| Selections | (1) Reverence (5) Royal Socks (10) Whiz Perfect (4) Global Kingdom |
| Next Best | 7, 9 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 7: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(6) GEUMA GUTTY returned from three months out to run 2nd in December and then 3rd on February 13th, both at this class and distance and both times with notable rivals today behind him and only Oasis Red (twice) and Young Skywalker ahead of him. Third-up this preparation, he can be peaking and he can win. (5) UNJU GUY was beaten by Geuma Gutty in both the December and February races but was close in 3rd and 4th. In between those he added a 2nd of his own, beating plenty of the others who go here, and he shapes as a big danger today. (4) DOCTOR CAPTAIN was 3rd behind Unju Guy in January and can be a place chance again. (12) GREAT BOY and (7) DOCTOR KINGDOM others in the mix.
| Selections | (6) Geuma Gutty (5) Unju Guy (4) Doctor Captain (12) Great Boy |
| Next Best | 7, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 11, 12 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(10) GEOSEN GANGHO has placed three times at this distance and while he was a well beaten favourite when 6th last time out on February 14th, today he gets a 3kg apprentice claim which should bring him right into things. He can settle behind the speed and can run down plenty. (6) NURI CHEONWANG was a winner over this distance at class 4 level last October and has a 4th and a 3rd in two starts since at this level. He’ll sit handy here and is a danger. (4) K POWERFUL beat Nuri Cheonwang when trying to lead from gate to wire on January 31st. He’ll lead again here and can be in this a long way. (11) WHITE CARLA and (7) LEGEND WOW are others in the frame.
| Selections | (10) Geosen Gangho (6) Nuri Cheonwang (4) K Powerful (11) White Carla |
| Next Best | 7, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 11 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(2) WE GO HIGH was an all the way winner of a fast race over this distance at the end of last November. He hasn’t raced since and he missed six weeks of work at the start of this year through injury. He has been back in training since February 26th and while he is up in class and match fitness must be taken on trues, he has plenty of ability. (9) DREAMER WHIZ was a desperately close 2nd at class and distance on January 31st, flashing home from a long way back to just miss out. An apprentice stops his weight from going up and he’ll have every chance late on again. (3) NAVY CAPTAIN was a close class and distance 3rd at big odds on March 1st coming from off the pace and makes a quick return here with respect warranted. (5) BEST SUN and (10) TOHO SKY other place chances.
| Selections | (2) We Go High (9) Dreamer Whiz (3) Navy Captain (5) Best Sun |
| Next Best | 10, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 6 |
Horse Racing in Korea 