Saturday’s racing is at Seoul with 11 races from 10:35 to 17:55. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(8) CHEONJI TANK has a 4th and two 3rd place finishes from three starts so far at 1200M and most recently at this distance on January 25th when handy throughout. Expect similar tactics today, and coming in fresh after nine weeks, he looks to be the one to beat. (9) NINJA TIGER was an improved 3rd at start two in an all-filly race over 1200M on February 8th. Third-up she can strip fitter and Johan is on for the first time. (6) ROAD TO PERFECT has run 4th in all three of her outings so far and she should be there or thereabouts again. (5) HANAM LASER and (10) YEOKJEONUI HIT are the other main contenders in what should be a competitive opener.
| Selections | (8) Cheonji Tank (9) Ninja Tiger (6) Road To Perfect (5) Hanam Laser |
| Next Best | 10, 11 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million
After winning a trial in January, (12) SOUTH CARNIVAL was sent off as favourite over this distance on February 14th and from a midfield position, he proceeded to finish off well for 3rd place, beating a few of today’s rivals in the process. He should have learned plenty from that and while he has the challenge of the widest gate, he won’t need to improve much to win this. (6) WHIZ STAR was 6th on debut and then an improved 3rd at start number two over this distance on February 28th. The only one in the race who has two starts under her belt, she can have a fitness edge on plenty and should be on pace in a race with little obvious early speed. (10) SUN DOLPUNG was last on debut but has since looked much better in a trial and gets another chance. With the first-timers not catching the eye, (9) JEONGWANGSEOKHWA and (7) SMART SHINHWA are the next bests.
| Selections | (12) South Carnival (6) Whiz Star (10) Sun Dolpung (9) Jeongwangseokhwa |
| Next Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 10, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(10) SUNGANUI FIGHTER has made steady progress across four starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place on his first try at this distance on March 2nd when he led for much of the way. He doe shave to contend with a worse draw this time so he may need a touch of luck at the start, but if he can get to the front, he can win. Betting favourite will be (7) BREEDO CALEY. He has mixed his form across his four appearances but his latest was a strong 2nd over 1300M on February 28th, coming from off the pace and beating a couple of today’s rivals. A similar effort will see him in the finish again. (11) MADE returned from six months out to run 3rd over this distance on February 15th form a similarly wide draw. He should strip fitter for the run, and an apprentice takes his weight down. (4) SEMYEONG PEAK and (5) CHEONGRYONG GIUN others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (10) Sunganui Fighter (7) Breedo Caley (11) Made (4) Semyeong Peak |
| Next Best | 6, 1 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 7, 11 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(5) GEUMJEOKSAN got her maiden win at start number two over 1200M in November and has since run 3rd and 5th in two subsequent starts, showing on pace both times. The 3rd place came over this distance and from a good draw, she can be on pace again and this time she can go all the way. (6) AGAIN GOOD MAN stepped up to this distance on March 2nd and registered his maiden win having raced handy throughout. He is up in class here but is down 2kg in weight and he can measure up. (1) FINAL JILJU went through a bit of a cold patch but has picked up in her latest couple of outings with a 2nd and a 4th and she can be there or thereabouts again. Up in class (11) JAZZ PURPLE, along with (9) GRAND KWAEMA, are others who can be in the frame.
| Selections | (5) Geumjeoksan (6) Again Good Man (1) Final Jilju (11) Jazz Purple |
| Next Best | 9, 2 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(3) CHOEGO GOLD enters off a close 2nd place at this class and distance on March 2nd when on pace throughout. He is up 2kg in weight, but he comes into a much better gate and can accordingly get an easier run to the lead and go all the way. Like Choego Gold, (4) REFLECT has never been outside of the top five, in his case in six appearances. He has been 3rd and 4th in his latest two, beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process and in this company can race on pace and be a danger. (5) WIDAEHAN HAMSEONG is yet to win in seven attempts but following his first two runs, he hasn’t been outside of the top four. He is another who should be on the pace and can at least place again. (7) JURING SKY and (9) YONGBI SHINHWA among other placing chances.
| Selections | (3) Choego Gold (4) Reflect (5) Widaehan Hamseong (7) Juring Sky |
| Next Best | 9, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 9, 11 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(4) O P S TAP came from midfield to win his maiden over 1700 metres two runs back, and in doing so had the reopposing Fighter three-and-three-quarter-lengths behind him, prior to a seven-length third when racing at this class for the first time. The in-form apprentice Woo In-cheol is on board once more and he is a decent each-way chance. The incredibly consistent (8) THUNDER STORM is still a maiden from 19 attempts but has finished in the top five in each of her last 10 starts so an each-way bet on her is worth it. (1) FIGHTER may very well start favourite and broke his duck last time on February 28 when ridden for the first time by Jang Chu-youl, who retains the ride. (9) CHRYSOL MAJOR is an interesting runner first-up for three months whilst (2) JILPUNGA is another consistent customer and (5) GANGCHEOL POWER is a course, distance and grade winner four starts back and gets a four-kilogram apprentice claim from Jo Seong-hwan.
| Selections | (4) O P S Ta, (8) Thunder Storm (1) Fighter (9) Chrysol Major |
| Next Best | 2, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) JILJUUI YEOWANG won on debut last April before failing to handle kickback at her second start in May when finishing last beaten 20 and a half lengths. She was asked to do little when winning a trial by a nose on January 15 and then came out on February 15 and resumed with a frontrunning eight-length victory. She was put up 13 pounds for that performance and carries one kilogram more in this race despite rising in grade but is potentially quite smart. (5) CLUB Q is yet to miss the top four in seven starts and has beaten home most of these in her last two runs. (3) MUNHAK DAESE was fifth in her first run at this level, in the race Club Q won on January 17, before missing the start and always being towards the rear last time. She needs to show something at this level sooner rather than later but can be given another chance. (9) SSAK DANAEUN had to go back to the trials after her latest run when suffering a pulmonary haemorrhage but is still in decent form it seems. (11) MIGHTY LOVE and (7) SEONGSIL DAERO rate next.
| Selections | (10) Jiljuui Yeowang (5) Club Q (3) Munhak Daese (9) Ssak Danaeun |
| Next Best | 11, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(2) G B VAULT was always in the second half of the field on debut but has been much better at his next two with a second on January 24 to Free The One, subsequently a Listed placegetter, prior to a win on February 14 at this level. He goes up six pounds and three kilograms but can win again for Johan Victoire and Luigi Riccardi. (5) EAST BEACH didn’t cut too much ice in her first preparation of racing but was fourth in a recent trial, and the third placed runner from that event came out and won last week. (9) BULGEUNTAETANG came from midfield to finish second in his first run at this class on March 2 and despite going up one kilogram and two pounds can go close again for CC Wong and Moon Byeong-ki. (10) DALMAJI and (4) BEOLGYO D Y were split by only a nose when second and third in a trial on March 12 and rate over (8) HEEMANGBAND.
| Selections | (2) G B Vault (5) East Beach (9) Bulgeuntaeyang (10) Dalmaji |
| Next Best | 4, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(3) PERFECT DANAEUN has won five races from 12 starts and those five victories have come from his past six starts with the defeat being a fifth to the incredibly impressive Di Ne, one of the favourites for this weekends Korean 2000 Guineas. He comes up to 1800 metres and class three grade for the first time, but he should win again. (8) BS STORM won up to three in a row before a third and a fifth in two runs at this level. He was only one place behind Clair Big Bang, fifth at Listed level last weekend, two back on January 18 and rates as second best. (5) MK LEE was three-and-a-half lengths behind BS Storm in that January 18 race which was his first run at this class. He got it right for his second class three effort however and despite going up five pounds and three-and-a-half kilograms can go close again. (7) DRAGON KILLER was only midfield as favourite in his first run at this level and despite that goes up one kilogram but had been impressive at class four grade prior. (11) JULGEOUN SANGSANG has disappointed at his last two but should benefit from a Woo In-cheol three-kilogram claim and a wide draw, to hopefully avoid kickback. Last start winner (2) SONGDANG HWANGTAEJA rates next.
| Selections | (3) Perfect Danaeun (8) BS Storm (5) Mk Lee (7) Dragon Killer |
| Next Best | 11, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(3) CHOEGANG GOLD comes up to class two grade and 2000 metres for the first time but is an incredibly consistent type with six wins and two minor places from eight starts. He has won each of his past two, one level below this over a furlong shorter from on-pace roles, and despite going up half a kilogram up in grade, with a seven-pound increase from his last run, he can win again with regular rider Kim Hyo-jung back in the saddle. (7) MUSKET DAY, a la Choegang Gold, had won three of his past four before racing at this class for the first time when third two back and followed that up with a last start second when finishing ahead of six reopposing rivals. The 50/1 winner of the 2023 Derby (2) EUNPA SARANG was a much improved second last start behind a subsequent winner and brings different form lines to the event. (11) DRONE KILLER gets a three-kilogram claim from Woo In-cheol and won over course, distance and grade four back. (5) BROWN GOLD and (10) JEOMSUNI GO rate next.
| Selections | (3) Choegang Gold (7) Musket Day (2) Eunpa Sarang (11) Drone Killer |
| Next Best | 5, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 5 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(7) FREE THE ONE comes back in distance by 200 metres but ran second to the smart Circle A on December 21 prior to a victory on January 24. He then contested the Listed Sports Seoul Trophy and was third to Roshe. The drop in trip is a slight concern, but he is clearly quite good. (4) GWANAKSAN STORM produced an excellent performance when first-up for 12 months leading throughout to beat three reopposing rivals over course, distance and grade at the start of the month. He clearly retains the ability he had as a younger horse and can win again. (1) WONPYEONG SKET has run the two worst races of her career when unable to lead and last start fell into that category when giving in very tamely as a 1.3 favourite in the form line race on March 1. She has the lowest barrier on this occasion which may help her keep out the early challenge of Gwanaksan Storm amongst others. (3) COSMO RUN was a comfortable course, distance and grade winner in December before a fifth in January. He gets a three-kilogram claim from Woo In-cheol and rates over (11) BEOLGYOUI STAR and the interesting amongst others (5) UASEN.
| Selections | (7) Free The One (4) Gwanaksan Storm (1) Wonpyeong Sket (3) Cosmo Run |
| Next Best | 11, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 8, 9, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 