The blossoms are out at Seoul Racecourse and the festival gets underway on Saturday. There are 11 races from 10.35 to 17.55 and a drone show after races as well as the usual food-trucks etc. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Three-year-old maidens and we’ll take a chance on one of the two debut-makers. (5) JEONGMUN KINGDOM took two goes to qualify but looked assured when he did, showing on pace and stopping the clock in a decent time behind an experienced rival. From a nice draw he can lead and he can win. After a couple of trials, (1) PEGASUS KING was a solid 2^nd on debut over this distance on January 17^th, settling back and running on. He’s had eleven weeks off since then, but he should have come on for that and will probably start as favourite. (8) NAOL AURORA was 3^rd on debut over this distance on March 7^th and can build on that here. (10) MANGEUM DAON, who races for the first time since his debut last October, and (5) ÉCLAIR WIND are the other main chances.

Selections	(5) Jeongmun Kingdom (1) Pegasus King (8) Naol Aurora (10) Mangeum Daon
Next Best	5, 9
Fast Start	4, 5, 8, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(1) DRAGON MIJIN was slow away on debut over 1200M on January 17^th but recovered well to run on for 3^rd place, seven-lengths behind a winner who has gone on to score twice more (Maeum Hana). He didn’t return to work until mid-March but with a better start, he should have too much for this lot. (10) POWER BEST is second-best. He has finished in the top five in each of his last four starts, most recently 3^rd on February 14^th. In this company he should be on pace and a similar effort will see him place again. (2) PARAIBA has two 3^rd places on her record and while she only managed 6^th of ten last time out, she comes into a better gate today and should be closer. (8) SEOPOKCHAT and (7) TWOTWO MAGIC others in the frame.

Selections	(1) Dragon Mijin (10) Power Best (2) Paraiba (8) Seopokchat
Next Best	7, 6
Fast Start	1, 9, 10, 11

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) SMART RISE has finished 3^rd in both his latest two, most recently beating two of today’s rivals over this distance on March 7^th. That was his second placing over 1400M, and he won’t need to improve very much to win this. (3) TOUR FELIX has a 3^rd and a 4^th from his latest two, both over 1300M and both times doing his best work late. He comes up to this distance for the first time, and it may well suit. (9) DAEHAN SIDAE looks to be figuring things out with a 5^th and a 3^rd from his latest two, both at this distance. In this company he can be expected to be on or close to the speed and he can be in this a long way. (5) SU BU TAI and (2) NAEGEROWAJWO are others in the placing frame.

Selections	(6) Smart Rise (3) Tour Felix (9) Daehan Sidae (5) Su Bu Tai
Next Best	2, 7
Fast Start	2, 7, 8, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (3) LOVE IN SEOUL got her maiden win at start number three, leading all the way over 1300M, before running 2^nd on her first try at this class and distance in a similar filly and mare race on March 2^nd behind Raon Finalle who goes in tomorrow’s Luna Stakes. She draws nicely to lead, and she can go one better. (2) POMADE had been working towards her maiden win, and it duly arrived at start number six over this distance on March 1^st. She comes up in class but can keep her momentum going here. She will be competing for the lead from the start. Those two will top most tickets as the rest have patchy recent form. (7) DURAY SHOW has a 3^rd place at this class as recently as January and that’s enough to have her in the numbers here. (11) MACHEON WORLD and (8) POETIC NUBI others who can challenge for the minors.

Selections	(3) Love In Seoul (2) Pomade (7) Duray Show (11) Macheon World
Next Best	8, 1
Fast Start	1, 2, 3, 9

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(more…)