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 2nd on debut over this distance on January 17th, 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 3rd on debut over this distance on March 7th 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 17th but recovered well to run on for 3rd 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 3rd on February 14th. In this company he should be on pace and a similar effort will see him place again. (2) PARAIBA has two 3rd places on her record and while she only managed 6th 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 3rd in both his latest two, most recently beating two of today’s rivals over this distance on March 7th. That was his second placing over 1400M, and he won’t need to improve very much to win this. (3) TOUR FELIX has a 3rd and a 4th 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 5th and a 3rd 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 2nd on her first try at this class and distance in a similar filly and mare race on March 2nd 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 1st. 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 3rd 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
(6) EVER GLORY was an on-pace winner over this distance on debut on February 28th, scoring by three-lengths. She comes up in class but is down in weight and she will be favoured to maintain her 100% record against a very modest set of rivals. (10) COMPLETE STEP hinted at a return to form with a 3rd place over 1200M on March 21st. An apprentice contributes to 5.5kg coming off her back and that should be enough the bring her into contention. (4) NAOL DAEWANG has been ordinary in recent outings but has been back to trial since and having run a close 3rd in the heat, he can be close in this company too. (9) EXCELLENT HANSEN and (1) DIA ROOK may be the best of a limited rest.
| Selections | (6) Ever Glory (10) Complete Step (4) Naol Daewang (9) Excellent Hansen |
| Next Best | 1, 5 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(1) GWANAKSAN LEO is the only mare taking on the boys and from the inside draw in a race with not a whole lot of early speed could be an each-way chance. She finished a two-length second over course, distance and grade on December 28 when attempting to lead throughout before losing her chance with a bad start on January 24. She must do better than she did last start but could do so from a much lower draw in this with nothing on her back in a hard class three to assess. (7) KING DIA comes out of different races to most of these and wasn’t too far behind some good horses last time when resuming from five-months away from the races, he does however have a big weight. (6) YEONGWON BIG MAN had been around the mark prior to last start. (9) SAENAE POWERFUL has finished in the second half of the field in three runs since beating two reopposing rivals when winning on Grand Prix Day over course, distance and grade at 73/1 but could be an each-way value chance again. Those two rivals were (2) ULTRA DRAGON and (8) DRAGON GATE who were only separated by a nose when they last met, and raced, on March 8, in favour of the latter, and may very well be the two favourites but they both go up significantly in weight.
| Selections | (1) Gwanaksan Leo (7) King Dia (6) Yeongwon Big Man (9) Saenae Powerful |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) GWANAKSAN SKY remains unbeaten from two starts with a five-length victory on February 7 over 1200 metres in a class six, maiden, followed by a four-length score on March 8 over a furlong further at class five level. He again goes up one level in grade, and this time goes up two furlongs in trip but there is no reason he can’t handle either. The consistent (2) BYEOLKONG beat a couple of reopposing rivals when dead heating for the victory on February 28 over course, distance and grade and should finish close to the action again. (10) CHEONGSAN JILJU has chased home horses that are better than this at each of his last two and whilst he once again may chase home another one, he is an each-way chance. He once again gets a 2kg apprentice claim. (3) GOLD MUNGCHI also gets an apprentice claim, in his case 4kg and he was a best of the rest 3rd behind two decent horses’ last time. (4) BLUE SUN was beaten in his first run at this level last start but could bounce back whilst (6) MUJEOK HAMDAE came from well back to win most recently and comes up to this grade for the first time.
| Selections | (7) Gwanaksan Sky (2) Byeolkong (10) Cheongsan Jilju (3) Gold Mungchi |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(4) K POWERFUL has had the two runs at this level for a three-length second to Choegang Gold, subsequent class two runner-up, on January 31 before a fourth on March 15 attempting to lead throughout on both occasions. He races over a mile or less for the first time since December 2024 but looks the leader and should be in front for a long way. (9) TANSEONGUI BANSEOK was a winner at this level on December 14 prior to a best of the rest second behind Ace K on February 8. He followed that up with a fourth and is another that should look a chance at some stage of the race. (3) MISS WIN STAR was midfield throughout first-up over the course, distance and grade but could come on for that run. (6) LUCKY FRANK has some ability on his day and first-up since December rates next over the very consistent (1) NURI CHEONWANG, who is a big winning chance, and (8) SCALE KING.
| Selections | (4) K Powerful (9) Tanseongui Banseok (3) Miss Win Star (6) Lucky Frank |
| Next Best | 1, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) SEJONG POWER is getting better with experience and broke through over course, distance and grade most recently on March 2 when racing on pace for the first time. He goes up nine pounds in the handicap mark and 2kg in weight but can win again. As can (2) MAJOR CROWN who accounted for (1) GWANAKSAN RICKEY by three-lengths over course, distance and grade on March 7. The former goes up eight pounds and 3kg whilst the latter has gone up two pounds but just like last start carries 56kg. (7) NAOL PASS accounted for (3) DUSON EUTTEUM back on Grand Prix Day one level below this and whilst the former has subsequently won at this grade and the latter hasn’t, she can finish around the mark as can Duson Eutteum. (8) CHEONHAENGCHAT is the best of the roughies.
| Selections | (10) Sejong Power (2) Major Crown (1) Gwanaksan Rickey (7) Naol Pass |
| Next Best | 3, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) PARISUI BULKKOT led throughout to win a trial by four-lengths on November 21 prior to his debut where he won by 10-lengths on January 10. He came up by one furlong to this trip on February 14 and whilst he was beaten into fourth, he was not disgraced. This is an easier race than last time and he can bounce back. The consistent (7) PINE PINK looks the danger if any. She is yet to break through at this grade but has not been far away and should be around the mark once more. (1) SAENAE FIGHTER won up to two races in a row over course and distance and then has finished midfield in two runs at this class. These three horses should all be on pace in the run. (11) MY THERN is best of the rest over (5) BREEDO CHAMPION and (2) BEOLGYO NAKSEONG.
| Selections | (4) Parisui Bulkkot (7) Pine Pink (1) Saenae Fighter (11) My Thern |
| Next Best | 5, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 7 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(10) RAON SILENCE comes up to a class three contest for the first time but based on her last start front-running five-length course and distance victory one grade below this she can take the step-up in class in her stride despite the 11-pound rise and no weight break. (5) WONDERFUL JET was always towards the rear and eventually finished last when resuming on January 25 but ran a much better race second-up on February 28 beating two reopposing rivals so he rates as an each-way chance. (1) STORM BREAKER has a second to Choegang Gold four runs back and whilst he hasn’t run close to that level since this is an easier class three compared to his last three runs, and he did win trials in both January and March. (7) CHEONGRYONGUI CAL has two-lengths to find with Wonderful Jet from February 28 but could reverse the form. (2) MARU JANGGUN was behind both of those horses that day and rates next over (3) PALO ALTO.
| Selections | (10) Raon Silence (5) Wonderful Jet (1) Storm Breaker (7) Cheongryongui Cal |
| Next Best | 2, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 