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 30 Million
After showing on pace then weakening on debut, (5) GOLDEN MATCH stayed on at start number two for a solid 2nd place over this distance on March 2nd in a good time. He draws well to lead again, and it can be third time lucky here. (6) PURPLE KOREA has raced twice for two 3rd place finishes, both times over this distance and both times showing on the early speed. She too can be nice and fit for this and will be challenging for the lead from the start. (8) JEJU BLUE was a much-improved 2nd in his second start over this distance in March 2nd when leading for much of the way around. Another who will be competing to get to the front form the start, he can be in this a long way. (4) NASCA BULCHUNGGAEK is half-sister to Jeulgeounyeojeong and showed well in two trials. The only debut-maker, she can make a good impression here. (1) K-QUEEN another in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) Golden Match (6) Purple Korea (8) Jeju Blue (4) Nasca Bulchunggaek |
| Next Best | 1, 9 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Ten fillies and one gelding here. (3) CALL ME SKY was a quick 2nd on debut but was well beaten when sent off as a 1.2 odds-on favourite for start number two on February 8th. He missed the start that day and was always up against from there ultimately finishing in 6th. Following that he missed some work with back pain but has been back in regular work since the start of this month and with a better start today, is the one to beat. (6) DAJEONGHAN enters off a 3rd place over 1400M on March 21st when beating two of today’s rivals. She can settle behind the speed here and be in the finish. That solitary gelding is (11) SUN RISE KING, who improved to a close 2nd at this distance on March 22nd. He has the challenge of the widest gate but can be a danger. (5) GOLDEN WARRIOR and (7) JEJU PRINCESS others in the frame.
| Selections | (3) Call Me Sky (6) Dajeonghan (11) Sun Rise King (5) Golden Warrior |
| Next Best | 7, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 8, 11 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
A maiden for horses who have raced at least five times without placing so something here is going to win for the first and almost certainly only time. That might be (3) LUGE, who returned from four months out to run 5th of ten over 1300M on March 2nd, beating two of today’s rivals in the process. He has a 4kg claim again and won’t need to improve any to win this. (5) M J VET was 6th in that race having been sent off at a considerably shorter price than Luge. She has run fairly at this trip before and that can help her try to overturn the three-lengths she has to find. It’s tossing darts with the rest. (1) BEOLGYOSAMJOKO led over 1700M so the combination of dropping back in trip and the inside gate can be in his favour. (4) STAR KILLER comes out of the March 2nd race where he was 7th but this time gets an apprentice claim bringing him down 3kg. (6) BITCHUI SUNGAN is one paced but that may be enough to run into some minor money here.
| Selections | (3) Luge (5) M J Vet (1) Beolgyosamjoko (4) Star Killer |
| Next Best | 6, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 7 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
A couple of maidens go on top here. (9) MASTER PLAN has mixed his form over seven starts but proved he is competitive at this level with a 2nd place over this distance on March 8th when settling midfield and running on. Three of his four placings have come over 1400M and he has a chance of breaking through here. So too does (3) GEOMEUN SUP, who will get the nod from those favouring consistency. While yet to win in seven outings, he has finished no worse than 5th and has run 3rd (dead-heating) and 4th in two tries at this class at 1700M and 1800M. He drops back to the trip at which he got his best results so far and from a good gate can lead early. (1) TAEGISAN KING has won a race and while he has mixed his form in five starts at this level since, he enters off a very close 2nd at class and distance on March 21st, and a similar effort will see him in the finish again. (10) JIJON BULPAE and (8) HAKSAN SWORD other place chances.
| Selections | (9) Master Plan (3) Geomeun Sup (1) Taegisan King (10) Jijon Bulpae |
| Next Best | 8, 5 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) ROAD TO HEAT has three 3rd places and a 2nd from four starts so far with the latter coming on his first try at this class over 1400M on March 14th when he led for much of the way. He comes up to two turns for the first time, nut he should be on pace again, and in this company, he should win. (1) FIVE STAR is a maiden too but is up in class after some near misses, most recently at 1400M on March 15th. He too tackles the trip for the first time but is down in weight and his racing style suggests it may suit. (7) MADE is up in class and in trip but is another for who it might suit and third-up after a lengthy absence, he can be nice and fit for this. (3) SUBMISSION and (8) SOFT POWER among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (9) Road To Heat (1) Five Star (7) Made (3) Submission |
| Next Best | 8, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 9 |
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) ANYANGBITCHUISOKDO showed good form as a juvenile last year with a victory over Airforceone on debut on June 21 followed by only a 5th at start two, but he bounced back at his next start when coming from the second half of the field to be best of the rest behind Chief Star in the Rookie Stakes on August 17. He was always in the second half of the field in a trial on March 19, but the form of his last start second makes him the one to beat if he is anywhere near his best. (8) I AM GO was not too far away two runs back when finishing third on February 8 and would be an each-way chance on that effort. That day she was four-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of (7) CHOEGO GOLD who has been very consistent in six runs to date and does have a second to Di Ne last October. (4) PANGPANG DAERO has been a bit hard to catch to date but potentially has the ability. (1) MUNHAK FIGHTER and (6) CHEONGONGUI SEOM are the other potential chances.
| Selections | (9) Anyangbitchuisokdo (8) I Am Go (7) Choego Gold (4) Panapang Daero |
| Next Best | 1, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) THE SUN BULSAJO failed last time as favourite on March 1 when stepping up to this grade for the first time however perhaps she did not run the 1400M out from the front. She led throughout to score by seven-lengths back on December 28 over the course and distance and prior to that was third to Chief Star and Wonpyeong Sket at LR level in October, so she is good enough. (2) RAON FINAL led throughout to win by eight-lengths on January 3 over the course and distance before never really getting warm in her first run at this class on February 7. She was much better last time however when attempting to lead throughout and only being beaten by a neck. (4) TAEYANGUI JEONSA has a second to Di Ne two back on January 10 but only managed midfield last time on March 2 when carrying the biggest weight of his career to date. That is eclipsed here as he goes up by a further 1kg. (1) WHIZ PERFECT would be a chance going on his win back on February 14 whilst the consistent pair of (11) GEOSEN BIGMAN and (10) SEOMDOLMORU rate next.
| Selections | (6) The Sun Bulsajo (2) Raon Final (4) Taeyangui Jeonsa (1) Whiz Perfect |
| Next Best | 11, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 10 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) PICTURE led throughout to win last start over the course, distance, and grade by a half-length on March 21 and whilst he has been put up 7lb and 1.5kg for that win he can follow up. His best form has seen him run 2nd to Geudaemaniddamyeon and his most recent run should have been a confidence booster. (8) MIGHTY FREE is another recent half-length course, distance, and grade winner and in his case, he landed the odds at 36/1. He goes up 8lb and 2kg for that win but could go close again. (10) SHINING ROAD accounted for Pas de Cheval last time, also by a half-length but in his case over 1700M. He goes up 7lb and 2.5kg but can follow up at Class 4 grade once more. (2) MAGIC STRONG was not far away when resuming and will have come on for the run. The consistent (1) BURUI SEGYE gets the dream draw and rates over (3) BEOLGYO D Y.
| Selections | (4) Picture (8) Mighty Free (10) Shining Road (2) Magic Strong |
| Next Best | 1, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 |
Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(10) GAMSAUI HIM is a smart American bred three-year-old colt who led throughout to win impressively by seven-lengths back in January over a similar distance one grade below this prior to being outpaced and well beaten over 1400M at LR grade. He attempted to lead throughout last time over the course, distance and grade on March 21 and only got beaten in the last couple of strides to be second beaten a head behind another smart American bred classic aged colt in Circle A. He goes up 2lb and 2kg but can go one better. (6) G B VAULT made up ground on debut over 1200M in December prior to running second to Free The One over 1400M on January 24th. He then broke through for his first win on February 14, over the same distance, before being beaten as a 1/5 favourite last time when stepping up to 1600M. However, after being outpaced, he rallied in the dying stages to only be beaten a nose and in another stride would have won. Therefore, the step-up to 1800M could be a very sensible move by Luigi Riccardi and he should not be written off following his last start odds-on defeat. (6) WHIZ REALITY has been 4th in two runs at this level and is the best of the rest over (4) STUNNING MONEY who goes up 6lb and 4kg for his March 8th course, distance, and grade win. (11) VISION POWER and (3) ENDING FIRE rate next.
| Selections | (10) Gamsaui Him (9) G B Vault (6) Whiz Reality (4) Stunning Money |
| Next Best | 11, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 9, 10 |
Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) GLOBAL CHAMP has been consistent in four runs and has looked good in his two victories. He went off a clear 2.3 favourite last start on March 14 when making his first run at this grade and although beaten was not disgraced finishing a three-length third and will be involved in the finish once more. (1) UGWANGMYEONG hasn’t raced since December 28 when finishing 2nd, one-and-a-quarter lengths behind (7) SAMJEONG SPIDER. The latter made it three wins from as many starts when winning that day but was slow to go when making his first run at this level on February 8 and then failed to manage the kickback. He eventually got into 5th and it was not a bad run under the circumstances so he could bounce back however Ugwangmyeong is very slightly better in at the weights compared to their December meeting. (8) REVERENCE is yet to win in three runs at this grade but his best effort at this level was last start so that is a positive. (11) ANYANG GIPPEUM bounced back to form when winning over the course, distance, and grade last time and carries 0.5kg less with 3kg apprentice Kwon Jung-seok onboard. (10) NAOL DAEWANG rates next.
| Selections | (4) Global Champ (1) Ugwangmyeong (7) Samjeong Spider (8) Reverence |
| Next Best | 11, 10 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 |
Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million
(5) BEST RACE never runs a bad race. He made up ground to be 6th in the LR Segye Ilbo Trophy behind Speed Young in February before a 2nd to Magic Potion on March 8 at Class 1. He was a trophy winner on international weekend in his three-year-old campaign last season and competed in all three legs of the Triple Crown with his best effort a 5th in the 2000 Guineas. He carries 2.5kg more than last time but looks a safe each-way bet in an excellent race to close the card. (6) FINAL K is another grey and is the intriguing runner of the race as he has not been seen since last year’s G3 Owners Cup where he entered off four successive victories but only beat one home. He trialed in December for a win before two trials last week and the week prior yielding a 1st and a 2nd. (2) SPEED ONE is consistent and deserves a Class 1 success while (10) YONGAM SESANG has been around the mark in similar races at his last three. (8) WOW WOW beat some of these in February carrying 52.5kg but flopped carrying 51kg in a form-line race last time. Here he must put up with 58.5kg. (9) I’M JJANG is the top-weight with 59kg but almost won a form-line Class 1 in January before finishing down the field in the first leg of the Sprint Series on the south-east coast. (11) ONE PUNCH DRAGON was flying but has flopped at his last two. He comes down dramatically in trip.
| Selections | (5) Best Race (6) Final K (2) Speed One (10) Yongam Sesang |
| Next Best | 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 7, 8, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 