Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (June 20)

It’s set to be a wet Saturday for racing at Seoul. There are 10-races from 10.35 to 17.55. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

(6) HWANSANGUI LUNA was fourth in her first trial on May 7 before winning on June 4 by one-and-three-quarter lengths. She is one of two runners for trainer An Byung-ki and owner Hwan Sang-ma and is the choice of CC Wong. (10) BAEKSAN RACE was fifth and second in his two trials in May and rates as a chance. (11) DU UM came on from his appalling first trial on May 21 to win his second trial on June 4. However, he looks to be the secondary runner for the stable. (7) GEOLJAK YUNSEUL finished third in her sole trial and rates over (2) ECLIPSE SODA and (9) BLAZEMAN whilst (4) NAREUSYA LUNA was much improved in her second trial and should not be forgotten.

Selections(6) Hwansangui Luna (10) Baeksan Race (11) Du Um (7) Geoljak Yunseul
Next Best2, 9
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(7) TOUCH THE SKY is far from the soundest horse in the world but going on his sole start back in March 2025 when finishing a two-length second to We Go High he must be a huge chance of winning if he is good to go. He has been in and out of work this year but has been back in regular work since June 7. (3) TIGER MANGCHI is a debutante that was out the back throughout in his first trial before winning his second trial on May 21. (5) PIEONARI should be around the mark once more especially considering he only carries fifty-three kilograms as he gets a four-kilogram claim from apprentice Jo Seong-hwan. (4) NINE SPEAR also has that weight with a two-kilogram claim from Woo In-cheol whilst (8) MR. KAI, the mount of Seo Seung-un, and (10) THE SUN AMIR, the bottom weight with fifty-two kilograms, rate next.

Selections(7) Touch The Sky (3) Tiger Mangchi (5) Pieonari (4) Nine Spear
Next Best8, 10
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10

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

(2) PASA ACE has been third in each of his last two over 1300M and once again gets two-kilogram apprentice Woo In-cheol to ride. The extra 100M is no concern and he can go a couple of places better. (6) SMART RISE has been a beaten favourite in each of his last three starts but has not been far away and should be thereabouts again. (3) DELTA EAGLE was an improved effort at her third start most recently and the extra 100M should suit. (1) SKYLOR TAEHA has one minor placing from three starts and rates next over (7) LUGE, whose chances depend on how he begins, and (8) ENERGY POWER, who produced a clear career best last time.

Selections(2) Pasa Ace (6) Smart Rise (3) Delta Eagle (1) Skylor Taeha
Next Best7, 8
Fast Start4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(9) BEST SECRET was fourth on debut in March behind a subsequent winner before leading throughout to win her maiden impressively by eight-lengths a month ago. This is a strong race for the grade, but she will be hard to toss. (3) HWANSANGUI NARA is extremely hard to catch but her best form is good and if she can run to that she will go close. (1) CRAZY CHAMP led throughout to win her maiden over the course and distance last time and is a chance of doing so again. (2) DURAY SHOW is still a maiden, but the consistent four-year-old filly is worth an each-way investment under Seo Seung-un. (11) HANAM LASER and (8) HAKSAN HENNY rate next.

Selections(9) Best Secret (3) Hwansangui Nara (1) Crazy Champ (2) Duray Show
Next Best11, 8
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / Sergeant Reckless Commemorative Race / KRW 45 Million

(5) MADE is yet to win in six starts but has three third placings alongside two fourth places and one fifth place. He strikes a winnable race and can break through. (3) YEOMYEONGUI SUNGAN is another who is knocking on the door with three second places from his last four runs and was only denied by a neck at his latest run. (7) NAMSAN MINYEO has winning experience over this distance range and has only run badly once in nine runs so she can go close. (10) SHARKTEN has been close at his last three and rates next over the resuming (8) CHRYSOL CROWN and (9) GEUMSEONG BOSS.

Selections(5) Made (3) Yeomyeongui Sungan (7) Namsan Minyeo (10) Sharkten
Next Best8, 9
Fast Start4, 5, 6, 7

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(11) ECHO STAR led throughout to break her maiden by a nose last start over the course and distance following a second to Concord Blue at her previous start. She will not have it easy from the outside berth but is a chance of going back-to-back. (6) ECLIPSE TANGO failed in his first run at this level last start, but his pair of victories have both been over this trip so the drop back to 1400M should suit. (9) JEONGSANG HERO has been well fancied against some smart horses in his five runs to date and won his maiden on his second start but has lost the plot a tad since beginning badly and losing his rider on January 24. However, his best form would go close to winning. (1) NICE WINNER broke his duck easily last start and rates as a solid chance as does (2) DDATTEUTHAN WIRO with (10) CHUPUNGNYEONG, (3) COMPLETE BRO and (8) DREAM CARD not to be forgotten in a solid Class 4.

Selections(11) Echo Star (6) Eclipse Tango (9) Jeongsang Hero (1) Nice Winner
Next Best2, 10
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) RED DRAGON comes off a last start win at this grade over 1400M when racing on pace throughout. She will be bang on speed from the favourable inside draw over the Seoul mile and can make it two in a row. (9) LADY FOX is a come from behind type so the wide draw does not affect her too much and she can be expected to get close late. (6) ECLIPSE THE QUEEN won up to two in a row, including over Red Dragon, before a last start sixth when beaten five-lengths behind Red Dragon. It is possible that she could reverse the form as she receives a decent weight swing. (3) AWESOME QUEEN is the other key runner over (5) BISANG BELL and (7) QUEEN DIA.

Selections(1) Red Dragon (9) Lady Fox (6) Eclipse The Queen (3) Awesome Queen
Next Best5, 7
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 5, 6

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) TRIPLE PALMETTO is racing in great form at present and her last start second to Mr. Taeyang, subsequent placegetter in the Group Two Minister’s Cup, is the best piece of form on offer in this by a long shot. (1) WHIZ WIN should be handy enough from the inside draw and will be involved in the finish if he runs the distance. (4) PASA SPARK comes up in grade but sustained a long run to win last start and there are no stamina doubts. (3) UGWANGMYEONG on his best form would rate as a chance and is the other key runner with (5) JUMONG CHEONHA and (11) KYLIE best of the rest.

Selections(9) Triple Palmetto (1) Whiz Win (4) Pasa Spark (3) Ugwangmyeong
Next Best5, 11
Fast Start1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(10) LIVE STAR needs to significantly bounce back after his huge failures in the KRA Cup Mile (Korean 2000 Guineas) and Korean Derby in particular however he will find this much more to his liking and based on his three wins at Class 6, Class 5 and Class 4 grade before his two classic tilts he should bounce back, at least you would hope. (6) WESTERN GUN is consistent and was second when running at this grade for the first time last start. (9) GLOBAL POWER gets a three-kilogram apprentice claim from Kwon Jung-seok and if adjusting to the return to 1800M can go well. (2) WORLD BLAME and (4) DRAGON SQUARE have big weights but should be considered as well as the up in grade (3) EXCELLENT MATTA in a race that is extremely competitive if Live Star does not run to his best.

Selections(10) Live Star (6) Western Gun (9) Global Power (2) World Blame
Next Best4, 3
Fast Start3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11

Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(9) GWANAKSAN STORM is an excellent front-runner as proven by his two excellent victories this preparation one grade below this. He has a big weight for his first time at official Class 2 grade, and it will not be easy, but he can be up to the task. (2) WE GO HIGH got caught late in his first race at this level last start but was not disgraced and can go well again. (10) HANSEN BRACING had won up to two in a row over this trip at Class 3 and Class 2 level before taking on the best of her sex in the Group Two Ttukseom Cup. She was found wanting over 1400M in that feature contest and the drop in trip will suit. (4) EXCELLENT TAN is another of the principal chances as is (7) STAR TREK who gets a huge weight drop and it shows you what a good race this is that the brilliantly in form and consistent (8) RAON FLORENCE is only being mentioned now. If he completed four straight wins it would be no surprise. (5) ELDORADO NOLBU rates next in a top race to close the card.

Selections(9) Gwanaksan Storm (2) We Go High (10) Hansen Bracing (4) Excellent Tan
Next Best7, 8
Fast Start2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10