Racing Previews

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 12)

Big 15-race card at Seoul on Saturday. Race 1 is at 14:00 and Race 15 at 21:00. Full preview below:

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Playtime’s over. Moon Se Young is back in town 9Pic: Ross Holburt)

 

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

 

1. MINDEULRE CHUKJE – Best of 5th from six outings.
2. YAHO WORLD STAR – 8th on both tries so far. Showed prominently last start but weakened.
3. HWANGGEUM YEONMOT – Improved 4th ahead of Kaiser Queen on latest start at odds of 120/1. May be shorter today but still others favoured.
4. KAISER QUEEN – Beaten by Hwanggeum Yeonmeot in early July but recovered two weeks ago to run 3rd of 11 in wet conditions. Chance today.
5. NOBLE QUEEN – Well backed on debut following winning trial but came last after stumbling out of the gate. Three months off since and fresh start today.
6. CUPID DATE – Took a while to qualify and then only beat two on debut a month ago.
7. BEST DOLPUNG – Average trial followed by average debut last month.
8. SHARK KING – Just second start for this 5-year-old. Raced once last autumn – came last. Trialed up ok but a total wildcard here.
9. HONEY BAROWS – About time this one won. Has had a couple of hard luck stories and also just run badly a couple of times but can put things right here.
10. DUAL CHOEGANG – Has been steadily improving. 4th last time over 1000M and can continue to progress today.

 

Verdict: Pretty competitive opener with (4) KAISER QUEEN and (9) HONEY BAROWS the top picks. Both have been close but inconsistent and we’ll go with the latter to step up here. (3) HWANGGEUM YEONMOT defied lengthy odds last time to improve and could maintain that here while (10) DUAL CHOEGANG looks best of the rest.

 

Selections (9) Honey Barows (4) Kaiser Queen (3) Hwanggeum Yeonmot (10) Dual Choegang
Next Best 5, 1
Fast Start 2, 3, 4, 9

(more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 11)

Friday is nominations day for the 2017 Korea Cup & Sprint which will be run at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday September 10th. Horses from almost all corners of the globe are likely to be among the accepted entries. In the meantime though, we have racing to attent to, principally in the form of a 14-race Friday card at Busan which will run from 14:30 to 21:00. Busan Mayor’s Cup winner I’m Your Father is in action in the feature race:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

1. TRUMPET MAJOR – Improved 6th last time. Still more to find.
2. GIPPEUM SARANG – 6th behind Haneolui Gisang last start. Can improve here.
3. MAKGANG BOLT – Best of 4th in six outings so far. Not shown much in the way of speed. Might not need to place here.
4. HANEOLUI GISANG – Encouraging 5th on debut albeit in slow race. big chance here.
5. SILLAUI SIDAE – Exceptionally slow in all five outings so far. Steer clear.
6. HWARYEOHAN TAEYANG – Ha a couple of 3rd places among 13 prior efforts. Steps back in trip for first time in a long time and is a contender in this company.
7. YUKWAEHAN JILJU – Not beaten many in three starts so far.
8. CHOEGANG SEONBONG – Last of seven on debut.

Verdict: Not a strong race but something’s got to win and purely on the grounds of having done the least amount wrong so far, we arrive at (4) HANEOLUI GISANG, 5th on debut last month and ready to push on here. He finished just a head in front of (2) (more…)

Busan Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 6)

Big day at Busan tomorrow. Not only are there 15 races from 11:45 to 19:00, the first 11 of those will be distributed through Sky Racing World for wagering in the USA for the very first time. English racecards can be found here and notes on all races for simulcast are below:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million

1. MAY STAR – half brother has won four of eleven so far. Adequate in trials but others favoured first up.
2. QUEEN’S ROYAL – Came through a good trial with experienced racehorses last month. Placing chances.
3. EURO GONGJU – 6th in both starts today and hasn’t shown much in the way of speed. Won’t be favoured.
4. KING’S POWER – Half brother to a lot of very average horses. Trial was average too. Top jockey booking.
5. YEONGHUI SIDAE – Odds-on favourite on debut but just fell short. This Hansen colt should get it right this time.
6. BEOLMA HAMSEONG – Top trainer/jockey combination, especially with 2-year-olds. Nothing special in trials but looked competent enough.
7. ACE DOLPUNG – Cowboy Cal colt who was 5th of 8 on debut on June 30th. Just weakened a bit late on and should improve on that today.
8. YEONGCHEON STAR – 4th on debut on June 30th, ahead of Ace Dolpung. Has to be in the placing frame here.

Verdict: Hansen’s first Korean crop looks very promising and (5) YEONGHUI SIDAE should be the latest of them to make the breakthrough and get his maiden win here. He fell short when a prohibitive favourite on debut in June but a month on and Thomas Gillespie should have him just right for this. He’s hard to bet against but if we do take (more…)

Busan Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 5)

The weekend’s thoroughbred racing gets underway at Busan on Saturday with a short 8-race card from 16:30 to 21:00. Seoul takes a weekend off but is open for simulcasting from Busan and from the pony racing on Jeju Island.  English racecards are here. Notes on all Busan races are below:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000m) Allowance / KRW 55 Million

1. GOP DDA – The only one of these who has raced before. She was 2nd and although the race wasn’t quick, she has to be the pick to prevail here.
2. SHE JUST WIN – Great name even though he’s a colt. 4th in his trial and a bit faster than most here. Top jockey booking and a chance.
3. EXPRESSIVE – Decent trial, from the track’s top stable and will be backed.
4. HAWK KING – Went ok in trials. Others favoured but can be competitive.
5. JAESAENGMYEONGNI – Dam holds the track record at 1300M. Few clues from the trial.
6. NURI ACHIM – Dam was precocious, if fragile. 2nd in trial and could be interesting.
7. CLOVER QUEEN – Dam a stalwart of the early days of Busan Racecourse winning 6 from 55. First foal made little impression. Good stable/jockey combo and will have backers.
8. DYNAMIC RUN – Slowest time in trials. May take watching brief first up.

 

Verdict: We have to go with the only one who has already run here and (1) GOP DDA’s 2nd place on debut showed she’s competent enough. It wasn’t quick though so depending (more…)

Seoul Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 30)

The Ilgan Sports Cup takes centre-stage at Seoul on Sunday. It’s part of a 14-race card from 11:45 to 19:00. English racecards can be found here. Notes on all overseas simulcast races can be found below:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

1. JIGONG JILJU – Showed early but faded in both starts so far. Likely to be on speed again but an outsider.
2. CHOICE BLUE – Debut-maker. Took him plenty of tries to qualify and he can’t be backed first-up.
3. JANGSAN JEGUK – Solid 3rd on debut on July 1st ahead of a couple of these. Big chance here.
4. BLACK CASHMERE – Comes in following two consecutive 3rd place finishes and a win looks just a matter of time. On speed early under good jockey booking.
5. WINNING WIN – First-timer, he’s by a Korean Derby winner but didn’t exactly impress in trials. One to watch rather than back first up.
6. GASOK SHINHWA – Debut-maker. She came through a couple of trials, actually finishing 2nd in one. Slow time though and outsider today.
7. GEUMBIT HWANHYANG – 7th of 9 on debut behind Jangsan Jeguk and Raise Me Up. Should improve for that run.
8. MORAN DONGBEAK – First-time starter. Average in trials and won’t be hugely well backed here.
9. KKEULEOJUNEUN SON – 3rd on debut in quick race over this distance on June 24th. Strong claims today.
10. BOMBI’S KING – Improved 3rd last start at 1300M. Drops back to the minimum for the first time since debut and can go well again.
11. GIDONG DAEJANG – Only beat a couple home on debut and has plenty to find.
12. RAISE ME UP – 4th behind Jangsan Jeguk on first ever start at the beginning of this month and can look to at least match that today. Half-brother to Korean Derby winner.

Verdict: (9) KKEULEOJUNEUN SON and (3) JANGSAN JEGUK were both 3rd in their respective debut races and they look the top picks here with former the choice to prevail. (12) RAISE ME UP was 4th, just a neck behind Jangsan Jeguk on what was her debut too (more…)

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 29)

11 Saturday races at Seoul with the first at 14:30 and the last at 21:00. Here are the form comments for simulcast races:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million 

1. FAPP CAT – Awesome name but didn’t especially impress in trials and should be watched first up.

2. KAISER QUEEN – Best from seven so far is a 4th. Generally gets away well but doesn’t quicken. Beaten by two of these last time.

3. JABIDONGHAENG – Managed a solid 2nd of 10 in June but had a hard time on reappearance in wet three weeks ago.

4. CONKER – Not beaten many in two starts so far. Still early days but hard to recommend just yet.

5. DOLPUNG STAR – Two outings earlier this year didn’t amount to much. Trialled up again anonymously at the end of June.

6. STORMY PASSION – Beat a couple of these on her way to 7th on a sloppy track last start. Should beat a few again.

7. ÉCLAIR DREAM – Step back in trip following a decent 4th over 1300M on July 1st having led for much of the race. In the frame here.

8. GOLD LEG – Showed glimpses of improvement if not a whole lot of speed in three starts so far.

9. KHENDUM POWER – Debut-maker. Decent in trials and looks to have a fair shot here. Half-brother has won 3 from 16 so far.

10. COLORS CAT – Took three goes to qualify but looked competent enough when finally achieving it. Nice race to debut in but others favoured.

11. LUCKY SINHWA –Still to be lucky in eight attempts. 6th of 12 last time and could look to beat a couple more here. (more…)

KNN Cup Sunday: Seoul & Busan Race-By-Race Preview (July 23)

The second leg of the Queens’ Tour Champion Filly & Mare series is the highlight of a busy Sunday of racing in Korea. The KNN Cup will be run over a mile at Busan. There are 6 races at Busan from 13:25 to 17:40 and 11 at Seoul from 11:45 to 19:00. English racecards are here.

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Silver Wolf defeated Haeya in the Ttukseom Cup. They race again in the KNN Cup at Busan (Pic: KRA)

Silver Wolf defeated Haeya to win the first leg of the Tour, the Ttukseom Cup at Seoul on June 4th. However, that day Haeya went off a little too fast trying to chase down an early leader and paid for it in the closing stages. She could overturn that form today. Silver Wold will be dangerous but there are concerns over the fitness of another contender, last year’s Oaks winner Ottug Ottugi, about whom a final decision will be made in the morning. If she doesn’t run, it could change the complexion of the contest given her front running style.

Other contenders include Black Sapphire although it is perhaps a furlong shorter than she would like and Seoul raider Areumdaundonghaeng. Last year’s winner Supreme Magic won’t be among the favourites but can’t be completely ruled out. Form comments on all 13 Sunday races fro overseas simulcast are below:

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

1. SINUI MYEONGRYEONG – Hansen 2yo made all to win very easily on debut a month ago. Up in class but should have few problems with this lot.
2. JUGEUKSEONG – Well back in recent outings.
3. USEUNG DESIGN – Maiden winner over 1200M in May but only beat one home on first try at this class.
4. PARTY TIME – Not too far away from minor placings most times and could sneak some here.
5. FIRSTIGE – Up in class following maiden win at 1200M last month. This is harder but he should be competitive.
6. SIMON MISSILE – Up in class after maiden win at 1300M all the way back in April. Not favoured to repeat but can get some minor money.
7. JINGYEOGUI RACE – Yet to win but has come close on plenty of occasions. First try at class 5 and should go well.

Verdict: Four of the seven are racing at this class for the first time and the three that aren’t look to be the outsiders. (1) SINUI MYEONGRYEONG should win and win well at (more…)

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 22)

French jockey Johan Victoire will make his Korean debut in the saddle at Seoul on Saturday and it’s a good weekend for him to do so. A number of jockeys are absent from Seoul in order to ride in the KNN Cup at Busan on Sunday and Victoire is among those who could take advantage in the 11 race Saturday card which runs from 14:00 to 21:00. English cards are here. Notes on races for overseas simulcast are below:

Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million 
1. WONDERFUL LUCKY – 4th in trial behind Jungdong Jijon
2. MENI TURBO – 2nd on debut on June 24th and strong favourite here.
3. BABY STAR – 5th in trial behind Special Light. Wasn’t quick.
4. CUPID STORM – Well back behind Jungdong Jijon and Wonderful Lucky in trial.
5. MASK – 2nd in trials and looks set to go well.
6. CAPTAIN POWER – Trialled a couple of times and worked ok but probably best to watch first up.
7. FIORE – Looks competent enough and can go well.
8. HESEDEU – 3rd on debut at the end of May but considerably slower than Meni Turbo. Should lead here.
9. OPI WINTER – Trialled up behind Icheon Seal – looks to have plenty to make up on that one. (more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 21)

It’s Friday! It’s Busan! 10 races on the South Coast from 14:30 to 21:00. English racecards are here, notes on races for overseas simulcast are below:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

1. GAMUNUI YEOWANG – 10th on debut behind Black Fine.2. BOUND TODAY – Solitary star was in November last year. Trialled up averagely.
3. S PARIS – Offered little in three goes last year. First start in nine months. Looked ok in trials.
4. CHEONJI RHYTHM – Slow in both outings to date.
5. HANEOLUI GISANG – First timer. Not quick in trial but knew what to do. Top stable.
6. ROYAL RIVER – Debut-maker. Trial wasn’t quick but did enough.
7. NEULPUREUN DRAGON – Only beat a couple home on debut.
8. MIO – Faded on debut over 1300M. Should much better at the minimum today.
9. SEOGANG JILJU – First start today. Trialled up behind Pocket Rocket.
10. POCKET ROCKET – Debut-maker who looked competent in trial.
11. BLACK FINE – 7th and 5th in two stars to date. Drops to 1000M for the first time and surely has a good chance. (more…)

Choegangja & Zentenary Set for Kranji KRA Trophy

Two Korea-trained horses, Choegangja and Zentenary, are in Singapore for the annual running of the Korea Racing Authority Trophy which will be held over 1200M at Kranji this coming Sunday. As in previous years, the race will be broadcast live – without betting – at Seoul & Busan Racecourses during the local Sunday afternoon cards.

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Choegangja, on his way to victory last year, is in Kranji (Pic: Ross Holburt)

The Korean contingent has generally not found this race to be easy and this year looks set to be no exception as they face a strong local challenge attracted by the S$250,000 purse. Zentenary has drawn gate 1 while Choegangja will break from gate 8. Here’s the field (full card at the Singapore Turf Club website here):

trophycard

This year there’s no excuse for lack of local knowledge as both horses are in the care of Brian Dean, the former Singapore based trainer who has just finished up training in Seoul. Additionally, unlike previous runnings of this race, it was decided this time to put local Kranji-based jockeys on board the two horses and accordingly Oscar Chavez, who partnered El Padrino in his second Asia Challenge Cup at Seoul Racecourse in 2015, will ride Choegangja while Malaysian Kasim A’Isisuhairi gets the leg-up on Zentenary.

Choegangja (USA) [Silver Train – Sweet Sizzle (Distorted Humor)]

The pick of the two, he blossomed after moving to Brian Dean at the tail-end of his three-year-old season, winning five races in a row and moving from class 3 to class 1 in the process. He finally came unstuck when missing the break in the SBS Sports Trophy at the start of June, resenting the kick-back and ultimately finishing last but can be forgiven for that. A US bred, Choegangja was a $40,000 purchase from Fasig Tipton 2-year-olds in training sale in May 2015.

Zentenary (USA) [First Defence – Celestic (Sky Classic)]

A $30,000 buy from OBS 2-year-olds in training sale in 2013, the now 6-year-old has won 6 of his 31 starts with one of them coming at class 1, an all-the-way effort last Christmas Eve. He’s been up and down in six outings in 2017 with two 3rd places being the best including last time out on June 18th, over this distance of 1200M.