It’s got cold again. From the balmy highs of midweek, the temperature plummeted below zero on Friday evening and is expected to remain there throughout the weekend. There are 12 races in Seoul on both Saturday and Sunday. Start time is 11am both days. Compared to the Grand Prix last week, there are no outstanding prizes but there are big competitive fields on both days. Come racing, just remember to wrap up very very warm.

Aussie jockey makes second appearance
There’s a 12 race card with the first at 11:00 and the last at 17:20. There are no feature races but as ever, the final three are the most valuable. It’s a card of long races with every race from 7 onwards being over 1700 metres or further. After a Friday afternoon of thunderstorms and torrential rain, the track may be a little heavy but the day is expected to be dry and much warmer than recent days with temperatures of up to 10C. Australian jockey Danny Craven will make his second Korean appearance in the fifth race. Craven debuted last week with a winner. A quick check on Virtual Form Guide shows he has a record since 2003 of 115 winners from 1316 rides based in South East Queensland although he has also ridden in the past in Mauritius. He rides in races 5 and 9 so a further update tomorrow.

Winter is expected to get underway with a vengeance tomorrow with predicted highs of just 6C. Nevertheless there’s a 12 race card at Seoul Racecourse Park with the first under orders at 11:00 and the last at 17:20.  The most valuable race is Race 11 at 16:50 – a 2000 metre handicap worth 60,000,000won.  Only seven runners are declared though which means that place bets will only pay out on first and second – a rarity at Gwacheon –  so the entertaining betting looks to be earlier in the day.

It’s Pepero Day!!! There’s also a 12 race card at Gwacheon. The International Jockey Challenge concludes with the Macau Jockey Club Cup at 15:20 and another valuable race at 16:30. The first race is under orders at 11:00 and the last at 17:40.