Cherry Blossoms

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (April 6)

We’re heading into peak cherry blossoms as the festival continues for Saturday’s action at Seoul where there is an afternoon/evening card of 11 races from 14:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews.

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Competitive opener with two standouts. (4) WONDERFUL PASS has shown steady improvement across four starts to date, culminating in a 2nd place over 1300M on March 3rd when only breaking fairly but getting onto the lead and in being in front for most of the way. She draws nicely here and can go one better today. The danger is (6) SAMAEBEONJJEOK. She too has been showing progress with her latest being her best when 3rd over this distance on February 25th. She’ll be on pace here and will be a big threat. (1) FINAL GO enters off an improved 2nd place on February 17th when coming from midfield over this distance. He was well beaten by a good winner, but a similar run should see him not far away. (7) MAX MA will be on pace and may be an each-way chance while (3) HAMPYEONG JANGMI is another in minor money contention.

Selections(4) Wonderful Pass (6) Samaebeonjjeok (1) Final Go (7) Max Ma
Next Best3, 8
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 7

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

It’s hard to go too far past (1) DREAM CARD. He’s finished no worse than 5th in four starts to date with his best being a runner-up finish over 1300M in January. He came up to this distance last time out on March 2nd and ran a fair 4th, coming from off the pace, and he should prove too strong for this small field. (5) DRAGON SQUARE has a tendency to run ungenerously, something he has done on three of fours starts. He has shown ability though and looked well in a mid-March trial. Harry Kasim may be able to straighten him (literally) out here. (7) NAOL JEONGSANG returned from a more than five-month absence to run 2nd over 1700M at the start of February. That was a tough ask first-up, but he has since had a further nine weeks off and is a place chance again here. (8) E.H. COCO and (4) SHOUT KURO others to consider.

Selections(1) Dream Card (5) Dragon Square (7) Naol Jeongsang (8) E.H. Coco
Next Best4, 3
Fast Start1, 3, 7, 8

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) CAPTAIN TIME ran out an emphatic winner at start number three over 1300M when racing handy before pulling well clear in the final furlong in an all-filly maiden. She comes up class here, but the manner of that win suggests there is more to come, and she can win again here. (7) MOMO K has been ultra-consistent over his five outings. He got his maiden win just before Christmas at 1300M and has since run 4th and 3rd at this class, most recently over this distance on March 3rd, when he led for much of the way. He can go close again. That will mean overturning the form on (5) WORLD KING MAN, who won that March 3rd race at odds of nearly 30/1. He comes up a full 5kg in the weights but warrants more resect this time. (11) SHOOTING REVERSE was 2nd in that same race and shouldn’t be far away, although once more must contend with the widest gate. (4) HIGH BORN ME another to consider for the places.

Selections(2) Captain Time (7) Momo K (5) World King Man (11) Shooting Reverse
Next Best4, 9
Fast Start2, 7, 9, 10

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

Competitive race. (10) BELOTERO was a maiden winner two starts back over 1300M before weakening and finishing back in the pack over 1400M on her first try at this class on March 3rd. She comes back slightly in trip today, the in-form CC Wong climbs in, and she can return to winning ways. (9) MYEONGJINBULLPAI got her maiden win in the snow just before the turn of the year and enters having run a solid 3rd place over 1400M on March 10th. She likes to settle back and run on and can be a danger late here. (5) SPECIAL HILL comes up in class having won handsomely over 1200M on March 3rd, making all. He is nicely drawn and while he may not get such a soft run to the front this time, he can measure up. (4) EXCELLENT TAN and (6) WONDERFUL SEEKING other possibles.

Selections(10) Belotero (9) Myeongjinbullpai (5) Special Hill (4) Excellent Tan
Next Best6, 1
Fast Start1, 3, 5, 11

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Tricky race for fillies and mares. (11) BAEDARI KWAEGEOM enters off a 2nd place at this class over 1300M on March 2nd when he led for much of the way around. He comes back to the distance at which he registered his sole win, and while he comes up 3.5kg in the weights, he has strong claims here. (1) SAENAE VIVA got her maiden win two starts back before finishing midfield on her first try at this class at the end of January. She comes in here off ten weeks out and from a good draw, can be on pace and in this a long way. (8) JEONGSEONGTIGER remains a maiden after six outings but comes up in class after a few too many near-misses, including as runner-up to Saena Viva. She is lightly weighted and shouldn’t be out of her depth here. (3) FINE DAY and (7) ICE CREAM are others who can enter the calculations.

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Seoul & Busan Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (April 2)

Sunday sees the first Group race of the season in the shape of the G3 Busan Ilbo Sprint on the south coast. Eoma Eoma and Raon The Fighter will square off in a true heavyweight match-up. See here for full preview and horse by horse form comments. The Busan Ilbo is the final race of 6 at Busan on the card which runs from 11:00 to 15:40. There is also an 11-race card at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. With the weather forecast set for rain from Tuesday, it may be the last chance this year to visit one of the Seoul area’s cherry blossom festivals, which is open at the racecourse from 10am to 9pm.

Eoma Eoma defends his Busan Ilbo Sprint title on Sunday (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

A small field of three-year-old maidens contest the opener. (1) SMARTY FIGHTER is the pick with a best of 2nd from three starts so far with the other two both ending in 5th. His 2nd was at this distance in February when racing from handy throughout and from a good draw, he can win here. The main danger is (3) SSEULMO. He was a much-improved 3rd at this distance on March 5th when leading for much of the way around. He will be on pace again and he could well hold them all at bay. There are two first-timers and it may be worth considering them (7) HEART K and (5) MUNHAK EAGLE both posted fair times in their respective trials and if they bring that form to the races, they won’t be too far away here. (6) NEMO SPIRIT perhaps the most likely of the other experienced ones to improve.

Selections(1) Smarty Fighter (3) Sseulmo (7) Heart K (5) Munhak Eagle
Next Best6, 8
Fast Start1, 3, 5, 8

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens. After winning a trial, (2) SINHAE MANGCHI has been 3rd in both his starts so far, both over 1200M and both times racing handily. He comes into his best gate to date, comes up slightly in trip, and with some natural improvement third-up, today can be his day. (5) SEUNGNIUIYEONGUNG won a trial before finishing 3rd on debut back in December when settling back and running on over this distance. It’s been fifteen weeks since we’ve seen him but he’s been in regular work since the start of February and can put in a bold showing today. (1) JORDAN FIGHTING has a 4th and a 5th in two appearances so far. He had a hard time from the widest gate on his latest outing and can go better from the inside today. (4) POWER PLANE and (3) DOCTOR PANGPANG others in the hunt in a race of many chances.

Selections(2) Sinhae Mangchi (5) Seungniuiyeongung (1) Jordan Fighting (4) Power Plane
Next Best3, 8
Fast Start2, 3, 5, 7

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

A maiden featuring seven fillies and one gelding. (7) BARAMSAL is the one they need to beat. While yet to finish in the top two in seventeen attempts, she has seven top-five finishes including two 3rd places among her latest three, most recently overcoming gate twelve to run close. She looks very nicely in here to settle a little closer than usual and today looks like her best chance. (1) EUNHYE GAMUN parted company with her jockey coming out of the gates on what was set to be her fist start in over a year on March 5th. She completed the course rather smartly without her partner and had previously trialled up well so is probably worth taking a chance on here. The only other one apart from Baramsal with a placing on her record is (6) TOUGH YEOJE. She tends to get a long way back but is another who benefit from this small field. She has the fastest time among these for the distance and should be aiming to get on the board. (5) MENI CHARM and (3) RAON JUMP other potential improvers in a weak race.

Selections(7) Baramsal (1) Eunhye Gamun (6) Tough Yeoje (5) Meni Charm
Next Best3, 4
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 8

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(5) QUEENS LANDING will be one of the shortest priced favourites of the day. She comes in off back-to-back 3rd place finishes, both over this distance and most recently on March 12th when she beat a couple of today’s rivals having settled midfield and finished well. In this company and from this gate she can be on or close to the speed and she should prove too good. (10) ACE A MOCA ran 6th on debut over this distance on February 17th when overcoming a wide gate to get to the lead before weakening late. She gets that widest barrier here, but with some natural improvement from that debut, she should be close. The form falls off after that. (4) WONDERFUL SMARTY beat Ace A Moca when 4th in that February 17th race. She was subsequently well beaten by Queens Landing on Mach 12th but can go better today. (9) SEOGYEONG DAERO and (2) UNJU GLOBAL others perhaps in the placing frame.

Selections(5) Queens Landing (10) Ace A Moca (4) Wonderful Smarty (9) Seogyeong Daero
Next Best2, 8
Fast Start2, 5, 8, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

It’s hard to go too far past (5) BEAT UP here. His win came at this distance last November on his return from nine months off and he followed it up with two 3rd place finishes from his first two attempts at this level, again both at the 1200M. He could only manage 6th when favourite at 1300M on February 25th but back down in trip and in this company, he will take some beating. (2) LUCKY BOUNCE comes up in class following an all the way score over this distance on February 26th. He comes down in the weights, draws well, and should measure up in this company. (6) SUPREME STAR remains a maiden but has never finished outside of the to-five in eight attempts including his first try at this class on March 5th. She carries a light weight and can maintain her consistent record here. (10) WONDERFUL TIZZY comes up in class and along with the returning (3) BARAMUI GEOM – also up in class – is in the hunt.

Selections(5) Beat Up (2) Lucky Bounce (6) Supreme Star (10) Wonderful Tizzy
Next Best3, 4
Fast Start2, 5, 7, 9

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(10) HANEUL JEWANG ran out a class and distance winner on March 5th when settling midfield from the widest gate and running on strongly. He comes up 3kg as a result, but Franco stays aboard, and we know the wide draw won’t be a problem. He can win again. (3) SPECIAL HERO was 4th in a decent time at class and distance on March 10th. She draws much better today and can match or better here under a light weight again. (7) SAVAHA comes up 2kg in the weights from his runner-up finish at class and distance on February 24th when he led for much of the way around. Expect him to be on the speed again and to be in this a long way. (6) PLAY THE INDY is up in class despite being a maiden but that makes him well weighted and he has run times that can be competitive in this company. (2) OK STAR another to keep safe.

Selections(10) Haneul Jewang (3) Special Hero (7) Savaha (6) Play The Indy
Next Best2, 1
Fast Start2, 3, 6, 7

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(5) KING DIA went through several trials before finally arriving at the races, but it was worth the wait as he ran out a six-length winner, having led all the way around over 1200M. He comes up in class and in distance, but neither should be an issue, and he can win again. It’s fair to say that (3) CUPID BISANG doesn’t win out of turn but he is ultra-consistent and has been in the top-four in each of his last five starts. He likes to be on pace or handy and he should be playing a role in the finish again. (7) HIGH GRAND is up in class having prevailed by three-lengths over this distance at start number six on February 25th. That win had been coming and he’ll be competitive among this lot. (8) RIVER TAEYANG and (1) GEUMSEONG SIDAE among others who can enter the calculations. 

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Weekend Preview: Cherry Blossoms! Gyeongbudaero Vs. Beolmaui Kkum!

It’s springtime! The Cherry Blossoms are out and it’s set to be a great weekend of racing on the peninsula.

Seoul Racecourse Floodlit Cherry Blossom Festival runs from 18:00-22.00 from today until next Thursday

Seoul Racecourse Floodlit Cherry Blossom Festival runs from 18:00-22.00 from today until next Thursday

The big race of the weekend is at Busan on Sunday where the top two rated horses in Korea will face off over 1900M. Grand Prix Stakes winner Gyeongbudaero and Beolmaui Kkum will also face the likes of Gamdonguibada and Magic Dancer in a small but serious field in the afternoon’s feature.

At Seoul, South African jockey Jarred Samuel will make his Korean riding debut on Saturday with 6 rides.

Here’s what’s happening when and where across the weekend:

Friday April 10
Busan Racecourse: 10 races from 12:50 to 19:00
Jeju Racecourse: 8 races from 13:15 to 17:10

Saturday April 11
Seoul Racecourse: 11 races from 10.50 to 18:00
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 12:20 to 17:10

Sunday April 12
Seoul Racecourse: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Racecourse: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:00