Hangul Day

Hangul Day Monday at Seoul: Race-By-Race Preview (October 9)

There is a rare Monday with racing as the Hangul (Korean alphabet) Day holiday is marked with a 10-race card at Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Malma marks Hangul Day (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

The first Monday card in Korea in decades gets underway with a maiden. The favourite will be (2) GEUMBIT GANGHO based on his much-improved 2nd place when stepped up to this distance on August 27th and racing handy throughout. That was just his second start and from an inside gate he can be on pace again and with plenty of scope for more development, he can win. (1) RAON JUMP has raced eleven times already but comes in off her two best finishes, a 3rd and most recently 2nd, both at 1200M. She tends to sit back and run on, but she has by far the best average final furlong time of any of these and she may appreciate finally getting a chance at an extra half furlong. (9) LAFAYETTE too has been finishing off his races fairly and can improve of the 4th places he has registered in his two most recent outings. (5) NEMO SPIRIT and (10) MENI SHARK others to look out for. 

Selections(2) Geumbit Gangho (1) Raon Jump (9) Lafayette (5) Nemo Spirit
Next Best10, 11
Fast Start2, 4, 7, 9

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

(8) STEALTH PARK has a 3rd and a 2nd among four starts to date, both at this distance. The 3rd came from off the pace in a quick race while the 2nd was from the front in a low one. There is a bit of early speed here so he may well settle back and run on, and he has solid claims. (9) CHEONGPAUI KKUM improved to 3rd at start number three over this distance on September 9th, settling behind the speed and finishing off well. He can do similar here and has as much chance as any in this modest maiden. (3) GOLDEN FLYING seems to be on the right trajectory with improvement across her latest two and she can go close today. (5) SAENAE VIVA can provide that aforementioned early speed and be in this a long way. (1) AUSTIN LEADER another to keep safe.

Selections(8) Stealth Park (9) Cheongpaui Kkum (3) Golden Flying (5) Saenae Viva
Next Best1, 4
Fast Start3, 5, 9, 11

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Small field for this maiden and (2) SSING SSING SSING should prove too good. He has the fastest time among them for the distance and from a nice draw can get to the lead with minimal fuss and then go all the way. (3) GANGCHEOL BUDAE is probably the only other one that a winning case can be made for on form. That form consists of a 4th place on August 27th at this distance. The margin was big though, and the time not quick but he does have a 3rd place to his name and at his best is a solid place chance in this company. With only one start so far, (6) YOU TAKE has done the least wrong. He was behind Ssing Ssing Ssing on debut but should have derived benefit from the experience and with some natural improvement can get close. (1) SHOOT UP SPARK and (7) CLOVER PARTY possible for the minors.

Selections(2) Ssing Ssing Ssing (3) Gangcheol Busan (6) You Take (1) Shoot Up Spark
Next Best7, 8
Fast Start1, 2, 5, 7

Seoul Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported juveniles with four of the twelve racing for the first time. It’s hard to go past (7) EOSEOMAREULHAE, who after two very good trials, was sent off as favourite over 1000M on debut on September 3rd and duly obliged to the tune of five-lengths. The trip is longer but in at the same weight and drawn marginally better, he should make it two from two. Four others return from that September 3rd race. (6) PANORAMA KING came home 2nd that day, duelling with Eoseomareulhae for the lead throughout before the latter proved too strong. He should have come on for the run and while it is questionable if he can overturn those five-lengths, he looks the main danger. Likewise, (8) GEOLJAK CHOEGANG came home 3rd, making up good ground. He was finishing better than Panorama King and only has a length to make up. Among the first timers. (4) MAKING STORY went through a couple of trials and much improved in a voluntary one in late September. He and (2) MIGHTY JJANG are perhaps the best of those who didn’t go in the September 3rd race.

Selections(7) Eoseomareulhae (6) Panorama King (8) Geoljak Choegang (4) Making Story
Next Best2, 3
Fast Start2, 3, 7, 8

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

(1) DAEBAK SOCKS won one of three starts as a juvenile last year but then didn’t return to action for eight months. Having won a trial, he finished a strong 3rd on his racing comeback on August 20th when he led for much of the way around. He should strip fitter for that run, and he can win here. After some middling efforts following her maiden win, (2) GALSAEK HYANGGI found some form last time out, coming from well off the pace to run 2nd over 1300M and beat a couple of today’s rivals in the process. Antonio remains aboard and she can build on that momentum today. (6) MISTER STAR is up in class having made all to win over 1200M on September 2nd. He can challenge for the lead and shouldn’t be far away. (5) SPECIAL FORCE is still a maiden but is up in class having finished 2nd in both her first two outings over 1000M and 1200M. She carries a light weight and should measure up. (8) HONEY PUNCH another in the hunt in a small but competitive field.

(more…)