It’s Korean Derby day! There was rain on Saturday but things should be fine and dry for the greatest jewel in the Korean Triple Crown which is race 8 on the 10 race program at Seoul with a local post time of 16:30. The card runs from 10:35 to 18:00. There are also 7 races at Busan from 11:25 to 17:00. Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) BEST WHIZ will be hot favourite in the opener. Yet to finish outside of the top-five in four starts, his best is a 2nd place over 1200M in January when racing on pace. His latest was only fair when 5th of eleven over 1200M but in this limited company, he should be on pace and should win. (5) MK LEE has hinted at ability across three starts so far with his best being his 4th place on debut. CC climbs up here and he has as good a chance as any of running 2nd. (8) RAON THE KLAMMER comes in off an improved 5th over this distance on April 13th and in this company, a similar performance will see him very much challenging for the places. (1) FLYING LION and (6) CALIPH other minor money hopes.
Selections | (7) Best Whiz (5) MK Lee (8) Raon The Klammer (1) Flying Lion |
Next Best | 6, 4 |
Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 7 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) BEAUTIFUL HWASEONG will be hot favourite. He has shown steady improvement across his six starts to date, culminating in a 3rd place over this distance on March 24th when slowly away from this widest gate and then settling right back before running on. Drawn much better today, he is the one to beat. (4) P N S CAR is the only other one with a top-three finish on his resume, achieved two starts back when 2nd at this distance. An apprentice claims 4kg and that’s enough to make him the danger here. (6) CLOUD HEART was an improved 4th behind Beautiful Hwaseong in that March 24th race and can get close again. First time starter (10) BRIGHT QUEEN improved for a good 2nd in the latter of two trials and can be considered first-up. (7) GANGCHEOL DRAGON another place chance.
Selections | (3) Beautiful Hwaseong (4) P N S Car (6) Cloud Heart (10) Bright Queen |
Next Best | 7, 8 |
Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 8 |
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
We need to discard the latest effort of every single runner here if we are to give any of them a chance. We’ll go with (6) NEVER GIVE UP, who has a 2nd place on his record over this distance and races for the first time since a chastening experience at a mile in January. He looked well when trialling in April and if he brings that form to the races, he can win. (1) CHOEGANG CHONGAL has a 3rd place to his name at this distance back on March 15th and notwithstanding his last start 8th, that’s enough to make him the danger. (3) GREEN BULLDOZER has been back to trial since his latest start and performed adequately. She also has a 3rd place over 1200M and from a good draw should be on pace here. (8) SUPER KANEL and (4) BIG BOY are other place chances.
Selections | (6) Never Give Up (1) Choegang Chongal (3) Green Bulldozer (8) Super Kanel |
Next Best | 4, 9 |
Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 9 |
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) SOLAIRE enters having scored his maiden win at start number six over this distance on April 13th. He comes up in class but is down in weight and there is little to fear here. (4) MACALLAN was a winner on debut last August and then ran fairly for 5th place last September. He offered few clues in a March trial, but Franco’s booking is a plus and he may surprise on his return. (2) JAEWOO SIDAE is yet to win in twenty-two attempts, but she was 2nd in a similar class and distance race two starts back and this is the kind of race she can find the money in. (7) HANGANG GLORY and (8) BOSS BABY are others who can be considered for the minor money.
Selections | (9) Solaire (4) Macallan (2) Jaewoo Sidae (7) Hangang Glory |
Next Best | 8, 1 |
Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here and it’s competitive. (7) BORAM enters having led every step of the way to get her maiden win at the sixth time of asking over 1300M on April 12th. She comes up in class here but looks nicely in and she can repeat. (10) DYNAMIC WINNER has been a consistent type and enters off a fair 5th place at 1300M on April 7th when beating a couple of today’s rivals. She has a strong finish so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she can be in contention here. (6) SANGIM STAR is another who usually runs a decent race and comes in having finished 4th in a similar race at class and distance on April 26th with two of these behind her. She likes to come off the pace and she has the joint fastest time of any of these for the distance. The form drops off rapidly after those three with (3) ROAD STAR and (9) TWO TWO LIME possibly the best of a limited rest.
Selections | (7) Boram (10) Dynamic Winner (6) Sangim Star (3) Road Star |
Next Best | 9, 8 |
Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
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