Eleven Saturday races at Seoul with the first at 10:45 and the last at 18:00. Moon Se Young is back from suspension! Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Just fillies to begin with and it isn’t a very strong race, even for class 6. (2) CITY ANGEL is favoured to make the breakthrough on what will be her sixth start. Her best performance to date came at this distance and was superior to anything any of the rest have achieved. Her latest two have been encouraging and she should lead all the way. Encouraging too last time was (11) ENJOY MY SHOW, who improved to a decent 2^nd. It was a slow race on an admittedly slow track, but she had shown signs of getting better leading up to it and Moon Se Young rides for the first time today. She’s clear second-favourite. (12) JOEUN NADEURI has a 3^rd place to her name back in December – actually beating Enjoy My Show in the process – so she can’t be completely ruled out wither. As for the rest, we’re scraping around a little with possibly (3) MJ JILJU and (10) NEW FAMILY having the most potential to improve.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

The second heat of the all-fillies contest isn’t really any stronger than the first but is perhaps a touch trickier. We’ll go with (6) BODEURAM, who didn’t go well at all when stepped up to 1300M a month ago but had previously shown a good but of promise at this distance and dropped back down today, she should go much better. (12) SEOUL STORY has hinted at ability with 3^rd place at this trip back in January being her best to date. She has to overcome being drawn in the car-park but can get close. (10) FIORE is the only one among them to have previously recorded a 2^nd place finish. That was all the way back in August at 1300M and she hasn’t raced at all since October. She trialled up two weeks ago in reasonably competent fashion and given the company, goes straight back into contention. (8) SINUITAB and (9) FLYING HERA are others who could come into play.

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(1) ARES THUNDER and (9) NAEGA KKEUTPANWANG came home 3^rd and 4^th respectively when racing each other over 1300M on February 10^th. Naega Kkeutpanwang led that day and will likely look to do so again while Ares Thunder has a strong finish and they can be competing with each other for the top prize this time. (4) CHEONGDAM JEPAE was 4^th of 12 on debut five weeks ago in a slow race at the minimum distance. It’s hard to judge how good or otherwise that performance was but it was encouraging enough to suggest she can push on here. (2) VALLEY MOON landed an improved 3^rd – her best finish to date – at this distance last time and could repeat, while the less experienced (6) HWANGGEUM JUMEONI likewise was much better on what was just his second career start last time. That was all the way back in November though, so he comes in here off a sixteen-week layoff.

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

Four of the twelve are up in class for the very first time and they include (4) TRIPLE HAPPY, an eye-catching six-length winner on debut back in January. He is also up in distance and does return after nine-weeks off but he’s in with a chance. Returning from even longer out is (7) SUPER FLY. He’s shown plenty of potential in Spring and Summer of last year culminating in a victory at this distance and after returning to training, he made all to win a trial just before the Lunar New Year break. Up in class too, he goes straight into contention. They run into a couple with good experience of this level though. Quality Road filly (12) SUN PLAZA may still be a maiden after eight attempts but her latest run in January, when 3^rd in a very solid contest at this distance, gives cause for optimism. (9) SPECIAL LIGHT got his second runner-up finish at this class a month ago, running on strongly late on and should also be a factor here. (5) WELLBEING JOY and (1) JEJUI HEUKSEON best of the rest in a very competitive looking race.

Race 5: Class 4 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) MENI TURBO will likely start a prohibitive favourite and should really be winning this handicap for fillies and mares only. She was favourite in a very similar race last start and while she only managed 2^nd, she did finish well clear of a couple of today’s rivals and should have too much this time. (7) BLACK WIND is up in class following a couple of very good showings at class 5 including a front-running win at this distance last time. (more…)

Eleven Saturday races at Seoul with the first at 10:45 and the last at 18:00. Top jockey Moon Se Young is suspended this weekend so plenty of chances for the rest. Here are the previews:

The Moon won’t be rising at Seoul this weekend

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

It has to be (2) BEST CHAPEL here. Her 2^nd and 3^rd across her two starts to date were not especially quick but were in excess of anything achieved by most of the others here and he should win this time. (3) BLESSING ROAD is the only one who has put in a similar performance with her much-improved 3^rd place last time and she’s the clear next best. Beyond those we’re scratching around a little bit. (1) MIDAS CHIEF ran twice unimpressively last summer before being put away for nine months. He trialled up nicely enough alongside some experienced horses at the end of January and should be better this time around. (4) MERLIN debuted all the way back last July in reasonably creditable fashion but hasn’t been seen since. He trialled well enough too. (9) INDIAN ECO and (7) OPI RIVER perhaps the other two with the best chance of improving.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Just three-year-olds here and ten of the twelve are racing for the very first time. Of the two who have raced before, (1) GANGHWA CHONGGAK did ok, finishing 4^th of 8 at this distance at the end of January. It’s to the debut-makers we turn to find our picks though. (4) HAMBAK MISO won his trial in good fashion and will probably be favourite given that he was the only one of these to finish on top in a heat but there are a few others who showed promise too. (12) CHOIN DAEBO trialled all the way back in November. He’s half-brother to a Korean Oaks winner as well (the 50/1 chance Euro Fighter back in 2010) and should go well first-up. (7) ROMAN BLADE is another well-bred one sporting the “Blade” name and colours of Kim Hyeong Ran and will be sure to be backed – she showed promise in a couple of trials at the end of last year but has taken a while to be ready to race. (11) HADALRAE is another who went well in the mornings.

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens again although this time there are only two first-time starters. One of those, (3) GONG SAN will be well supported having shown some ability in a trail just last week, finishing 2^nd in a competitive time. We’ll certainly have her among the contenders here although not necessarily on top as one or two have hinted at talent in actual races too. (11) HANYANG GONGJU wasn’t fancied at all on debut at the end of January but ran very nicely, coming home in 3^rd place at 1000M. She ran through the line well and the additional trip today may benefit. It certainly benefitted (1) CUPID STORM when he stepped up to 1300M last start and registered a much-improved 2^nd. He can build on that today. (2) SPECIAL DREAM was sent up to 1700M early in his career but also looked far more comfortable back at this trip last time. (4) MONEY ZIF’s latest two haven’t been special but she has previously shown she knows what to do.

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Fillies only here. (12) DAECHEONUI SARANG was a narrowly beaten 3^rd in a similar race at the distance on February 3^rd beating four of these in the process. She doesn’t have the ideal draw today as she’ll want to be close to the early speed, but she can overcome it and pick up her maiden win. Among those who were behind her that day, (4) ARGO UNIQUE and (8) CHAMP STORM perhaps have the best chance of overturning that form – in fact, Daecheonui Sarang caused Champ Storm to have to be checked five furlongs out but she still recovered to finish well. (5) FOREVER WINNER steps up to run further than (more…)

Racing returns to the Korean capital on Saturday with a big 12-race card at Seoul. The first race is at 10:45 and the last at 18:00. It’s going to be a mild day so come racing! Here are the previews:

It’s not quite Spring but we’re not far away now!

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old fillies only to begin with and exactly half of the field are racing for the very first time with the other half each having raced just the once or in one case, twice. It’s from that latter group where the top picks come from with both (3) BIG THUNDER and (10) RAON PRIMER having shown ability. Big Thunder has raced twice and while indifferent on debut, she ran well for 2^nd on her reappearance on January 27^th and will be favourite to win here. Raon Primer led for much of her debut on January 20^th and while she’s drawn wider today, she can still get to the front and should be the main danger. With none of the others who have raced before having shown much we’ll look for the newcomers to fill out our tickets. Best looking in trials was (7) SUPER YEOWANG and she will be expected to be on the early speed too while (9) BRAVO ILSIN and (12) LEADER’S CAMP are others who ran well in their heats and may be considered.

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

A maiden restricted to three-year-olds. (11) DREAM INDY hasn’t been especially well fancied in either of his two starts to date but he’s outperformed expectations both times with a 3^rd and a 2^nd, the latest being a front-running performance over this distance on January 21^st. He led for much of that race only succumbing in the closing stages and while he’s drawn much wider today, he can go close. (3) WILD DRAGON may have a better shout of getting on the early pace though. He’s also shown improvement across three outings and was a close 3^rd last time at the distance. (5) GARA GARA GA was a creditable 4^th on debut a full eleven weeks ago and returns here up in distance but for a stable and a jockey who went into the brief Lunar New Year break in good form. (7) EMERALD KING and (8) BAEKDUUI JEONGSANG, the latter a good 3^rd in a similar race at the distance three weeks ago are also in the hunt.

Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies (and three mares) only here and (4) MIRACLE HANSEN caught the eye, to say the least, when romping home on debut over this distance on December 23^rd in a decent time on a very slow-running track. She hasn’t raced since and returns today up in class but with little reason to oppose her.  However, if we do wish to take her on, (9) VICTORY STAR looks the best prospect. She’s yet to win in four attempts but ran well for 2^nd in a similar race to this on January 14^th and can at least repeat. An alternative would be the more experienced (10) DALDARI although her best two results – her win and her 2^nd place last start – both came at 1000M. (2) DONGSEO GADEUK is a winner at the distance, albeit at class 6 – (1) BAEKDU MIR was a close 2^nd that day – and may come under consideration too.

Race 4: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Fillies again but a more competitive looking contest which could go a number of ways. (3) SMARTY ZIF was a surprise 2^nd in a useful event at class and distance on January 14^th. She’s been inconsistent across her ten starts but could go well again. Running a touch disappointingly in that race was (4) WAWA YEOJANGBU but she has shown her competitiveness at this level with a 2^nd place at the distance the time before and can reverse the form here. (2) CHEON YANG and (9) FIRE FOX came home 2^nd and 3^rd over (more…)

There are 12 Saturday races in Seoul with the first at 10:45 and the last at 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

A maiden for three-year-olds to begin with and there is an interesting first-time starter in the shape of (1) JILPUNG GANGJA. Progeny of a sire and dam who both ran in Korea so he was never going to be a sales-topper but his half-brother performed well in three starts and he certainly looked good himself when easily winning a trial last month. The track was very slow that day and we’ll not read too much into it but he showed enough to suggest he can be taken seriously here. It may be best to side with experience though and (9) J.S. STORM (whose sire and dam also both ran in Korea) comes in off a 2^nd and 3^rd from his latest two and surely goes close again. (8) SEOUL STORY parted company with his jockey on leaving the gates when well-fancied two weeks ago and will be backed again while (4) GIGA LIGHT and (10) ACE CANT are others who can improve.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Another set of three-year-olds here and not much experience between them. A few have already caught the eye though. (6) CAMP TOUCH came close to winning over the distance on what was her second start a month ago, just being beaten a nose having been on pace throughout and with a good start, she can go close once more. Also expected to be away well is (4) VICAR SCOOP, a solid 3^rd on debut a month ago and likely to improve. (9) JEONGSANG MUJEOK has been 3^rd on both her two starts so far and there is no reason why she can’t repeat. The name suggests we might want to take a watching brief with (1) WAIT AND SEE, but he looked good in a trial and Moon Se Young riding will tempt plenty.

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(12) GANGTOMA was a good 2^nd on debut on January 13^th. He ran on well and the step up in trip today should suit. (4) SPECIAL WINNER beat (3) DORAON ACHIM HAE and (7) SHARK DAEJANGGEUN at the distance in early January before going on to run 3^rd in a similar contest three weeks ago. All three should be in the hunt here with Doran Achim Hae most favoured for improvement. (2) BODEURAM and (9) KING POSE have both shown glimpses of talent and may improve today.

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(3) DUSON WANGJA came up short when favourite at this distance three weeks ago, ending up in 4^th place having failed to quicken when well placed. It wasn’t a bad run though and he’s shown enough ability over his four starts to date to be given another chance here. (1) NAEGA KKEUTPANWANG and (8) STRONG CAPTAIN ran 3^rd and 6^th respectively when they raced each other over the distance on January 14^th and the former especially looks nicely in for at least a repeat. (2) CITY ANGEL steps up in trip for (more…)

Big fields in the capital this weekend. There are 12 Saturday races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

Weak contest to begin with and (2) SKY MARINE has probably shown the most ability among these so far. She has a 2^nd and a 4^th among four prior outings and from a decent draw can get forward early. (3) ENJOY MY SHOW improved last time and should be similarly prominent while (4) RUN AWAY may benefit from dropping back to this trip which is where she recorded her previous best finish of 3^rd. (1) ACE TROPHY could make the most of the inside gate to get on speed early and if he does, he should be looking for a career-best finish while (12) CHOWON GUNJU didn’t do anything especially wrong on debut three weeks ago and may improve.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-olds only and eight of the twelve are first-time starters with one of them set to be favourite. That’s (2) JANGSAN WILD won a December trial and then went through another in good order last week and is expected to win first-up here. Other debut-makers who caught the eye in their heats include (1) DALLYEORA GWANGSAN and (8) DANGYEON HAJI, whose slow qualifying times can be excused by the track condition on those days as well as (9) DANCING BLADE, who was well back behind an exciting type (Musa) but seemed to know what she was doing. Of the four who raced before, only (6) DAE UNHA looks an attractive proposition. He debuted solidly enough in a better race than this in December and can build on it today.

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(9) CLEAN UP SECRET beat three of these on his way to 3^rd place over this distance on January 6^th. True, it was the third time in a row he’s come up slightly short when sent off as favourite but he’s going to be favourite again and this time can get it right. (4) DOUBLE GOLD and (6) BAEKDUUI JEONGSANG came home in 4^th and 6^th in that race wand will be among those with the best chance of getting close this time. Speaking of favourites coming up short, (2) CHONGAL GACHI did exactly that on January 7^th at the distance, finishing 2^nd having led briefly close to the finish and he too gets another chance today.

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(6) RAISE ME UP improved with a close 2^nd place in a similar all-filly race to this on January 6^th with two of her rivals here behind her and with Moon Se Young on board for the first time, she can make the breakthrough here. (9) ARGO UNIQUE returned from three months off to show a big improvement at this distance in December, coming home 2^nd and should be on the early pace here. Hansen filly (1) CLAY WIND also improved on what was just her 2^nd start on Christmas Eve, again coming home in 2^nd having run on nicely. She steps up in distance for the first time as does (4) DAECHEONUI SARANG and must be considered. More experienced is (3) MIGHTY COOL and she should be capable of repeating the 4^th place she achieved in a very similar strength race to this four weeks ago.

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

You’d not put your mortgage on many of these but (7) GONSEOL and (5) WOOSEORA ICHEON ran well enough when coming home 3^rd and 4^th respectively at class and distance in a better race than this on January 7^th and this time have every chance of contesting top honours. There were three lengths between them that day but Wooseora Icheon has a better draw today and could well make it to the front early. (3) POWER (more…)