12 races in the South Korean capital on Saturday with the first at 10:45 and the last at 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Competitive opener and while (5) DAECHEON ACE was a long way back behind a good winner when running 3^rd at this distance on October 15^th, he did manage to beat a couple of these and showed enough to suggest he’s on an upward trajectory and could well score here. He’s likely to be away to a steady start along with (1) WONDERFUL LUCKY how has also been progressively closer in four outings to date and can continue that here. Off to a quick one should be (2) M.J. CAPTAIN and while he was one of those back behind Daecheon Ace last time, he can be given another chance here. (6) MORAN DONGBEAK and (10) ÉCLAIR BEAUTY are others in the hunt.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Just eight runners here, half of whom have run once before and half who haven’t run at all. The experienced ones look the most likely and three of them; (4) HEUNG BARAM, (7) SEONGBUL CHAMP and (8) CHEONJI BOBAE put in reasonably encouraging debuts with Seongbul Champ getting the narrow nod at this moment in time but really it would be no surprise if any of them managed to push on here. The other one who raced before, (1) SINBIRYONG weakened badly over 1200M on October 15^th, behind Cheonji Bobae and could also go better at the minimum today. Among the debut-makers, (6) SEOUL STORY was the eye-catcher in trials.

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

(4) NAM SON was a swift 2^nd on debut on October 14^th running on pleasingly and stepping up to 1300M today with the champion jockey on board, will be a warm favourite to make the breakthrough. (5) MACH SEUNGNI and (7) BAEKSAN GUNJU – the latter having beaten a couple of these last time – look best placed to challenge the favourite having both shown glimpses in their two starts so far. The other one that’s potentially interesting is (8) GUREUM SONJITHAE. He was reasonably well-backed on debut following a promising trial but didn’t do an awful lot. He could be better at the slightly extended distance today.

Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Up in class following his maiden win on his first try at this distance at the end of September (1) SMART CAMP should be firmly in the frame once more. He won by four-lengths last time having been prominent throughout and while this is stiffer, he has every chance. However, the likely favourite is another one up in class having also landed his breakthrough win at 1700M. That’s (5) SIMON RICH who defeated (6) SHAR NAO by two lengths on October 14^th. That win had been coming and he looks equally as well-in (more…)

It’s turned cold in Korea! Saturday sees 12 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Fillies only to kick us off and (9) AMENDA has come close in her latest and arrives here looking ready to win. She needs a good start but so long as she gets it, she’ll be hard to beat. (1) C.K. QUEEN a bit unexpectedly showed some form racing 3^rd last start in similar strength company and could follow up here while (3) SEOURI BYEOL has taken some time getting into top gear in her two outings so far and should appreciate the longer trip today. Two of (7) YEOWOORI’s starts so far have been in big juvenile races so clearly she is rated at home and we’ll expect improvement today while (6) DORAON PACHYAI did show some of the aforementioned improvement on latest effort and can go close again.

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

(6) CLEAN UP TEUKGEUP was first past the post on debut on October 1^st but was subsequently demoted to 2^nd for interfering with the 2^nd placed horse. The one that got promoted that day went on to win again well last week so we’ll expect Clean Up Teukgeup to do things cleanly today. (2) STRONG CAPTAIN was 2^nd behind a good winner last time and can get even closer here while likewise (8) JUMEOK DOKKI showed good improvement over 1200M three weeks ago and looks set for another good run. The sole debut-maker is (3) FLYING HERA and she looked competent enough in trials.

Race 3:  Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

(11) MENI JILJU was just beaten a nose on a much improved second outing at the beginning of September. She comes back in off nine weeks off and while this looks stiffer, she has solid claims here. (8) SKY MARINE similarly was 2^nd on her second start at the end of last month and should join Meni Jilju on the early pace. (5) TAMNA YEOSIN faded badly on debut but is bound to be well backed with the champion jockey on board today having previously looked to have promise in trials. There are three debut-makers and among them, (6) DAECHEONUI SARANG took a couple of attempts to qualify but looked good when doing so three weeks ago and can be backed first-up in this company.

Race 4: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Small but competitive field here and while the up in class (5) PHEONIX HEART remains a maiden, he’s shown enough over three starts so far to suggest that shouldn’t be the case for too much longer. He came close over 1200M last time, beaten by a good winner and despite the rise in level, there’s nothing here that should worry him too much. Also up in class but in her case following a victory, (7) BEST MAID should be competitive as well (more…)

There are 12 Saturday races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(11) BROWN BOMBER ran a solid race in 2^nd place at this distance on what was just his second outing on September 16^th. He ran on nicely, finishing strongly and while he may probably want a little bit further in the long term, this race looks eminently winnable for him. Not much else catches the eye, to be honest. (2) MORAN DONGBEAK has shown improvement across her three starts so far and looks to be second best but all of the others are going to need to show something they haven’t looked like doing so far. Something has to fill the places though with (3) BIG AURORA, (5) JI SEONI and (10) CULLINAN perhaps most likely.

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(4) FIRST RUNNER enters having been 3^rd on each of his latest two, although both were at 1700M and he gets dropped back in trip today. He should still get close but there are a couple of others who also look to have claims on a maiden win here. (6) CAPTAIN POWER was much improved on his third outing a month ago, beating (1) SHARP KAYLAN, who also showed progress that day with both in the prize money hunt here. (3) CLEAN UP SECRET has come home in 5^th place on both of his outings so far but he was beaten by decent ones last time at this distance and can get closer here. (11) FIRST QUEEN is another who has come close in the past and who can’t be ruled out today.

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Only three of the twelve have raced before but all of those three did quite well and are likely to be well backed here. (2) SIMPLE RULES led for much of her debut and while she ended a well-beaten 3^rd, it was a strong showing for a debut she has solid claims today. (11) PRIMO was 4^th in a similarly competitive race on September 9^th while (12) SEUNGJAUI MISO finished in the same position over 1200M a week later. Both should join Simple Rules on the early speed and can go well again. Among the first-time starters (more…)

Seoul is back from the long holiday and on what is a set to be a cool but fine day in the capital there are 12 races from 10:45 to 18:00:

Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

We begin with a filly-only contest and a nice competitive one at that. (6) AMENDA wasn’t far off 3^rd place on debut in August, coming home 5^th but then improved to 2^nd on her re-appearance on September 3^rd. She’s not the quickest of starters but is up slightly in trip today and has as good a chance as any here. (3) RUBY BEOLKIN returned from a lengthy absence to record a sound 3^rd place at this distance last month. She looks a much better filly now and can continue to progress here while (2) JEGUKUI HUYE was favourite when stepped up to 1700M a month ago but didn’t see out the trip. She should be much happier back at 1300M where she scored her best finish to date. (5) SAUVIGNON and (8) CHEONGUN ILHO, both at this distance for the first time, are others with scope to go well.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Seven of the twelve are racing for the first time but it’s among the five who have each raced once previously where we find out pick. That’s (12) GEUMA THUNDER, who may have been ten lengths behind the winner on debut at this distance on September 9^th but that was no disgrace. He led for much of the race and ran on for a comfortable 2^nd place (more…)

Saturday racing at Seoul: 12 races from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Not exactly thrilling fare to begin with today but that means it’s very open and we’re looking for something to improve. (7) DIA RUNNER did ok in a couple of starts in Spring and while her latest effort was nothing special, she drops back to 1000M today and looks in the frame. Likewise (1) MORAN DONGBEAK improved on what was just his second start last time out and could develop today. (2) ARGO UNIQUE, (8) DORAON PACHYAI and (10) CHEON NOK are the only ones in the field to have previously recorded 3^rd place finishes with the former of those perhaps most likely to repeat or go better. It’s a great race to debut in and as such (12) SEONGUNG, a very late-starter who looked ok in a trial just last week, has to be given a chance.

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Katsumi Yoshida-owned (2) BRANDON showed a bit of promise in three outings in late spring and early summer culminating in a 2^nd place at this distance. He’s been off since then but returns here as favourite. (7) WIND POWER beat (6) HONEY RUSH as the pair ran 3^rd and 4^th over the distance on September 2^nd and Wind Power looks to be the primary danger here. Honey Rush was six-lengths back that day when sent off as favourite following a good effort the time before and could get back into form. (1) NAEGA JAL NAGA was 4^th, his best finish so far, three weeks ago at this distance and can match that here while (5) SUPER COBRA, making just his third start today, steps up in trip for the first time and could benefit.

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Another race that’s not exactly loaded with talent and therefore, (3) K.N. BLUE, an encouraging 4^th on debut at the end of August in a race that was arguably tougher than this, has to be favourite to score under champion jockey Moon Se Young. (2) GASOK SHINHWA showed a bit of talent when 3^rd of 7 at this distance on September 2^nd on what was just her second outing. She can get on the early speed today from a good draw and can go all the way to get close. Also needing to get on that speed early is (8) BLACK MUSIC, He did that on September 3^rd and recorded a 2^nd place at this distance, his best finish to date. (1) GIDONG DAEJANG and (10) KWAEDO YEOWANG are others in with a shout of improvement.

Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Restricted to two-year-olds and therefore with enhanced prize money but just nine runners. Five of them go for the very first time and it’s to one of those we turn for the pick. It’s generally wise to treat trial times with caution but the manner in which (7) NIKE STREET won her trial two weeks ago suggests she needs to be taken seriously. It was a performance that would have seen her win many actual races and if she brings that to the track today, she’ll win this gate-to-wire. Of the other debut-makers, (6) TAMNA YEOSIN was the one that caught the eye, winning her trial handily. As for the ones who have raced before, (4) BISUL GONGJU finished off well for 4^th on debut at the beginning of the month and has to be considered. We’ll expect her to be ridden forward earlier today. (1) JIGONG JEIL was also 4^th on her debut a week later although was a bit further back and a little less impressive.

Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(2) MENI TURBO is in danger of contracting a severe case of “second-it is” A pair of runner-up finishes in her first two races saw her up in class and she was then 2^nd once more on her first attempt at this level on September 2^nd. In fairness, all three who have beaten her so far look decent types and she was only a half-length back last time. She has a good draw today to get away well and we shall give her another chance. Should she end up beaten again, (1) DALLYEORA PACHYAI, who is putting together a fine run of near misses himself and is accordingly up in class today, could be one to take advantage. (8) JILPUNG DOKJU has proven capable of winning money at this class already and should be close again as should (5) HWANSANGUI DOYAK who was 4^th behind Meni (more…)