English language race cards are here. While the Cup Mile itself isn’t being simulcast overseas, three of the late races at Seoul are. Form comments for those are below:
Race 9: Class 1 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 150 Million
1. WONDER BOLT – Last win was his last try at this distance in the corresponding race last year. Has a hard time in handicaps due to high weight but better chance today. (more…)
Fillies take centre-stage at Seoul & Busan on Sunday as the most promising 3-year-olds race for big prizes in the Sports Seoul and Gyeongnam Sinmun Cups. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:40 to 17:05.
Moon Se Young is Singapore-bound in the next few weeks and Seoul’s champion jockey has the ideal opportunity to put himself in the shop window as he gets on a number of likely favourites on Saturday’s Seoul card which will be simulcast to Singapore. There are 11 races from 10:40 to 18:00.
Open for business: Moon Se Young (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Race 5: Class 5 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million
The soon to be Singapore-bound champion jockey Moon Se Young has found himself in a tussle this year with Djordje Perovic and the pair go head to head here on the two fancies. Perovic partners (9) GEUM BONGHWANG, who is already established at this level and comes in following decent 3rd place at class and distance last time. Moon may just have the edge though with the up in class (12) JINGYEOGUI CHEONMA, a four-length winner at this distance on February 4th and seemingly with plenty of potential. (4) YAHO GIANT was an unexpected winner at this class on January 8th and must be respected here while (3) BAEKSAN ISLAND and (7) THANKS BEAN are others who could go close. (more…)
Grand Prix winner Clean Up Joy, who downed both Triple Nine and Power Blade at Seoul in December, will make his seasonal debut in the capital on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile last year’s Meydan Hero Success Story looks to have winning chances at Busan. 11 races at Seoul from 10:40 to 18:00. There are 6 at Busan from 12:35 to 17:00.
Clean Up Joy won the Grand Prix Stakes in 2016
English race cards are here. Read on for notes on every horse on the cards (except Busan race 1 which is the only race not being simulcast overseas):
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million
1. TAEHUI NALGAE – 3rd on debut, 2nd last time, should go one better.
2. SUPER FLY – Didn’t do much on debut. Can improve today.
3. URIUI HAENGBOK – Two 3rds and a 4th among four outings. In the frame. (more…)
Last year in the snow, Pint Noir won the Donga Ilbo Cup just before another blizzard forced racing to be abandoned for the day. There should be no weather issues this time around as she returns to defend her title against nine rivals over 1800M.
Pinot Noir in a snowy Donga Ilbo Cup winner’s circle last year
She probably won’t be favourite, with the likes of Meni Money and Touch Flying among a competitive field in the Donga. There’s plenty going on elsewhere as well with a total of 11 races at Seoul from 10:40 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:35 to 17:05.
English race cards are here. Notes on the three overseas simulcast races, including the Donga Ilbo Cup are below:
Race 8: Class 5 / 1700M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million
1. LION ROCK – Full brother to Triple Nine who is currently racing at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Two for two so far and favourite to maintain his 100% record today. (more…)
It’s been a freezing cold weekend so far but there’s plenty of racing to warm us up at both Seoul and Busan on Sunday. In the apital there are 11 races from 10:40 to 18:00 while on the south coast there are 6 from 12:35 to 17:00.
At Busan last year’s Oaks winner Ottug Ottugi faces off with Mayor’s Cup winner Beolmaui Kkum. However, both of them could well be beaten by the respective stars from the stables of Bart Rice and Thomas Gillespie. Buhwarui Banseok and Champ Line are both still on the rise and both have strong claims in the 2000M Championship Series race (see video of Buhwarui Banseok’s New Year’s Eve victory above).
1. FANTASTIC QUEEN – Much to find based on her debut run when she was 10th of 11.
2. MUJEOGUI JEONSA – Debut-maker, nothing special in trials.
3. BAENONGI – 2nd in his trial in an adequate time. Dam won two of 13 in Korea.
4. SUPER CHANCE – Out of a Korean Oaks winner. Trial was average but top jockey booking.
5. EUMAK DAEJANG – 6th of 12 in a slow race at 1200M on Jan 14th. Look for improvement here.
6. HIGH ALYDAR – Led in his trial but weakened late on. Could be considered.
7. JAELONGI – 3rd of 12 at long odds on his second start on Jan 14th and will be much shorter today.
8. RICH YEOJANGGUN – Looked the best of the debut makers in trials.
9. SEUNGRIUI YEOSIN – 2nd on debut on Jan 8th beaten a length having led until a furlong out and is the favourite here.
10. JAEGUN GOCHU – Creditable trial. Dam won on at distance on debut.
11. SERA KHAN – 3rd in his trial, a long way behind the winner.
12. GOLD WINNER – Well beaten in both starts last year. Showed little when re-qualifying last month.
Verdict: It’s probably best to go with experience here and (9) SEUNGRIUI YEOSIN showed enough on debut to suggest he knows what’s he’s doing and should take some beating. (8) RICH YEOJANGGUN looked competent in running 2nd in his trial and if he brings that to the races, can challenge. (7) JAELONGI has to be respected following his vast improvement last time, six months after his debut. Hard to know what to make of the rest with (3) BAENONGI perhaps most likely.
Selections (9) Seungriui Yeosin (8) Rich Yeojanggun (7) Jaelongi (3) Baenongi
Next Best 10, 5, 4, 3
Fast Starters 9, 8 (more…)
Sunday sees the first Listed race of the season in the shape of the Segye Ilbo Cup at Seoul. It’s attracted a full field and headlines an 11-race card in the capital from 10:40 to 18:00. There’s action too at Busan with 6 races from 12:35 to 17:05.
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 10:40
(4) PERFECT SOCKS was totally unfancied on debut in November but came a good 2nd. She’s had two months off since and has to be favourite for this. As he’s run already and didn’t disgrace himself, (5) YES YOU CAN will be 2nd favourite. Of the eight the debut-makers. (6) SILVER LION and (12) HERO KING look the most promising.
Selections
(4) Perfect Socks (5) Yes You Can (6) Silver Lion (12) Hero King
Next Best
2, 7, 11
Rating
–
Fast Starters
Start-200M
4, 7, 5, 2
200M-Finish
4, 5, 2, 7
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 11:05
(6) TOUR ROSE was much improved second-time out Christmas Day over this distance and she’s the pick to score here. The other contenders are all stepping up to this distance for the first time. (7) LEAD QUEEN was 2nd in a weaker than average class 6 but did little wrong so can be considered although (3) AMAZONAS looks a little easier to recommend. (11) NEW HIGH TIME also looked promising while (2) DANSEONG RUBY has run on well in her past two and may appreciate the step up.
Selections
(6) Tour Rose (3) Amazonas (7) Lead Queen (11) New High Time
Next Best
2, 8, 4
Rating
–
Fast Starters
3, 5, 6
Start-200M
7, 3, 11, 12, 9
200M-Finish
3, 11, 9, 10, 6
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 20 Million / 11:30(more…)
It’s turned very cold over the peninsula the past few days. No better way to warm up though than getting on the punt! 11 races at Seoul from 10:50 to 18:00 including last year’s champion juvenile Final Boss making his first appearance as a 3-year-old. At Busan there are 6 races from 12:35 to 17:00.
Last year’s champion juvenile Final Boss races at Seoul on Sunday
English race cards are here. Notes on all Seoul races (which will be shown on Sky Racing in Australia) are below:
Key Fast Starters: Expected fastest starters today Start-200M: Fastest average time for Start-200M (most recent 6 starts) 200M-Finish: Fastest average time for 200M-Finish (most recent 6 starts)
Race 1: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 10:40
Nine of the twelve are first-time starters but it’s going to be hard to oppose (10) ARGO MELODY, one of the three with prior experience, who was 2nd on debut a month ago. (3) SUN PLAZA actually beat Argo Melody in trials and joins (2) LITTLE SOCIE and (7) JIBONG BULPAE as looking the best of the debut-makers. Aussie trainer Brian Dean saddles (4) UNKISS ME but a watching brief may be best for that one first-up.
Selections: (10) Argo Melody (3) Sun Plaza (2) Little Socie (7) Jibong Bulpae Next Best: 12, 1 Rating: – Start-200M: 1, 6, 10 200M-Finish: 10, 1, 6
Race 2: Class 5 / 1000M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 11:05
(2) MONEY TRACK was a seven-length winner on debut on November 26th and while up in class today, he’ll be odds-on to make it two out of two and should lead from gate to wire. If we must oppose him then (1) RAON KINGDOM looks most likely having been 2nd on his first try at this class last month and seems to have potential. (12) ROYAL ESSENCE is up in class following a smart maiden win at the distance on the same day as Money Track’s but has a bit more to find while (11) JEOMIPGASOK is more experienced and can comes in following back to back 3rd places in similar assignments to this.
Notes on races 6-15 are below. It’s going to be cold and crisp but dry day. Christmas Day at the races in Seoul is surely something everybody should do once!
Race 6: Class 5 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 13:30
(1) DREAM SUN was a creditable 4th behind three decent ones over 1300M at the end of last month and should have too much here. (3) HAWK EYES, who returned from a lengthy spell to run 2nd over 1000M on December 3rd, can go close again while (2) GONSEOL and (11) CLAY SHOOT are also capable of going close while (4) HWANGGEUM NEUGDAE returned from six months off in the race behind Dream Sun last month, looked like he needed the race and can go better here.
Race 7: Class 5 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 14:00
(1) SIMCHEONG SADAL got his maiden win at the third attempt last start. He’s had two months off since and is up in class today but will be favourite to score once more. (8) DAEJANGGEUM has come close in several tries at this level and should be looking to get close once more while (9) GIANT TEUKGEUP may be up in class despite being without a win but can get among the places again after consecutive 2nd place finishes. (3) FLYING STORM and especially (10) SPASTAR have too proven their competitiveness at this level and are not to be discounted.
