Korea: Saturday, 14th September 2024

3 minute read

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Twelve unraced two-year-olds line up for the first time so we head to the trial videos. It won't take long to alight on (9) AQUA LINE, who posted the fastest time among these by some margin when narrowly winning his heat on August 1st. He has the challenge of a wide draw, but any kind of progress from the trial can see him win. Second quickest was (10) RAON NIZHINSKII. He too was on pace in his heat and crossed the line 3rd in a fair time. (3) EAST GANGJEOK was similarly 3rd in his trial, a long way behind an experienced winner and showed enough to be considered first-up. (8) GLOBAL SERVE and (5) HAKSAN CAIRO are others who hinted at ability.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile filly maidens here with five of the eleven racing for the first time. The favourite has experience though with (7) HANSEN BRACING having already raced twice, with a 4th and a 3rd, the latter over this distance on August 24th when settling just behind the speed and running on well in a good time. Third-up she can be fitter, and she will be a short-price to win. (3) HIGH CLASS ran a fair 3rd on debut over 1000M on July 25th. She should have derived benefit from that experience and can be a danger here. Of the first timers, (6) SMART TAKE looks the pick. She was much improved in her second trial on August 22nd, settling handy and finishing off well for 2nd having drawn a wide gate. She won't need to improve much on that to have a chance here. With the rest of the newcomers not having shown much in trials, (11) QUEEN DIA and (8) BLUSHING ROSE may improve on their debuts. Incidentally none of these have shown any gate speed in races or trials, so the pace map may be a headache and any horse that takes the initiative may have a chance.

Seoul Race 3: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported juvenile maidens here (with one southern hemisphere three-year-old). Two of them have raced before and one of those, (7) A PURE GOOD WOMAN, is the pick. Having trialed well, she ran 3rd on debut in a very quick race over 1000M on July 13th, showing on pace. She should have benefited from that experience, the additional furlong can help, and she is the one to beat. A few debut-makers caught the eye in trials. (11) MIGHTY NEO won his, leading all the way and stopping the clock in a good time. The draw isn't ideal here but with a bit of early luck, he can be in this. (3) PEPPER X similarly led all the way to win narrowly in his second trial (it was voluntary so be aware it may not be in all racecards – the time was 62 seconds). He has no problems in terms of his draw, and he is a chance. (12) BREEDO SIRIS, who was quicker than both, and (4) GWANAKSAN O TWO are others who can go well first-up. 

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Standard maiden here. (1) DANGDAECHOWOL has run 4th in both starts so far at this distance and at 1200M. He draws well, he has the fastest final furlong average time (albeit from the smallest sample size) and he can win here. The danger is (4) MAX PARTY. He two has a pair of 4th places on his record with one of them coming at this distance. In this company, he should be on or close to the speed and he can be in this a long way. (6) JILPUNG JAZZ has managed 3rd place at this distance. He doesn't benefit from an apprentice claim this time but that's balanced by Kim Yong-geun climbing on and he can match or better that here. (5) POETIC NUBI and (3) YEONGWON GIANT others to consider.

Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(7) OKCHEON WIN STAR was 3rd on debut and followed up with a fair 5th over this distance on August 17th when settling midfield and running on. Third-up she can be peaking and with similar tactics today, could prove too strong late on. (5) SINUI BLUE is a twelve-race maiden but enters off back-to-back 3rd places, most recently over 1300M on August 3rd when settling midfield before finishing off well and beating a couple of today's rivals. She looks nicely in here and Maia climbing on is a plus. (1) JOSE has finished behind Okcheon Win Star in both his latest two but his 2nd place on debut suggests he has ability and, in this company, he can be considered for the places. (9) MISS CONCORD and (3) MERIT SUNSHINE others in contention for the minors.

Seoul Race 6: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KEW 30 Million

(10) ÉCLAIR POWER has been getting closer across his four starts so far, culminating in his return from five months off on August 18th when he overcame a slow start to come from well of the pace and run 2nd over this distance. He should strip fitter for that run and while getting a bit far back is a concern, he can win here. The danger is (2) SERGEANT LIGHT. She too enters off her best finish to date when 3rd over this trip on August 17th, having raced close to the pace throughout. She comes in under the same weight, she draws well, and she can go close again. (9) CAPTAIN MUSIC has a 5th and a 4th in two starts so far, both over 1200M. In this company, she can be on pace and can be in this a long way. (7) HAKSAN DAESE and (8) HEEMANGBAND among others in the frame.

Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Finally. After six races and almost five hours into the card, we finally see some horses that have already won a race! Having run 2nd on debut, (3) BARO DANAEUN got her maiden win over this distance on June 22nd leading all the way. She comes up in class here and comes in off twelve weeks off, but she is down in the weights, draws very well, and she shapes as the one to beat. (7) MARU JANGGUN also got his maiden win at start two, in his case over this distance on August 18th when settling midfield and running on. He too is up in class, but he can measure up. (5) CRAZY SHAH is still a maiden but has plenty of near misses and enters off a strong 3rd place finish in an all-filly race at class and distance on August 18th. She continues to be under light weight and can be there or thereabouts again. (10) EAST RISING and (1) SCALE KING, the latter an up in class maiden but cutting back in trip after two very solid front-running performances at further, are others to consider.

Seoul Race 8: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

We'll take a chance on (7) KHAS here. He got his maiden win at start number two over 1300M in June before funning 3rd on his first try at this class, also over 1300M on August 3rd. His running style suggests the slight step up in trip can suit, and he can win here. (2) WONDERFUL WELLS has two 3rd places and a 2nd in three starts at this class since her maiden win in May. She has the fastest time among these for the distance and should be in the mix again here with Harry up and drawn well. (10) MYEONGSEONG CHUKJE was 3rd behind Wonderful Wells two starts back and then ran a close 2nd at this class and distance on August 25th. He carries his fair share of weight today but can be in the mix again. (11) DAEMUL SOCKS was a class and distance winner two starts back and an apprentice claim puts him in this. (6) WONDERFUL SPIRIT another in the frame in a competitive race.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) SMILE GOLD has won her latest two, both over this distance, to come rapidly up to this class. She is lightly weighted, draws well to get on pace, and she can make it three in a row here. (1) SPARK THUNDER is the main danger. A winner of three form seven including at this class over 1300M two starts back, she tackles two turns for the first time following a 3rd place at 1400M on July 27th. She is tactically versatile but from the inside gate, she will probably be on pace, and she can be in this a long way. (9) BLACK SPECTER completes a tasty looking top line. He won back-to-back races to get promoted to this class and ran a solid 4th on his first try at it over 1400M on August 17th. He comes up to two-turns for the first time and it may suit. (8) COMPLETE LUCKY and (3) BLOOD MOUNTAIN are others to keep safe.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(8) GIANT M stepped up to this distance for the first time on August 17th and won well over it, stalking the leader before taking things up a furlong out and going on to win comfortably. He comes up in class here but is down 3kg in the weights, and he can go back-to-back. (5) SEIRENE scored an unlikely win in the final leg of the Triple Tiara over 2000M in June before running 4th on her return to this level and this distance on July 28th. She carries a feather weight here and can be coming on strong late. (2) HOLIDAY CHARM was a winner at this distance at class 4 level two starts back and beat a couple of these on his way to 5th place at this class on August 18th. He can be in the mix again. (4) A. P. PATEK and last start class and distance winner but up in weight (1) CHEONGSAN YEONGUNG are others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(8) SPO BLADE is a prolific placer with fourteen top three finishes from twenty-two starts. It's been eight starts since his last win, but he enters off a good 2nd place at class and distance on August 17th and while he is up 2.5kg in the weights, today can be his day. (1) MONEY CROWN will be disputing favourite status. He is up in class following a win and two runner-up finishes in his latest three, all over 1800M. He tackles 2000M for the first time, but it may well suit and under a very light weight and from a good gate, he can measure up at class 2. (3) AMERICA GOLD returned from six months out to win over 1800M on August 18th, leading all the way. He is up in class but has a ton of ability and shouldn't be discounted. Those three look head and shoulders above the rest with (4) QUICKLY RUN and (9) WONPYEONG COD perhaps the next most likely.