3 minute read

Seoul Race 1: Class Open (1700M) Special Weight B (Gold Circle Trophy) / KRW 150 Million

(4) MEGA DRAGON was an also-ran in the Korean Derby in May but has since put in two solid 3rd place finishes at class 3 level over a mile and at 1800M. In this company he can settle behind the speed and run on and with Alan Munro aboard, today can be his day. It has been a while between drinks for (1) COMPLETE TIME, but she enters with recent form reading well including a 4th place in double quick time over 1400M at class 2 level on August 3rd. She is one for one over 1700M and from the inside, should be on pace and in this a long way. (11) JJARITHAN JAYU beat Mega Dragon when winning at class 3 level over 1800M on August 4th and he shouldn't be dismissed here. (6) TAURUS QUEEN and (2) UPTOWN WHIZ among plenty of others in good form and with at least placing claims.

Seoul Race 2: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight B / OSAF Trophy / KRW 150 Million

Fillies and mares only. (6) BRIGHT HANSEN is a winner of four from six including her latest on July 14th when on pace throughout and stopping the clock in a quick time for this distance at class 3 level She is nicely in here and from a central gate, can get to the lead and take some beating. (10) STARTER is the main danger and may even begin as the favourite. She was an also-ran in the first two legs of the Triple Tiara but has since won back-to-back races at class 4 over 1400M and class 3 at a mile. She has won at this distance too and while she has the challenge of the widest gate, with a bit of luck early, she can get forward and can win. (9) MILLION PARTY has won her latest three all over this distance and up to class 3 level. She is another one who likes to get forward and can be a danger. (4) FURIOSA and (8) GEUMA ALLURE among other place chances.

Seoul Race 3:  Class Open (1400M) Special Weight B / SLTC Trophy / KRW 150 Million

(7) SPEED ONE scored three consecutive wins between December and April to get up to class 3 level and then ran 3rd over a mile on July 27th. He tackles 1400M for the first time under a light weight and Moon Se-young, who doesn't ride in either the Cup or Sprint tomorrow, will be keen to take out this valuable trophy race. (11) SUPER FINISH comes in having recorded a scorching time when winning at 1200M on June 22nd. He is a two-time winner over this trip too, and while he has the widest gate to contend with, he will be a danger. (3) DAEMUL was a strong winner in a tight finish at quite big odds over 1200M at class 2 level on August 24th. He makes a quick return here and while he is up 4kg in the weights, can be considered. (5) GLADIUS and (9) DREAM PLAY are others in the frame.

Seoul Race 4: Class Open (1800M) Special Weight B / JRA Trophy / KRW 150 Million

(7) GANGPUNGMA is the one to beat here. Having run 3rd in a similar Trophy race over a mile in April, he then won the Listed Sprots Chosun Trophy over 2000M in May and then ran a close 2nd to the excellent Naol Sniper, again at 2000M at class 1 level on July 7th. Under today's conditions, he carries an additional 4kg, but that shouldn't be a problem. (4) MY CENTER won that aforementioned April Trophy race at a mile and while he was well back in both the Korean Derby and Minister's Cup, he returned to winning ways on July 20th, again back at the mile. He too has his fair share of weight but draws nicely and is a danger. (6) DRAGON STAR was 4th in the Sports Chosun and has since registered back-to-back runner-up finishes at class 2 level. He has won at this distance and has registered a quick time at it and can be in the mix again. (11) BLACK BELT and (13) COMPLETE LEVEL among plenty of others who can be in the hunt for the money.

Seoul Race 5:  Class Open (1400M) Special Weight A / Jeju Governor's Cup (KOR G3) / KRW 500 Million

The latest round of the Queens' Tour sees fifteen top-class fillies and mares line up and (8) WONDERFUL SLEW and (12) JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG will renew their rivalry. The latter dominated last year but Wonderful Slew won when they met in the KNN Cup over a mile at Busan in June. Jeulgeounyeojeong had an excuse that day as she got interfered with in the back straight to the extent her jockey did well to stay on, but they raced one another again when taking on the boys in the KRA Cup Classic over 2000M here in August and Wonderful Slew ran 4th to Jeulgeounyeojeong's 9th. It isn't necessarily a two-filly race though. (14) CROWN HAMSEONG ran 2nd on debut and has since strung together a series of five wins up to class 2 level and up to this distance. She has recorded some super times, and she has every chance of measuring up. (13) ECLIPSE BERRY won the first two legs of this year's Triple Tiara and while she came up short in the final leg over 2000M, that was an unusual race and back at one turn, she can be a danger. (1) RAON FOREST another in the hunt in a tremendous looking race.

Seoul Race 6: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight B / HKJC Trophy / KRW 150 Million

Two standouts here. (6) GEOSEN BANGYEOK was an on-pace winner over this distance on August 3rd at class 3 level, stopping the clock in a time quicker than any of the rest here have achieved for the 1200M. He comes up 3.5kg in the weights under today's conditions but he looks to have plenty of scope for more development and he can win again here. (7) GANGNAMBULCHUNGGAK is the danger. A winner of four from seven in total, including his latest two, he comes back in trip following scores at a mile and 1800M up to class 3 level. He too has his fair share of weight, but he is one for one over 1200M and he will surely be close. (13) YEONGGWANGUI WORLD won four in a row up to May and class 4 level. He almost led all the way over this distance on his first try at class 3 on July 7th and he will be in the frame again. (4) GLOBAL CODIE and (1) GOOD CABO among plenty of others in at least the placing frame.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / Singapore Pools Trophy / KRW 60 Million

This is a race open to imported as well as locally bred horses and with a rating cap of fifty (class 4) it makes for a tricky puzzle. We'll side with the popular veteran (6) DOKKAEBE who enters with recent form reading the best especially a 2nd place two starts back. He has the fastest time over the distance as well as the best start and with an apprentice jockey claiming 4kg, he can win (10) MOONHAK HOLIDAY beat a fair few of these on his way to 2nd and 3rd in two starts in June before getting sent back to trial after his latest. He led every step of the way in the trial on August 29th including a monster 11.7 seconds for the final furlong which wouldn't be out of place in tomorrow's Korea Sprint. If he brings that form to the races, he can win. (1) GWANAKSAN LEO returned from seven months out to run 4th on July 7th over 1300M. She should strip fitter for that run and from a great draw can be in this a long way. (3) BYEOLNARA BIMA and (5) COMPLETE HEART other minor money chances.

Seoul Race 8: Class Open (1200M) Special Weight A / Munhwa Ilbo Trophy (Listed) / KRW 200 Million

Juveniles running for a big prize, despite four of them racing for the first time – the reasoning is that they are graduates of a particular auction. (6) GEOLJAK SIDAE was a winner on debut over 1000M and has since run 2nd over 1200M and then 5th in the Rookie Stakes two weeks ago. She may just be a bit further forward than the rest of these. (4) SILVER RAIN ran 3rd on debut behind Geoljak Sidae, when coming from well off the pace, before winning second up on July 27th when making all and ahead of a couple of today's rivals. That time was quicker than anything else here has gone over the 1200M, including Geoljak Sidae, and he could overturn the form. (1) CHOWON DOLPUNG was a close 2nd on debut over this distance on July 28th and with some natural improvement, can be competitive. Among the debut-makers, (11) ECLIPSE EDGE improved across three trials. The most recent (and best) of those was on August 1st when he was an on pace 2nd in a quick time (the trial was voluntary so may not appear on all racecards) and if he brings that to the races, he could have a say. (7) WONDERFUL NORTHERN perhaps the best of the rest.

Seoul Race 9: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Competitive race. (1) SINUI YEOIN has just the one win from seventeen starts but she has been working back towards another in recent outings, with two 2nd places and a 3rd from her latest three, most recently at this class and distance on July 13th, when slow away and settling right back and running on. With a better start today, she can be on pace in this company, and she can win. The main danger is (5) YONGBISU. She got her win three starts back over 1300M and has a 2nd and a 3rd in two subsequent outings at this level, most recently at this distance on July 28th. She too should be challenging for the lead from the start. (3) BEST THOR got his win at this distance and has been competitive at class 5. He likes to settle back and run on, and he can be doing his best work late here. (6) SPARKLING and (2) MOMO K among plenty of others with place chances. 

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

After finishing 5th on debut last December, (1) JANGBI DAEUN didn't appear again until May, but she has won both or her two starts back at 1200M and at this distance to get rapidly promoted to this level. She comes down in weight, she draws nicely, and there is little for her to fear in this field. The danger is (9) SPALTA. He has six top two finishes from nine starts and was a class and distance winner on July 7th, following up with a runner-up finish on August 4th. He carries 5kg more than the mark at which he got that win, but he should be on pace here and can be in this a long way. (2) VISION POWER comes back in trip after recent efforts around two turns and from a good draw should be on the speed. (6) LEGAL HIGH and (8) SMART SOCKS the other placing chances.

Seoul Race 11: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Competitive finale. It's been a while since (2) TOHO SKY tasted victory, but he has been knocking on the door in his latest few, entering off back-to-back runner-up finishes most recently at this class and distance on August 4th. He comes up in weight, but that's balanced by a good draw, and with Trevor on, he can win. (4) STAR CHANGER ran last in the Oaks, but she bounced straight back by winning at this class and distance when on pace all the way on July 21st. She is up 3.5kg but should be more than competitive again. (8) DALMAJI enters having run a close 3rd over 1400M om August 4th and can be in the placing frame once more. (9) SLAM DRAGON and (5) BRIGHT WINNER are others to consider.