Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 5 February

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(4) DOCTOR TIFFANY was an all the way winner over 1200M on January 6^th, winning by plenty. She comes up in class and boldly up in trip, but she comes down in the weights, draws very nicely, and she could win again. It won’t be easy though. (8) BARAMBARAM’s only disappointment to date came in the Breeders’ Cup champion juvenile race in December when slowly away and failing to get a foothold. He has two positive runs over 1400M though and the step up in trip may suit (10) GREEN PAPAGO is a model of consistency who is rarely far away and has beaten a few of these across her latest few outings. She should beat plenty again, (6) CHEONMA HASEO beat Barambaram when the pair ran 2^nd and 4^th respectively over 140M on January 13^th. He doesn’t exactly win out of turn, but he knows who to pick up a minor cheque and has done so at class and distance on more than one occasion. (3) ROCK AND ROLL is up in class and in trip following a maiden win at start two over 1300M on January 6^th. He comes down in the weights and draws well.

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

It’s hard to go too far past (8) WONDERFUL TIZZY here. He ran a good 2^nd – albeit well beaten by a very good winner – over 1200M two start s back, before finishing an adequate 5^th of ten in a slow race over 1300M on January 8^th. Without the benefit of an apprentice claim today, he comes up 3kg in the weights but that’s balanced by Antonio climbing aboard, and in this company, he should be able to get a prominent position early and potentially lead all the way. (6) GOLD KAISER is yet to finish in the top two but has finished between 3^rd and 5^th on five occasions from her ten starts and that’s enough to put her in the frame here. Similarly (5) BEST PLAN has two 3^rd places to her name, most recently three starts back in a good time over 1300M. Like every other runner, she comes up to the 1400M for the first time and she can be close. (10) MONEY STONE and (1) JANGHEUNG CLASS, the latter who perhaps could be most suited to the step up in trip, are others who can enter the calculations.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

(1) WIND WINNER comes in having missed the top-four on only one of nine occasions so far. His latest saw him run 3^rd over this class and distance when emerging from the widest gate on January 8^th then racing midfield and running on. He carries the same weight today and from a much better draw, can win. Disputing favourite status will be (11) STAR MATTA. He too has been super-consistent and enters off a class and distance win on January 13^th when prominent throughout and beating three of today’s rivals. The engagement of an apprentice jockey means he carries less weight this time and while the draw is a touch wider than ideal, he has every chance. (2) B.J. CHIEF was 6^th behind Star Matta in that January 13^th race having worked hard to get to the lead from the widest gate. The draw is much kinder today and the same apprentice keeps his carried weight light. (4) YONGCHEON comes up in class and in distance after a good win over a mile – beating B. J. Chief – in early December. He can measure up in this company. (10) SINJIN GANGHO another in the minor money frame.

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

(6) BEST SUN was a winner on debut over 1000M last October and comes in off a front-running 3^rd place over this class and distance on January 7^th. He will surely be on pace here and has every chance of going all the way. The primary danger is (3) SECRET PLAY. He got his win over 1200M two starts back when settling right back and running on before trying the same and ultimately finishing 4^th on his first try at this class on January 8^th. He draws well and the slight step up in trip should suit. (8) SMART POWER is another consistent type who may not win out of turn but is rarely far away. She comes back in trip after back-to-back 4^th place finishes at 1700M and 1400M but has run quick times at 1200M too and is firmly in the money frame again. (11) CRAZY LOVE and (1) DAECHEON BEAUTY – the latter out of sorts last time out – are others who can enter the calculations.

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only here. (7) GOLDEN PLUS is a perfect two for two having won on debut over 1000M in November and then at 1200M in an all-fully race at class 5 level on January 6^th, both times on pace. She is rapidly up in class and tackles the seven-furlongs for the first time, but she should be equal to both challenges and can win again here. (1) HANSEN COD GIRL overcame gate ten to lead all the way over 1300M at class 5 level two starts back. She then ran an in no way disgraced 4^th place at this class and distance on January 6^th, showing on pace and beating a couple of today’s rivals. She only comes up 1kg in the weights and can be a big danger to Golden Plus’s unbeaten record. (4) USEUNG YEOGEOL joins Golden Plus up in class here having finished runner-up to her in that January 6^th race. There was only a half-length between them and Useung Yeogeol was finishing well so must be given a chance here at a furlong further. (3) HANEUL JILJU and (9) ALL CROWN among others to keep safe.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies and mares only. (7) HUIMANG GADEUK is yet to win in seven attempts but has come close on several occasions including her latest star in a very similar event to this over 1300M on January 14^th when handy throughout and finishing 3^rd. She has a 2^nd place to her name at this distance as well and she has as good a chance as any today. She will dispute favourite status with (1) TOP POSITION, another non-winner after ten starts. She enters off the back of her best finish to date when 2^nd at class and distance on January 7^th, settling right back from a wide draw and then running on strongly for 2^nd, beating three of today’s rivals in the process. She comes up 2kg in the weights, but that’s balanced by a much better draw, and she should be going very close. (11) HANGANG JILJU ran 4^th behind Top Position in that January 7^th race. She previously ran out an all the way winner at this distance at class 6 level and can be a danger today. (10) BYEOLBIT MARU has the fastest time of any of these at the distance and along with (8) JAKDUKONG is another to consider.

Busan Race 6: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(3) OREUDA won three consecutive races between September and November last year to get rapidly promoted from class 4 to class 2. He has acquitted himself well in two tries at this level with a 3^rd over 1200M behind (and in front of) a couple of today’s rivals when slowly away on December 4th, before a 4^th at 1400M on January 8^th. Once more he carries very little weight, he draws a good gate and today should be his day. (4) CHOEGANG SSONSAL won that December 4^th race before finishing last behind Oreuda in January. He carries 3kg more than his win but back at 1200M looks the main danger. (7) ACE KILLER finished midfield in the January race having run 2^nd to Choegang Ssonsal a month earlier. He too should be better for the drop in trip. (10) DOCTOR CAESAR and (6) AKER’S DREAM, the latter second up following a lengthy spell among other possibles.

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

(8) RAON FOREST had a hard time when sent up to 1700M for her first try at class 4 level on Christmas Day. Her win came at 1300M and she has a 4^th place to her name at class 5 over this distance in a fair time. She carries a light weight and has as good a chance as any in what is a competitive race. (12) SAENAE POWERFUL is done no favours by the draw, but has already proven competitive at this level with a 2^nd and a 3^rd over this distance. He carries his fair share of weight and may need a touch of luck at the start but a bold showing shouldn’t be ruled out. (7) DUSON FANTASTIC came home 4^th to Saenae Powerful’s 3^rd when they race one another at class and distance on January 7^th. That continued a solid run of form for Duson Fantastic, who should be in line for a money finish again. The wildcard is (1) ROCK FIGHTER. He races for the first time since last May when he ran out a class and distance winner having come from well off the pace. He trialled up fairly enough in mid-January and draws well, despite the weight. (9) DIA KEY another in the hunt.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

(4) YAMUJIN JAESU was a class and distance winner on January 7^th when settling midfield and running on strongly. He comes u a full 3kg in the weights today but draws well once more and could well have too much again. (2) HAPPY SOCKS came home 3^rd in that same race over a mile on January 7^th adopting similar tactics. She draws better though today and may get an easier run and can be competitive again. (6) NONSTOP WINNING comes up in class and in distance having scored over 1400M on January 7^th when midfield and running on. That was just his second win in twenty-six starts (nonstop mediocrity probably wouldn’t have been so catchy) but he had been working up to that win with a series of strong showing and while the set weight scale doesn’t benefit him, he can be competitive. (8) AMERICAN FORCE ONE and (5) CHEONGDAM TANK among others with solid place hopes.

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

A very competitive race in which (9) WINNER YOUNG just about gets the nod. He’s only raced four times but come up rapidly in class following his maiden score over 1400M on Christmas Day. He comes up to two turns for the first time as well but his running style suggests that the greater trip may suit and he has plenty of potential for more improvement. (6) SUPER ECTON comes in off back-to-back 4^th place finishes at this class over a mile and then most recently when beating a couple of these at this distance on January 8^th. He will probably find one or two too quick again but looks a solid place chance in this company. (4) AMAZING WHIZ overcame the widest gate to sit handy and run on for 4^th at class and distance on Christmas Day and from a much better gate should be aiming to match or better that here. The up in class (7) GOLDEN HONOR along with (1) MAY BLADE are among others in the frame.

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

(6) LUCKY WORLD was given his chance in the G1 President’s Cup last November over 2000M and he gave a good account of himself, overcoming a wide draw to run 7^th of fourteen. He returned to shallower waters over this distance on December 18^th, running a good 3^rd behind Wonpyeong Cod and Double Edge (who were set to race each other on Saturday in race 10 so that may give some idea of how the form is holding up). He is tactically versatile with a strong finish and can return to winning ways here. (4) YONGAM BOSS comes up in class following two consecutive runner-up finishes at 1200M and 1700M. The extra half-furlong shouldn’t be a problem and nor should the class rise. He comes down a full 6kg in weight on his last start and draws well. (1) JANGSAN MONSTER’s recent form reads well and he was an pace 3^rd at class and distance last time out with a repeat or better a possibility here. (12) JOEUN GWANGYE and (8) BIG TRIPLE among others to keep safe.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

This is class 1 but with an upper rating cap of 115 and it makes for a wide open race. We’ll stick with (3) MIGHTY GO, who ran out a class and distance winner in a very fast time on his latest start back on November 6^th. He does come up 3.5kg which means he gives weight to every single one of his rivals here but he can overcome that from a good draw and win again. (8) RAON TAP MAN has exchanged victories with Mighty Go in recent outings, beating him at this distance on September before running 2^nd in that November race. Unlike Mighty Go he has appeared again since then, winning over 1200M on December 4^th in a very fast time. The challenge here is the additional 3kg in weight as his wins at this level have come under 51kg and 52kg but he should be a big threat again. (2) CHOEGO RACE comes up in class but down in weights following an eye-catching score over this distance on January 15^th, leading all the way and getting within not much more than half a second of the track record. He draws very well and can be competitive. (7) GO UP and (9) WANG BEOTKKOT other possibles in a race of many chances.

Author: Melissa