Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 11 February

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(4) MAGLE DAY was an improved 2^nd at start number three over this distance on January 14^th when handy to the lead and then running on well stopping the clock in a fast time. He draws well to be on or close to the pace again today and won’t need to improve much here in order to win. (8) RAON THE CHARLIE enters off back-to-back 3^rd place finishes at 1200M and 1300M having settled back and run on both times. He has the fastest finish of all of these and will be coming home strong again here. (6) EFFEL TAP should be on pace from a good draw. Moon Se-young rode him on his best finish to date when 3^rd at 1200M last October and he can go well in this company from the front. (5) THUNDER BRAVO is rarely too far away and comes up to this trip for the first time. (7) DONGBANG SAGI another in the frame.

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

(1) STRENGTH made all to get his maiden win at start number three over 1200M on January 14^th, winning by as many as he pleased. It was an eye-catching performance and while he is up in class and slightly in trip today, he draws the same inside gate and it would be no surprise were he to repeat. (4) RAON AMERICAN is winless in five outings but got promoted to this class with a pair of runner-up finishes. He measured up well on his first try at this level when 4^th over 1200M on January 15^th and under a light weight again looks firmly in this. Another yet to win, in her case from eleven attempts, is (3) MORNING PEARL. She is very consistent though and has a 2^nd and two 3^rd place finishes among her latest four outings all at this class. She tends to settle back and run on, and it would be a surprise if she didn’t run into a place again here. (10) DESIRE TO WIN is another up in class following a maiden score, which came over 1400M on January 15^th. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she can be competitive. (9) SUNGAN TOUCH another in at least the placing frame.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) PURGE DAY may be yet to win but shapes as a warm favourite here. Two starts back he overcame a wide draw and slow start to flash home for 2^nd place in a fast time at class and distance and then from a similarly wide gate ran 4^th over 1300M on his latest appearance on December 18^th. He draws much better here and today can come out on top. (1) MAUIWAY was a good winner at class 6 level in November, making all over this distance in a fair time. He ran a creditable 5^th of twelve on his first try at this class on Christmas Eve over 1300M and with a strong finish on him, can be in the mix here. (10) NEMO PRINCE is finding his way again and comes in off two solid efforts over 1300M and has placing claims here. (8) CONCORD QUEEN and (11) GULJAK SUN among others in the hunt.

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

(10) GRAY THOR enters off a class and distance 2^nd in a very fast time on a wet track over class and distance on January 14^th when settling midfield and running on well. Despite the draw, in this company he can be ridden a little closer a little earlier and while he does come up 2kg in the weights, he may take some beating. (8) MABAWI comes back in trip after tackling 1400M in each of his first three goes at this class, picking up a close 2^nd along the way. He should be on or close to the speed here and should be going close. (7) HANGANG CHAMP also comes back in trip. He can mix his form but has run good times at this distance. He likes to settle off the pace and can be working home strong here. (9) BOLD AGAIN and (6) GLOBAL MAGIC, the latter who beat Hangang Champ when 3^rd at 1400M a month ago, are among others to consider.

Seoul Race 8: Class 5 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(9) GRAND STAR was a winner at this class over 1700M on January 14^th when he sat handy to the speed and ran n strongly. Like all but one of these he tackles the mile for the first time and while drawing outside is not ideal, he could have enough about him to win again. (8) GEUMA CHIC is yet to win in ten attempts but comes into consideration here following a good 4^th over 1400M in January when settling right back and running on. The way she has finished off her races suggests the extended trip may suit and she can get closer here. (7) HIDDEN BRAIN won on debut over 1300M at class 6 level in December before weakening having led on his first try at this class when favourite on January 8^th. He comes up in trip today but should be able to get on to the speed and this time be in it a bit further. The form drops off after those three with (4) GEUMSEONG SEGYE and (2) SAEBYEOK BAND ones who could perhaps arrest their respective recent slumps.

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

(3) VIKING HEART has been knocking at the door across four starts at this level all over 1800M and finishing between 3^rd and 5^th. He is a winner over this distance, he carries a light weight and from a good gate should be on the speed and is the one to beat. (6) ADELE MUSTANG was a good winner over a mile two starts back at class 5 level before running 5^th on his first try at this class on January 8^th when overcoming a wide draw to sit handy. He gets a better gate today and under a similarly light weight, can be competitive here. (9) FOREVER KHAN was 2^nd at class and distance two starts back and while he could only manage 8^th of twelve on his most recent outing in a valuable race on December 18^th, the margins weren’t huge, and he still beat a couple of today’s rivals. He should be on pace and in this a long way. (12) EAGLE POINT and (7) CURRERECUS other potentials.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(3) NAOL SNIPER won three races in a row between August and October, the last of which was at this class over 1400M. He then went down to Busan for the Breeders’ Cup champion juvenile race on December 4^th and overcame a wide draw to run a solid 4^th of sixteen. He has had a couple of months off and comes up to the Derby distance of 1800M to kick off his three-year-old campaign. Tactically versatile, Moon Se-young climbs back aboard, and he will be a heavy favourite. (8) TITAN SOCKS beat a couple of these when coming from well off the pace to run 2^nd at class and distance on January 14^th. Although he has also been successful racing from the front, he has tended to go back of late and can do the same and challenge late again here. (11) BURUI SINHWA won back-to-back races in November and December to get rapidly promoted to this class. He then ran 3^rd, just a neck behind Titan Socks, at class and distance on January 8^th. Today’s handicap conditions see him meet Titan Socks better at the weights and it would be no surprise if he overturned the form here. (1) CHEONGSANG YEONGUNG and (6) HWARANG TODAY among other placing chances.

Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(9) RACE WINNER has proven aptly named so far as she is two for two having scored twice at 1000M at class 4 level. She comes up in class and in trip here as well as facing males for the first time. Nevertheless, those wins were eye-catching, she looks to have plenty of scope for development, and she can lead all the way again here. (10) WHITE QUEEN comes back in trip following a good 3^rd place over 1400M on January 7^th. She even wider that day and sad handy before running on. Two starts back she was 2^nd at this class and distance and she can be a danger. So too can (2) THIS CHALLENGE. He was 4^th in that January 7^th race continuing a very solid run of form that has seen him make the top four in nine of fourteen starts. From a good draw and under a light weight, he should be there or thereabouts again. (7) MOONHAK SHEBA comes back in trip following recent efforts at 1400M, the latter two at class 2 level where he recorded a 3^rd place among opposition stronger than he faces today. Accordingly, he is up in the weights, but will be a danger. The up in class last start winner (8) BEST CHEONSANG another in the hunt.

Seoul Race 12: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

A competitive race to conclude. (3) DOKKI BULPAE was rapidly promoted to this level having won his first two starts in fine style at 1000M and 1200M. He was favourite for his first try at class and distance on January 7^th and while he led into the straight, he weakened for 4^th. He should have come on for that experience and can get back to winning ways here. (2) KWAEHYANG finished up his juvenile season with a 2^nd and a 4^th in two Listed races over 1200M and then ran 5^th in the Breeders’ Cup champion juvenile race at Busan on December 4^th, having finished strongly. He has had a couple of months off and makes his three-year-old debut down in the weights, nicely drawn and able to win. (6) ALEXANDER ONE remains winless but hasn’t been too far away and enters off a class and distance 4^th in a very fast race a month ago. He comes up n trip here and it can suit. (4) MIGHTY KICK and (1) HYPER CAR among others to keep safe.

Author: Melissa