Korea Race Comments for Sunday April 30

Busan Race 3: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) YEONGGWANGUI ACE comes in having run 3^rd to Betelgeuse in the Busan Classic Trial over this distance on March 19^th, just over four-lengths behind the KRA Cup Mile favourite. He skips the Cup Mile and comes here instead and from a good draw and under a light weight, he is the one to beat. The main danger will break from the adjoining gate. (5) GRAND SUN returned from eleven months out to win over 1300M at class 5 level in February before running 2^nd in a double-quick time over this class and distance on March 24^th, starting slowly and settling back before running on. Third-up this preparation, he can be peaking fitness-wise, and he has strong claims. (1) K.AI enters off a good 4^th place over 1200M on March 19^th and from a much better gate can match or better that here. (2) B.K. NEW MOON is up 3kg in weight following a rather unexpected class and distance win at the end of March but shouldn’t be dismissed. (3) MAN OF THE STAR among others in the frame.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(1) COMPLETE FORCE gets the nod here. He comes in off a 3^rd and a 2^nd from his latest two, both over class and distance and both times overcoming wider gates to get to a forward position. He does come up in weight here but that’s balanced by a better draw, and he is the one to beat. (7) BARAMUI GEOM returned from five months out to run 3^rd at class and distance on April 2^nd, racing handy and briefly hitting the lead in the straight. He should strip fitter for that run and should go close here. (5) NEVER AGAIN comes up in class following a maiden win at 1200M on March 26^th when coming from off the pace. He’s going to need to go quicker in this company, but he comes down in weights and still has scope for improvement. (10) SECRET PLAY and (9) DANDI among others in the money frame.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 40 Million

We’ll take a chance on (10) SUCCESS TIME here. She’s only raced four times and got her win two starts back over 1200M before running 2^nd in a quick race over 1300M on her first try at this class on March 31^st. She comes up in the weights here and significantly in trip, but there is no reason the latter can’t suit, and she has a chance. (5) DOCTOR PERO will probably be favourite based on his experience at both class and distance which has seen him land a 2^nd and a 3^rd in his latest two starts, settling midfield and running on. He too carries his fair share of weight, but he won’t need to improve on those very much to win this. (6) PATRIOT ran a close 4^th on his first try at this distance just two weeks ago having led. He carries the same weight and will probably be on pace again and can be in this a long way. (1) SMILE KING and the up in class and in trip (3) HAPPY BLUE are others to consider.

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

(5) KING DIA ran out an easy winner on debut over 1200M on March 4^th before running 2^nd on his first try at this class and distance on April 2^nd having led almost the entire way around. He carries plenty of weight, but draws well again, and should have too much for this field. (11) GEUMA ALLURE is a non-winner of ten but still shapes as the one most likely to get close to what will be a short-priced favourite. She comes in off a desperately close 2^nd place over 1200M on March 25^th when finishing well. The wide draw shouldn’t be too much of a problem and she should be running on strong again. (4) ORGALIM was a class and distance winner on March 4^th when settling towards the front of midfield and running on. The time wasn’t quick, but he draws nicely again and can be considered. (8) LEGEND K is up in class but down in the weights and can be competitive. (2) YESULIYA another to keep safe.

Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(10) GANGSEO GIANT will be a short-priced favourite for this having beaten a couple of these on her way to 3^rd place at class and distance on March 10^th when racing handy throughout. She comes in at the same weight, Seo Seung-un remains aboard, and the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem. (8) RAON THE FLASH won at this distance at class 4 level in March before running 3^rd on her first try at this class when dropped back to 1200M. It was a fast time, and she had a couple of today’s rivals behind her, and she shapes as the logical second choice here. (2) HANEUL JEONSA comes in off a good 2^nd place at class and distance when coming from well off the pace and under a similar weight and from a good draw can go close again at an each-way price. (11) GREAT CAPTAIN ran 6^th behind Gangseo Giant in that March 10^th race. He draws the same gate today but comes down slightly in weight and can get closer this time. (6) JATNAMUGIL another better than his latest outing suggests.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Small field and a clear favourite. (5) SUPREME STAR got his maiden win at start number nine last time out at this class and distance when settling back and running on. He comes up a full 3kg in the weights as a result, but this opposition looks less testing, and he should be winning again. (6) MY WANGJA will be second favourite. That’s die to his win over this distance at class 6 level two starts back which entitles him to have a line drawn through his first try at this class on March 25^th when he weakened having been on pace over 1700M. He too will benefit from the more amenable opposition. (8) NEW SMART has never won but has plenty of experience at this level and can be competing for a place. (1) STAR PRINCESS and (7) SINUI BANJEON among others who could find minor money in a limited field.

Busan Race 6: Class Open (1600M) KRA Cup Mile (KOR G2) Special Weight A / KRW 700 Million

The opening leg of the 2023 Triple Crown. (4) BETELGEUSE is the highest rated in the field and has the greatest breadth of experience. He skipped the big juvenile races last autumn instead facing older horses at a mile and especially 1800M. He returned to face and defeat his contemporaries in Busan’s Classic Trial in March, and he will be favourite to win here. (8) NUT PLAY was a fast-finishing 4^th in Seoul’s Classic Trial, running out of track at the end of the 1400M. He has twice won at a Mile and while the extended trips of the Derby and Minister’s Cup may be more to his liking, he will be rattling home here. (7) SOMETHING LOST won Seoul’s Classic Trial, making all. He is the only unbeaten horse in the race and while he has never gone further than 1400M, he’s handled every step up so far with aplomb. He should be on pace and in this a long way. (2) SPEED YOUNG was last year’s champion juvenile by virtue of winning the Breeders’ Cup. He was a very good class 3 winner at a mile in March and a repeat of that puts him right in this. (14) DOKKI BULPAE among many others with potential for improvement.

Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(2) WONDERFUL TIZZY may be yet to win from nine attempts, but he should be a warm favourite to put that right here. He ran a good 2^nd place at this distance at class 6 level two starts back before running a fair 5^th of ten in his first try at this class over 1200M on April 2^nd and against what is a limited set of opponents (this is the second division of the same very weak handicap that made up race 6), today should be his day. (3) HEEMANG WARRIOR does have a win on the board. That was achieved at 1700M, and since then she has raced three times more at that extended trip with the best of them her latest on March 25^th when 5^th.  She draws nicely here and carries a light weight. (1) ROAD ACE should be able to get forward from the inside gate among this small field and can be a danger. (7) CLOUTER and (5) CAMP SAVER perhaps the best of a limited rest.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

There will be yet another short-priced favourite here and it is hard to go past (4) RAON THE GOLD. She beat four of today’s rivals on her way to 2^nd place at class and distance on March 26^th when settling handy and running on. That continued an upward trajectory across her latest few appearances and while up 1.5kg, she looks ready to win. (7) TAURUS QUEEN comes up rapidly in class having won her latest two, most recently at this distance in February. She has had twelve weeks off since so comes in fresh and down in weight, she can measure up. (11) ICE STAR came from well off the pace to run 3^rd behind Raon The Gold in that March 26^th race. Once more he carries plenty of weight, but the wide draw shouldn’t be an issue and he can run on. (3) HWA SSI BYEOK was 4^th that day but has the fastest time of any of these over the distance on his record and he can be a factor. (10) HWASUBOON another potential placer.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Competitive race. (11) ECTON JILJU was a class and distance winner on April 1^st when sitting handy throughout and then proving too strong in the closing stages. He comes up a full 3kg in the weights and has the challenge of an even wider gate, but he can be equal to both and can win again. (6) DOKKAEBE was 2^nd in that race, having started as the betting favourite. He too was close to the pace throughout and ultimately finished a length and a half in arrears. He gets a 2kg weight swing as well as a better draw and it may be enough to turn things in his favour. (9) GLOBAL POWER comes up in class following back-to-back runner-up finishes over this distance at class 5 level. He comes down 4kg in the weights and that should make him competitive here. There is a two-year-old imported filly making her debut. It’s a tough ask for (1) VICTORY HIT against older experienced horses, but she acquitted herself well in a trial and might be of each-way interest. (3) WONDER K another in the hunt.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1700M) Special Weight B / KRW 60 Million

(7) GIANT PUNCH would have been intended to as a starter in the KRA Cup Mile at Busan today having won the Rookie Stakes and then being 3^rd in the Munhwa Ilbo last autumn. He has lost his way a little since and was last seen running 6^th of twelve in the Seoul Classic Trial. He ran fairly on his only previous try at two-turns – a 4^th over 1800M at this class in January – he evidently has plenty of talent and he can return to winning ways today. (11) BURUI SINHWA beat Giant Punch when 3^rd in that January race at 1800M. He disappointed on his only start since but is worth another chance here. (3) CHEONGSAN YEONGUNG enters off three consecutive runner-up finishes at this class around the two-turns and while that has brought him up progressively to top-weight here, he can be competitive. (5) BLACK CHOCOLATE is up significantly in trip but can measure up while (4) WONDERFUL TYCOON is another to consider.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(2) COMPLETE VALUE was runner-up in last year’s KRA Cup Mile and it is fair to say that he has mixed his form since. We’ll draw a line through his latest which was at 1400M against a very quick set of sprinters and instead go on his runner-up finish over this distance two starts back when as is his style, he got to the front and led for much of the way (he couldn’t do that against the speedsters last time). He carries a light weight, draws well, and can go all the way this time. (10) LORD BAN was a 10/1 winner on his first try at this class over a mile on March 26^th when he got the jump on the field at the start, and they never came back to him. He tackles 1800M for the first time and won’t have it so easy from the wide draw, but he is not to be readily dismissed. (1) BOLT MAN comes up in class following a good win over this distance on March 11^th when coming from off the pace. He comes down significantly in weight and can be competitive, especially if Complete Value and Lord Ban get into an early speed tussle. (3) NAMSANUI BYEOL and (11) GLOBAL SOCKS among others who can enter the calculations.

Author: Jiong He