Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 4 June

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

Fillies and mares only here. (8) HERO SARANG is the only one that enters here with a last start result of anything better than 8^th, and that is enough for her to warrant favourite status. At her latest on May 7^th, she was 4^th at this distance when racing on pace. She has the best start of all of these so should get to the lead again and under a light weight, she can win. (2) FINAL JILJU was a winner over this distance at class 6 level in April but raced ungenerously on her first start at this level on May 14^th to the extent she got sent back to trial. She came through that trail in good order and with a more mature run, she looks like the main danger. (4) GALSAEK HYANGGI has a habit of being slow away although she knows how to run on and did that to spectacular effect two starts back when a winner at this class over 1300M. Normal service was resumed at her latest but while she only beat a couple home, the margins weren’t big, and in this company, she should run past plenty late on. (6) MUSTANG CHARM and (1) GLOBAL PRIME other potentials for the minors.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(6) RAON THE HARLEY will be a hot favourite. A class 6 winner at this distance two starts back, he then ran 5^th of eleven over 1400M on his first try at this class in March. He has had ten weeks off since so comes in fresh but should get on pace here and go all the way. (4) DOCTOR KONGDOLI has been working his way back into form across his latest few and was 4^th at class and distance in a good time in his latest. He can sit behind the speed here and should be challenging at the business end of the race. (1) DOUBLE TAP ran a useful 4^th at class and distance on April 7^th when close to the pace. He draws nicely here and can go close again. (5) SEONGSIL CHEONHA comes up in class after winning at this distance on April 28^th. He had mixed his form up to that point but can measure up in this largely modest company. (2) USEUNG GANGJA another in the frame.

Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) GLOBAL KANGTA won over this distance at class 5 level in February, leading gate to wire but has had to contend with gate eleven on both of his starts at this class so far, finishing 2^nd and 5^th at 1200M and 1300M. He comes into a much better gate today which may enable him to get onto the speed and he can return to winning ways. (8) GEUMBITMA beat three of these on his way to 3^rd place at class and distance on April 23^rd when he settled right back and then ran on well. He has seven top-four finishes from nine outings and should be close again. (1) COLJOY looks nicely in here with a good draw. He carries a light weight with an apprentice claiming 2kg and he shouldn’t be dismissed. (6) TIZ SUCCESS and (5) GEOMEUN JILJU are among others who can enter the calculations.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(11) STAR FURY has been a beaten favourite in both his latest two appearances, finishing 2^nd and 4^th respectively, both over 1200M, both times running on well late. He comes back up to 1400M today, a distance at which he has posted a fast time already and with Franco back aboard may be a little handier a little earlier. It should be third time lucky as favourite. If you think he’ll get beaten again then (4) MIGHTY STORM could be the one. He too has posted good times at this rip and looks ready to come back up following a 3^rd and a 5^th in his latest two at 1300M.  He can settle behind the speed here and do his best work late. (8) DAMYANGUISIN is the probable speed. A previous attempt at this trip didn’t go well but after two solid efforts over 1200M, he could be ready for another try and he is the one they will have to come past. (1) DAEHOMA and (5) MONEY CASE among other placing chances.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) ARGO RICH will be a warm favourite. He overcame gate twelve to win over this distance at class 5 level in March before running 5^th from a similarly wide draw when stepped up to 1700M for his first try at this class on April 22^nd. He comes back down in distance, down in weight and into a good gate, and he can win here. (6) THUNDER FLASH was a narrow class and distance winner two starts back when coming from well back to get up on the line. He then came up in weight and ran 4^th, again at class and distance on May 7^th. He carries slightly more today but can be a danger. (4) TAEYANGTAGO was 3^rd in that May 7^th race, continuing a run of positive form. He continues under a light weight and from a good gate can match or better that today. (9) NEW CHEONGPA and (3) KING ACE others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) RUNNING POWER came home last in the KRA Cup Mile but we’ll draw a line through that and instead go on his class 4 win at that same distance in March when handy throughout. He comes back into much more amenable company today and can win. (4) ADELE ALLIE’S is back in trip after spins around 1800M and a mile. He doesn’t exactly win out of turn, but he is a prolific placer and so long as he can avoid getting too far back, he should be running into the money again. (5) POWER SOUND comes up in class following a win over 1300M on May 7^th when on the speed. He is nicely draw, down slightly in weight and can measure up in this company, probably leading again. (6) DOCTOR KHALIFA was a class and distance winner on May 7^th and while up significantly in weight, a repeat shouldn’t be ruled out. (2) OK STAR another to keep safe.

Seoul Race 7: Class 6 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Could a twelve-start maiden be about to break through? (9) ANOTHER LEVEL certainly looks the pick of these following her narrow 2^nd place in a quick time over this trip on May 14^th when she led for most of the way around. She comes in at the same weight, the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and today can be her day. (2) SAEBYEOK BAND was a winner at this class over a mile two starts back when making all. He tried to repeat the trick at this distance on April 23^rd, only to be caught and finish 4^th, but from a good gate he can be given another chance today. (6) BUL HWASAN was a class and distance winner in January. After that he put in two ordinary efforts before bouncing back with a 3^rd place from gate ten on April 23^rd, every time settling right back and running on. An apprentice takes his weight down today and he should be right in this. (5) SINUI BANJEON and (4) HAPPY NICE are possibles for minor money.

Busan Race 6: Class Open (1800M) Korean Oaks (KOR-G2) Special Weight A / KRW 700 Million

The second leg of the Triple Triara or filly Triple Crown. (1) RAON FOREST was a fast-finishing 2^nd in the opening leg, the Luna Stakes, on April 23^rd, settling right back and blitzing home to the extent her jockey saluted as they crossed the line. It wasn’t to be as she still had a nose to make up, but with an extra furlong here, she has solid chances. Having said that, (7) JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG, the Luna Stakes winner, may well still start as favourite. While she was almost caught in the Luna, she has already proved herself capable at 1800M, running 3^rd in a quick time at class 3 level in March. In the Luna she was ridden to see out a mile, this time she will be ridden to see out 1800M and she can win again. (10) HAPPY JAZZ is the only one in the field to have won at this distance – and she has done it twice, both times stalking the lead. Most recently she ran 4^th in a valuable Trophy race, again at this distance, and he experience can stand her in good stead here. (3) MAGIC CLASS was 3^rd in the Luna having overcome the widest gate to get on pace. She draws much better here and warrants a chance. (6) GOOD MAGIC among many more in the frame.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 60 Million

After he won the Rookie Stakes and then came 3^rd in a Listed Juvenile event, it was anticipated that (8) GIANT PUNCH would be preparing for next week’s Derby around about now. He has always been a bit erratic and green in his running though and he finished midfield in Seoul’s Classic Trial in March. He has gone well over two-turns though, including last time on April 30^th when 2^nd at this class over 1700M. He has plenty of ability and he should be winning this. The opposition isn’t strong. (11) ROYAL HAMSEONG finally got a maiden win at start twenty-five on February and ran a good 2^nd at class and distance on March 26^th. He comes in fresh after ten weeks off and in this company will be expected to at least run a place. (9) GIMCHEON YEONGUNG comes up in trip but looks nicely weighted and can be competitive (10) EAGLE POINT and (3) BLUE CHARM other potentials.

Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(10) HWANGU FIGHTER enters off back-to-back runner-up finishes from his first two tries at this class, both over today’s distance of a mile. Both times he has settled just behind the early speed and run on and today despite the wide draw he may be ridden a little handier and he can win. The main danger is (2) UNJU STAR. He came back into form with an on-pace 2^nd over 1800M on May 5^th and the drop back to racing at one turn for the first time since last September may be to his liking. He can lead again here and be in this a long way. (3) INDY CHOICE comes in off a runner-up finish at class and distance on May 12^th, well beaten by the very good Black Mamba, but clear of the rest. He too will be on or close to the early speed and a similar run should see him in the mix again. (7) GRAND SUN and (8) SOUTHERN KING are other possibles.

Seoul Race 9: Class 1 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(4) HEUK JEONSA will be hot favourite to score here. He returned from eight months out to win first-up over 1800M at this class on April 2^nd, racing prominently throughout and while once more he carries his fair share of weight – with a rating of 125, he puts all the others out of the weights – this looks an easier assignment, and he should win again. (5) COBRA BALL showed he belongs at class 1 when 2^nd to Legend Day over 1400M on April 23^rd having led.  He steps up to a mile for the first time and he can be given a chance. (8) NIMUI HYANGGI also showed he can mix it at this level when 4^th over 1400M on his first top level start on May 7^th. He can settle back and come from off the pace and into some money here. (2) NORTHERN TIME and (3) MIGHTY NEW are others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(1) CHOEGANG BLACK returned from five months off to run a solid 4^th of ten in a quick race over 1200M on April 29^th, finishing off well. She should strip fitter for that run and the step back up to 1400M can suit. (11) RAON AMERICAN comes up in class following an all the way up the home straight duel with High Grand that ultimately saw them dead heat for the win. It was over this distance and in a good time and while he has the challenge of the widest gate, he can measure up in this company. (7) CHOEGANG QUEEN is generally a model of consistency and has a 2^nd and two 3^rd place finishes from her latest three, all at this class and distance. She comes up slightly in the weights but should be on pace and in this a long way again. (8) COMPLETE TIME and (3) QUICKSILVER KITTEN, the latter a much-improved 3^rd in a quick time at class and distance on April 9^th, among others who can compete for the minors.

Author: Melissa