Korea Racing Seoul Previews – 16 November

Saturday November 16, 2024

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens with all but three racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience though and (6) NAEGILUI YEOJEONG, who overcame a wide draw to settle handy and run on for 4^th place on debut at this distance on October 13^th. He should have come on for that run and from a better gate, he looks the one to beat. (10) GEOLJAK CHUKJE bled on debut over 1000M on September 14^th but still managed to finish 2^nd, only beaten less than a length. He came through a trial unscathed in October and can be a danger here. Turning to the first timers, (1) CHUPUNGNYEONG was the best in trials, settling just off the speed and running on for 3^rd in a fair time. If he brings that form to the races, he won’t be far away. (5) GOLD QUEENS and (8) CHEONGRYONGUI CAL others who hinted at ability in their heats.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(11) YEONHUI HERO was a close 2^nd on debut at this distance in August and while he had a poor day at the office when favourite on September 15^th, getting a difficult trip and ultimately finishing 6^th, he comes in fresh here and in this modest company can be given another chance.  That modest company means we can give a chance to debut-maker (2) UPPERHAND. The Testa Matta filly went through two trials, improving in the second (which was voluntary so may not appear on all race cards, but it was on October 10^th, and she was 4^th in 63.7) and from a good draw she can put in a bold effort. (9) BEST SHARK improved at start number two and can so do again here. (8) BLACK RUSSIAN and (5) GRAY PHANTOM, others who can get closer.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) GANGNARU ran 3^rd on debut on October 27^th, settling back and finishing off well over 1200M. He should have come on for the run, the step up to 1400M can suit, and he is the one to beat. (1) YEONGWON GIANT Has a best of 2^nd and has picked up again in his latest two, registering a pair of 4^th place finishes, most recently at this distance on October 20^th when racing further forward than usual. From the inside gate, expect similar tactics today and he can be a danger. (8) BEST KINGDOM is two starts into a comeback following almost eight months out. He comes in off a useful 4^th place at this distance at the end of September and can get closer here. (5) OKCHEON WIN STAR and (2) HIPPODROME are other possibles.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) PROMISE began his career with a win and followed it up with a 2^nd place at this class and distance on October 5^th when settling midfield and running on. He struggled when sent up to 1700M two weeks ago, but back at one turn today, he can return to winning ways. (11) MARU JANGGUN is a winner of two from four so far, most recently at this class and distance on October 13^th. He comes up 2.5kg and has the challenge of the widest gate, but neither should be insurmountable, and he may start as the betting favourite. (10) YEONGWON FANTASTIC comes up in class following a maiden win at start number five on October 19^th over 1200M. He tackles the 1400M for the first time but is lightly weighted and he can measure up. (7) GANGCHEOL JEONSA and (6) JURING SKY other chances.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(9) TAEPYEONG LEGEND got his maiden win two starts back over 1200M before running 3^rd at this class and distance on October 27^th when racing just behind the speed and running on. The time was good and while he was the beaten favourite, he can be given another chance to come out on top here. (11) ANYANG GIPPEUM got her maiden win last time out on October 12^th over 1200M. She comes up in class but is down in the weights and can be competitive. (8) GLOBAL TIME actually beat Anyang Gippeum when the pair ran 2^nd and 4^th at 1200M in September and comes up in class following another 2^nd place on October 20^th. He is yet to win but should be competent enough in this company. (7) GEOSEN GANGHO, also up in class despite being winless, and (1) GOOD FIGHTER among others in the frame.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(6) REAL DEAL was a winner on debut before running 3^rd in the Rookie Stakes at the end of August. That led him to be sent off as the second favourite for the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy on October 20^th, but he had a poor day at the office, showing on pace early before finishing down the field. Back in more amenable company today and with Moon Se-young on, he will be expected to find his form again. (9) RAON ECLIPSE got his maiden win at the second time of asking on September 29^th over this distance, leading all the way. He is up in class but down in the weights and can be a danger. (1) FINAL GO beat three of these on his way to 2^nd place on October 13^th at this class and distance, settling right back and finishing off well. He carries the same high weight again but comes into a much better gate and can beat plenty. (2) JANGGUN MARU and (11) AUSTIN LEADER others to consider for the places.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Competitive race. (3) HEART K has been working back towards a second win, most recently finishing a very close 2^nd at this class and distance on October 19^th when always close. He comes up slightly in the weights but still doesn’t carry much and from a good draw, he can be on pace and go one better. (1) BRIGHT WINNER similarly enters with recent form reading well. After solid efforts at a mile and at 1700M she comes back to a distance he won over at class 5 level and she looks very nicely in here. (10) EINSPANNER returned to form with a 3^rd place in an all-filly affair at this class and distance two weeks ago. The competition here is slightly stiffer but she remains under a light weight, and she can be in the finish again. (8) HAKSAN MACHO and (6) GEUMSEONG CROWN others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) DRAGON SQUARE has just the one win to his name, recent efforts suggest he is on a relentless march towards a second and he was most recently runner-up at this class over 1800M on October 27^th when briefly leading close to home. He has a win and four placings from five tries at this distance, and he really should be coming out on top today. Nothing else enters in much form (5) BLOOD MOUNTAIN was poor last time out but two starts back ran 4^th to Dragon Square’s 3^rd and he can be as much a threat as any here. (3) COMPLETE LEADER was a class and distance winner as recently as three outings back (albeit in April), and while he has been indifferent in two efforts since, that’s enough to put him in placing contention. (7) PERFECT GUN MAN and (4) BIG SMART are others who could compete for the minors.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(8) DALKONG returned from five months out to run 5^th over a mile on September 29^th. She is yet to win in eight attempts but has finished in the top five on no fewer than seven occasions and was 2^nd on her only previous try at this distance. She should strip fitter for that run, Moon Se-young is on, and she can win. That will mean overturning the form on (2) COLGIN who won that September 29^th race at odds of 25/1. He led all the way that day and while he comes up a whopping 5.5kg in the weights, he warrants respect here. (3) TRISTAN WANGJA led for much of the way around at this class and distance on October 13^th, ultimately finishing 4^th. From a better gate, he can get an easier run to the front today and can be in this a long way. (9) TIZ ENERGY and (7) MIGHTY NIC among others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Since running 5^th on debut, (11) JANGBI DAEUN has won three in a row and is up in class today having scored in emphatic style over 1300M on September 7^th. He has had ten weeks off since then and comes in under a light weight with every chance of continuing on his merry way. (5) SPALTA ran 2^nd in that September 7^th race before repeating on October 13^th over this distance in a quick time. He comes up in class but is down 5.5kg in the weights, and he can be competitive. (7) BEST TORCH is a very consistent type who is a two-time winner over this distance. He got a bit far back last time out before running on for a fair 5^th and he will be expected to go closer today. (4) ACHIM DONGJA races for the first time since early August but looked very well in winning two trials and along with (8) DANDI, can be in the hunt for at least the minors.

Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

This is quite the finale with lots of these entering in form. (2) CROWN HAMSEONG will probably be the favourite. She won five in a row between last December and this August and while she came up short when tried against elite fillies and mares, she ran 3^rd behind Vincero Cavallo at this class over 1400M on October 12^th. She tackles the mile for the first time, draws well to lead, and she can win. (10) HANGANG POWER was an all the way winner over 1800M at class 3 level two starts back before running 3^rd in the Listed Ilgan Sports Trophy at the end of September. He has the challenge of the widest gate in a race where there is plenty of early speed, but if he can find a good position, he has a chance. (4) MILLION PARTY beat Crown Hamseong when 2^nd in that 1400M race on October 12^th. A winner of five from twelve, she comes up to the mile for the first time and isn’t to be dismissed. (3) GLADIUS and (6) JEONGSANG ACE will be the other market fancies in a race where nothing can have an automatic line drawn through.

Author: Melissa