Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 11 January

Saturday January 11, 2025

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

Three-year-old maidens with eight of the twelve racing for the first time. The experience is by and large good though and (8) AFLEET RUN will be the favourite. He raced handy on debut over 1200M on December 8^th ultimately running home in 3^rd place. He should have derived benefit from that experience and won’t need to improve too much to win this. Nor though will (12) TAPDINE. After winning a November trial, he led for much of the way on his debut on December 1^st, ultimately finishing 3^rd. He has the challenge of the widest gate, but he should be equal to it. (10) BEOLGYO LAVA has raced twice, finishing 4^th on both occasions. Her times haven’t been quick, but she should have a fitness edge on the newcomers and can be close. Of those first-time starters (1) BAEKDU ILSEONG and (9) JECHUK LOG IN looked the best in trials.

Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Three-year-old imported maidens here and (2) PALATINO will be the hot favourite. After running 2^nd on debut in November, he beat three of today’s rivals on his way to 3^rd place over 1300M on December 14^th. He’ll be on pace here and while he was the beaten favourite that day, it would be a big surprise if he falls short again. Naming your horse (5) WINNING CHAMPION is a bold move but he did offer a hint of promise on debut when 5^th over 1200M in a quick race back at the end of October. He comes in fresh after eleven weeks off and can get closer today. There are a couple of first-time starters and (6) SAINT RUNNER came from off the pace to run on well in his trial and 1200M first up can suit. (8) ACE K and (1) BAKCHARA may improve.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) GWANGGYOUI GISANG debuted with a 3^rd place in November and followed up with a 2^nd on December 14^th when he led for most of the way around over 1300M. In this company he will be on pace, and he won’t need to be much better to go one better here. After an ordinary debut, (9) HIGH CROWN has since registered a 2^nd and a 4^th from two subsequent appearances, both over this distance. He can settle behind the speed here and can challenge late. (11) DIXIE MAN ran 3^rd on debut at this distance and while he weakened having shown close to the front on his second start on December 15^th, Moon Se-young stays up and he can be given another chance. (5) WONDERFUL ALONG and (4) MYEONG POWER the other main placing chances.

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Competitive maiden. (8) DRAGON K enters off his best to date on December 14^th when he beat a couple of these with a front running effort on his way to 2^nd place. He will be on pace here and has as much chance as any of going one better. (4) I AM GO has finished no worse than 5^th in four attempts so far with her best being a runner-up finish over 1000M back in July. She had four months off after that and has a 5^th and a 4^th in her two starts back. Third-up she can be peaking fitness wise and Moon Se-young staying on will tempt plenty. (7) SPARTAN has two 3^rd places from his latest three and seems to be figuring things out at last. He likes to lead, and he can be in this a long way. (11) MG FIRST and (3) CHUPUNGNYEONG, the latter finishing off very strongly last time out having gone right back and who can be peaking at start three, are others to keep safe.

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

Fillies and mares only here. (1) GOLD QUEENS came from off the pace on debut to score over 1200M on November 16^th. It wasn’t a quick race, but she did what was asked of her in fine fashion and while she is up in class, she carries a light weight, and she can measure up. (5) GEUNYANG GARA beat Gold Queens in a trial last October and got her maiden win over 1200M in November. She had a poor day at the office on her latest when weakening late over 1300M just before Christmas, but she can be given another chance here. (3) ONEULDO SMILE won on debut over 1000M in August. She hasn’t raced since but she looked well enough when going through a Boxing Day trial and from a good draw can be in the hunt. (8) ANDAMIRO and (4) ROYAL PLUS others to consider.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(6) QUEEN DIA got her maiden win at start number five over 1300M on December 7^th, stalking the early leader before going past late. That win had been coming and while she comes up in class, and slightly in distance here, she can win again. It took (8) PASA KING just two attempts to make his breakthrough, which he did on November 30^th, racing handy and finishing off strongly over 1200M. He too is up in class and trip but looks to have plenty of scope for more progress and he can measure up. It’s hard to oppose those two filling out the quinella. (2) ARNOLD QUEEN has been back to trial since her latest effort and she looked well in it, showing on pace and crossing the line a very close 2^nd. From a good draw, if she can bring that form to the races, she can place. (1) CRAZE CHANG and (7) LIGHT A BLUE others in the minor money hunt.

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

It took (5) GOOD CHEOGANG plenty of time to get to the track, but it was worth it when he finally did as he won on debut over 1200M back on November 10^th, coming from off the pace. It’s taken him nine weeks to return, and he is up in class, but the additional trip can suit, Moon Stays on, and he is the one to beat. (11) MIGHTY JOY got his maiden win at start two over 1200M in October before running 4^th on his first try at this level on December 13^th. He has the challenge of the widest gate, but the additional trip may balance that out and he can be a danger. (6) HERO SOCKS beat Mighty Joy on his way to 2^nd place in that December 14th race and can be there or thereabouts again. (4) WORLD PEOPLE and (9) SPINNING KANT among other chances.

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

(1) MAGIC PRINCE has never finished any worse than 5^th and he got his second win on his tenth outing at this class and distance on December 22^nd when, as is his style, he settled back and ran on strongly. He comes up 3kg in the weights but expect similar tactics today and there can be a similar result. (4) RAON HIT MAN has placed in all four starts at this distance including a win last time out on December 15^th when coming from miles back and passing the entire field in the final furlong. That was his maiden win at start fourteen and he does tend to leave himself too much to do but while up in class, he is down in weight and if withing striking distance, he can be a danger. (7) SEOUL CHOEGANGJA ran 2^nd to Magic Prince on December 22^nd and can be close again. (8) BROWN GOLD and (5) HERO JEONSA others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(6) NAMSAN BLACK was a trial winner in November and then finished a close 2^nd on debut over 1300M on December 14^th, settling midfield and then running on. He should have come on for the run and won’t need to improve much to win this. It’s not a strong set of opponents. (8) YONGBI BULPAE enters off 4^th place at this class and distance on December 15^th. Aside from a poor effort around 1800M, he has been consistent and can be in the place hunt here. (3) GEUMSEONG CROWN needs a line drawn through his latest but on his prior effort in October when 3^rd at this class and distance, he can be considered. (11) AREUMDAUN SAI and (5) LAFAYETTE perhaps the best of a limited rest.

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

(11) FINAL K is a winner of two from three so far with his only defeat coming in the Listed Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy behind Wonpyeong Storm, who himself franked that race’s form with a facile win last Sunday. Final K came over the top to score well on his latest on December 7^th at this class over 1200M and while he is up in trip and 3.5kg in the weights, he should win again. (1) PEPPER X made all to win over this distance on December 15^th He comes up in class but is down 3.5kg in weight, draws well, and can be in this a long way. (5) DREAM HONOUR has the fastest time among these over the 1400M set when getting his maiden win two starts back. He was 6^th behind Final K last time out but can get closer here. (9) JEDI FORCE and (3) ENDING FIRE others to consider for the places.

Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(4) MONEY CROWN will be the favourite here. He comes in having run a super 5^th place in the G1 Grand Prix Stakes behind Global Hit on December 1^st having previously gone on a run of five consecutive runner-up finishes. During that period, he beat plenty of today’s opposition, and really should be winning this. (7) JJARITHAN JAYU was a winner over this distance two starts back at class 3 level and while he struggled on his first try at this class over 2000M, he is well worth another chance today with Maia, who is one for one on him, climbing back on. (5) THUNDER DREAM was 3^rd behind Money Crown two starts back and repeated that finish in his latest at 1400M on December 7^th. He will be on pace here and can be in things a long way. (9) HIGH GRAND and (1) MONTAUK CHAT others in the frame.

Author: Melissa