Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 18 January

Saturday January 18, 2025

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Three-year-old maiden fillies in the opener and (10) SEOMDOLMORU will be the hot favourite. After an inauspicious debut, she was a much better 2^nd over this distance on December 14^th, racing handy and nearly getting up. She won’t need to improve a lot on that to win here. (8) MISS FAMOUS beat a couple of these on her way to 4^th place on debut in a similar race to this on December 21^st and looks to be the main danger. That pair were (5) GOOD FRIEND and (2) NAMSAN SONYEO who came home 6^th and 7^th respectively although both showed enough then and in their prior trials, to suggest they can get better. There are two debut-makers and (7) LA FESTA perhaps has the best chance of making an immediate impact.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) BEAUTIFUL HWASEONG has been getting closer in his latest few, culminating in a 2^nd place on what was his first try at this distance on December 21^st, when he raced on pace and beat a couple of today’s rivals. The same apprentice keeps his weight nice and light and he is the one to beat here. (8) TRES VITE was 3^rd in that race, his best finish in twenty-six outings. He too has been getting progressively closer in recent starts and can go one better today in what is, frankly, one of the weaker maidens you will find at Seoul. (1) CHOCO BEAUTY has a 2^nd place on her record as recently as October and can be running on late. (6) BLACK RUSSIAN and (2) YONGBI KING, the latter 4^th in that December 21^st race, are other placing chances.

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

Another short-priced favourite in the shape of (6) EAST GANGJEOK. After finishing 5^th on debut, he has since registered back-to-back 3^rd places at 1200M and last time this trip on December 14^th. He’ll be on pace, Ruan Maia climbs on, and today should be the day. (9) CHANGJOUI GIDONG returned from six months out on December 21^st to run a fair 6^th of eleven over 1400M. Before the layoff he managed a 2^nd and a 3^rd and stripping fitter today, he can be a threat. (11) CHOWOLMA has hinted at ability in two outings to date, most recently 5^th behind East Gangjeok in that December 14^th race. The wide draw shouldn’t prove a problem, and he can continue to improve. The form drops off considerably after those three, with (1) LADY BLUE and (5) BLACK SMILE perhaps best of the rest.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Since getting his maiden win at start three over 1200M in October, (10) MORE THAN JOKE has been a beaten favourite in two attempts at this class, running 2^nd and then 3^rd at this distance, most recently on December 21^st. In this company he should be on pace, and he can make it third time lucky here. (4) UGWANGMYEONG was a winner on debut on December 22^nd having drawn the widest gate and then gone right back before swooping home. He comes up in class and marginally in trip here, but he can measure up. (3) PHANTOM DRAGON races for the first time since his maiden win last July. He looked well on a December trial and from a good draw, can be in the mix first up. (2) ASSI JANGGUN and (5) ECLIPSE EDGE others to consider.

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

The only time so far that (2) RISING MO has finished outside of the top three in five outings so far was in Listed juvenile company when he started badly and never recovered. Since then, he has registered a 2^nd and a 3^rd, most recently when beating a couple of today’s rivals on his first try at this distance on December 22^nd. CC climbs up for the first time, and he can return to winning ways. (7) MUSKET DAY came from off the pace to win on debut over 1200M on December 15^th. He comes up in class but the step up in trip can suit, and he can be a danger. (9) HAKSAN DARK HORSE got his maiden win at start number two at 1200M in November before running 2^nd to the very promising Palo Alto on his first try at this level on December 14^th. He comes up 2kg in the weights but can be in the mix again. (10) GLOBAL HAMSEONG and (6) BIG BRIDGE among plenty of others with placing chances.

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

(5) CHEONDUNG LION enters off a very narrow defeat when 2^nd at this class and distance on December 15^th. He is yet to finish outside of the top five and nicely drawn here, he can be on pace or handy and can make his breakthrough. (2) JEONGSANG ZEUS ran 5^th in that same race but two starts back he too managed a solid 2^nd place over this distance. He draws nicely, carries a light weight, and can be a danger. (10) MIGHTY NIC has two 3^rd place finishes from his latest three and comes back in trip following a spin around 1800M last time. He also has the joint fastest time among these for the 1400M and can be running on strong late. (4) NAVID and (11) CHOEGO GAME are others in the frame.

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

(9) KHAN MAX won his first two outings before taking his chance on the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie for juveniles at Busan on late November. That day he overcame a slow start to run on for a very solid 3^rd place and back in more amenable company, he is very much the one to beat. (1) CHOEGANG TIME returned from over five months out to run a fair 5^th of eleven at 1400M on December 7^th. Before the layoff he won back-to-back races to get rapidly promoted to this class and stripping fitter today and up to a mile for the first time, he can be a factor. (5) TAEPYEONG LEGEND has finished in the top three in all but one of his outings so far (his very first) and enters off a smart runner-up finish on his first try at this class and distance on December 14^th and that puts him in the mix here. (4) MISS WIN STAR and (2) STRENGTH are others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Competitive race. (6) EAST JUMP was a winner at this class over 1400M two starts back before running 5^th when favourite on his first try at a mile on December 15^th.  He was fractious in the gates that day and also came back slightly lame, but he came back into work at the end of December and with a better start this time, he can win. (4) J MOTION has a win and a 3^rd place in two starts since returning in November after five months out. Third-up this preparation, he can be peaking fitness wise, and he can be a danger here. (7) SMART CAT has two 2^nd places and a 3^rd in three tries at a mile and under a light weight can be there or thereabouts again. (3) TAP TIER and (10) NICE BIG GIRL others to consider on a place line.

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

(5) STUNNING QUEEN enters off a 2^nd place at class and distance on December 7^th when she led for much of the way, only to get taken down by Pink Wind in the final furlong. She draws well to lead again and can go one better. (3) YONGAM SESANG has won three in a row with a six-month gap with the most recent being on December 28^th at this class over 1200M on what was his first appearance in six months. He comes up a full 4kg in the weights, as well as up to 1400M for the first time, but he should strip fitter for that run and a fourth win isn’t impossible. (8) WHIZ CAMPAIGN has raced just twice, improving to 3^rd in the second of them. He has finished off his races well and the step up in trip can see him continue to make progress here. (4) ROCKY KINGDOM and (9) BREEDO SIRIS others in the hunt.

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

(9) LONG RUN BULPAE was a dominant winner over 1200M at his latest start having previously run 4^th in the Listed Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy for juveniles. He comes up in class and in distance, but he carries a light weight, Moon Se-young stays on, and he can win. It’s a tough race though. (5) SHADOW HUNTER was a winner at this class and distance on December 15^th taking him to four from nine in total. An apprentice claiming 3kg stops his weight from coming up too much and keeps him firmly in the frame for a repeat. (1) RAON TIMOTH is up in class following a win and a runner-up finish in his latest two. He is down significantly in weight, draws well, and can measure up. (2) LADY HANABI and (4) YONGBI SEOUL among others to consider.

Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(8) STARTER is a winner of six from eleven and comes in following a 4^th place in a quick race over this distance in what was her first try at regular class 2 on December 7^th when she led for much of the way. She is a two-time winner at this distance already and she can be on pace again here and this time go all the way. (1) SUPER FINISH is a winner at this class already having scored in a very quick race over 1200M back in June. He enters off a close runner-up effort at this distance on December 7^th when on pace throughout and with an apprentice engaged today, he is down in weight and can be a danger. (5) BEST TORCH comes up in class having been a smart winner at 1200M on November 16^th. He comes in after two months off and with Moon Se-young staying on and only carrying 52kg, he can measure up. (3) MIGHTY CHIP and (9) MIRACLE HANGANG others in the mix.

Author: Melissa