Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 8 February

Saturday February 8, 2025

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Two standouts. (9) SALVADOR ran 2^nd on debut over 1200M on January 4^th when slow away and settling a long way back before rapidly closing late. He should have come on for that run, the slight step up in trip can be in his favour, and he can go one better. (4) JECHUK LOG IN similarly ran 2^nd n debut, well beaten by a good winner but doing plenty right, settling handy and running on. He draws a better gate and has every chance. (5) VINCERO CUE is the only one in the field who has raced twice already, securing a 3^rd and a 5^th, both at 1200M. He has raced on pace both times and should do the same here, with every chance to be in it a long way. (7) RYAN HEART, and (10) SONEULNAEMILEO, both 3^rd on their respective debuts, are the others who will be in the market.

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (11) TEUKGEUP PARTY led for much of the way around on debut on December 29^th ultimately to succumbing to a good winner but posting a decent final furlong time herself. She has the challenge of the widest gate here but with a bit of luck at the start she can find a position and can go one better. (5) SAMJEONG LADY has raced twice, registering a 3^rd and a 4^th, both at this distance. She can sit just behind the speed here and third up can be peaking fitness wise. (1) GYEOUL JANGMI didn’t do much behind Teukgeup Party on debut, but she previously trialed well and the jockey booking will focus minds. (3) RACE ROSE, along with debut maker (10) JISAN FRIEND, are others to consider.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Ater running midfield from a wide draw on debut, (3) ROPPONGI DRAGON ran an improved 2^nd at start two over this distance on December 29^th, sitting behind the speed and running on strongly and beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process. Expect similar tactics here and he will be a short price to prevail over a limited set of opponents. (1) YEONGWON POTEN has picked up a little in her latest couple, most recently a very close 2^nd place at this 1300M on January 4^th. She tries the two turns for the first time, and it may suit. (4) MARUBYEOL is a thirty-two-race maiden but comes in off her best ever finish when 3^rd at this distance two weeks ago. This race is no harder. (10) BEST KINGDOM and (8) GRAND FLYING are others who may contest the money finishes.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(9) YEONHUI HERO remains a maiden having got promoted to this class with two close runner-up finishes over 1200M. He ran 4^th on his first try at this level at 1300M on December 29^th when slow away and always on the back foot but with a better start, he can be on pace here and can go all the way. (7) LEMON K got her breakthrough win at start number five on January 4^th when leading all the way. That win had been coming and while she comes up in class today, she comes down in weight, she draws well, and she can be on pace and in this a long way again. (3) CANVASEN GO is another last start maiden winner and in similar circumstances with that win having been coming for a while. He draws well and can measure up in this company. (11) NAMSAN MINAM and (10) GANA POWER others in the hunt.

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

(7) GANGNARU will be one of the banker favourites of the day. From four starts he has never finished outside of the top three and got his maiden win in December over 1300M before running a close 2^nd at this class and distance on January 12^th when handy throughout. He comes up 3kg from that day but in this company, he should be going one better. (9) BEOLGYO D Y took a few goes to figure things out but comes in off back-to-back runner-up finishes over 1300M. That brings him up in class, but he looks nicely in to be on the early speed, and he can be in the finish. So too can (11) STUNNING FLATTER. He has never finished outside of the top five and enters off an eight-week break after running 3^rd at this class and distance on December 14^th. His running style means the wide gate shouldn’t be a problem and he can be a danger late on. (4) SSANG OK RU and (1) DAEMYEONGJANG others in the placing frame.

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

(11) RAON JEWELSTONE comes up rapidly in class having won her first two outings at 1200M and 1300M, both times coming from off the pace and running on strong. This is undoubtedly tougher, but she remains under a very light weight, the slight increase in trip can suit, and she can complete a hat-trick. (10) GOLDEN JACKPOT showed how difficult it is to come up rapidly in class after back-to-back wins but nevertheless ran well for a close 3^rd on his first try at this class and distance on December 21^st. He should have come on for that and shapes as the main danger. (7) WATLZUI YEOWANG returned from over ten months off to win at this class on December 29^th. She comes up in class but is down 3.5kg in weight, and if anything should strip fitter for that effort. (1) HAKSAN MACHO and (8) AMAZING STAR among plenty of others to consider in a competitive affair.

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

After an ordinary debut, (5) HANURI quickly figured things out and is up in class having won two of his latest three, most recently at 1400M on January 5^th when handy throughout. He id down in the weights, the mile can suit, and from a good draw, he can find his way to the speed before the first corner and may take some beating. It’s not a strong set of opponents. (6) THUNDER HORSE was a winner at class and distance as recently as November and while he is up 3kg more than that day, this is the kind of race the veteran can be competitive in. (4) GOLDEN DRAGON was a well beaten favourite over 1800M, but had been n form prior to that and CC climbing on will mean he has backers here. (8) THANK YOU DAECHEON and (1) RAON THE CHARLIE perhaps the best of the limited rest.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(6) GOOD CHOEGANG was a winner over 1200M on debut before running 2^nd when favourite over 1400M on January 11^th, both times coming from off the pace. He comes up to the mile for the first time, but it can suit, and he can go one better. That will mean overturning the form on (10) HERO SOCKS. He won that January 11^th race, settling midfield and running on to claim his maiden score at the sixth time of asking. He comes up 3.5kg in the weights today – a 2.5kg swing in favour of Good Choegang – and has the challenge of the widest gate, but he can be a danger. (9) TINA K is yet to win in twelve but enters off back-to-back 3^rd place finishes at 1400M and a mile and can be there or thereabouts again. (4) MIGHTY KICK and (8) KING KALLE among other place chances.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

After taking a couple of goes to figure things out, (11) ECLIPSE THE KING has won his latest two at 1300M and 1400M, racing on pace both times, which brings him rapidly up in class here. He comes down in the weights and Moon Se-young stays on and while the widest gate from the 1700M start is not ideal, he can measure up. The sanger is (7) ELDORADO NOLBU. Since getting his second win at 1400M in November, he has made two starts at this class with a 4^th and, most recently, 2^nd over a mile on January 4^th. He too steps up to 1700M for the first time and comes up 3kg in weight, but he has every chance. (3) GEUMAK MYEONGJANG enters off a 2^nd place at this class over 1800M on January 4^th when on pace throughout. Drawn nicely to get a forward position, he can be in this a long way again. (4) MEOTJIN GANHO and (6) ACRO MARINE others to consider.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(10) JANGBI DAEUN is a winner of four from six so far, most recently at this class over a mile on December 28^th, when racing on pace throughout. She comes up to the1800M for this first time and she carries an additional 4kg, but if she can find a forward position, she may be difficult to beat again. (1) SMART CLAIR enters having been a class and distance winner on December 2^nd, when settling right back and running on. He comes up 3.5kg in weight, but shouldn’t be dismissed. (3) SMART CAT is ultra consistent and comes in having run 3^rd and 2^nd in his two tries at this class, both over a mile. He is another up in weight, but he should be in the mix again on what is his first try at this distance. (5) GRAND SILVER is seeking an unlikely hat-trick but while up in class can be considered. (2) GOLDEN HONOR another who can go close.

Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(8) GEOSEN BANGYEOK has ten top two finishes from his fourteen starts, including each of his latest six. Most recently he was runner-up in a competitive race at this class and distance on December 21^st when racing handy throughout and only up 1kg in weight, and against this opposition, he can return to winning ways. (5) YEONGUNG BUHWAL was a winner of four from six before a layoff that saw him sideline from last July to this January. Prior to his return he beat the much-hyped Wonpyeong Storm in a trial (though both were on the bridle) but was slow away in his comeback race on January 12^th and never made an impact. Hopefully he can strip fitter, and his class can show through here. (4) BLACK CHOCOLATE returned from a lengthy spell out himself to run 2^nd over this distance in December. He comes up in class but is down 5kg in the weights and can measure up. (2) RAON THE MAN and (10) COMPLETE TIME other place chances.

Author: Gigi