Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 22 February

Saturday February 22, 2025

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

Maiden fillies in the opener. Ruan Maia has been in excellent form since the short Lunar New Year break, and he can continue here with (7) KOTAP. She has a best of 3^rd and comes in following 5^th place in a tougher race than this on January 4^th. She draws well to lead, and she can go all the way. (10) EXCELLENT HANSEN took a few goes to figure things out but raced on pace for the first time on December 29^th and finished a much-improved 2^nd. He has the challenge of a wider gate but can build on that here. (2) NAEGILUI ACE was a well beaten but improved 5^th at start two and from a good draw can get closer. (3) GIDAEHARA and (5) FLYING LION others to consider.

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

Imported maidens with four of the twelve racing for the first time and we’ll take a chance on one of them with (4) WHIZ REALITY. He went through two trials, winning the second of them when leading all the way (on January 2^nd, beware it may not appear in all racecards). He draws very nicely to lead and if he brings that form to the races, he can win. (9) GRAY CANDY didn’t do much on debut but was much more accomplished at the second time of asking at this distance on January 25^th, leading for most of the way and running 2^nd in a good time. He too will be aiming to get on-pace, and he can go one better. (8) TIARA SUA was 3^rd in that January 25^th race. She has four-lengths to find on Gray Candy but can improve. (6) NOBLE MY DEAR and (11) FLYING OAKS also in the frame.

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

(4) DIXIE MAN had a poor day at the office two weeks ago when sent off as favourite over 1400M. Except for copping a bump at the start, he doesn’t really have any excuses but Moon Se-young stays on and so shall we, going on his effort two starts back when 3^rd at this distance. He can sit handy here and is worth another chance. (6) JEULGEOUN SANGSANG has a 3^rd and a 4^th from two starts so far at 1200M and last time out at this trip on January 26^th when going right back and running on. Third-up he can be peaking fitness wise and has every chance of going better. (5) BEATRIZ has been ordinary in her latest three, but she should at least be on pace and if the track is anything like it was last week, she can be in this for longer. (3) CAPTAIN RISE and (7) BEST SHARK the other placing chances.

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(3) CHRYSOL MAJOR returned from three months out to run 4^th at 1300M on January 19^th. He steps up to two turns for the first time, but his running style suggests that it can suit and stripping fitter for that effort a month ago, he can win. (7) SANBANG BOMNAL beat three of these on his way to 2^nd place at this distance on January 25^th. That was by far his best effort to date and from a similar gate and against similar opposition, he can repeat. (8) SAVANA CHARLIE was 5^th in that race settling back and running on. He has never finished inside the top two but has been between 3^rd and 5^th on no fewer than twelve occasions and should be there or thereabouts again. (6) GRAND FLYING and (9) MARUBYEOL others in the hunt for the minors.

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

Plenty enter with recent form reading well, but (3) CUPID IT will be favourite.  An also-ran in the Rookie Stakes, he got his maiden win at start three over 1200M in October before running 2^nd on his first try at this class and distance in a double-quick race at the end of November when leading for much of the way. He had a couple of issues after that but has been back in work this month and from a great draw he can lead all the way. (7) YONGBI TAEYANG and (10) UGWANGMYEONG came home 2^nd and 4^th respectively when they raced one another at this class and distance on January 18^th. The former was on speed with the latter coming from well back and with similar tactics expected from both, they can be in the mix again. (2) GREEN FEELSTAR and (11) WANGCHOEGO among plenty of other placing chances.

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

Fillies and mares only here. (3) FLYING DAY won a filly maiden on debut at the end of December before running 2^nd at this class and distance on January 26^th, settling just behind the speed and running on with three of today’s rivals behind her. She draws well here for Moon Se-young to pick his spot, and she should have too much. (2) MISS DORTIE was also a winner on debut before suffering a setback in her second outing last September which has kept her out until now. She looked well when 2^nd in a January trial and she can be a danger first-up. (10) YONGBISU comes back in trip while up in weight, she can be on pace here and in this a long way. (11) BIG BRIDGE and (1) WONPYEONG GWANGYA others who can be in the hunt for the places.

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

(1) HANGANG PERFECT ran 4^th of sixteen in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie, the country’s top juvenile race, over this distance in Busan last November. He has since run 4^th and 2^nd in two starts at this class, most recently at 1400M on January 19^th. He carries his fair share of weight, but that’s balanced somewhat by a good draw, and he will take some beating. (4) ORION ALPHA will be second favourite. She comes up in class following an all the way score over 1300M on January 19^th and with plenty of scope for more progress, she can measure up in this company. (8) BEOLGYO CHADOL has seemingly returned to some kind of form with a 2^nd and a 5^th from her latest two, both at 1200M. She has won at this distance before and under a light weight, she can go close. (11) GLORY AND HONOR and (7) EUNBIT DOLPUNG also to be considered.

Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (8) HAENGBOKAN SEUNGJA has been ultra consistent with eleven top four finishes from thirteen starts. She enters off a 2^nd and a 3^rd from her first two tries at a mile, both at this class, and while she doesn’t get an apprentice claim this time, Kozzi climbs on and she can return to winning ways. (5) SATANG SONYEO is up in class having won her latest two at 1400M and 1700M, both times coming form off the pace. She comes down in the weights, draws well and she can measure up. (1) LADY HANABI won four in a row last year (with a big gap between the first two and last two) but has found the going tough at class 3. She tries the mile for the first time, but she draws nicely to get to the lead, and we may see an uptick today. (6) NICE BIG GIRL and (9) NAEGILUI QUEEN among others to consider.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million 

(7) BARO DANAEUN is a winner of four from six so far including each of her last three, most recently at 1200M on January 12^th when coming from off the pace for the first time. She comes up in class today but is down in weight and four in a row is very possible. (2) FARCIARZ is three races into a comeback following nine months out and he showed signs of a return to form at his latest on January 25^th when an on pace 3^rd. He carries his fair share of weight but that’s balanced by a good draw, and he can be a threat. (4) RAON THE COBRA was a somewhat unexpected winner at this class and distance on January 12^th. He is up 4kg for his troubles but warrants more respect this time. (3) SINUI YEOJE and (10) SHINE ON ME others in the frame.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Competitive race. (8) GENTLE YARA returned from four months out to run a fair 4^th at this class and distance on January 12^th, leading for much of the way before getting passed late. He should strip fitter for that run, and he can win here. (3) BLUE PIORA has finished between 2^nd and 4^th in all four of her starts so far, most recently as runner-up over 1400M on January 25^th. She tackles two turns for the first time given her running style, it could be what she needs to make the breakthrough. (1) PEARL POINT was 2^nd in that January 12^th race, beating Gentle Yara. She remains under a light weight, she draws well, and she can be there or thereabouts again. (4) MAGIC POTION and (7) JEONGSANG ZEUS are the other leading contenders.

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

(5) WINNER YOUNG came from off the pace to win over this distance on December 29^th. He comes up in class today but is down a full 4.5kg in weight and that should be enough to make him competitive in this company. (2) POWER GUNJU returned from sox months out to run 3^rd at 1400M on January 18^th. Before the layoff he was a winner of four from eight and even had a spin around in the Owners’ Cup at Busan last June. He carries his fair share of weight but should have derived benefit from that run a month ago, and he has every chance of going closer here. (6) UPTOWN WHIZ was 5^th in the Listed Ilgan Sports Trophy in September before finishing 4^th at a mile at this class on January 16^th. CC climbs on for the first time, and he has every chance. (1) SINUI EREUM and (8) JEOMSUNI GO are others to consider.

Author: Melissa