Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 20 April

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Just eight in the first division of this maiden and (1) CUPID MIR will be the clear favourite. He has finished 3^rd once and 4^th three times across his five starts so far, posting decent times along the way. From the inside gate he will surely be on the pace, and he should lead all the way. (7) SEOUL DOLPUNG is the clear second pick. He overcame a wide draw to run 4^th at 1300M on March 16^th and in this smaller field should be closer to the front from the start. He has six finishes between 3^rd and 5^th and should be aiming for at least 2^nd here. (5) BOLLIN ran 3^rd over 1200M two starts back in a good time and that’s enough to have him in placing contention here. (8) CAMP DAVID and (3) EUNSEONG SARANG other possibles for the minors.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(9) BREEDO GIRL will be heavy favourite in the second division of this maiden. After running 4^th on debut over 1200M in December, she returned in February to finish 2^nd at 1400M, coming from off the pace. She has had eleven weeks off since, but she really should be able to score in this company. (8) CROQUIS is second pick. She has two 3^rd places from her last three including last time out at this distance on March 30^th. She was beaten by a couple of these in between, but a repeat of her latest effort will see her close. Given the strength (or lack thereof) in this race, we should at least consider the solitary first time starter. That’s (7) SAEROUN GUY who while a long way behind the winner of his trial, looked competent enough, and couldn’t hope for a softer race to debut in. (4) THUNDER SPEED and (3) ELITE PEACE potential improvers.

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies only here. (5) DIANA got her maiden win two starts back, leading all the way over this distance, before running 2^nd on her first try at this class on March 31^st over 1300M when on pace again. She comes up slightly in the weights, but back at 1200M, she can win again. (4) MUJANG enters off back-to-back 4^th place finishes over 1400M at this class.  She comes in der a very light weight here and from a good draw, she shapes as the main danger. (6) SMART SOCKS ran 3^rd over 1200M on April 7^th, coming from off the pace. That was a big uptick in recent form and while still a maiden after nineteen attempts, she can be close again. (11) DREAM SKY and (3) ELITE ROYAL are others to consider.

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

(9) NAEGILUI CAPTAIN got his one win in February at this class and distance when coming from well off the pace. He then had a poor day at the office at his latest start at class and distance on March 23^rd, when settling back after a slow start and this time not running on, but we’ll draw a line through that and with CC climbing on, he can return to winning ways. (4) JEONGMUN PAPAGO enters having got his maiden win at the eighteenth time of asking at this class and distance in that same race on March 23^rd that Naegilui Captain disappointed in. He comes up 3kg in the weights as a result, but he warrants respect. (2) BAEKRYONG remains winless in nine but comes up in class after a few too many near-misses. He is down in the weights, draws nicely, and can measure up in this company. (8) GLORY K and (7) MIGHTY BOM others in the hunt.

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

(8) THORUI MANGCHI took a few tries to figure things out but got his maiden win in February before running 2^nd at this class and distance on March 17^th, when on pace throughout. He comes up 2kg in the weights but should be on the speed and he can be in this a long way. (4) SEOBU TEUKSONG weakened late over 1700M on what was just her fourth start on March 24^th. She previously ran 3^rd at this class and distance and back down in trip and from a good gate, she can go better today. (7) ACRO MARINE has placed at this class over 1200M and enters having run 5^th on his first try at this class on March 24^th. He likes to settle back and run on and he can be a danger late on here. (10) AUSTIN LEADER and (3) SUNNY ROAD among plenty of other placing chances in an open race.

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

(8) NANO MASIN enters off a 5^th and a 4^th from his latest two, both at a mile and on both occasions, he could perhaps have gone better. He likes to race on pace so coming back to 1400M may help, and Harry Kasm climbing up can be in his favour. Moon Se-young can benefit (1) CITY KING too. He needs a line drawn under his latest when he was slowly away and never a factor, but he has a 3^rd and a 2^nd over this distance and under a light weight and from a good gate, he can go close. (9) BENCAL PRINCESS returned from almost four months out to run 2^nd at class and distance on March 9^th. She should stirp fitter for that experience and is in the mix here. Up in class (2) CHEONMAPYEONGJEONG, along with (4) HWANGGEUMKKOT are others in the frame.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

It’s about time that (4) GEUMSE returned to the winner’s circle. His win came when making all at class 5 level over this distance in December and he has subsequently recorded two 2^nd places and then a 3^rd, most recently at this class and distance on March 16^th, when settling midfield and running on. In this company, he should be on the early speed and can go all the way. That will mean overturning the form on (3) CONCORD QUEEN, who ran 2^nd in that March 16^th race. The same apprentice keeps her weight nice and low, and she should be in the mix again. (8) NINE EAGLE was 4^th in the same race and can be aiming to match or better that here. (7) CHEONGPAUI KKUM and (1) SPRING WATER are others who can enter the calculations.

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

(9) POWER GUNJU won back-to-back races at 1400M and 1800M to get promoted to this level, before finishing 4^th on his first class 3 outing on March 16^th. He tackles the mile for the first time but there is no reason why it won’t suit, and he is very much the one to beat. (6) DRAGON BULPAE comes up in class having got his maiden win at start number three over 1200M on March 17^th, leading all the way. The Liam’s Map gelding is up in trip too but significantly down in the weights and looks to have the potential for more. (1) GOOD HAPPY comes back in trip after a 4^th and a 5^th in his latest two tries over 1800M. He remains lightly weighted and Moon Se-young stays aboard. (7) TIZ INDY and (4) YOUNGYOUNG SOCKS among other place chances.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(7) MEGA DRAGON looks a serious talent. While he didn’t show his best in Seoul’s Classic Trial in February, he dominated a class 4 field over 1 mile on March 24^th, winning by as many as he pleased. The step up to two turns should suit and despite the class rise, he should have far too much here. (8) LUXURY CAPTAIN has placed at each of his latest three, all at this class. The veteran comes up in the weights today, but this is the kind of race he should be competitive in again. (2) K N SKETCH ran fairly for 5^th on his first start in six months on March 24^th. He should strip fitter for that experience and can be getting closer here. (11) COWBOY KING and (3) BURUI SINHWA are others to consider.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(11) ARGO MUJEOK is in the form of his life with two wins from his latest three, most recently at this class and distance on March 30^th when racing on pace. He has the steadier of an additional 5kg today but had little trouble with the wide draw last time and Harry Kasim can see him home on top here. (1) AGAPANTHUS enters with recent form reading well, including a last start runner-up finish at class and distance on March 17^th, when overcoming a wide draw to settle back and run on. He comes up slightly in the weights, but that’s balanced by a better draw, and he can go close here. (8) RAON TIMOTH won his first two starts, gaining a birth in the Breeders’ Cup Champion Juvenile race. That didn’t go well, but he bounced back to run 4^th at this class and distance in January and coming in here off fourteen weeks out, he can be considered. (2) GRACE K and (3) VILLARICA are other placing chances.

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

(4) EOSEOMAREULHAE won his first three starts before seeing his win streak come to an abrupt halt on Christmas Day. He returned on March 1^st and ran a creditable 2^nd when racing against plenty of these at this class and distance and despite coming up in the weights, he will be strongly favourited to return to winning ways here. That will mean overturning the form on (3) RAON THE JET, who won the March 3^rd race, settling handy and running on well late. He comes up a full 4kg in the weights but draws nicely and is not to be dismissed. (7) TROTTING RILEY returns to action for the first time since last November. He has plenty of ability and looked well when winning a March trial when leading all the way. (11) SAENAE QUEEN and (8) THIS CHALLENGE others in the frame.

Author: Melissa