Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 10 May

Saturday May 10, 2025

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

After running a close 2^nd in February. (4) DONGJIN THUNDER was sent off as favourite for his latest outing on March 23^rd but while he raced handy, could only manage to finish 5^th. In this small field he is well worth another chance. (2) ALIFER beat a couple of these on her way to a significantly improved 3^rd at start number four on April 12^th. From a good draw, she will be on pace again and can be in this a long way. (8) ROYAL SOCKS raced once all the way back last August for a fair 5^th. In the intervening forty or so weeks he has been gelded and looked well enough when trialing in April to suggest that he can go well first up again. (6) AWESOME STEP and (7) DIA ROOK others to consider among a small but competitive field.

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

More maidens with two of the eight racing for the first time. We’ll start with experience and (6) JEULGEOUN SANGSANG who has four top four finishes from five attempts so far, including her latest at this distance on April 12^th. In this small field, she can be on or close to the pace, and she can win. (2) MALSGO has mixed his form across his six starts so far with his best being a 3^rd place two outings back at this distance when he led for much of the way. He should lead again from a great draw and can be in this a long way. Among the debut makers, (4) BLACK SATANG looked competent enough across two trials and from a central gate can go well first-up. (7) BILLION BOY and (3) YEOMYEONGUI SUNGAN others with experience who may improve.

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

(1) ECLIPSE LUCKY got his maiden win at start number two in February with a front-running effort at this distance. He led in his first try at this class on March 23^rd at 1300M ultimately finishing a fair 4^th and with that experience under his belt combined with the slight drop back in trip, he is the one to beat here. (4) SONGAM SKY was a winner at this class two outings back and then ran 3^rd on April 19^th at 1300M. She is another who likes to be on pace, and if she can get to the lead, she will be a danger again. (5) NAEGILUI YEOJEONG won at class and distance in January before parting company with his rider coming out of the gate in February, earning himself a starting test and barrier trial. He returned to the races with a fair 5^th on April 12^th and assuming he gets round, will be in the finish. (8) SERGEANT LIGHT and (2) YES ANGEL other place chances.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) UPPERHAND had been working towards a maiden win and it arrived at the sixth time of asking on what was her first try at both this class and this distance on April 13^th. She comes up 2kg in weight but given the aptitude she showed for the 1400M, she has to be favoured to prevail again. (4) FREE TIME won on debut and has registered a 6^th and a 5^th in two tries at this class. She comes into a much better gate this time, the slight step up in trip can suit, and she can be a danger. (3) WONDERFUL SPIRIT was the beaten favourite behind Upperhand in that April 13^th race, showing handy, but ultimately finishing 4^th. An apprentice claiming 2kg keeps her weight low and she should be there or thereabouts again. (10) EXCELLENT MATTA, 2^nd to Upperhand last time out, along with (11) WANGCHOEGO, who has placed at this class and to who Moon Se-young stays loyal, are others to consider.

Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(11) SMILING PRINCE took a couple of goes to figure things out, but has run 2^nd in both his latest two, most recently at this distance on April 19^th. He has the challenge of the widest gate, but the son of Smiling Tiger has shown plenty of speed from the gate and with a long way to the corner, he can get to the front and go one better. (2) BICHUICA is a veteran Korean bred who came from well off the pace to beat a few of these on his way to a smart 2^nd at big odds on April 5^th. He comes up 1.5kg in weight but draws well and this is the kind of race he can find the money in. (8) TAEKHAN was 4^th in that race. His win came over this distance and he can be in the mix again here. (6) HEART K and (5) HIGH RUNNER are the others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(8) BAZOOKA BOY tackled this distance for the first time on April 12^th and led for much of the way, ultimately ending in 2^nd place, beating three of today’s rivals in the process. He has the challenge of the widest gate this time but unusually for a mile, there isn’t a full field, and this time he can go all the way. (3) GIPPEUM HAMSEONG was 3^rd in that race, finishing in that place for the third consecutive race. For him too it was a first try at a mile and from a great draw, he shapes as the main danger and may well be sent off as the betting favourite. (2) BROWN GOLD tries the mile for the first time but comes in off a 2^nd place at this class over 1700M and looks a threat again. (1) THANK YOU DAECHEON and (5) ORAEDAHAMKKE are other place chances.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) DRAGON GATE is yet to score in five but has thrived in his latest two at 1800M, running 2^nd and 3^rd at this class. From the inside gate, Johan can pick his spot and in this company, he should be making his breakthrough. (8) JISAN FORCE is a winner of two of his last three, most recently at 1800M in March. He has been back to trial since then and while up in class and not getting much in the way of a weight break, he can measure up. (7) WONDERFUL SWEET is up in class and in distance following a solid score at 1400M on April 6^th. Runa Maia rode her for the first time that day and he stays on here and there is no reason why the 1700M can’t suit. (4) CHUKBAEREUL DEULEORA and (2) THE GIANT are others in the frame.

Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Competitive race. We’ll take a chance on (5) WORLD BLAME, although he does love a place – eight of them, – rather than a win, – one of them. That win did come at this distance though and he is fairly weighted after a 3^rd place at this class and distance last time out. Today can be his day. If he does find one too quick, and he might, then it could be (7) BELOTERO. She won back-to-back races over 1700M at class 4 level before running 3^rd in a strong Trophy race at this distance last month, coming from well off the pace. She enters very nicely weighted and looks sure to be a danger. (11) NEW DOLKONG has to deal with the widest gate, but he enters off two consecutive 4^th places over this class and distance and both his wins have come at 1800M. (8) ULTRA THUNDER and (2) K N LIGHT are others to consider.

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

(10) EXCELLENT TAN enters in excellent form with back-to-back wins in January and March at class 4 level followed by a 2^nd place on his first try at class 3 at 1400M on April 6^th. He likes to lead so the wide draw is a concern, but 1200M is his go – all his wins have come at the distance – and he is a big chance here. Speaking of 1200M being someone’s go, he is back! The viral sensation (6) LALA K returns a full forty-seven weeks after the final leg of a fruitless attempt at the unsuitable trips of the Triple Crown last year. He is back at the distance he made his name with a ridiculous come from behind effort as a juvenile in the Rookie Stakes and he looked well when 2^nd – well back behind Okcheon Sniper – in a trial last month and at two from three at the 1200M, he can’t be ruled out. (2) GEUMSE enters off a 2^nd place at class and distance last time. (3) RAON TAP PLAY and (8) GEUMA FIERY others to keep safe.

Seoul Race 10: Class 1 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

Class 1 but with a rating cap of 90. (1) YEONGGWANGUI WORLD had a miserable time from a wide draw in the SBS Sports Sprint last month, but it should go without saying that this is a far easier assignment. Two starts back he was a very narrow 2^nd in a super time to Super Finish at class 1 and this is his to lose. (8) SARYEONI FIRST has been trying to find his forte, but he is one for one at the distance and looks a shrewd entry here. (7) DAESARI too comes back to a distance at which he has won at twice and he looked very sharp winning a trial in a quick time last week. So long as he didn’t leave his race there, he is a chance here. (5) EOSEOLMAREULHAE and (3) VICEROY, both coming back into shallower waters, are others to consider.

Author: Design