Korea Racing Seoul Preview – 17 May

Saturday May 17, 2025

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (6) GWANAKSAN JOY has four top four finishes from five starts so far, only missing out on her latest when on March 1^st when drawn wide at this distance. She comes in fresh following eleven weeks off and her body of work prior to that is enough to put her on top here. After winning a trial, (8) LUCKY A ONE was a fair 5^th on debut at this distance on April 12^th. She should have come on for that run and can be closer this time. (9) ISEUL CHEOREOM has been unspectacular but consistent across her five appearances with a best of 2^nd at this distance. She has shown on pace and has run on from behind so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she can challenge here. (11) RAON THE BELMONT and (3) JISAN FRIEND are others to consider.

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

(4) HYEOKMYEONGUIJILJU has made steady progress across five starts to date, culminating in a runner-up finish on what was her first try at this distance on April 5^th. From a good draw, she can be on or close to the speed here and she is favoured to go one better. The rest of the form is not impressive although (5) HERO CHOICE seems to be figuring things out with a 3^rd, a 4^th and a 5^th from his latest three. His times haven’t been quick, but he won’t need to improve much to be in the place hunt here. (11) YEONGWON POTEN is still a maiden after fourteen attempts but has plenty if top five finishes and this is the kind of race in which she can pick up a check. (3) CUPID K and (1) YOUNGDONG SINHWA other possibles for the minors.

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) BEOLGYO LAVA got her maiden win at 1200M three starts back and has since run 3^rd and 2^nd in two tries at this class, racing handy both times. She draws nicely to sit behind the speed here and her finish could prove too strong. To do that, she will need to beat the probable favourite (9) RYAN HEART. He got his maiden win over 1200M at start three in March when leading all the way and then ran 2^nd when trying to repeat on his first try at this class on April 13^th. He draws a touch wider than ideal but if he gets to the front, he will take some passing. (1) SEOUL BINGO was 3^rd to Ryan Heart’s 2^nd at this class and distance on April 13^th and from a great draw can be on pace again. (6) WHITE CARLA and (4) QUEEN ABIGAIL are others to consider.

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

(4) LEGEND WOW was a winner on debut and has since held his own in three outings at this class, most recently a 4^th place over this distance from a wide draw on April 13^th. From today’s draw he should be much further forward much earlier, and he is the one to beat. (6) HANEUL GAMDONG similarly had a wide draw for his first try at this class on April 20^th and was accordingly disappointing. From a central gate he should be more comfortable and the manner of his win two starts back suggests another chance is warranted. (1) SEGWANG JILJU comes in off back-to-back 4^th places at this class over 1200M and 1300M and under a light weight can be pushing for better here. (9) BYEOKSONG and (3) VICTORY QUEEN the other main place chances.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(6) ECLIPSE BLACK was a winner on his first try around two turns over 1700M in March when leading all the way before coming from off the pace on his first effort at this class, over that same distance on April 20^th. He comes up 2kg in weight, and up to the 1800M for the first time, but neither should be a problem, and he can win here. (2) UMA DACHI remains a maiden having been promoted to this class with back-to-back runner finishes at 1400M. He was slow away over the same trip for his first try at this class on April 6^th but has since been back to trial and the step up in distance can be in his favour here. (8) PERFECT GUN MAN has been working his way back towards form and can build on the very useful 5^th he managed at this class and distance last time out with Ruan Maia staying on. (7) CHOEGANG HYEONMA and (1) SANBANG BOMNAL the others to consider for the minors.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(8) DOKKI DRAGON took a shy at the class 3 stumps last time out, running a fair 6^th of eleven over this distance in what was a close race. He drops back in class today and while that is at the expense of a big weight rise, he should have too much for this lot. Veteran (6) ARCH MEMORY doesn’t win out of turn, but she has plenty of money finishes and enters off two 3^rd places and a 2^nd from her latest two. She remains under a very light weight, and she can be there or thereabouts again. (2) DAESEUNGMA only ran fairly when sent up to a mile for her first try at this class a month ago. She comes back to a trip over which she has won and from a good draw, she is a chance here. (4) BAEKDU BOY and (7) GOLDBERG are the only other two with anything in recent form to recommend them.

Seoul Race 7: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(6) TAP TIER enters off back-to-back wins, both over this distance, but in contrasting styles, first racing close to the pace, and then coming from well off it. That brings him up in class here, but he is down 3kg in weight, and he can make it three in a row. (4) FURIOSA was a winner at this class over 1400M two starts back before running 5^th in a Trophy race over 1800M last month. He is a two-time winner at this trip and from a good draw, he can be competitive. (5) UPTOWN WHIZ disappointed last time out when slow away but going on his class and distance 2^nd place two starts back, can be given another chance. (3) OHRA KHAN and (1) MIRACLE HANGANG among others to consider on a place line.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(10) EAST GANGJEOK has won three of his latest four, most recently at this class and distance on April 19^th when leading all the way. He comes up a full 5kg on that and he faces the challenge of the widest gate, but he shapes as the one to win again. (3) IMRO is a winner of two from four which gets him rapidly promoted to this class. He comes up in trip too, but he is down in weight, nicely drawn, and he can be on pace and in this a long way. (7) HAKSAN DARK HORSE is similarly up in class, in his case following a score over 1300M on April 13^th. He too can measure up in this company (6) EINSPANNER and (8) SEOUL DOLPUNG others in the frame.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(2) CITY KING comes up in class having won two of his latest four, both over the mile and racing on pace. He comes down in weight and draws well and while he will need to lift in this company, he can win again. (5) GOLD SIDAE is the danger. He enters off three straight runner-up finishes, the most recent two coming at this class with one at this distance. He is another who races on pace and he has the potential to go one better here. (8) RAON TIMOTH is a winner at this class over 1400M and enters with recent form reading consistently well. He tackles the mile for the first time, and it can suit. (7) BEST JEONSA and (10) GWANGCHIGI are others in at least the placing frame.

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

(8) ONE PUNCH DRAGON is a winner of four from six so far most recently at this class over a mile on April 12^th when settling midfield and running on. He comes up a full 4kg in weight, as well as stepping up to 1800M for the first time, but neither should be an issue, and he can continue his form here. (9) ENDNG FIRE has been a bit ordinary in his latest three, but he continues under a light weight and in this company can be finishing strongly. (3) URUS QUEEN has a 3^rd and a 2^nd in two starts since returning from over five months off, both at this class and distance. Third-up she can be peaking and can be in the mix here. (10) GEUM SEDA and (6) A. P. PATEK other place chances.

Author: Lily