Seoul Saturday: race-by-race preview (January 17)

There are 11 races in Seoul on Saturday from 10:35 AM to 6:00 PM. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A/KRW 45 million

Three-year-old girls, nine of the twelve of whom are racing for the first time. (12) FLYING HONOR qualified in November but underwent another trial on December 18^e close walking 2^i.e in a quick time. He has the challenge of the widest gate, but if he brings that form to the races he is a winning prospect. The experience is actually quite good. (4) ECLIPSE BOSS ran 3^rd on debut over this distance on November 29^eestablish himself from the widest fence in midfield and continue running. He should have come for the experience. This also applies to (6) HAKSAN HENNY and (5) ONNURI BIT, who finished fourth^e and 5^e in their respective first outings and can build on that here. Returning to the first timers (1) PEGASUS KING passed a number of trials and improved significantly in the second of them on December 18^e and he must be kind and suitable for this.

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

Not the greatest of all girls. After winning a test, (3) MAEUM HANA was sent off as favorite on his debut over this distance on December 14^e but while showing close to the pace he ran out of steam and finished 6th^e. He should have taken advantage of that and can stay this time. (11) YONGBIGYO was also a beaten favorite when he finished 6^e over this distance two weeks ago. She has a 3^rd and a 4^e is already on her resume and that’s enough to make her a threat here. Lone debutant (1) DRAGON MIJIN gave a fair test, showing pace and running 4^e. He can lead here and go a long way. (10) SUNGANUI FIGHTER and (8) AESUNI others that can improve.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A/KRW 30 million

(6) WORLDLAND was 5^e on debut and then 3^rd at the start of number two over 1200M on December 14^e. Both times she has done well from way back, so the step up in the journey can fit, and she is the one to beat here. (10) EUNPA BOOSTER performs at its best yet when 2^i.e at 1300M on December 20^e when he leads for much of the way and is only narrowly defeated. He steps up to 1400M for the first time and should be on pace. (7) BEST JOY was 6^e behind Eunpa Booster on December 20^e race. That was his first start since run 4^e back in June and he should get fitter for the run. (3) K SIMON and (9) GRAY PHANTOM other place chances.

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

(5) HWANG GEUM EO JANG was a winner in its debut over 1200 million on December 6^ewho settled in midfield and proved to be too strong. You show up in class and on the trip, but he has lost weight and he can win again. (8) NUNI OLKKAYO won at second start over the 1200M in November and then almost repeated the trick when leading much of the way on his first attempt in this class and distance on December 13^eand eventually finished 2nd^i.e. He weighs only 1 kg, can lead again and can go one step further. (9) MIRACLE SOCKS could not really offer the fairytale ending to the career of jockey Park Tae-jong on December 21^st when he was caught too late. That made for his fourth consecutive second place and he can be at the finish again. (4) ROAD TO STAR and (2) TAEGISAN KING are the other opportunities.

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

(4) APATUU had a bad day at the office on December 21 with the second favorite above 1300 million^stfrom a wide draw, find a convenient but wide position and don’t run any further. She comes into a better gate today and is back at the distance where she achieved her only victory so far, and she can get another chance. (10) WIDAEHAN HAMSEONG is still a girl after five starts, but ran 2^i.e to Apateu in class 6 two starts back and was 4 then^e on his first attempt in this class over 1300M. He is the biggest danger here. (8) UJU JEONJAENG returns to this trip for the first time in a while and it might throw him off. (1) SAEROUN GUY and (9) ROAD TO A SPUR, the latter having performed well since his last start, could be considered among others on a place line.

Seoul Race 6: Handicap Class 5 (1700M) / KRW 45 million

Competitive breed. (3) SUBMISSION achieved his first win at start five when he first entered this trip on December 7^e and racing close to the front all the time. He is higher in his class, but is lower in weight, draws well and can win again. The danger is within. (2) CHRYSOL DONGHAE scored his first 1400M win in October and comes in after 3 runs^rd in this class and distance on December 20^ewho came way off the pace and recorded the fastest time for the 1700M. Expect him to be a little closer here a little sooner, and he can win. (9) PASA QUEEN moves up in class and distance after totaling over 1400M on December 14^e. She is less heavy and can measure up. (5) BULGEUNTAEYANG and (11) GRATITUDE other place opportunities.

Seoul Race 7: Handicap Class 4 (1800M) / KRW 60 million

(1) CIRCLE A achieved its first win at start four over 1400M on December 21^stovercoming a slow start to be paced and prove too strong. He weighs 3.5 kg and can reach two turns for the first time, but he gets another tear in class 4 and the Higher Power colt can triumph again. (6) NASSAU CHAT also gets another chance in class 4 after scoring at this distance on December 20^e. The 1800M appears to be his target after qualifying for it twice in October and November and although he has gained 4.5kg on his win he can repeat. (2) GANGCHEOL JEONSA won this distance at Class 4 level in September and has a 3^rd and a 5^e in two consecutive attempts in this class. He lands in a much better gate than either attempt and he could be close today. (5) BYEOLKONG and (10) KYLIE other small money opportunities.

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

(9) REVERENCE has won both of his last two over 1300M and has quickly been promoted to this class. Before that he was 4^e aged twelve in a listed youth company and although he is tackling both class 4 and a mile for the first time he should be up to the challenge. (10) LEGENDSUN was the winner in this class and distance at the end of September and has run 3 since then^rd in two consecutive outings, again on the mile. An apprentice jockey takes off 4kg today and should get it straightened out straight away. (4) SCALE KING won two races ago in this class over 1400M, followed by a 4^e in a competitive race on December 13^e. He is racing the mile for the first time, but is well drawn and weighted. (7) DALMAJI and (6) SONGDANG HWANGTAEJA are the other chances.

Seoul Race 9: Handicap Class 4 (1400M) / KRW 75 million

No fewer than six last-start winners in this field of fillies and mares are among the top of the market. (4) MUNHAK DAESE has won two of her last three, all in the company of only fillies, to rise quickly in the class. She turned 2^i.e on her previous attempt at this distance and under a light weight and nicely drawn, and if CC stays on, she can win again. (6) MORNING WONDER has similarly won two of her last three, most recently in this class over a mile on November 15^e if you get into midfield early and pick things up when you get into the straight. She is already 4.5 kg heavier, but she could be the same. (9) CLUB Q has won twice at this distance, most recently on November 29^e. She is higher in class, but weighs less and can be competitive. (7) GEUNYANG GARA and (10) ISEUL CHEOREOM and many others on the hunt.

Seoul Race 10: Handicap Class 3 (1200M) / KRW 75 million

(10) GRAY CANDY needed nine attempts to take his first win, but he clearly enjoyed it as he immediately followed up with another in this class and distance on December 20.^e while beating many of today’s rivals in the process. He weighs 3kg and pulls the widest fence, but everyone else needs to clear at least four lengths and he can complete his hat-trick. (4) YESULIYA is the one with only four lengths to catch after run 2^i.e in that race, leading by just over a furlong. He gets a weight swing and can lead again and seems most likely to upend the form. (7) DUSON OPEN underperformed in that race, but was only the class and distance winner in September last year and can still get a chance here. (8) BRAVO PLAY and (3) GIBUNJOEUNMAL perhaps the best of those who did not participate in that event.

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

(5) CAPTAIN PK won a valuable Trophy race over this distance last September and has run 2^i.e in this class over 1400M on November 22^i.e with a few contemporary rivals behind him. He’s two for two over the distance and while he has his fair share of weight to deal with, he’s the one to beat. (9) NICE FORCE struggled as favorite for the KRA Sprint on November 30^ewhere I used a lot of energy to take the lead from a wide draw and quickly reached a low point. He has a lot to bear, but he should enjoy today’s company better. (10) CUPID IT has won three of its last four, most recently over 1200 million at Class 3 level on December 28^e when he led all the way. Although he is higher in class, he is heavier without a student claim, but he can measure up. (6) HAKSAN SPEED and (7) RAON TAP PLAY the other chances for the main place.