3 minute read
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
A field of twelve fillies face the starter in the first where there looks an abundance of speed engaged. (8) LAST MAGIC comes off some solid performances of late including a runner-up behind Miracle Icheon last start. The lightly raced four-year-old has been on speed at her past couple of starts, she proved last start the 1300m was no issue last start suggesting she should be running through the line strong in this event. (11) SONGAM PLAYER placed in a juvenile race last start when third behind Road Ran. She was debuting on that occasion and ran on strongly when coming from the tail of the field suggesting the extra furlongs should assist her chances. (2) IMPERIAL SILK comes out of a juvenile race which was won by Lady Kelly who looks a smart one. The Chapel Royal filly is drawn well and is capable of finishing in the money. (3) BIANCA is yet to breakthrough for her maiden win as of yet but has finished close up on a few occasions. She will get the services of Kim Yong-Geun which is a plus.
Selections (8) Last Magic (11) Songam Player (2) Imperial Silk (3) Bianca
Next Best 5, 6
Fast Start 2, 3, 5, 8
Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
More three-year-old maidens although this time it's open to the colts and geldings as well and plenty come in looking as though they have a win in them at some stage. (8) A TO Z was a beaten favourite on his latest start on a wet track at this distance on January 18th. He didn't go down by much though and it was a more mature performance than he had shown before and he looks well worth another chance today. (3) KING ACE has raced just the once and acquitted himself well over 1400M, coming home 2nd, a couple of lengths behind a useful winner. He was prominent throughout and from a good draw again, should be challenging here. (6) NAUI JEONSEOL is figuring things out with a 3rd and a 2nd from two starts so far, the most recent of which was at this distance in a fast time on a muddy track. He's got a decent finish on him and can come from just off the pace here. (4) GOLD BRIDGE and (10) YAHO GOLDEN CAT are others with at least placing chances.
Selections (8) A To Z (3) King Ace (6) Naui Jeonseol (4) Gold Bridge
Next Best 10,
Fast Start
Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
There appears to be no standout in the third in a wide-open race. (2) ROYAL CHUKBOK looks and each-way commodity after finishing third at two of his past three starts. The colt has finally drawn a good barrier which should allow him to park just off the speed and be produced at the top of the straight. (1) POWER PRIDE ran on well last start to finish fourth behind East Champ over the same distance as this event. He is another that has drawn better which should allow him to sit closer and rattle off a good last sectional. (5) COMPLETE MOTION has had plenty of attempts trying to break maiden status but is yet to do so. The filly ran on well last time out and based on that performance is capable of finishing in the placings. (4) DIECO is lightly races and has finished close up on several occasions. She hasn't clocked times to suggest she can win this but with improvement she can run into the money.
Selections (2) Royal Chukbok (1) Power Pride (5) Complete Motion (4) Dieco
Next Best 7, 8
Fast Start 4, 6, 8
Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
This is a weak maiden but as a result there are many in with a chance. (12) GOOD WONDER hasn't exactly been pulling up trees across her four starts to date but she has posted consistent times that should be enough for her to go very close here. She does have to overcome the outside gate but that shouldn't be a problem and she is the narrow top pick. (6) YEONGJU STONE has shown progress across three starts so far and his 3rd place at this distance on January 11th was recorded in the fastest time for this distance among any who go here. It was a wet track that day and his manners weren't the best, but he has the potential to improve. (9) JACKS KHAN is the joint most experienced runner in the race and while that's obviously not a good thing in a maiden, besides his latest at 17000M, his recent form reads well, and he is a contender. (8) RECOVERY TAP is another who should be better for the drop back in trip today while (11) EUTTEUM IRURI looks best of the rest.
Selections (12) Good Wonder (6) Yeongju Stone (9) Jacks Khan (8) Recovery Tap
Next Best 11, 10
Fast Start 1, 10, 11, 12
Race 5: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
The fifth on the card is an even affair where a case can be made for half of the field. The lightly raced four-year-old (3) WINNER TEMPLAR looks ready to fire after an eye-catching trial. The Luigi Riccardi trained filly settled midfield in her trial before unleashing a solid turn of foot with minimal effort from her rider. She placed on two occasions before she was turned out for a spell back in August last year. We've already seen a Class 6 winner from the same set of trials in Siberia, who ran a full second slower. (4) WONDERFUL CAT hit the line with gusto last time out to finish second behind Dongjjok Glory. The filly clocked a good time on a track that produced quick times. A similar performance will see her in the money. (1) GOSOK PEDAL ran through the line last start when finishing second, beaten less than two lengths. The Officer colt has drawn a better barrier today allowing Kim Yong-Geun to sit prominent on the three-year-old. (9) BLUE BAND has mixed her form of late but has shown some reasonable efforts over a similar distance. With the right run she can place.
Selections (3) Winner Templar (4) Wonderful Cat (1) Gosok Pedal (9) Blue Band
Next Best 5, 2
Fast Start 1, 8
Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Competitive handicap but (8) FUTURE FIRE gets the verdict. He made all to get his maiden win by five-lengths over 1300M on January 5th before running 4th on his first try at this class on February 1st. He started poorly that day, which the jockey – who changes again – attributed to his performance, but we'll give him another chance here. Also slow to begin last start was (12) MASEONG TUHON although the filly did run on well enough to finish 6th over 1000M. That has encouraged connections to step up in trip for the first time and she looks ready to go close. (5) PARK BLADE beat three of these when a slightly unexpected runner-up over 1000M on January 11th. She didn't do much when resuming two weeks ago but comes up in trip today and can go better although (2) WONDERFUL HENNESSY, who was behind Park Blade in that January race, may well overturn the form today. (3) TANK SOCKS another one who didn't really show his true ability last time out.
Selections (8) Future Fire (12) Maseong Tuhon (3) Tank Socks (2) Wonderful Hennessy
Next Best 5, 7
Fast Start 2, 9, 11, 12
Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
There is no standout in the seventh event where a field of twelve will go over the 1200m. (9) YEONGHWAS FLYING looks hard to beat if the horse is sound. The filly won her first two starts in good fashion and backed it up with a second at her first start in Class 4 company behind Choegang Star in June last year. We have not seen the Colors Flying filly race since then, but she did hand in a solid trial performance in November when clocking a good time. (10) FIRENZE HILL has been racing in this grade for quite some time but has managed to place on numerous occasions. The Chapel Royal colt will work forward early on in this event, although unlikely to lead if he can cross early, he can place. (3) YEONHUI ILCHUL is lightly races with just five starts, yielding two wins in easier company. The filly has been competitive in this grade since and is lightly weighted. (7) WINNING BLADE showed improvement last start to finish third behind Geumbit Jangin and a similar performance will see him run into the money.
Selections (9) Yeonghwas Flying (10) Firenze Hill (3) Yeonhui Ilchul (7) Winning Blade
Next Best 8, 2
Fast Start 6, 8, 9, 12
Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(12) LADY KELLY is two for two having won both starts to date in fine style, the latest of which was a three-length romp over 1000M. That does mean though she is rapidly up in class and is also required to travel further than the minimum trip today. She's drawn wide and while she can win, she will definitely need to improve on what she has done so far. That's because there are a couple engaged here who are accomplished at this level. (4) GEUMBIT YEOLJEONG comes in off a 3rd and a 4th in her latest two and while well beaten both times, the company was stiffer, and she has solid claims from a good draw. (8) TK DAY's run last time was better than the 6th place result suggests, and she too will be a factor. (10) GLOBAL CHEONHA is another with plenty of experience at this level and is capable of finding the money. (3) SINGGEUREOUN TIME is up in class following a gutsy win at this distance a month ago and should be competitive at this level.
Selections (12) Lady Kelly (4) Geumbit Yeoljeong (8) TK Day (10) Global Cheonha
Next Best 3, 7
Fast Start 1, 4, 12
Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
A field of lightly raced imports take to the track in the fifth, with all but one being bred in the United States. There looks as if there will be a very short priced favourite in the form of (8) PANORAMA VIEW in a race where some of these gallopers have produced extremely slow times. The Central Banker colt saluted on debut back in September and then backed his performance up with a second behind Brigadier General. He was then thrown in the deep end when lining up in the Gwacheon Mayor's Cup finishing well back. Placed back in restricted company today he looks as if he will blow this field away. (10) D K BYULCCI showed improvement last start to finish fourth behind Geuma Agile over the 1200m. This will be the first time the chestnut is stretched out to the six furlongs, but he looks ready. (7) SMART STRONG is yet to finish closer than 8th but he is the third elect, proving just how weak this event is. His times have been relevantly fair and is a chance of placing. (2) MOONHAK SKY is another that has been well beaten but his time have been okay.
Selections (8) Panorama View (10) D K Byulcci (7) Smart Strong (2) Moonhak Sky
Next Best 10, 11
Fast Start 8, 11
Race 10: Class 5 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
(2) MEOTJIN GEUMSEONG has finished no worse than 4th in five outings to date and comes in having run 2nd at class and distance, beaten four-lengths by Heunghaeng Jilju, on January 4th. He seems to like two turns and while he does carry a couple of extra kilos today, looks the one to beat. (4) CITY CHAMP and (1) CITY SONGAM came home 3rd and 4th with just half a length between them when they raced each other at class and distance on January 11th. City Champ remains a thirty-race maiden and he probably won't win this either, but he has solid claims to go close again. So too does City Songam but (9) DAE YONGWANG and (6) CHOEGANG SINGI, who ran 4th and 5th in that very same race, just a length behind the more favoured pair, shouldn't be completely ruled out either. (5) SEUNGNI NARAE the best of the rest.
Selections (2) Meotjin Geumseong (4) City Champ (1) City Songam (6) Choegang Singi
Next Best 5, 9
Fast Start 2, 7
Race 11: Class 3 (1900M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
The stayers will take the two turns in the eleventh at Class 3 level. (11) MEOTJIN WANGJA has had a promising start to his career with four starts yielding a win and three minor placings. The Temple City colt comes out of a strong race where he finished third behind Lord Ban and Legend Storm, both of which look to have a promising future. In a race that lacks early speed he is likely to sit closer to the lead and extend stride at the top of the straight. (3) WONDERFUL EVIL is capable at this level and is a horse that can race handy. He has shown a liking for the longer journeys and has drawn the best of the main chances. (8) SEOUL TANK has placed on consecutive occasions and should be considered an each-way chance. The issue appears to be the 58kg which he has never carrier previously. (10) DAE BYEONHWA is another who has proven to be dour in his runs but comes off a slightly disappointing performance last start when sent out well favoured by punters. He doesn't win out of turn but can run into the money.
Selections (11) Meotjin Wangja (3) Wonderul Evil (8) Seoul Tank (10) Dae Byeonhwa
Next Best 7, 9
Fast Start 3, 8, 10
Race 12: Class 1 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million
A rare Saturday class 1 concludes the card and a tantalizing prospect it is too. There is plenty of quality lining up with (3) MORFHIS the pick of the bunch. He was the beaten favourite in last month's New Year's Commemorative Stakes over the mile, but he was less than a length behind the winner in 4thhaving struggled to find position on the awkward first turn at that distance. He gives away weight again but back at the 1400M is the one to beat. That race last month was won by (11) JANGSAN POWER and while he goes up 3kg in the weights, he warrants respect again. Getting 6kg of Morfhis is (4) CHEUNGDAM GENIE and that should bring him right into the equation. He was a class 2 winner at this distance in the kind of time that would win a class 1 back last November. He's first up for nine weeks and will be a danger. (6) SPRING BACK was a superb 4th in the international Korea Sprint behind Blue Chipper last September. He's not quite managed to follow up but his races since have either been in stiff company – such as the Kookje Shinmun at Busan – or at two turns, which really doesn't suit him. 1200M would be better but he can acquit himself well. (2) MUNHAK TSUNAMI is up in class after a really good December win over 1200M and is beautifully weighted to go well here.
Selections (3) Morfhis (6) Spring Back (4) Cheungdam Genie (2) Munhak Tsunami
Next Best 11, 9
Fast Start 1, 2, 7, 8
