3 minute read

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

A small field of juvenile maidens to kick things off with five of the nine racing for the first time. Two of those first-timers were trial winners and we'll put them on top. Slightly favoured is (2) HATMURI, who sat just off the pace in his heat before improving and then being asked for effort in the final furlong which he responded to well. The time was good, and he has every chance from a good gate. Also impressive in the trial was (3) TES GO DAEBO. He emerged from a wide gate before settling behind the leading group. He hit the front at the 400M and went on comfortable with minimal encouragement. The time was a bit slower than Hatmuri's although the track was a little drier and slower, but he has solid claims. (8) SANSO POWER can also go well first-up. He improved in the second of two trials when he was handy then midfield, then found the inside fence and finished off well in a reasonable time. OF those with experience, (9) DUSON FANTASTIC got a good start on debut before being found a touch one-paced and ultimately finished 6th. He should have come on for the experience. (4) RAON THE WILD may also improve.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Maiden juvenile fillies here with six of the ten racing for the first time. (7) BLACK MASK looked very accomplished in her trial, quickly establishing a lead and then cruising around to cross the line first by a substantial margin without having been asked a single question. If she brings anything like that to the races, then she wins. (9) HWANGGEUM CHEONJI won a June trial before debuting at this distance at the end of August when she emerged from the widest gate and got pushed wider before finding the rail on the turn and stealing a few lengths then working home well. She should have benefited for the experience and can be in the mix here. (2) THE FAVORITE won't be favourite but she settled back on debut on September 11th and then put in a good effort from the 300M to run 4th. She can get closer today and can aim to be on pace. (8) SILVER STAR raced a touch greenly on debut, being slow out and not looking totally comfortable in the kickback. She finished off well enough and can improve today. Returning to the debut-makers, (5) MIRACLE K trialed up in 4th behind the very good Chief Indy and finished in a fair time.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Standard class 6 here. We'll take a chance on (7) DESK TAP, as he has been consistent across his seven starts to date which includes a 2nd and a 4th and the best time of any of these at the distance. He was a touch disappointing at his last start when he drew a wide gate and took a long time to get involved but he is worth another chance today. Based on his latest effort on September 12th, (2) JISANGUN will probably start as favourite. He showed significant improvement that day when coming from off the pace to run 2nd in a fair time at this distance. He draws much better this time around and has every chance. (11) SMART HIGH too looks to be on the right trajectory having improved with a 3rd place at her latest start. That was back in July, and she does draw an unfavourable gate, but she can challenge for a place again. Resuming after almost twice as long away is (1) SAMJEONG TAPAS. He is the only one in the field to have a win to his name, achieved at this distance almost a year ago, and he comes in having trialed pleasingly. He makes his first start for Tony Castenheira and can go well. (3) LONDON POWER another in the hunt.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

It's hard to look too far past (1) BURUI YEOWANG. A winner of two from five so far, she comes in off a very smart 2nd place over 1300M on September 5th when handy throughout. She does come up 2kg in the weights but should benefit from the inside barrier and can lead from gate to wire here. Logical second pick is (6) LADY FIRST. She was a winner on debut on August 7th over 1000M and before running 6th in the Rookie Stakes at this distance on September 5th. She is in shallower waters today and should get closer. (10) SOEWAKKOT is perhaps a bit better than her first go at this class over 1300M suggests. True, she runs better on pace, so the draw today isn't great, but she has outside placing claims. (8) LONDON QUEEN ran well for 3rd at class and distance on September 11th and while she does mix her form a little, should be in the finish while (9) BEST CHEONSANG also enters the calculations following a good runner-up finish at class and distance a month ago.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(3) CHOEGANG QUEEN was a class 6 winner over 1200M two starts back in July before running 4th on her first try at this level on August 15th. She has been very consistent across her four starts to date, she draws better today than she did last time, and she can win. That will mean overturning the form on (7) VICTORICA, who came home in 3rd place that day. She has raced once since then, finishing 4th over 1200M on September 12th and while Choegang Queen perhaps has a bit more scope for improvement, she shouldn't be far away again. (10) M J BEST comes in off a very useful 2nd place at class and distance on September 11th. She overcame the same gate that day that she draws here and should be working home well. (5) EAST JILJU is another with a strong finish as he demonstrated two starts back when coming from off the pace to run a close 2nd at class and distance. (2) GEUMA SWIFT is better than his latest start suggests and while he remains a maiden, could run into some minor money.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Tricky race with plenty looking ready to win. The consistent (5) ON POINT could back up from his victory over 1400M on September 11th when he got to the lead quickly from a wide draw and led the rest of the way around. He comes up in class as a result and also stretches out to 1700M, but he comes down in the weights, draws nicely and can win again. (3) BAEKSAEK GWANGCHAE comes up a full 4kg from his class and distance win on September 19th, when he flew home from a seemingly unpromising position for a comfortable score. The manner of that victory, coming on the heels of a good 2nd over 1800M at the start before, suggests we can overlook that was just his second win in twenty-eight starts and give him another chance. (11) SERVE ACE could only manage 6th on his first try at this class on August 29th. The margins weren't huge though and he is a winner at this distance. The draw does him no favours but he can get closer today. (4) THUNDER WIND came from well off the pace to run 2nd at class and distance on September 12th and along with (9) BOMNALUI GIEOK is another in the placing frame at least.

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

(9) MIGHTY WHO will be favourite here following a class and distance win on September 11th when he sat in the rear if midfield before running on strongly late on with a couple of today's rivals back down the track behind him. He comes up 3kg in the weights as a result but could well have enough about him to repeat. (5) ALL THAT KOREA is better than his latest finishing positions suggest. He comes back up to a trip that he has posted good times at, and he can be a danger here, possible from on the pace. (12) JEONGMUN ACE came home 3rd behind Mighty Who in that September race having come from off the pace. He does tend to get a bit far back in his races but if he can be in a position not too far away, then he will be doing his best work late on. Similarly (8) JEONGSANG KINGDOM got a long way back in the same race, ultimately rallying but only finishing 7th. He has the fastest time among these for the distance and can get closer here. (4) NAESAENGAE CHOEGO, under a light weight and with a good draw, should be on pace and makes for an interesting outsider.

Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(3) LOVELY K is a winner of three form nine last time including his latest when he actually crossed the line 2nd but was awarded the race after the first horse home severely interfered with her just before the finish with her jockey (still injured as a result) being dislodged but managing to maintain contact until after they had crossed the line. She draws well to get on pace here and can lead all the way. (11) GLOBAL JOY was the culpable horse that day and she returns as well. That 2nd was an uptick on recent form, but she has a couple of super runs to her name at this distance and while the draw is unkind, she can be a danger – hopefully in a straight line this time. (9) FINAL CANGINO is up in class following a maiden win at start number twelve on September 4th. It was a good time, and he comes down a full 6kg in the weights and can measure up in this company. (7) MEOTJIN WANGJA and (1) MUNHAK MOON came home 2nd and 3rd respectively when they raced each other at class and distance on September 5th and both can harbour placing hopes here.

Seoul Race 9: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 1200M

A very competitive race to conclude with. (12) UNCLE OH has drawn the worst but he has run some excellent times at this and other distances. He is first up following three months off here and if he can find a good position from the start, he has very solid claims. (5) RAON TAP MAN, on the other hand, draws very nicely. He beat three of these on his way to an excellent 2nd place at class and distance at his latest start in August and with an apprentice jockey bringing down the weight, looks to have a very good chance here. He will surely lead from the gate. (2) CLEAN UP HAPPY is similarly down in weight and comes in off a superb 2nd place at class and distance on August 14th. He draws much better today and should be in this a long way. (10) FINAL STAR and (6) LUCKY BEOPJEON are others in the hunt in what should be a fast finale.