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Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
The first to kick off Saturday's proceedings has a field of twelve maidens to face the starter. In a race that appears to have limited chances, (4) DAHAENGIDA gets a good opportunity to break through at his fourth career start. The three-year-old improved last time out when second behind Best Gundan in one of our stronger 2yo events. Johan Victoire was aboard last time out and retains the mount. (3) BARBELL is one that can improve on his debut effort when midfield over the five furlongs. The Old Fashioned gelding dropped the bit in the middle stages of the run but managed to hit the line fairly and pass a few in the run home. (7) WANGINHAENGCHA comes out of a relatively strong 2yo event where the chestnut finished seventh. Whilst beaten a considerable distance this looks a much easier assignment. (12) My Member managed to run into some minor money last time out and can do so again if Park Tae-Jong can negate the wide draw.
Selections: (4) Daehaengida (3) Barbell (7) Wanginhaengcha (12) My Member
Next Best: 8, 2
Fast Start: 6, 7
Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Quite a useful maiden here but we're likely to have a strong favourite in the shape of (10) LUXURY CAPTAIN. After an ordinary debut, he ran a solid 2nd on his reappearance in late November at this distance and won't need to improve by very much in order to win here. (5) ANYANG JAGUAR is much more experienced but also seems to be heading on the right trajectory. All nine of her starts so far have been over the 1000M but she's run on strongly for good finishes in her latest two and stepping her up in trip today seems the prudent course of action. (7) RUFFIAN PARK has hinted at ability across three outings so far and looks to have more improvement in him. (6) TERRA SPEED and (11) ROYAL CHUKBOK are others in at least the placing hunt.
Selections: (10) Luxury Captain (5) Anyang Jaguar (7) Ruffian Park (11) Royal Chukbok
Next Best: 6, 3
Fast Start: 3, 4, 6, 8
Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
The three-year-olds line up in the third with all of them looking for their first win. (2) BAEKSAN THUNDER finished second last time out over the five furlongs and looks one that will appreciate the step up to the 1300m. She settled in the leading division last start before running through the line well going down less than a length to Lady Kelly. The form line she brings to the race looks superior to her opponents. Johan Victoire looks a strong chance to take up the lead and not be caught in a race that lacks early speed. (11) WILD WOODS has finished close up at his first two career starts. He managed to display a nice turn of foot over the short course and is another that will appreciate the longer distance. In contrast, (5) TOP SEED was debuted over the 1300m where he finished fourth behind Wang Taeng I. He looks one of the backmarkers in this event but can rocket home late to collect a cheque. (6) BRAVO GWACHEON is another that has finished close up at his two starts to date, but his times have been slower than the selections ahead of him. Kim Yong-Geun rides the Peace Rules colt for the first time.
Selections: (2) Baeksan Thunder (11) Wild Woods (5) Top Seed (6) Bravo Gwacheon
Next Best: 1, 3
Fast Start: 1
Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Fillies and mares only here and plenty of them enter with encouraging recent form. The best-looking form though belongs to (8) VIRTUS. She made all when registering her maiden win at this distance in October before running a close 2nd in a tougher race than this on her first try at this class six weeks ago. She should be on pace from the start here and she may well take some beating. (1) SINGGEUREOUN TIME was 6th behind Virtus last time out but such were the tight margins in that race, it meant she was only just over a length in arrears and can be one of the principal dangers today. (9) POWER TOWER steps up in trip for the first time following three very creditable runs over 1000M including her maiden win by a neck in October. She ran on strongly enough last start and the additional furlong and a half should pose few problems. (5) MASYA remains a maiden following nineteen attempts but is more than capable of finding the money in this company. (10) BARAMUI MISO looks best of the rest.
Selections: (8) Virtus (9) Power Tower (1) Singgeureoun Time (5) Masya
Next Best: 10, 6
Fast Start: 4, 8, 9, 12
Race 5: Class 6 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
It's fair to say no champions will emerge from the fifth event with plenty of these well tried. (11) DAEGIRI is the on top selection with very little confidence. The lightly raced five-year-old managed to finish midfield last time out over the same journey when disappointing. The start prior he finished second and showed he can run out the 1700m in reasonable fashion. Lee Gang-Seo jumps back into the saddle which is a plus as he has been aboard for the galloper's better performances. (6) FIRST THUNDER is an eighteen-start maiden but managed to show a good turn of foot last time out. The Thunder Moccasin entire is likely to settle midfield in the race and will be pasing a few in the run home. (8) GREEN PARK is another that has had plenty of start yielding little success. The mare ran home well in a similar race last time out to finish third behind Penumbra. (1) CHAMP QUEEN can improve at her second start back from a lengthy spell. She ran into some minor money last time out when fifth behind Sanae Spurt.
Selections: (11) Daegiri (6) First Thunder (8) Green Park (1) Champ Queen
Next Best: 5, 2
Fast Start: 11
Race 6: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(6) GEUMA SUPREME's solitary victory to date came at this distance way back in April last year and she returned to the 1700M, as well as to form, when running 2nd on November 24th. That was a very similar strength race to this one and while is the slight top weight, there's a reason for that and he can come from just off the pace to win here. The main danger is (4) TAP MUSIC. He too is a winner at the distance and is also coming back into form with a 2nd place last time out. He'll come from a little further back but should run on well and has a winning chance. (1) SINGSING JANGSU is a touch inconsistent but while a previous crack at this distance didn't go especially well, he has ability and can be given another chance here. It's a similar story with (2) MANSE, who was well back behind Tap Music on his latest outing but won from off the pace over 1300M the time before that under Antonio Da Silva, who returns to the mount today. (11) KINGS CARRIAGE ran 4th behind Geuma Supreme last start and while he finished a full eleven-lengths behind him, the booking of Munro today suggests there could be improvement.
Selections: (6) Geuma Supreme (4) Tap Music (11) Kings Carriage (1) Singsing Jangsu
Next Best: 2, 8
Fast Start: 8, 11
Race 7: Class 5 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
A field of twelve will go over the 1700m in the seventh at Class 5 level. (4) MEOTJIN GEUMSEONG backed up his maiden win with a good third when having his first start over the 1700m. He looks well weighted in this event with the claim of Kim Deok-Hyeon. From barrier four he is likely to sit in the first couple and most importantly be close to the fence when they take the first turn. (7) CHEONJI AEGA saluted last start in this class and distance. He goes up 4kg on last start but looks one that can figure in an evenly matched field. He lacks early speed so punters should not be alarmed if he settles in the second half of the field. (6) HEUNGHAENG JILJU broke through at each way odds last time out. The Colors Flying colt will be tested over the 1700m for the first time, his racing pattern last start suggests he should not have a problem with the step up. (8) WIND SKY backed up his maiden win with a reasonable performance when finishing fifth behind Blade Storm. He steps back up to the 1700m which appears suitable as he brought up his first win over this distance.
Selections: (4) Meotjin Geumseong (7) Cheonji Aega (6) Heunghaeng Jilju (8) Wind Sky
Next Best: 9, 1
Fast Start: 1, 5
Race 8: Class 4 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
A valuable race for three-year-old imported maidens and it looks like a number have been targeting it for some time. (1) EAST BAN was sent off as favourite for his third start at the beginning of November, but having led almost every step of the way, was taken down close to home by Pop Street and had to settle for 2nd. He's had nine weeks off since then and returns today fresh and with winning chances. Once more he'll be in pace and this time may not be caught. (9) D K PURMIR beat East Ban on what was both their debuts in August. He's raced twice since then, registering an 2nd and a 3rd and is set to be the main danger here, challenging East Ban for the lead right from the start. (2) SUNWOO LUCKY ran a fast time on a wet track when 3rd on what was his second start in mid-November and is another who appears to have been set this race as a target. He can come from just behind the early speed and run on strongly. (11) JANGSAN MONSTER came from well back to run 3rd on debut a month ago and while it's tempting to say he may need further he can run into some money again. (3) GEUMA AGILE debuted over 1200M last month and can be given another chance dropped back to the minimum today.
Selections: (1) East Ban (9) D K Purmir (11) Jangsan Monster (2) Sunwoo Lucky
Next Best: 3, 8
Fast Start: 1, 4, 9, 10
Race 9: Class 4 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
A field of twelve imports line up in the ninth where they are all searching for their first win. (7) GLOBAL BOSS looks a promising type after placing at his past two starts. He has been raced with lengthy breaks between starts. The grey looks to map midfield in this event and hit the line strong. (11) BIG TRIPLE looks one that can improve on his last run when finishing fourth over the same distance. He flattened out nicely in the run home last start and further improvement will see him run into some money. (5) DYNAMIC COMING returns to restricted company after finishing well back in the Gwacheon Mayor's Cup. He had placed multiple times prior and quite often we see these horses return to restricted class after a gutbuster and win. (2) WORLD CAPTAIN was good on debut when finishing third in a strong two-year-old race. This looks tougher but he carries a manageable weight.
Selections: (7) Global Boss (11) Big Triple (5) Dynamic Coming (2) World Captain
Next Best: 1, 2
Fast Start: 3, 7, 8, 10
Race 10: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
It's been a while since the latest of (8) STRIDE UP's two wins but he's been knocking on the door of a second for some time now and was most recently runner-up in a really nice race at class and distance on December 7th. He'll sit off the pace here and should hit the long strongly. It took (6) EAGLE EYE seven attempts to get her maiden win but she quickly got the hang of it, returning to score by seven lengths on her re-appearance. Those two dominant performances have had the effect of shunting her up two classes in two races so today is set to be tougher but there could well be more improvement to come. It's a similar story with (4) COMPLETE CAPTAIN too. It's taken him just three races to get to class 4 and while his latest win was over 1000M, he has won at this distance in the kind of time that will be competitive at this level. He's well drawn to get to the front from gate 4 and if he leads, he could well prove difficult to dislodge. (3) BLUE FIRE and (9) HANIL DALBIT are other money chances in what is a good race.
Selections: (8) Stride Up (4) Complete Captain (6) Eagle Eye (9) Hanil Dalbit
Next Best: 3, 11
Fast Start: 1, 2, 4, 10
Race 11: Class 2 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 90 Million
A ripper of a race with some nice types engaged who look to have bigger fish to fry. (9) HUSH DAEBO gets the nod with his brilliant form of late. The Testa Matta colt was a 10-length winner in Class 3 company last time out and has won five of his six career starts. This is his toughest test to date lining up again some nice types, he looks ready for the 1800m and is an exciting prospect. (11) ACTIMON as hit a rich vein of form of late winning two of his past four and finishing runner-up on the other occasions. He finished second to Uri last time out when carrying 4kg more, today they are at equal weights. (2) URI is the third elect after his last start win as aforementioned. He is well put together to look at and his record of four wins from six starts cannot be ignored. He will need to improve to be a winning chance. (3) YESANGBAEK SEUNG is well weighted and looks one that can add some value to the novelty dividends. She lacks early speed but hits overdrive in the straight. Exciting race.
Selections (9) Hush Daebo (11) Actimon (2) Uri (3) Yesangbaek Seung
Next Best: 5, 6
Fast Start: 2, 9, 11
Race 12: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(4) PLATINUM EURO remains unbeaten – four for four – in a run that stretches back to his debut in March and includes five months off between his second and third appearances. Last start he made all to win by three lengths over 1300M in a fast time and although this is his first try at 1400M, he has won at 1700M already and he has every chance of maintaining his 100% record here. (1) WONDERFUL DIXIE comes in up in class following an excellent – and quick – win over 1300M a month ago and will be a danger. He'll be competing with Platinum Euro for the early lead. (5) DADDY GLORY was just beaten a nose into 2nd place in a race equal in strength to this on November 17th and has solid claims to go close again. She's another who will be aiming to be on the early speed. (6) RAISING ANGEL was a gutsy winner at this class over 1200M last time. The horse she beat that day, Gaenari Song, went on to win herself two weeks ago. (3) MONEY DAERYUK is another who looks firmly in with a chance of prize money.
Selections: (4) Platinum Euro (1) Wonderful Dixie (5) Daddy Glory (6) Raising Angel
Next Best: 3, 7
Fast Start: 1, 4, 5, 11
Race 13: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(1) MARK STORY was one of the more eye-catching juveniles last term, only running twice but impressing both times with easy and fast victories. He tackles class 3 for the first time today but really the manner of those wins suggest he has little to fear and he can continue his very good start to his career here. (6) GLOBAL ACE is also up in class, in his case having run 3rd to Raon First in the Gwacheon Mayor's Cup in November. He too has shown he is capable of running a time and will finish strongly here. (2) BAREM and (4) BRAVE QUEEN have identical records of a 2nd place on debut followed by two consecutive wins. Both are up in class today, but both have bags of potential and can go close. Rounding out the list of probables is (3) GEUKGI SANGJIN. He's a year older than his principal rivals here having missed almost the entirety of his three-year-old season. He returned strongly in late November and is the wildcard here.
Selections: (1) Mark Story (6) Global Ace (2) Barem (4) Brave Queen
Next Best: 3, 10
Fast Start: 1, 2, 4
