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Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
A maiden to kick things off and there are a couple here with the potential to win. Chief among them is (4) YEOLRIN MUN who has run 3rd in both his latest two starts, barely beaten a length on both occasions. He steps back slightly in trip today but it is well drawn to lead and looks the one to beat. (6) WANGINHAENGCHA showed improvement on his second start four weeks ago. He ran on well over the 1000M and is set to appreciate the additional distance today. (10) HOEBOK and to a slightly lesser extent (11) SPEED FLYING also hinted at ability in their respective latest outings and can continue to make progress here. There are two debut-makers in the field and of them (8) CHEONGSU RIDER looks the most promising at this stage. He ran 3rd in a fast trial on an admittedly wet track in January and can go well first up here.
Selections (4) Yeolrin Mun (6) Wanginhaengcha (10) Hoebok (8) Cheongsu Rider
Next Best 11, 3
Fast Start 3, 4, 5, 10
Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
A field of twelve maiden gallopers will line up over the 1300M in the second. (7) RUFFIAN PARK takes on an easier assignment today after finishing 4th last start over the same distance. The son of Ecton Park has been running on strong at his past few starts and there appears to be minimal speed engaged suggesting Antonio Da Silva may be able to settle him closer to the speed before unleashing his turn of foot. (9) BOMNALUI GIEOK comes into the race in good form having placed at his last two starts. The Colors Flying colt has been settling midfield in his races before hitting the line well. He will get the services of star jockey Moon Se Young, who may have to settle further back than wanted from an awkward draw. (1) BAEKDU GEOPO finished 2nd behind Sun Fighting last start early in December and was then trialed in early January. He has been in work quite some time so fitness is not a query, however, Song Jae-chul will need to be mindful of not getting too far back from a good draw as the horse lacks early speed. (8) SIN ROK has shown enough at his past couple of races to suggest he can finish in the money.
Selections (7) Ruffian Park (9) Bomnalui Gieok (1) Baekdu Geopo (8) Sin Rok
Next Best 6, 12
Fast Start 2, 10
Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
A maiden for three-year-old fillies only and it's (7) ONE AND ONLY who is set to be the favourite. After running 4th on her first two starts, both over 1000M, she was stepped up to 1300M last time and duly ran 2nd to Athena V. She gets out of the gate well so expect her to be on top early and go all the way. (8) LUISA was 3rd on her belated debut in December, running on pleasingly over 1000M. The extra trip today has every chance of suiting and she is to be considered. (10) HWA SSI BYEOK has shown progress across her two outings so far and can continue to develop today. Those three are the clear standouts and the Trio on them will be a short price. As for the others, (1) HWARYEO and (3) CHEONJI YEOGEOL, the latter more promising in a trial than on a woeful debut, have perhaps the most potential to improve.
Selections (7) One And Only (8) Luisa (10) Hwa Ssi Byeok (1) Hwaryeo
Next Best 3, 12
Fast Start 1, 7, 8
Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
The fourth on the card has an abundance of speed where it appears the winner will come from sitting in the first four when they take the turn for home. (7) ROAD RAN was a superb winner back in October, scoring by a big margin. With just 52kg on her back, she looks hard to beat. Song Jae-chul will be legged aboard and she should sit in the leading division. (1) BIG CLASSIC has started her career well wit one win and two minors from four starts. The Officer filly resumed last start to finish 2nd behind Looking Good over the 1300M. You can expect further improvement with the first-up run under her belt. (2) GIANT GIRL broke through last start in Class 6 company for her first win. She ran a reasonable time but will need to improve further to be a winning chance. (9) FLYING JOY looks best of the rest coming off a last start 3rd behind Royal Smarty.
Selections (7) Road Ran (1) Big Classic (2) Giant Girl (9) Flying Joy
Next Best 8, 6
Fast Start 1, 2, 7, 9
Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Competitive race here but we'll side with (4) SUPER ECTON. He came from off the pace to secure a somewhat unexpected maiden win over 1300M just before Christmas and while he is up in class today, he can back up that form today with an extra half furlong to play with. (2) NOLBU CHEONHA is the primary danger. He was a winner at 1700M in November and while he didn't go especially well on his first try at this class a month ago, also over the extended trip, that was a significantly stronger race than this and he should find things more amenable today. (3) KINGLY too faced superior opposition last time and should be better in today's shallower waters while in the case of (5) SUNSHINE TEUKGEUP, a drop back in trip here could be just what she needs to find her form again. As for the others, (6) BLACK GINGA is a nineteen-race maiden but occasionally picks ap a cheque and should be competitive in this company.
Selections (4) Super Ecton (2) Nolbu Cheonha (3) Kingly (5) Sunshine Teukgeup
Next Best 6, 8
Fast Start 1, 7
Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Punters will watch the sixth with intrigue as there appears to be a couple of handy Korean-breds in the field. (7) GEUMBIT JANGIN looks as if he is in for a good preparation. The Menifee colt won when resuming before finishing 3rd last start behind the talented Legend Storm. He was beaten a big margin, but this looks an easier assignment for the four-year-old. (12) RAON TAP MAN has also showed plenty of ability early on in his career. The Musket Man three-year-old finished behind the speedy East Jet last start when the winner broke the minute for the 1000M. He was beaten about five and a half lengths but as per Geumbit Jangin, this is a much easier affair. (9) EAGLE EYE has been in form of late, winning two of his past three starts. The filly had her first outing in class 4 company last time when finishing 5th behind Complete Captain. She is lightly weighted and gets the polished services of Alan Munro. (6) WHITE VELVET lines up for his first start since June where he went to the paddock as a winner. His trial was far from impressive coming back into this preparation, but he wasn't pushed out. Keep him safe in your novelties.
Selections (7) Geumbit Jangin (12) Raon Tap Man (9) Eagle Eye (6) White Velvet
Next Best 2, 11
Fast Start 7, 9, 12
Race 7: Class 4 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
(4) THE GUMPU provided trainer Tony Castenheira with his very first Korean winner on January 5th and given another crack at the same class today, could well be giving him his second as well. He's up 3kg as a result of that maiden score but the manner of it, in which he beat a decent field including a couple who go here also by a full three-lengths pulling away, suggests that there is more to come. (1) LITTLE BOY FLASH and (7) WONDERFUL INDIAN were the two who chased The Gumpu home that day, finishing 4th and 6th respectively. Both are capable of getting closer today with slight weight swings in their favour. (6) INCHEON SPEED was beaten by The Gumpu at this distance back in October but since then has registered a win of his own before running a good 3rd just before Christmas. He'll be up with the speed early and can cause problems for the favourite at the business end of the race. As for the rest, (11) QUANTUM JUMP looks the most capable of stepping up.
Selections (4) The Gumpu (6) Incheon Speed (1) Little Boy Flash (11) Quantum Jump
Next Best 7, 3
Fast Start 4, 5, 6, 8
Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
The eighth on the card is the most open event of the day with no fewer than eight of the ten having legitimate claims. (8) HEUNGHAENG JILJU is the on-top selection after a demolition job in a class 5 event last start. The Colors Flying colt posted a quick time when winning and looks suited in this assignment with just 53.5kg on his back. (10) BANGTANMA is one of the more experienced gallopers in the race and he has been racing well of late in restricted company. The filly comes off a 3rd behind Gallop Curlin which reads well for this race. Prior to last start she ran into some tough assignments where she ran fairly. (5) MENI SPEED has placed over this distance at his past three starts. The consistent grey has finished in the top-five on twelve occasions from fourteen starts. (6) MENI HERO was a good last start winner but goes up 3kg, which looks to make it tough in a wide-open affair.
Selections (8) Heunghaeng Jilju (10) Bangtanma (5) Meni Speed (6) Meni Hero
Next Best 7, 9
Fast Start 1, 6, 8, 10
Race 9: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Good race this. (7) MYEONGJIN FLY is a winner of two from five so far including his latest start when he comfortably prevailed by five-lengths at this class over 1400M. There is a price to be paid for that in terms of an additional 4.5kg but stretching out to the mile for the first time is the one to beat again today. Myeongjin Fly's one disappointing effort so far came in the Gwacheon Mayor's Cup in November. (9) GLOBAL ACE finished way ahead of him that day in 3rd place, a finish he matched on his return in January. True he was beaten eleven-lengths by the excellent looking Mark Story but nevertheless he looks a solid colt himself and will be the main danger today. (5) BRIGADIER GENERAL ran 4th to Myeongjin Fly last time and while he has a full seven-lengths to make up, can aim for the places here. (8) HAWK HAENGJINGOK steps up in class and distance after a five-length win at 1300M in late November. He flew home from off the pace and under a very light weight today is not to be discounted. The wildcard is (3) FLYING FORD. He hasn't raced since September but looked sharp in a trial a couple of weeks ago and could go well first up.
Selections (7) Myeongjin Fly (9) Global Ace (8) Hawk Haengjingok (5) Brigadier General
Next Best 3, 10
Fast Start 1, 3, 10
Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
The tenth looks an even race with a field of twelve to go over the two turns. The consistent (8) RULE BREAKER is the standout. The Testa Matta four-year-old saluted in class 4 company two starts back from finishing 3rd behind Smarty Blue in a solid performance last time out. He has shown a liking for the middle distances and Lim Gi-won will reunite with the four-year-old, who he has won on twice previously. (7) SLING STONE has been in work quite some time and has been in good form. The chestnut comes off a 3rd placed performance last start when behind Hwansang Star. The Kang Sung-O trained galloper appreciated being put into to race early so expect Moon Se Young to work forward shortly after they jump. (9) MONEY DAERYUK has been in this grade for quite some time but showed improvement last start to finish 2nd to the outsider, Amenda. She is a natural back-marker so look for her to be running on late. (10) FAST FASHION resumes after a reasonable preparation last year. He was racing like he needed the paddock towards the end of the preparation so don't discount him with fresh legs.
Selections (8) Rule Breaker (7) Sling Stone (9) Money Daeryuk (10) Fast Fashion
Next Best 3, 11
Fast Start 1, 4, 5, 7
Race 11: Class 1 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million
(11) GLOBAL CAPTAIN saw off three of these when demolishing a stronger field than this at class and distance on December 15th. He's posted some very fast time for the distance across his seven wins from eleven starts to date and while he has drawn wide and will carry 58.5kg, he looks very hard to beat today. The one with the best chance is perhaps the improving (6) MUNHAK WINNER. It took him a few goes to completely figure things out, but he has gone on to win three in a row to be rapidly promoted to this level. He gets 6.5kg from the faovurite and while his times don't necessarily measure up to Global Captain yet, facing top class opposition for the first time may spur him to more improvement. (10) ANOTHER SMART ONE has been beaten by a few of these recently but is an honest type who is rarely too far away. (4) M J POWER and (12) BRIGHT CAT are others in the placing hunt.
Selections (11) Global Captain (6) Munhak Winner (10) Another Smart One (4) M J POWER
Next Best 12, 7
Fast Start 1, 2, 3, 6
