3 minute read

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maiden fillies only kick things off. Four of the eleven race for the very first time and one of them is going to be the favourite and the pick. (8) DREAM K initially trialed up very well last August but didn't make it to the races. She re-trailed in April, winning her heat in a fast time, having settled back in the early stages and then quickened pleasingly. The distance should suit, Moon Se-young is booked to ride and if she brings that trial form to the races, she should win. (5) MUSTANG CHARM has been consistent across four starts so far with three of them resulting in 5th place finishes, all at this distance and in fair times. With some natural improvement here, she looks a place hope. So too (7) TOP POSITION, who has improved across her three outings to date, most recently a 3rd place at 1300M on March 20th when settling midfield and running. If she continues her recent trajectory, she can be in the finish today. (2) P N S SING and (10) TWOTWO KITTEN are others in at least the minor money frame.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

A small field of maidens with (6) GORGEOUS SERVE the logical top pick. She has shown steady progress across her three outings to date, culminating in a good 2nd place at 1200M on April 24th when she settled handy, dropped back and then ran on. The slight step up in trip can suit and she won't need to improve much to be winning this. Of those who have tackled the 1300M before, (7) MIR BEST has the fastest time among them, record when 4th at his latest appearance on April 16th. He also has a runner-up finish at this distance to his name and looks the most credible threat to the favourite here. (4) DIVINE FUTURES ran on pleasingly enough for 4th over this trip on his most recent outing on April 24th and a similar run can put him in the placing frame here. (1) NEVER NEVER STOP and (2) ROSE GOLD others who perhaps could improve.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Competitive maiden. (9) ACE PLAN has been knocking on the door for a while now and comes in off a 4th place at this distance last time out. It wasn't a fast time, but he has hinted at having a bit of speed at shorter and he could be ready to win here. (7) MYEONGJIN CANDY is yet to finish in the top-two but has the fastest time among these at the distance and ran on pleasingly for 3rd last time out at 1200M. An increasingly accomplished looking apprentice jockey brings her weight down a full 4kg from that run and that may be enough to see her home on top. (10) LOST WAR needs to go in the numbers based on his two latest showings, which ended in 2nd and 4th at this distance. He may need a touch of luck at the start from the widest gate but has a chance. (8) SMART BYEOL and (1) GEUMSEONG HWANHUI among others who can enter the calculations.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

A competitive race for the level. (1) BURUI KKOT may be one of only two in the field without a win to her name, but she has four top three finishes from six starts including a 3rd place at tis class. We'll draw a line through her latest effort when she drew gate eleven and never really found a run and today, she draws a good gate for only the second time – on the other occasion she ran 2nd. She carries a light weight, and it is possible she could lead here. If she does, she can go all the way (8) GEOLJAK WOMAN was one of many who beat Burui Kkot last time out on April 3rd. She was 2nd that day (and is the only other one in the field not to have a win) and also looks ready to win. Both the draw and the weights slightly swing in Burui Kkot's favour this time, but Geoljak Woman can sit handy and has a strong finish on her. (5) P N S AI comes up in class after a maiden win at this distance at start number three on March 12th. He can measure up in this company. (7) SAMJEONG TAPAS was a class and distance winner on April 24th in a fair time and while carrying an additional 3.5kg here, can be a danger again. (6) WILD SOCKS another in the frame. 

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

A very tricky race with several plausible winners. On the grounds that she may have the greatest potential for improvement, we'll side with (9) LAST PUNCH. A winner on debut last November, she took a couple of races to figure things out both at this class and at further than the minimum distance. Her latest two outings suggest that she is getting there though and most recently on April 24th, she settled back before improving and running on for a close 2nd over 1300M. She draws slightly better today and could be ready for a crack at seven furlongs. (5) CHAMPION GAMUN was sent off as favourite for that race but after being slower away than usual, struggled to find position and was never a factor, although he did improve late on for 6th. He has a better draw today and with a better start, will be more of a danger. (1) HYPER CAR is yet to win in fifteen starts, but her has seven top-three finishes as well as the fastest time among these for the distance. He has been back to trial since his latest race and looked well in it. (8) P N S VILL and (3) RUN RUN RUN are among others with placing chances.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Another wide-open race. He may not be the best horse in the race, but the fewest red flags are over (2) HEUNG DREAM. After losing his way a little he appears to be coming back into form with a solid 2nd place over 1400M last start when handy throughout and in a fast time. He has run good times at this distance as well and is the safe choice here. (9) MOONHAK SHEBA raced twice last year, winning on his second start at this class and distance. That was all the way back in March of 2021, but he looked very well when winning an April trial and the Blame colt has a big chance first-up here. Also, first-up is (5) WINNER QUARDRILLE. A winner of three consecutive races in 2020 and 2021, she hasn't since been able to put together a sequence of runs. She looked very well when winning a trial in late April and if she brings that form to the races, she can win. Be aware though that she did the exact same thing last summer, looking great in her trial only to suffer another setback in her first-up run. AT her best tough, she would take some beating. (3) NAESANGAE CHOEGO has the fastest time among these for the distance and can be considered. (6) GLOBAL MAGIC comes up in class following a win at this distance on March 27th and can be competitive.

Seoul Race 7: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

A small field but a good one. (3) JANGSAN LASER is a two-time winner at this distance already, albeit at lower levels and has consistently run competitive times. He ran fairly for 5th at class and distance last time out and from a slightly better draw, can win this. (6) SKY MANGCHI comes rapidly up in class having won his latest two, most recently and emphatic score over 1400M at class 4 level when he stalked the leader before taking things up in the straight and running away from the field. He comes down in the weights here and a hat-trick is a distinct possibility.  (2) WHIZ MOMENT had a hard time from a very wide draw in the GC Trophy over 1800M at his latest start. This looks like a much more suitable assignment though and he has the fastest time of any of these at this distance on his record. (7) BEST TAP comes up in class following a good win at the distance on April 10th while (8) WONDERFUL RUBY similarly comes up following a class 4 win last time out and both can measure up in this company.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Another small but competitive field, with two standouts. (7) TITAN SOCKS is a winner of two from six so far with one of those coming over 1700M at class 5 level. On his latest start he sat handy to the lead before running 5th of ten on his first try at this class and first try at 1800M. He should have come on for that run and be on or near the pace here and tis time can win. The main danger is (2) SOARA BABA. After an unexpected win over 1700M at class 5 level in February, she promptly followed up with another at this class and distance on April 4th. While she went up six rating points for that, today's weight scale means she gets to come in under the exact same 54kg again and from a good draw, another win is not impossible. (4) CHEONGSAN GANGHO comes up in class following a win over 1700M at class 5 level on April 23rd. Munro stays aboard, and he can be competitive here. (8) MILKY SHERRY has loads of experience at this level and, along with (3) CHEONGDAM TANK, can pinch a minor money finish.

Seoul Race 9: Class 1 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 110 Million

(3) HEUNGHAENG JILJU ran 3rd in the President's Cup over 2000M last November before winning at the same distance at class 1 level in January and then running 3rd when favourite at 1800M on April 10th. That was a slightly unusual race in that just about everything in the race, including Heunghaeng Jilju, were put out of the weights by the presence of the 134-rated Cheongdam Dokki, who then refused to load and was scratched, making for a bit of an odd affair with the resulting "handicap" consisting of eight horses all carrying either 51kg or 52kg. Draw a line through that and Heunghaeng Jilju goes on top again. We will though note how well (7) GANGTOMA closed to win that race. That's enough to make him the second pick here. (2) LIL' PATRON beat three of these, including Gangtoma on his most recent try at this distance two starts back and he can be a danger today. (11) SUPER SOCKS is up 7kg on his last start class and distance win (again beating Gangtoma), and while it is a weighty ask, he can go close. (10) THE GUMPU, though out of form of late, is another who may be competitive.