Korea: Saturday, 14th December 2024

3 minute read

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Maiden juvenile fillies in the opener with five of the eleven racing for the first time. (4) INSIGNIA did nothing on debut over 1000M in October, slow away and always well back. She has trialed since and looked well, leading for much of it. From a good draw and with CC up, she can be a much different prospect this time around. (8) UNJU TIME looks the best of the first timers, settling midfield and running on for a close 4th in her heat in a good time. If she brings that form to the races, she can be close. (9) WINNER GLORY ran 3rd on debut on November 9th. The time wasn't quick but with some natural improvement, she can be a danger in this limited company. (10) SEOMDOLMORU and (11) GRACE ROUTE debuted further back in the same race but also can have come on for the run.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens and it should be competitive. (1) GANGNARU has finished 3rd in both his starts so far at 1200M and 1400M, first from off the pace and then from handy. His times at both have been good and from the inside gate, Kim Jeong-jun can pick his spot behind the speed and they can prove too strong. (2) GRAND KWAEMA has a 3rd and a 4th from his two outings, the latter in a decent time over this distance on October 27th. In this company and drawn well, he can be expected to be further forward earlier, and he can be a danger. (3) LUCKY SUNNY improved at start number two on November 3rd when 4th at this distance. He draws much better this time and further improvement can be on the agenda. Solitary debut-maker (8) ALIFER ran a close 2nd in a quick time in his trial and has to be considered first up in this field. (6) EAST GANGJEOK another in the hunt.

Seoul Race 3: Class 4 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Imported juvenile maidens (they have to start at class 4) with five of the twelve racing for the first time. Conveniently for us, six of the seven with prior experience raced each other over 1200M on November 10th and with (4) PALATINO finishing the best of them, he is the automatic top pick. Having trialed well, he settled midfield that day and ran on strongly for 2nd place and he won't need to improve much to go one better. (6) BRAVAZO EMPIRE ran 4th in that race having showed close to the pace early. He has over four-lengths to find on Palatino but can be on the speed and in this a long way again. (2) ART CATCHER was 6th having also been handy early and from a good draw can be up there again. Turning to the first-time starters, (8) NAMSAN BLACK dead-heated for 1st place in a quick trial and (12) NICE FORCE ran 2nd in an identical time. Both can put in bold showings first up.

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Weak maiden. (1) JOSE led for part of the way around at her latest start before ultimately finishing 4th at this distance. She also has a 2nd place to her name at 1000M. She comes in fresh after thirteen weeks off and drawing well to lead, she has as good a chance as any. (6) DRAGON K is the other standout. He has two 4th place finishes to his name, one at this distance and he will be challenging Jose for the early lead. (4) TROLL will need a line drawn through his latest effort (and most of his thirteen) but going on his 3rd place two starts back, he can be considered for the places with an apprentice claiming 3kg. (3) MANI NODAGI and (7) MG FIRST the best of a limited rest.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

After winning a trial, (5) WESTERN GUN was sent off as faovurite on debut over this distance on October 6th and duly ran out a seven-length winner, leading for most of the way. He has had ten weeks off and is up in class, but the manner of that win suggests there is more to come, and he will be favourite to score again. (2) YES MADAM was 2nd in that race back in October at class 6 and then followed up with a 3rd place, again at this distance, on November 3rd, which brings her up in class here. She is drawn well to get on pace, and she can measure up. (9) K POWERFUL got his maiden win in similar emphatic style to Western Gun two starts back before running 4th on his first try at this class on November 3rd. He is another front-runner who will be looking to get forward early and can be in this a long way. (6) JURING SKY and the up in class (11) OKCHEON WIN STAR among plenty of others with at least placing hopes.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) NAVY CAPTAIN returns to shallower waters following a spin around the Listed Gwacheon Mayor's Trophy on November 17th. He kicked off his career with three consecutive 2nd place finishes, including his only previous try at this distance when he posted a time quicker than any of the others here have achieved. If he brings that form, then he wins. (4) JEONGSEONGTIGER has been ultra consistent having finished outside of the top five on only one of eleven occasions. He has a 3rd and a 4th in two previous tries at this trip, including last time out on November 23rd. In this company expect him to be on pace and a threat. (6) NANOMETA came from well off the pace to run a close 2nd at class and distance on November 17th and only coming up 1kg can go close again. (5) TURBO SOCKS and (3) LAFAYETTE others in the frame.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Small field but competitive race. (1) HAKSAN MACHO is a winner at this class over 1300M as recently as September and enters off a 3rd and a 2nd from his latest two, both at 1400M. Recently he has been coming from off the pace and running on and the step up to a mile may come at the right time. (8) TAEPYEONG LEGENDhas won two of his latest three to get rapidly promoted to this class. He too comes up to the mile for the first time, but he is down 2.5kg in the weights and he can be a danger. (3) THE SUN FIGHTER rounds out the top line of favourites. He enters following a close 3rd place at this class over 1400M on November 24th and with an apprentice keeping his weight down, he can be running on strong late here. (2) SEONGEUN CROWN and (7) BURUI YEOWANG other place chances.

Seoul Race 8: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) PALO ALTO led from gate to wire to win on debut over this distance in October but weakened having led on her first try at this class over 1300M on November 9th, ultimately finishing in 6th place. The margins weren't huge though and back at 1200M, she is well worth another chance. The only colt in the race, (7) HAKSAN DARK HORSE did nothing on debut in July but returned on November 16th and promptly won first-up over this distance, racing handy throughout. That brings him up in class, but Kozzi stays on and they shape as the main danger. (9) CUPID CHIC finally got her maiden win at start twenty-one in a filly only race over this distance on November 17th. Lightning may not strike twice but she only comes up 1.5kg in the weights, she draws the same gate, and she is a place chance. (1) GROW and (3) MENI SHARK others who can contest the minors.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Two standouts here. (9) MIGHTY JOY ran 4th on debut before taking a narrow win in a two-horse duel to the line in a quick time over this distance on October 26th, leading all the way and just managing to fend off his rival Tap Tier. He draws a touch wider than ideal once again but only comes up 1.5kg in the weights and the Runhappy colt can score again. (4) DANCING WHIZ is the danger. He is yet to win in three attempts which have been spread out over the course of an entire year. He returned on November 3rd for the first time since March and he ran a very creditable 3rd at this class and distance. He should strip fitter for that run and get closer here. Solitary debut-maker (8) STORM CROWN was impressive in trials, settling handy before easing away to win the heat in a quick time. He carries a light weight and if he brings that form to the races has every chance first-up. (3) FLYING CRUISER did nothing on debut an entire year ago and finally returns. He looked well when 2nd in a quick trial in November and should be a different prospect. (7) SPINNING KANT the best of the rest. 

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(8) SEONGSIL YEONGUNG came from off the pace to win at this distance on November 17th. He comes up in class here but is down a full 4kg in the weights, and in less than intimidating company for the level, can repeat. (2) BEST JEONSA comes in following an uptick in form in his latest when 2nd over a mile on November 10th, racing handy throughout and with a couple of today's rivals behind him. This isn't a distance he has had much joy at before, but he is nicely drawn to find a forward position, and he can go close. (10) ULTRA DRAGON mixes his form, but he is a winner at this class over 1800M. He doesn't benefit from an apprentice claim meaning he is up a full 5kg in weight but Kim Yong-geun climbing up balances that a bit. (7) NEW ZEALAND SOCKS and (4) NANO MASIN others to consider.

Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(6) WHIZ RUNNER has won two of latest three, most recently at this class on November 17th when settling back and running on. He comes up 3.5kg in the weights, but he has won under more in the past, and he can win again today. Disputing favourite status will be (7) GOLDEN HONOR. He too is a previous winner at this distance and enters off a smart 2nd and 3rd in his latest two. Another who likes to settle back and run on, he has the fastest time in the field for the 1800M, and he will be finishing strongly. (9) BEST MAYA saw a three-race winning streak come to an end on his first try at this class on November 17th when 4th over 1400M having led. He is bumped up significantly in trip here but carries a light weight again and he can be given another chance. (5) SINUI EREUM and (10) SAEPARANG are others in the hunt.