Korea: Sunday, 23rd June 2024

3 minute read

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) WONDERFUL JET was sent back to trial after his debut 5th in March and ultimately ended up going through two heats, winning the second, before returning to action on May 19th when an on pace over 1300M. Moon Se-young gets on here, the drop back in trip can suit, and he can go all the way. He will be long odds-on and (11) SAMAEBEONJJEOK will be the second favourite. She scored back-to-back 3rd places over this distance in February and April, before running 5th at 1300M on May 26th. She likes to be on pace so has the challenge of the widest gate but there isn't much else in the way of early speed here bar the favourite and she can get forward and be close. There are three debut-makers and (1) ARCH DAY will have backers. A four-year-old, she is a late starter, but trialled nicely and this is a good race to begin in. Returning to the experience and (9) SARYEONI NIKE and (2) EAST KING STONE are potential improvers.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(4) SEONGSIN CHEONHA returned from almost four months off to run a significantly improved 2nd place at this distance on June 9th when settling midfield and running on, having also shown speed in a May trial. He looks nicely on here, should strip fitter for that run, and is the one to beat. (6) EURACHACHA unseated his jockey coming out of the gates at what would have been his second start on May 26th. He was well backed for that having run 3rd on debut in April and has since completed a trial and can be close here. (3) FLYING GLOW returned for his second start on May 11th more than eight months after his debut and ran a solid 4th over 1200M. He should strip fitter for that and will be a danger. (5) NAOL JEONGSANG and (10) DANAEUN REX are the other placing hopes.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(10) SUNCHEON YEOWANG has a 3rd and a 2nd among her four starts so far with the 3rd being her most recent on May 10th when coming from well off the pace in an all-filly race over this distance. She looks nicely in here, the wide draw won't be a problem, and she can prove too strong late on. (2) GOLDEN NICE enters off a 3rd followed by back-to-back 4th place finishes, all at 1200M. She too has been doing her best work late and may like the slight step up in trip. (4) RAON THE LEGEND has raced just twice but hinted at ability with a 4th on debut and can go closer here. There isn't much early speed so (7) SUPER KANEL can get an easy run to the front and can be in this a long way. It isn't a strong race so solitary debut-maker (3) SUPER CELL can be considered first-up.

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(1) MIGHTY BOM is yet to win in six attempts but has a 2nd and three 3rd places to his name. The latest of those was at this class over 1300M on May 19th when coming from off the pace and from a better draw today, he can win. (2) P N S CAR come sin off a very close 2nd place at class and distance on June 8th. He comes up 2kg in the weights, but Harry gets on and from a great draw, he can he a big danger. (7) INFINITE HONOR is the only one of these who have already won at this distance, albeit at class 6 level, and may be worth some interest at what will be at least an each-way price. (4) BAEKRYONG and (8) PINK WIND others whose form reads well and can be involved.

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(6) BEOLMA BROWN was a smart winner on debut over 1000M on May 31st in the season's first juvenile race, showing on pace throughout. He comes up in class and in distance but is down 3kg in the weights and can win again. (7) JEOLDAE BOSS will be favourite. A sixteen-race maiden, he nevertheless comes in here with his recent form reading very well, with a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two at 1300M and 1400M. In this company he can sit just behind the speed and will be a big danger late on. It could be his day at last. (2) MASTER ROAD is another non-winner, in his case from six starts but with five top-four finishes. Drawing nicely, she can be on pace and be in this a long way. (1) FLYNG THE FORD and the up in class (10) CHAS QUEEN are other possibles. 

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Strong favourite here in the shape of (8) APPLE QUEEN. She has never finished any worse than 4th, with her win coming two starts back on April 14th over 1200M. She enters off a smart 2nd place in a good time over this distance on her first try at this level on May 18th and she won't need to improve much at all on that to win here. (4) TAMRA CHOEGANGJA also comes in off a last start 2nd place at class and distance on May 19th having overcome a slow start to run on. He carries his fair share of weight here but can be in the mix again. Also shaping as a danger is (7) CHEONGUCHAT. Back-to-back 3rd places at class and distance have seen him finish ahead of a few of these and he can be ahead of plenty again today. (10) DOWN THE ZONE and (1) FIRST CHOUX are others to consider on a place line.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) BIG WILD is yet to win in seven attempts but has four top-three finishes including last time out on May 31st when leading for much of the way, and ultimately running 2nd over this distance. He comes up 2kg in the weights but draws very nicely to lead again and this time can go all the way. (4) BLISS MARINE broke through at start number six over 1300M on May 26th when overcoming a wide draw to race handy. She is up in class but down 3kg in the weights and she can measure up. (8) TROUBLEMAKER was a close 2nd at 1300M on May 5th. She stays under the same light weight and with Franco staying aboard, she has every chance of being a danger again. (3) HAMA and (7) WONDERFUL CUTIE others in the frame.

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

Fillies and mares only. (7) LADY CODI was a desperately close 2nd at this distance on May 25th when on pace throughout. That followed a useful 4th over the same trip in April when again racing handy. She comes up 2.5kg in the weights today but in restricted filly and mare company, she looks the one to beat. (4) CROQUIS is still a maiden but is up in class following a couple of near misses, most recently at 1400M when leading and being passed with a furlong to run but battling on for 2nd. She comes down 3kg in the weights, she comes back in trip and Moon Se-young gets on. (9) WONDERFUL WELLS overcame gate ten to get her maiden win over 1300M on May 18th. She too can measure up at this level. (11) GOLDBERG and (8) BAEDARI KWAEGEOM among plenty of others with placing hopes.

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

(4) BORN DIA won back-to-back races in March and April, both at this distance and the latter at this class. She then ran and very close 2nd in a super-fast class and distance race on May 12th when she almost led the entire way around. She is nicely in here, she draws well to lead again, and she will take some beating. (5) CARDINAL FORCE is the solitary debut-maker. A Spun To Run juvenile, he is from Kim Young-kwan's stable and didn't show his hand when performing solidly in a May trial. He has every chance of a bold performance first-up from a nice draw. (1) NAYANA's latest couple have been no better than ordinary, but she has since been back to trial, which she won in a very quick time just last week. So long as she didn't leave her race there, she can be a danger. (10) SEONGSIL STAR and (2) LEMON PIE are others in the hunt.

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

There is one debut-maker among this field of eleven and he is going to be sent off as the favourite. (6) SOCKS KING is a three-year-old Blame colt and has been through two trials, winning them both in contrasting styles, first from off the pace and then by leading all the way. The second especially was a quick time and if he brings that form to the races, he can win. It's not an intimidating set of rivals. (11) FAIR SKIES is yet to win in six but has three runner-up finishes to his name. An apprentice takes 4kg off his back today and that should bring him into contention. (2) MOONHAK HOLIDAY enters off a very close 2nd place at class and distance on June 1st. She remains under a light weight and from a great draw she can be a threat again. (10) ARGO TAP and (8) SOARA TO TO among others in the minor money hunt.

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) YEONGGWANGUIPRINCE is the one to beat here. It took him a while to figure things out, but he has won two of his last three, most recently at this class and distance on May 26th when settling in midfield and running on. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights, but he can win again. (2) SINCHEON FIRST also took some time with his maiden win not arriving until start number nine in May. He evidently enjoyed it as he quickly followed up with another victory on May 12th at this class over 1400M. He too comes up in the weights but that's balanced by a good draw and a hat-trick isn't impossible. (3) HAMPYEONG IS BACK and (1) BLACK VOLT came home 3rd and 5th respectively when they raced one another at class and distance on May 10th and both can be in the mix again. The up in class (8) KOHINOOR may make for some each-way interest at probably a generous price.

Seoul Race 7: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Tricky but (9) BADEN BADEN seems to be living up to her potential and is back in the winning habit having taken her latest two, at a mile and at 1400M, both at class 4 level. She comes up in class today as well as up to a full two-turns for the first time but is nicely weighted and she can make it three in a row. (6) NICE TAEYANG is up in class too following a win and a runner-up finish from his latest two. He has run once at this distance and looks ready for another crack. With a 5kg drop in the weights, he can measure up in this company. That will mean overturning the form on (7) HANGANG POWER, who beat Nice Taeyang as the pair ran 1st and 2nd over 1400M on May 25th. She gets a weight drop too and can be competitive at this level. (10) BURUI SINHWA is the only one to have won over 1800M and did it as this level too, two starts back. He can be considered here while (11) A. P. PATEK has plenty of experience at this class and could be close.

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

A winner at this class over a mile two starts back, (5) BUGYEONG LION was beaten into 4th when favourite at this distance on March 29th. He comes in here fresh following twelve weeks off and coming into a much better gate and with Seo Seung-un climbing on, he will be the one to beat. (4) DIA GRIT comes up rapidly to this class following back-to-back wins in her latest two, both over 1400M, coming from off the pace both times The step up to a mile can suit and she can be competitive at this level under a light weight. (9) JANGSAN LEMON mixes his form but was a solid 2nd over 1400M last time out and while up in class, the extended trip can suit, and he carries a light weight. (1) FAST GUN and (7) WONDERFUL BOBCAT others in contention for the minors.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) COSMO RUN has three runner-up finishes from four attempts at this distance and comes back in trip following a 5th of eleven over 1400M on May 19th when settling midfield. In this company she can be further forward earlier, and she can claim her second win here. (3) MIGHTY SSEN has been a beaten favourite on both of her two latest starts, ending in 3rd and 4th place, both at this distance and both times having led. Moon Se-young gets on, he draws nicely to lead again, and could go all the way. (9) GIPPEUM HAMSEONG is yet to finish worse than 5th in six starts and enters having run 2nd on his first try at this class over 1400M on March 23rd. He has had thirteen weeks off so comes in fresh/rusty (delete as appropriate) and can be in the mix at a distance he was won at already. (6) RAON TIMOTH and (4) POWERFUL HWASEONG, the latter having beaten Mighty Ssen last time out, are others to consider.

Busan Race 7: Class 1 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

Most of these raced each other on May 19th over 2000M. (8) LUCKIEST GIRL was sent off as the favourite that day but ultimately ran 2nd having been handy throughout. A winner of three from seven she was successful over this distance in a valuable trophy race in April, and she can return to winning ways today. That will mean overturning the form on (1) FANTASTIC MAN, who won that May 19th race, striking the front turning for home and never looking like being caught. Once more he carries his fair share of weight and 2000M seems to be more his go these days, but he has won three times over this distance and shouldn't be dismissed. (2) CAPTAIN YANKEE and (7) DAEJI CHOICE were further back in 4th and 5th respectively and can aim to match or better that here. Among the few who didn't go in that May 19th race, (9) STAR MATTA is the best.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) DRONE KILLER enters off back-to-back runner-up finishes from his latest two at 1200M and 1400M. He steps up to the mile for the first time here and with CC staying up, he can return to winning ways. (4) SUNNY ROAD won at 1400M two starts back and then stepped up to 1800M for his first attempt at the class, leading for much of the way around, and ultimately finishing in 2nd place. He comes back to the mile for the first time, he draws well to lead again, and he will surely be in this a long way. (2) TRISTAN WANGJA comes up to this class and distance having won over 1300M on April 27th. That win had been coming and he can measure up here from a good gate and under a light weight. (5) QUEEN TOP and the up in class (6) WORLD KING MAN are others in the frame.

Seoul Race 10: Class 1 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(7) DOKKI BULPAE was a winner over this distance on May 4th when handy throughout. He comes up in class but while this is ostensibly class 1, it is restricted to horses with a rating no higher than 90. He carries a light weight and will be expected to win again. (9) GLOBAL BOBAE has a 3rd and a 2nd from his latest two, both at 1400M and most recently beating a few of today's rivals on April 28th. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights but in this company can be on pace and in things a long way again. (2) MIGHTY POP was 6th in that same race. That was his first start back in more than a year and he can strip fitter here. (8) WOLF PLAY was and also-ran in a G2 over 1200M last start. He comes into shallower and more suitable waters today and can return to some form. (4) BALVENIE another one in the placing hunt on his day.