Korea: Sunday, 29th December 2024

3 minute read

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

Juvenile maiden fillies with all but two racing for the first time. (3) TEUKGEUP PARTY was the quickest in trials, finishing 4th in her heat behind three experienced racehorses having settled midfield and run on. She draws well here and has every chance first up. (2) FLYING DAY went through a slower trial but more than held her own with a close 3rd running on well. Drawn well and with Moon Se-young booked, she will have plenty of backers. One of the two with racing experience is (7) JUNMA FORCE. She debuted fairly when 5th over 1300M on November 30th and that experience should give her the edge over most of the newcomers. Returning to the debut makers, (4) GYEOUL JANGMI and trial winner (9) NAEGILUI ACE look the next best.

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

(3) POWER MONSTER has made good progress across three starts so far, culminating in a close 2nd place over 1200M on November 30th when settling midfield and running on. The slight step up in trip can suit, and he can go one better today. (11) RAON SILENCE ran a solid 4th on debut over this distance on November 30th when beginning well then dropping back before rallying well. She should have come on for that run and she will be disputing favourite status here. (2) MEGA STEP has two 3rd places to her name among five starts. She can get a bit far back in her races but draws well to sit behind the speed and pressure late. (8) FOX TROT and (5) TAEGISAN KING are other place chances.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(2) DOCTOR CASTLE didn't do a lot on debut but was much improved at start number two over 1400M on November 1st when coming from off the pace and finishing strongly for 2nd place, beating a couple of today's rivals in the process. The step up to a mile should be in his favour and he is the one to beat. The unkindly named (9) FAT BOY has five top-five finishes among his nine starts. He has been doing his best work late in his races and is another for who the additional distance can suit. (12) FLYING ICE beat three of these when coming from a long way back to run 3rd at 1400M on December 6th. He has a 4th already over the mile and in this company should be aiming for at least the places. (5) SWORD WING and (3) CLOUD LOVE are other place chances.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1700M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(9) WITH DIS KURO has made progress over four starts so far culminating in a 2nd place when sent up to this distance for the first time on October 19th, leading for much of the way. He comes in fresh following ten weeks off and should have too much here. (10) MERIT SUNSHINE beat three of these on her way to 3rd place on her first try at this distance on November 30th. The wide draw shouldn't be a problem and with CC climbing up, she shapes as the main danger. (2) ROPPONGI DRAGON ran on too late on debut over 1200M on December 7th. He should have learned plenty from that and from a better draw and up in trip, can go much closer here. (4) SUN GALLANT and (3) NAEGILUIYEONGGWANG are others to consider.

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) YOUNG SKYWALKER has been the beaten favourite in all three of his outings so far, with two 2nd places and a 3rd. He has been on pace on each occasion but just hasn't managed to finish off. He comes up in class today but that actually may work out well for him as he is down in weight and there isn't too much to fear. He gets another chance. (1) GRAND CHASER stepped up to this distance for the first time on November 29th and ran a solid 2nd place. She comes into a much better gate and third-up this preparation, she may be peaking fitness wise. (12) WORLD WINNERS MAN has been working his way back towards a second win with a runner-up finish at this class and distance on November 22nd his latest and while he has the challenge of the widest gate, he can be dangerous. (10) BLUE POINT and the up in class (4) STEROPES are others in the hunt.

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

(5) RAON NIZHINSKII got his breakthrough at start number three over this distance on November 24th, coming from just behind the speed to score narrowly. He comes up in class here but that shouldn't be a problem – all the main rivals are up in class too – and he can go back-to-back. (10) FREE TIME made all to win by as many as he pleased on debut over 1200M on November 10th. He too comes up in class, as well as slightly up in trip, but the manner of that debut win suggests he can more than measure up. Continuing the theme of up in class following a maiden win, (6) ECO WORLD struck at start five over this distance on November 17th. She comes down 2kg in weight and she has a strong finish on her. (9) YEONHUI HERO and (1) GEUMA FOREMOST are still winless, but both come up in class after too many near-misses and both have run times that suggests they can be competitive.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(10) SAMAKUI KKOT returned from nine months out to run a strong 2nd in an all filly race over this class and distance on December 8th, briefly striking the front in the straight. Her win came over this distance and she should be stripping fitter for that run three weeks ago, making her the one to beat here. (3) SPEED TOP ran out an all the way winner on debut over this distance on November 22nd. He comes up in class but draws nicely to be on pace again and he can be in this a long way. (6) MORNING DEW made his breakthrough at start number six on December 8th racing on pace at this distance. That win had been coming and he too can measure up. (11) PARANG ENERGY and the returning (1) ROAD TO WARRIOR others to consider.

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

(3) BRIGHT KAI has been knocking on the door of a second win in her latest efforts with two 3rd places and a 2nd from her last three. The 2nd came on her first try at this distance and in this company and drawn well, she may be a little further forward than usual, and she has as much chance as any here. (4) WALTZUI YEOWANG broke through at start four over 1300M at this class on November 13th, getting sent back to trial in the process but coming through that in fine order earlier this month. She comes up 3.5kg in the weights today, but draws well and can be a danger. (1) ASSI JANGGUN enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes most recently beating a coupe of today's rivals on November 24th at 1300M. She can be on-pace here and in this a long way. (11) WONDERFUL THATCH and (8) CHEONJI MARKET among others in the placing hunt.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) OASIS RED comes out of a slightly disappointing spin around in the Breeders' Cup Rookie last month, but he has a win and a runner-up from two tries around 1800M and under a light weight, he can return to winning ways today. (4) CARDINAL FORCE returned to action following three months out over a mile on November 22nd. He drew gate twelve that day and then weakened late, but he should strip fitter for that run and can be close here. (3) UNJU GUY has been ultra-consistent finishing in the top three in all of his six starts so far. That includes 3rd at this class on his first try around 1800M on November 17th and he can be matching or bettering that today. (10) OASIS WINNER and (8) QUEEN'S ROAD others in the frame.

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

Tricky race. Despite the wide draw, we'll take a chance on (11) PROMISE, a winner of two from four so far, including his latest over this distance on November 16th when settling midfield and then running on. He comes up in class today but Maia, who won on him, stays on and under a light weight, he can win again at what should be an each-way or better price. (2) SMART MUSIC has won his latest two at 1200M and 1300M to come rapidly up in class. He comes up to the 1400M for the first time but there is no reason why it can't suit, and nicely drawn and tactically versatile, completing a hat-trick isn't impossible. (5) EUNBIT DOLPUNG mixes her form a bit, but he has plenty of experience at this level and comes in off a smart class and distance 2nd on November 23rd and this is the kind of race she can challenge in. (1) HEUNGHAENG BULPAE and (10) CITY KING others in the hunt.

Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(10) KING DRAGON won four in a row between April and September before seeing his streak come to an end when 7th of eleven on his first try at this class when sent up to a mile on October 6th. He comes in fresh after twelve weeks off, and back at a distance at which he is two for two, he can return to winning ways. (3) STAR CLASS returned to action after five months out on November 29th and ran a solid 3rd place at 1200M, beating a couple of today's rivals in the process. He should have derived benefit from that run, and he is one for one over the 1400M. Nicely drawn, he is the main danger and will be vying for favourite status. (5) FANTASTIC WOMAN can have her latest two struck through as they were in Group and Listed filly and mare company. Prior to that she was a winner at this class and distance in July and back in more amenable company she can be competitive again (9) FLYING ACE and (6) BORN DIA others to keep safe.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

It's hard to go too far past (5) BOLLIN here. Since getting his second win in September, he has raced three times at this class with two 3rd places and a 4th, most recently at 1700M on November 30th. He comes up to 1800M for the first time, he should be on or close to the pace, and he should have too much. (9) STING JET won back-to-back races in September and October to get rapidly promoted to this class. He ran a fair 5th at 1400M on his first try at this level on December 1st and looks ready for a crack around two turns. (4) WONDERFUL PURGE enters off a 3rd place at this class over 1400M coming from well off the pace and while he carries plenty of weight, can be competing for the places. The veteran (6) DEVIL K along with the unexposed (2) M G BEST are others to be considered.

Busan Race 6: Class 1 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(4) GRAND SUN was a creditable 8th of fifteen behind Global Hit in the G1 President's Cup two starts back at Seoul before returning to Busan and beating several of these on his way to 2nd at this class and distance on December 1st. Still fairly weighted and nicely drawn, he looks very much the one to beat here. (8) WORLD DRAGON was even further back in the President's Cup, but it was an absurdly hard ask for his first start back after three months out. He returned to form with 2nd place over a mile at class 2 level on November 22nd and while he is up to class 1 for the first time, he comes down in the weights, and he can be competitive. (2) DOCTOR FAITH and (6) CAPTAIN YANKEE came home in 4th and 5th respectively in that December 1st race and both can be in the mix to get closer here. (9) FLAT BABE is second up following eight months off, and this should be more amenable than her return in the Breeders' Cup Queen.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) LUCKY FRANK has flattered to deceive a bit across his five starts to date but his 4th and 5th from his latest two when racing on pace, most recently beating a couple of today's rivals, suggests that he does have a win in him. He draws well to lead again and today can be his day. (1) YEONGWON BIG MAN is the danger. He is a winner at this class and distance, and he returns to action for the first time since June. He looked well when 3rd in a trial at the start of this month and from a good draw, can put in a bold showing first up. The form falls off rapidly after those two. (7) SFORZA hinted at ability in his first couple of starts and has been back to trial since his latest outing. He was on pace in the trial stopping the clock in a quick time and if he brings that form to the races, he will be in this. (9) MIGHTY KICK and (3) CHANGJOUI ACHIM the other place chances.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(11) BLOOMING STAR has been in consistent form of late and enters having won at this distance on November 24th when on pace throughout. He is up in class here and he has the challenge of the widest gate, but he comes down a full 4kg in the weights and he can win again. (3) RAON THE MAN was a winner at this class and distance two starts back, setting the fastest time among these for the 1200M in the process. He has never finished outside of the top five and from a good draw can be on pace or handy and with an apprentice keeping his weight down, he has a big chance. (10) NEMO PRINCE ran 2nd to Blooming Star in that November 24th race which was enough to bring him up in class too. He comes down 5.5kg in the weights and that can make him competitive here. (4) WORLD SHANNONS and (5) FARCIARZ others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(10) WORLD BLAME won at this distance at class 4 level two starts back before running 3rd and 2nd in two subsequent tries at this class, again both over 1800M. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights, but the wide draw shouldn't matter as he has proven able to run well on pace or from behind, and he will be a short price favourite here. (2) WINNER YOUNG came from off the pace to run 2nd at this class and distance on November 23rd. That was his third placing at 1800M and while he carries his fair share of weight here, he should be close (8) EAST WEST comes up in class having won two of his last three, both at this distance. He doesn't get much of a weight drop but on recent form, he can measure up in this company. (5) MUNHAK TAPIT and (7) MAKING STORY others in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(4) RAON FOREST has come back into form with a win over a mile at this class followed by 2nd place in the Listed Breeders' Cup Queen at Busan over 1800M a month ago, She is fairly weighted here, her running style should suit a return to 2000M, and she is the one to beat. (3) MEGA DRAGON has won his latest two, most recently on his first try at this distance on December 1st when on pace throughout. That brings him up to class 1 for the first time, but he is down 5kg in the weights and can measure up. (5) VICS GO ran 2nd to Raon Forest in that mile race in October. He looked well when winning a quick trial last week and with Moon Se-young on for the first time, he can be dangerous. (6) NORTEHRN TIME and (7) TIZ BAROWS others to consider for the places.