Korea: Sunday, 26th May 2024

3 minute read

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

Competitive opener. (6) GEUMAK MYEONGJANG enters off his best finish to date at start number five on April 28th when racing handy over this distance and finishing 2nd, well beaten by a good winner, but ahead of a couple of today's rivals. He can sit behind the speed here and can go one better. (5) NAOL INDY raced once without distinction last summer and then didn't reappear until this April. Now gelded, he has a 4th and a 2nd in two stars back, most recently leading almost the entire way around over this distance on May 5th. Third-up he can be peaking and can win. (1) SAMAEBEONJJEOK enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes and comes up to this distance for the first time having drawn well. (3) EURACHACHA and (9) CHROMITE others in the frame.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only in this maiden, and (7) CROQUIS will be the favourite. She enters off a 3rd and a 4th in her latest two appearances, both over 1300M and both times having sat handy and run on. The slight step up in trip can suit and, in this company, she should be on pace and is the one to beat. (2) P N S GAJA enters off an improved 4th place at start number three on April 21st when ridden on pace for the first time. She draws well for similar tactics to be employed today and she can be competitive. (11) ARNOLD QUEEN does have experience at this distance. She ran 5th behind Croquis at 1300M on March 30th on what was her first start since January and while she has had another eight weeks off, she can get closer here. (8) NEXTLEVEL and (9) CLAIR GOLD are others who can compete for the minors.

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

Maiden fillies in the south coast opener. It's fair to say that she has mixed her form across her five starts so far but (11) BLISS MARINE has a 3rd and a 2nd to her name at 1400M and 1600M. She likes to race on pace and while she has drawn wide, her pattern so far suggests she can run well today, and she won't need to improve much on those precious showings to win here. (5) NEOM CITY enters off an improved 4th place over this distance at start number five on April 28th. In doing so, she recorded the fastest time among any of these for the distance and a similar effort will see her in the finish again. (1) JUMBO ROCKET also enters off her best finish to date, which came over 1400M on April 5th. She was ridden much further forward than in previous starts and she is nicely drawn for a repat here. (9) RUN TO QUEEN and (6) WE LIKE MONEY others in the hunt

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

(4) CAMP DAVID comes in off a much-improved 2nd at start number three on April 20th when handy throughout. He comes up to 1700M for the first time and from a good draw should be on pace, and he can win here. (8) P N S OHOH ran 3rd on debut over 1200M on May 11th, settling just behind the speed and running through the line pleasingly enough. He should have derived benefit from that run and with some natural improvement can challenge a bit closer today. (9) MAGIC PRINCE has a 5th and a 4th from two starts so far, most recently at 1400M. His running style suggests that two turns can suit, and he should be challenging late. (2) MARUBYEOL and (3) MEOTJIN CHOEGANG are others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Competitive maiden. (1) THUNDER GUY ran 4th on debut in March and followed up with a 2nd place over 1300M on April 21st when on pace throughout and only going down very narrowly to the longest shot on the board. He draws very well here, Seo Seung-un climbs aboard, and he can go one better today. (9) AWESOME SUNRISE enters off a career-best 2nd place at start number nine on April 26th when coming from off the pace over this distance. In doing so, she recorded the fastest time among those here who have tackled the 1400M and she shapes as the main danger. There is one debut maker. (5) OASIS BLUE took two trials to qualify but he certainly caught the eye on the second of them, running 2nd in a quick time. The trainer/jockey combination will not go unnoticed either and he will have backers first-up. (11) WORLD MAID CAT and (4) GLOBAL SPURT are others who can enter the calculations.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(1) NARAOLA will be the warm favourite here. He got his win over 1400M three starts back and come sin having run 3rd on his first try at this distance on April 28th when overcoming gate eleven to find a handy position. He enters under a similar weight but draws a much better gate and will take some beating. (5) HEUIMANGUI CHANGA has plenty of experience of this class and distance with a 2nd place on his record over it. He likes to settle back and run on, and he can be a danger. (8) THORUI MANGCHI has placed at this class over 1400M, and he comes up to two turns for the first time. He has shown he can be versatile in his running style and the distance may well suit. (7) FEDERAL KING and (2) ANYANG CHEONDUNG ae the other logical money chances.

Busan Race 3: Class Open (1800M) Weight for Age / Busan Mayor's Cup (KOR G2) / KRW 700 Million

The final leg of the Stayer Series sees (11) GLOBAL HIT looking to complete a clean sweep having already taken out the Herald Business and the YTN Cups at Seoul, both over 2000M. He is steadily asserting himself as the best horse in Korea and he will be hot favourite to prevail again. Should he not be at his best then (6) TUHONUI BANSEOK is an ever-present danger. He was 3rd in the Herald and 2nd in the YTN, and he is the defending champion. He draws nicely to be on pace and Global Hit has a furlong less to get past him here than he did in Seoul. (5) NUT PLAY was 2nd in the Herald and 4th in the YTN. If he can take advantage of the favourable draw here to get in front of Global Hit and make the favourite come past him instead of the other way around, he can be firmly in the finish. (1) GALAXY ROAD hasn't really managed to mix it in with the elite but enters in very good form and Franco staying on gives him a chance from off the pace. (3) SPEED YOUNG is a stablemate of Global Hit and was 5th in the Herald and 3rd in the YTN. It wouldn't be a surprise if he has a big win in him eventually and from a good draw, it is not impossible it could be today.

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

(1) AUSTIN LEADER has been working back towards a second win and it could come here. He enters off two 3rd places and a 5th from his latest three, all at this class and most recently at this distance on April 20th. From the inside ate, Lee Dong-ha can pick his spot and they can prevail. It has been a long time between drinks – 22 starts – for (10) SMART BYEOL, but her recent form reads very well including her 2nd place last time out at class and distance on April 28th when coming from well off the pace. Her running style means the wide draw shouldn't be a problem and she has a fast final furlong average time. (3) GHOST CHARM and (5) WORLD KING MAN come in having run 3rd and 5th respectively at class and distance on April 27th and both should be close again (8) FIJI BLADE another place chance.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(3) GREAT BOY got his maiden win over a mile on April 19th, racing handy before taking things up heading into the straight and pulling away. He comes up in class and in distance here, but neither should be a problem, and third-up this preparation, he can be peaking fitness-wise. (6) EUNSEONG CHAMPION got his maiden win at a mile two starts back before running 3rd on his first try at this class, again over the 1600M, on April 28th. The step up in trip can suit and he will be vying for favourite status. (10) WONDERFUL KAYLAN is yet to win but has three runner-up finishes, including when 2nd ahead of Eunseong Champion in that April 28th race when she got to the lead from gate twelve. She again has the challenge of a wide draw, but she shouldn't be dismissed. (7) YEONGGWANGUICLASS and (12) ADELE HORANGI among others in the placing hunt.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

It took (6) YEONGGWANGUI WORLD a couple of goes to figure things out, but he then won three in a row, all at 1300M and all in quick times, most recently at this class on April 28th, leading every step of the way. He comes up  4kg in the weights today, but it should take more than that to stop him and he can continue on his merry way, and he will start a prohibitive favourite. (3) DAEHEUNG CLASS is yet to win in eighteen attempts but has no fewer than six runner-up finishes and five 3rd places. They include 2nd on a fast race at class and distance on April 21st and while in all probability he will find one too quick again here, he should be close. (7) GEOMIBULU ran 2nd over 1400M on her first try at this class on April 21st and is a place threat again. (8) CHALLANHAN POKPUNG and (4) RAON TAP PLAY others in the minor money frame.

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

(3) FLYING DANU is two for two, having won on debut on March 8th over 1200M and then followed up at this distance on April 7th, when making all at this class. She comes up 2.5kg in the weights, but that's balanced somewhat by a very good draw, and she can make it three in a row here. (6) MACH MAN beat a few of these on his way to a solid class and distance 3rd place on April 26th, racing handy throughout. He has seven top-five finishes from nine starts and he should be there or thereabouts again. (10) RAON VIBE MAN was one of those beaten by Mach Man on April 26th. The margins weren't huge, and he has won at this distance so shouldn't be dismissed. (2) JANGSAN LEMON and (4) CAPTAIN EVERYTHING are others to keep safe in the exotics.

Seoul Race 7: Class 1 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(6) SAENAE QUEEN blitzed a class 2 field over this distance on April 20th, leading all the way, and stopping the clock in a time that would win most international Korea Sprints. What's more, she did it from gate eleven. She comes up to class 1 but carries a light weight and needless to say, none of these have come any closer than half a second to the time she recorded. She has to go on top. However, when she came up against the elite in the Listed Segye Ilbo in February, she was found wanting a bit. (9) WOW WOW finished ahead of her that day and followed up with 2nd place at this class and distance on March 31st beating plenty of these in the process. He could go one better. (11) RAON GIANT was 4th in that March 31st race. She too has quick times for the distance and Harry Kasim climbing up is a plus. (4) VICEROY was a last start class and distance winner and while up in the weights, warrants respect. (2) FOREVER DREAM, who also finished ahead of Saenae Queen in the Segye Ilbo, is another in the hunt.

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

(5) STAR CLASS comes in following a narrow defeat in a quick race over class and distance on May 5th when he led from the start until the final strides. Once more he carries his fair share of weight, but he comes into a better gate, and he can go one better this time. (8) DRAGON FIRE ran 4th on debut but he comes rapidly up two classes having won his latest two over 1300M and 1400M. He carries a nice light weight here and based on his running style so far, the step up in trip can suit. (7) VERLUC is an ultra-consistent type, who was 3rd at class and distance on April 21st. He should be on pace here and can be in this a long way. (1) SUCCESS MOCCA and (6) CORNER ONE, the latter who beat Verluc when 2nd in that April 21st race, are among many others here with placing claims.

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

(1) EFFEL TAP returned to winning ways at this class and distance on April 27th when racing on pace throughout and scoring well. He comes up 3kg in the weights, but that's balanced by a much better gate, and a repeat shouldn't be ruled out. (3) SUNNY ROAD was an all the way winner at 1400M on April 20th, his second win in his latest three. He is up in class and in distance here but nicely weighted and should be able to measure up in this small field. (6) URUS QUEEN was a winner at this class over 1700M two starts back before running a very close 2nd at a mile last time out. She'll be on pace here and can be in this a long way. (4) EUNPA JOY and (7) GWANGCHIGI are the other place chances.

Busan Race 7: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(9) WORLD LEGEND has a best of 2nd in three starts at this class, all of them over the 1800M. He returns to one-turn racing for the first time since winning over a mile at class 3 level last November, and under a light weight and with Franco back on board for the first time since that win, he can return to winning ways. (1) BIWOL comes up in class having won two of his first four races in emphatic fashion, most recently over 1400M on April 5th when handy early before taking things up heading into the straight and pulling away. He is very well drawn here and can measure up at this level. (10) ATLAS drops back in trip having finished 2nd in a valuable trophy race over 1800M on April 14th. She is a three-time winner over this distance and tackling class 2 for the first time, she gets a big weight drop. (4) CAPTAIN GOLD and (2) SEOBU BIGSTEP are two among plenty of other capable ones here.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

This is a very tricky race. With not a huge amount of confidence, we'll go with (1) MR QUALITY to repeat his quite emphatic win over a mile on April 15th when he led all the way and won by as many as he please. He comes up in class and in distance today, but he draws nicely, carries a fair weight, and has as good a chance as any. (3) WINNER YOUNG was a class and distance winner two starts back. He couldn't follow up when favourite on March 23rd, but he comes in here fresh after nine weeks off and warrants another chance. (9) K N SKETCH is two starts into a comeback following six months out He has a 5th and a 3rd, the latest at this distance and third-up this preparation, he can be peaking. (5) K N LIGHT and (6) BILUI NALGAE others with credible chances.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) BEOLGYO VERITAS comes in having won his latest two in fine style, most recent at this class and distance on April 27th when he made all. He comes up a full 3.5kg in the weights but looks well placed to complete his hat-trick here. (3) RAON TIMOTH won his first two but hasn't quite kicked on just yet. He comes back to 1200M here and from a good draw and under a light weight, can go close. (5) HWASANGWIHWAN has the dubious distinction of being up to class 4 despite being yet to win. That's courtesy of five runner-up finishes, including his lasts two, both at 1300M. In this company, expect him to be on pace, CC stays up and down in the weights while he may find one too quick again, he can place. (8) TAEPYEONG FIGHTER and (4) CHEONHAENGCHAT are others to consider.