Winter is here! It’s turned quite chilly across the Korean peninsula this week but it should still be pleasant enough in the daytime sunshine to enjoy some racing. The main action of the weekend is on Sunday when both Seoul and Busan will host big juvenile races but before that, there is a bumper 13-race card at Seoul on Saturday from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(5) GREEN Y struggled when stepped up to 1300M at the end of last month but prior to that recorded her best finish so far when 2^nd at this trip in September. That wasn’t a strong race, but neither is this and she’s shown more in the way of speed than most here so if she gets off to a good start, she can win. (9) DAEJI GONGJU ran an improved (although admittedly distant) 2^nd last time out and can look to build on it today. She’s not the quickest of starters but can run on well. (6) DOUBLE RAINBOW has two 4^th places to her name and should be beating plenty again. There are two debut-makers and of them (12) LOOKING GOOD looked competent enough in trials and can go well first-up.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens here and six of the twelve have raced before. Of those with prior experience, (5) YAHO THUNDER CAT ran 3^rd behind a couple of useful looking ones (the 2^nd place-getter has since gone on to win too) on October 20^th. He was prominent throughout that day, is well drawn to lead, and could win this. (6) BUCKETFUL GOLD ran very greenly on his own debut back in September to the extent that Stewards placed a warning on him. Nevertheless, he still managed to finish 4^th and comes back in after a couple of months off with scope to improve. The main dangers though are likely to be from the first-timers. (3) CHOIN BOLT and (7) OKAY TAP came home 1^st and 2^nd in an October trail with just half a length between them. They both looked competent and should go well first-up here. As ever, the market may offer some clues.

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

More juvenile maidens here with just four of the twelve having previous racing experience. Only one of those four has experience to boast about and that’s the likely favourite (9) CHEONNYEONUI BARAM. He’s raced twice and improved to 4^th on the most recent of those five weeks ago, coming from well off the pace having shifted inwards and bumped another horse at the start. He ran into trouble in the home straight too so with a clean trip today, he has every chance of winning. There are two standouts among the debut-makers. (1) SUN SPIKE was the fastest in trials putting in two very solid efforts, the most recent of which was just two weeks ago. Expect him to begin well and to be a danger. (3) DORORA won a trial in good fashion at the beginning of this month and can be a threat too. (2) TANTAN WINNER and (8) MY HAWK are other first-timers who can go well.

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Maiden fillies only here.  Four of them raced each other at this distance on October 28^thand that day (8) BLACK GINGA finished the best of them coming home in 2^nd place. She came from off the pace to record her best finish to date and has to be given a chance here. So too though does that day’s 3^rd place-getter, (4) BANGTANMA, who was just a neck behind. She previously ran 5^th in the Munhwa Ilbo Cup and should be looking to lead all the way here. (3) SUNSHIN MARINE had a poor day at the office on her latest start, beginning slowly and never being involved. She had shown ability prior to that though and can go close here. (7) DAESEONG HANEUL and (10) NEW PARADIGM have both run just the once and both showed some promise that they can build on today.

Race 5: Class 6 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(5) CHANGSEONG ILHO ran solid 2^nd place over 1300M two weeks ago, his best finish in twelve outings to date. He’s raced at this distance in the past and looks ready for another crack at it in what is a really weak looking contest. (7) SAMAE STAR too has run at this distance before and enters in decent form with a 4^th and a 3^rd from her latest two at 1200M and 1300M and she looks to be the main danger. (4) SINBIRYONG’s recent work has all been at 1000M and ran well enough for 4^th last start. (1) LUCKY FACTORY and (3) MAIN EVENT are others who could potentially improve.

Race 6: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Class 5 fillies here. (6) GREEN DARC registered a win and a 2^nd place from her first two starts before taking her chance in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup – Seoul’s top juvenile race – at the end of last month. She was found out a little there but didn’t run badly and dropping back to the minimum trip, she will be expected to return to winning ways today. (5) DAMON ANGEL won a weak filly-only race back in July before being a bit Read more of this post