There are Sunday cards at both Seoul (11 races from 10.45 to 18.00) and Busan (6 races from 12.40 to 17.05). Here are the previews:
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Twelve two-year-olds line up over the 1000m in the first on the card. (5) HANSEN CHOICE was impressive on debut when finishing second behind Road Ran over the 1000m. She ran a good time in comparison to what we have seen from her rivals in this race. Leading rider Kim Yong-Geun will be legged aboard once again and is likely to work forward on her from barrier five. The chestnut is unique to look at with three white socks and splashes of grey through her coat no doubt from her sire Hansen. (2) BIG PLAN enters the race coming off a solid trial. The filly will jump from barrier two and should be able to enjoy a run just behind the leading division. (1) GWANGYA SIDAE looks a chance to figure if she can find some improvement on her debut run. She ran fourth on a sloppy rated track when jumping from the inside. (6) SAENAE CHOICE was sent for a break after her debut in July and has since trialed. She finished midfield in the trial in a reasonable time.
Selections (5) Hansen Choice (2) Big Plan (1) Gwangya Sidae (6) Saenae Choice
Next Best 7, 3
Fast Start 1, 5
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
The two-year-olds will again line up in the second where we have six debutants and six gallopers lining up for their second career start. (3) MONEY SIJANG ran a promising race on when debuting to finish second behind Nunbusin Hansen. Lee Hyeon-Jong will jump aboard the Peace Rules filly where he will be looking to ride her forward as per last start. (8) CHEONJI BARAM looks one that will appreciate the step up to 1300m after running through the line strong over 1000m on debut. The colt ran a fair time on a rain affected track and with improvement at his second start looks an each way chance. (2) BLUE CHARM ran on well last start but got too far back in the early part of the race. Kim Yong-Geun stays aboard the Colors Flying suggesting he must have a reasonable engine. (6) HERITAGE will benefit from his first up run and should be in better condition this time around.
Selections (3) Money Sijang (8) Cheonji Baram (2) Blue Charm (6) Heritage
Next Best 1, 7
Fast Start 3, 6, 7
Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
There is plenty of in-form gallopers in the Class 5 event where we see the Korean-breds line up over the 1000m. (4) COMPLETE KINGDOM looks one of the main chances after a good performance in Munhwa Ilbo Cup when fifth behind the well-performed Roller Blade. The Colors Flying colt is now back in Class 5 company with just 53kg on his back. He looks one that can go through the easier grades quickly. (3) CHEONHA YEOJE finished second behind an impressive winner in the form of East Jet. He’s one of the likely pacemakers and has drawn ideally to get the run of the race. (9) YULONG FLYING has been a model of consistency since resuming from a spell back in Jul. He has finished second at his past two starts in good time and cannot be discounted. (1) SONGAM CANDY broke through at just his second start last time out. He ran on from midfield over the 1000m and looks one to follow as he is stretched out in distance.
Selections (4) Complete Kingdom (3) Cheonha Yeoje (9) Yulong Flying (1) Songam Candy
Next Best 8, 11
Fast Start 3, 4, 7, 11
Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
The fourth on the card has an evenly matched field to line up over the 1300m. (6) SUNSHINE TEUKGEUP has had plenty of starts when compared to the majority of her counterparts but her recent runs have been good. She comes out of races where they ran significantly faster times and she was not far away last start. (11) DASHING CANOE will have her third fourth start in Class 5 company, but she is one that can figure in a race with no standout. She has been settling rearwards in her runs and looks as if she will have to once again with gate elevent. (12) COILRO looks an each-way chance for our newest expat trainer Tony Castanheira. The Chapel Royal filly finished second last time out when three lengths behind Yeonhui Ilchul. She needs further improvement to be a winning chance. (9) NUNBUSIN HANSEN is expected to be a main player in the market. Kim Yong-Geun sticks with the lightly weighted filly which is a good push for punters.
Selections (6) Sunshine Teukgeup (11) Dashing Canoe (12) Coilro (9) Nunbusin Hansen
Next Best 7, 11
Fast Start 7,9
Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
The first over two turns will see a field of twelve go over 1700m at Class 5 level. (1) CITY SONGAM looks the one to beat coming off a second behind Cutie Barbie. He’s an on-speed runner so the inside draw should see him work forward and take some running down in a mediocre event. (3) GOLD LEVEL has been in reasonable form and looks an each way chance. The filly ran on well from midfield last time out over the same distance. She gets a three-kilogram advantage on City Songam but she cannot get too far back in the run. (7) HAETBINNA gets his easiest assignment in some time and can run into the money. The seven-year-old will have to carry equal top weight as he dropped back in class two starts back. (10) MENI SPEED finished off fairly last time out in a slowly ran race. The Menifee three-year-old has lacked early speed at his past couple of starts and with gate ten he will most likely settle midfield or worse.
Selections (1) City Songam (3) Gold Level (7) Haetbinna (10) Meni Speed
Next Best 11, 9
Fast Start 1
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Wide open race over the mile at Busan with several having serious claims on the win. We’ll side with last start winner (9) CASTEL CORE to overcome the 3kg penalty extra he has to carry today and win again. He loves the distance and has beaten several of these in recent outings. Although that win on November 10th, was his maiden, he looks to have more in the tank. (1) MARU JJANG ran 2nd to Castel Core in that race a month ago. It was the second time in a row he has finished within half a length of our pick and he can get close to him once more. (5) TOUCH STAR MAN had to be scratched from a planned start two weeks ago when he got caught in the gate prior to the start. He’s suffered no ill-effects and steps up to a mile for the first time with his last start form having taken a boost by the horse he beat, Thunder King, striking by nine-lengths on Friday. He should be a real factor here. (12) LEGACY is another who tackles a mile for the first time today and comes in off the back of two good 3rd places over 1300M. (7) FINAL FRONT looks best of a talented rest.
Selections: (9) Castel Core (5) Touch Star Man (12) Legacy (7) Final Front
Next Best: 1, 8
Fast Start: 7, 9, 12
Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
The sixth on the card in far from the strongest Class 4 we have seen at Seoul. (8) MUSTANG RUN looks hard to beat coming off a last start second over the same distance. Lee Hyeok will ride the chestnut who is likely to push forward in the early stages. The past two runs of (6) MEOTJIN WANGJA suggests that the two-year-old will appreciate the step up to the 1700m for the first time. The Temple City colt ran through the line strongly last start and he gives Boo Min-Ho a good chance to notch his first
