15/01/2022. Mondo Ippico Internazionale: New post on Horse Racing in Korea – Sunday Seoul & Busan, Race-By-Race Preview (January 16)
Sunday sees meetings at both Seoul and Busan. Seoul has an 11-race card from 10:45 to 18:00 while at Busan the action runs from 12:00 to 16:40. The feature race is Busan’s finale involving 2000M track-record holder Fantastic Man, facing off with the likes of Blue Chipper, Great King and Smart Prince in a fourteen-runner field. All betting locations are open but attendance must be pre-booked through the MyCard app. Evidence of up to date vaccination against Covid-19 is required. Here are the previews
He’s moved trainers again – Blue Chipper goes at Busan on Sunday (Pic: KRA)
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maiden fillies to kick things off and five of the twelve are racing for the first time. (8) HAPPY MIX has earned favourite status following good 4th place on debut in a fast time on December 19th when she sat midfield from a wide gate and ran on well. The draw is a little better this time and she has every chance. (5) JEONGSANG FIGHTING’s one race so far was back in July of last year when she put in a fair effort over this distance. She looked very well when trialing up on Christmas Eve to requalify and much more can be expected this time around. (3) SAENGIL SEONMUL should improve on the 8th place she scored on debut in November and can be expected to be on pace from a good gate. Of the first-time starters, (7) SPEAR GOLD and (6) CITY CHARM both trialed up well enough and can go well first-up.
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maidens. (7) EUNHYE looks very much the one to beat having led almost the entire way around at this distance on November 20th, only to be caught by a good winner and finish in 2nd place. He’ll be on speed or handy here and this time can go all the way. (2) HANGANG BOSS was a solid 4th on his first try at this distance on December 11th, only narrowly missing out on 3rd. He can have come on for that run and be considered for better here. (8) EAGLE POINT came from well off the pace to run 2nd on debut over 1000M on November 27th. The step up in trip should suit and he’ll be coming home fast again. (4) GOOD NISEN was further back in the same race on his own debut having previously gone well in a trial and there can be improvement today. (6) THE FAVORITE was beaten by Eunhye at her latest start but has been consistent across three outings so far and should be competing for a place.
Selections
(7) Eunhye (2) Hangang Boss (8) Eagle Point (4) Good Nisen
Next Best
6, 1
Fast Start
1, 6, 7, 11
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
While it’s fair to say that (5) GOLD KAISER has mixed her form across three starts so far, her bad run came when drawn very wide and her two good ones when drawn similarly to today, including at her latest when a front-running 3rd over this distance. Just like today, that was in restricted filly and mare company, and this could be her day. (11) DONGHAENG raced twice last Spring, finishing 2nd on both occasions. She returns here after thirty-four weeks out having run well in a competitive trial in December in which she led for much of the way around alongside good horses. She has every chance of going well first-up. (1) WELLBEING CHAMPION ran on pleasingly for 5th on debut over 1000M in December. She comes up in trip and 4kg in the weights here without an apprentice aboard but from the inside, she may just sneak into the places. (13) FIRST ROAD and (7) RAON THE PEARL are others in the placing frame.
Selections
(5) Gold Kaiser (11) Donghaeng (1) Wellbeing Champion (13) First Road
Next Best
7, 10
Fast Start
1, 5, 7, 11
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maiden fillies greet the starter in the opener at Busan with four of the twelve racing for the first time. (11) BEAUTY BROWN is set to start a hot favourite having beaten a couple of these on her way to 2nd place on debut in a similar event on December 17th, when she led for much of the way around. She drew even wider that day so the barrier shouldn’t be a problem and she should go one better. The logical main challengers are a couple of the first-time starters. (4) HOLLYWOOD PARTY is the pick of these having run 2nd in a trial in a decent time although (7) KF ONE stopped the clock competitively too in her heat and with a 4kg weight allowance can make an impact. Returning to those with prior experience, (3) WONDERFUL CUTIE and (9) HAPPY SONG SONG perhaps have the greatest chance of improving.
Selections
(11) Beauty Brown (4) Hollywood Party (7) KF One (3) Wonderful Cutie
Next Best
9, 8
Fast Start
1, 4, 8, 11
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three and four-year-old maidens. (8) TIZ BAROWS will be a warm favourite having debuted well over 1300M on December 11th when going right back and then finishing off very well. The additional half-furlong should suit, and he is the one to beat. (9) NEW A ONE improved at start number two when runner-up at 1200M with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. He too went right back that day before running on and should appreciate a bit more distance here. (4) P N S CHANCE has been consistent across her three outings to date and is yet another who may like a bit of extra distance as she has been doing her best work late on each occasion. If you prefer a front-runner, then (3) BE CRAZY may be the one to go for. He has been on pace in both starts so far, finishing 4th both times, most recently behind New A One and from a nice draw will be up in front early again. (1) GEOLJAK WOMAN another in the hunt.
Selections
(8) Tiz Barows (9) New A One (4) P N S Chance (3) Be Crazy
Next Best
1, 10
Fast Start
3, 4, 5, 13
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
It’s hard to oppose (1) MONEY CASE here. He’s run 4th and 2nd in two starts so far, both at 1000M and the latter in a fast time when handy throughout and running on. He looks to be working towards a maiden win and it can come here from the inside gate and under the track’s most in-form jockey. (5) GEUMA STARLET drops back in trip after an inauspicious spin around 1400M when favourite on Christmas Eve. Draw a line though that and instead go on his previous effort when 2nd at this distance on December 5th, beating a few of these in the process. You Hyun-myung climbs aboard today and he should be back in the finish. Also coming back in trip is (10) CHIEF OFFICER. He has the fastest time among these for the distance and gets a 4kg claim today. He may need some early luck from a relatively wide draw though. (6) YEONGGWANGUI RIDER ran 5th behind Geuma Starlet in early December having briefly led. He has trialed since then and should strip fitter. (4) SORI TAEPUNG resumes after eight months out and while he will need this, could sneak some minor money.
