It’s the first Listed race of the year in Korea in the shape of the Segye Ilbo Cup at Seoul. There are 11 Sunday races in the capital from 10:45 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:40 to 17:05. Here are the previews:

 

 

Seoul Race 1: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

 Six of these raced each other over class and distance on December 23^rd. (3) LIVINGSTONE came home the best of them that day in 2^nd place, a length ahead of (8) L CHOICE in 3^rd. Those two could well be fighting it out for top honours this time. On the same day but in a different race, (11) RAISING ANGEL raced greenly but still did enough to win. She’s up in class but should be competitive. As should (7) FIRENZE HILL, who also steps up in level following her maiden win a month ago. (2) BLUE ANNA, 4^th behind Livingstone and L Choice in that race just before Christmas, looks best of the rest although (9) MATCH QUEEN can have a line drawn through her latest effort and can be a factor too.

Selections	(3) Livingstone (11) Raising Angel (8) L Choice (7) Firenze Hill
Next Best	9, 2
Fast Start	5, 9, 10, 12

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Only two of the twelve have raced before and (7) RAON STORM raced rather well, leading for much of the way around on December 2^nd, ultimately finishing 2^nd in a fast-run race. That experience should serve him well here and he is the one to beat. As for the first-timers, (9) PRIME QUEEN was a trial winner and will be well-supported first-up with Moon Se Young aboard, while (6) YULONG FLYING also caught the eye in heats. (2) GEUM ROYAL and (3) SIMJANGUI GODONG are others who could go well first-up.

Selections	(7) Raon Storm (6) Yulong Flying (9) Prime Queen (3) Simjangui Godong
Next Best	2, 4
Fast Start	7, 12

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens here with four of the twelve racing for the first time. (1) SUN OF THUNDER ran 5^th on debut in November and then improved to 2^nd on reappearance just before Christmas, the latter over 1300M. He drops back to the minimum here and should have too much. (8) MUNG CHI put in a decent effort in 5^th on her debut a month ago and can build on that here while (6) TANTAN WINNER was slightly disappointing on his second start but had previously shown promise first-up and can be given another chance here. Among the debut-makers, (4) GEUMA INVINCIBLE’s trial time was slow but the performance was good enough and he will be expected to hold his own. (5) VALLEY QUEEN too is another to keep an eye on.

Selections	(1) Sun Of Thunder (8) Mung Chi (4) Geuma Invincible (6) Tantan Winner
Next Best	11, 12, 5
Fast Start	1, 4, 6, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(3) HAENGBOK STAR and (8) ARES THUNDER came home 3^rd and 4^th when they raced each other at class and distance on December 23^rd. They both look nicely in here to challenge again with Haengbok Star marginally favoured to prevail. The one they’ll both need to beat is (2) HANEULEUL DALRIDA. He ran well for 5^th in a stiff 1300M contest last month and tackles this distance for the first time today. It may well suit and he’s likely to be ridden forward. (5) TAEPUNG EYES and (7) KAILASH DANCER are others who can come under consideration.

Selections	(3) Haengbok Star (8) Ares Thunder (2) Haneuleul Dalrida (5) Taepung Eyes
Next Best	7, 1
Fast Start	2, 3, 5

Busan Race 1 Selections: 11, 1, 8, 8

Seoul Race 5: Class 4 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(2) BURUI GORI comes in following two consecutive wins, both at this distance and the most recent at this class. With an apprentice on board, he’s nicely weighted and the only concern is he comes in after twelve weeks out and may need this run. The big danger is (8) GEUMA KINGDOM. He’s never been worse than 3^rd in five starts to date and enters having finished in that position in a strong contest at 1300M just before Christmas. He’s up to this trip for the first time today and looks to have good potential. (9) EAST KWAENAM too is up in trip for the first time – he beat a couple of these over 1300M last start, and the extra distance may benefit. (10) MAJJABEUN SON is a two-time winner at this trip and must be respected while (11) MR. TURNER, a maiden after twelve attempts, enters with recent form reading well and can go close.

Selections	(8) Geuma Kingdom (2) Burui Gori (11) Mr. Turner (10) Majjabeun Son
Next Best	9, 4
Fast Start	8, 9, 12

 Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(11) SAMBA RHYTHM was a six-length winner over this distance on what was just her second start on December 30^th. She’s up in class today but looks to have more to come and she can win this all-filly event. (8) RAON ARES is also up in class after getting her maiden win three weeks ago. It was at 1000M, but she has previous experience of this distance and has a chance here. (2) HWANSANG DOKJU has had an interrupted career so… Read more of this post