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, with Seoul first followed by Busan:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens here with no fewer than seven of the twelve going around for the very first time. Of those with experience, the clear standout is (7) GLORY FIGHTER. The Temple City filly came from off the pace to finish off well on debut over this distance on December 7^th. She’ll want further eventually but for the time being, she looks nicely in here and is the one to beat. As for the others who have raced, none particularly caught the eye although (8) WONDERFUL MAGIC found himself on pace early before weakening and may have come on for that run while (2) GREAT WAY never really got going but previously performed adequately in a trial and is another who can improve. As for the first-timers, (5) HEUNG CAPTAIN is the obvious one. He was just beaten a head in a trial last November in a fast time and if he brings that form to the races, has every chance of making a winning start. (6) DREAM PO RE went through a couple of trials and he too posted a competitive looking time two weeks ago.

Selections: (7) Glory Fighter (5) Heung Captain (6) Dream Po Re (8) Wonderful Magic

Next Best: 2, 4

Fast Start: 5, 8, 10, 11

 

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Twelve maidens will line up in the second on the card where the main chances appear to have been dealt wide draws. (12) GOOD WONDER makes her fourth career start and has seemed to improve with each run. The Hawk Wing filly was game last start when getting tired late after leading for the majority of the race. She did exert a lot of energy early in the run, she looks one that will appreciate to set a modest pace or take a sit. (11) SAEROUN BOBAE comes off a second last time out behind Samseong Viva. This looks a weaker assignment and she has each-way claims. She won’t be able to match the early speed so expect her to sit midfield. (1) ONE AND ONLY has posted good times over the five furlongs as she steps up to the 1300M for the first time. The filly has been able to settle just off the speed in her two runs to date and Kim Dong-soo can elect to sit closer if he wishes from the inside draw. (7) HANIL MOA is capable of running into the money after finishing in the top five at her past three starts. She is somewhat one-paced and will need to be in touch with the leading division at the top of the straight.

Selections: (12) Good Wonder (11) Saeroun Bobae (7) Hanil Moa (1) One And Only

Next Best: 9, 6

Fast Start: 3, 12

 

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

A pretty ordinary looking maiden featuring a few who do seem likely to make their breakthroughs at some stage. Most likely today is (2) FUTURE FIRE. He’s raced just three times so far, recording a 3^rd and a 4^th in his most recent two, the latter of which was at this distance. He isn’t the quickest of starters, but he is capable of running on well and he should come out on top today. (11) BOMNALUI GIEOK has shown steady progress over five outings and while his 3^rd place at this distance last time out was in an even weaker race than this, he has good scope for more here. If he can overcome the wide draw to get on pace, he will be a factor. (6) NONGBUI SUCHEAHWA was sent off favourite for her latest back in November, She was ultimately a little one-paced and came home in 3^rd but she should at least be matching that here. (3) CHEONJI KKOT BARAM and (10) LEGEND WIN, both of whom come in off career-best finishes, are others who warrant consideration.

Selections: (2) Future Fire (11) Bomnalui Gieok (6) Nongbui Sucheahwa (3) Cheonji Kkot Baram

Next Best: 10, 5

Fast Start: 3, 7, 10, 11

 

Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

There is an abundance of speed engaged in the fourth, suggesting they will run the first half of the race in a good time as they sort themselves out. (12) SPEED BIRD was good on debut when winning over the five furlongs. The Kim Hag-soo trained galloper jumped quickly and led all the way clocking a good time for Class 6. Punters can expect another forward ride from Lee Hyeon-jong who partners the colt once again. (6) LUCKY BEOPJEON has been a model of consistency since beginning his racing career in June last year. Although he hasn’t notched his first win yet, he has finished in the top three on four occasions from five starts. He ran third behind Stretto last time out over this distance which reads well for this assignment. (11) SAMSEONG VIVA won over the 1300M last time out in class 6 company. Alan Munro will ride the three-year-old who appreciated sitting on speed last time out. (2) ROYAL GHOST is another looking for her first win. She has seven top four finishes from eight starts and has collected a cheque at her past two starts. From barrier two, she is a big chance to finish in the money once again.

Selections: (12) Speed Bird (6) Lucky Beopjeon (11) Samseong Viva (2) Royal Ghost

Next Best: 4, 5

Fast Start: 1, 5, 6, 9, 12

 

Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Plenty of in-form types clash in this nice-looking handicap. (8) DIA KEY steps up in class and distance following a good maiden win over 1000M on December 7^th. He did previously weaken on debut at 1300M a month earlier but ran through the line well when winning and looks ready for the extended trip. (1) LUCKY MYEONGHO also comes up to the 1200M having a win and a runner-up finish, the latter at this class, over 1000M. Both he and Dia Key will be on pace from the start and the winner could come down to the one who sees out the trip better. (2) CHEONJI POKPUNG shouldn’t have too many problems with the distance having already won at further. He comes in off back to back 4^th places and can improve on those today. (3) CAMP TOUCH and (7) DAEMA JIPUNG are others in the hunt.

Selections: (8) Dia Key (1) Lucky Myeongho (2) Cheonji Pokpung (3) Camp Touch

Next Best: 7, 12

Fast Start: 1, 8, 11

 

Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

A field of twelve fillies and mares will face the starter in the sixth where they will go over the six furlongs. (7) JEOLYE was admirable last start when breaking maiden status. From barrier seven, the Secret Circle filly was never closer than four wide from the rail. She lost considerable ground on the turn before hitting overdrive and going on for a good win. She is penalized 3kg, but she showed last time out that she’s tough. (10) CLEANUP SHINE lines up for her second start after a respectable debut. The Awesome Of Course filly comes out of the Jeolye race where she finished third, beaten just over a length. With a bigger advantage in the weight scale, she can threaten. (4) NALARA HILL is one of the Korean-bred gallopers engaged who has won a couple in the easier grades. She has shown at her last two starts she can be competitive in this grade. She finished fourth last start behind Platinum Euro when one-paced through the line. (1) MOONHAK MISCHIEF finished third behind Mark Story on debut and then was somewhat disappointing at her second start when finishing midfield. She’s drawn well and can bounce back in this event.

Selections: (7) Jeolye (10) Cleanup Shine (4) Nalara Hill (1) Moonhak Mischief

Next Best: 6, 12

Fast Start: 1, 2, 4, 10

 

Race 7: Class 4 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) JEONGMUN SUMMIT registered two good wins at 1200M and 1000M and was sent off favourite at 1300M on November 24^th. From a wide draw and after a bump at the start, he was unable to get to the front and then over raced around the turn before weakening…  Read more of this post

 

VALUE SIRES: FIRST FOALS OF 2020

By Kelsey Riley

In the second installment of TDN Europe’s Value Sires Series, we take a look at the sire crop with its first foals due this season. While the first real clues will be laid out once the foals actually hit the ground, many of this intake had in-foal mares go through the ring at the latest round of breeding stock sales, thus providing a minimal amount of data to tear apart. Numbers of mares bred are taken from the Weatherbys Return of Mares published in November 2019. The covering sire returns posted by Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Poet’s Word (GB) (Poet’s Voice {GB}) perhaps perfectly illustrate the void between the breed-to-race and breed-to-sell realms that we touched on in our first installment.

This time last year, the two horses were preparing to stand their debutseasons alongside one another at Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud for ,6,000 and ,7,000, respectively. Tasleet was a stakes winning sprinter at two, three and four who won the G3 Greenham S. and G2 Duke of York Clipper Logistics S. and was good enough to finish runner-up in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S., G1 Sprint Cup S. and G1 British Champions Sprint S. Perhaps just as importantly, he provided an alternative to his rapidly ascendantsire Showcasing, whose fee last year jumped to, 55,000. Tasleet covered 107 mares and possibly also aided by the fact that his close relative Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) continued to enhance his reputation this year–his in-foal mares at the sales provided the best overall return on investment for his sire crop.

All 12 through the ring sold for an average of, 31,772/37,229 (5.3x his stud fee) and a median of, 17,758/20,812 (2.9x his stud fee). Poet’s Word, meanwhile, entered stud last year as one of the best-credentialed of the crop on his racing performance. He had won the 2018 G1 Prince of Wales’s S. and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and wasrated 127Bequal to Horse of the Year Roaring Lion and joint third in the world. He is a halfbrother to the Group 3-winning Malabar (GB) (Raven=s Pass) and to the dam of the high-class juvenile Beckford (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), while his second dam Inchyre (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner and sire Inchinor (GB) (Ahonoora {GB}). It is also the family of Grade I winner Miss Keller (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Classic winner Harbour Law (GB) (Lawman {Fr}).

Poet’s Word was doubtless hurt, however, by the fact that he did not win a stake until August of his 4-year-old campaignBfar too late for a market that is feeling the increasing weight of the demand for precocity. Despite being one of the best horses in the world in 2018, he was visited by just 30 mares in his debut season and in August it was announced he was on the move to Boardsmill Stud in Ireland, where the demand from National Hunt breeders would be much greater. While it is disheartening to see such a fine animal rejected so quickly by the flat realm, it is important to remember that the move to a dual purpose role doesn’t entirely eliminate the possibility that he will make a mark on the flat, and in fact there wassome demand for his infoal mares at the sales. His three mares offered all sold for an average of, 20,027/23,446 (2.9x stud fee) and a median of, 15,529/18,199 (2.2x stud fee).

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/pdf/tdn/tdn200104e.pdf