Korea: Saturday, 25th December 2021

3 minute read

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

The Christmas Day card kicks off with a field of twelve previously unraced two-year-olds so it's to the trial videos that we head. The only one to win her heat was (6) MENI SPEAR and that's enough for us to find in her favour here. She made all in the trial crossing the line two-lengths ahead of anything else and won't need to improve too much to go very close here. The other logical pick is (5) NAOL YEONGUNG. He finished in 3rd place in his heat having been on pace throughout, but his time was the fastest that any of these recorded and from a good gate he has every chance. (12) GLOBAL BOBAE came home 2nd in Meni Spear's time, running on well from midfield and despite the wide draw should be competitive here. (3) FNAL CHARM and (8) CONCORDE SPIRIT others who caught the eye in their heats.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

More juvenile maidens but this time only three make their racecourse debuts although none have tackled 1200M before. (7) P N S GOLD won a trial and then ran 2nd on debut on November 20th when he sat handy to the lead and then ran on well. The extra furlong can suit, and he won't need to improve much to be winning this. (6) GEONGONILCHEOK and (5) CUPID VOW debuted together over 1000M on November 27th when both were close to the pace and ended up coming home in 4th and 5th place respectively. The should both be prominent here and can be competing to get even closer today. (4) JANGSAN POISON was close at hand 4th place on debut 1000M doing his best work late on and may like the step up in trip here. Among the first timers, (14) MUSTANG POWER crossed the line 1st in his trial and warrants consideration first up.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Filly maidens here. (2) MAGIC FLOWER has run well in both starts so far, improving to 3rd place at her latest. Both were over 1000M, but the additional furlong should be fine, and she has claims here. (3) SWEET CAMP was a slightly disappointing 6th at her latest start when well backed but she has a 2nd and a 3rd to her name at this distance already and should go close again. (8) RAON THE DASH is another trying the distance for the first time after three solid efforts over 1000M and can be competitive.  A litany of excuses were offered for (4) PUREUN YOJEONG's dismal effort at 1300M two weeks ago, from the kickback to possibly not liking the gear she was wearing. She threw her head up at the start and then got bumped which set the tone for the race. We'll draw a line through it and give her another chance as she has shown ability. (12) LUCKY INDY may need a touch of luck early to get a forward position, but she has shown some speed and should be in the mix.

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(6) MONEY GARAK has shown signs of figuring things out in his latest few with a 3rd and a 2nd among his latest three results. That 2nd was at his latest start over 1700M when he ran on well from a midfield position. He comes back in trip here but has posted a decent time for the 1400M and looks the one to beat. (5) HELLO GEUMSEONG actually has the fastest time among these at the distance although that isn't a hugely impressive achievement. Both her 3rd places have come at this trip though including at her latest outing and she should be a big danger here. Along with Money Garak, (1) HWARYEOHAN MISO is the only one in the field to have a 2nd place to her name. That was two starts back at 1200M and she then beat a couple of these over today's distance in October before being beaten by Money Garak at 1700M last time out. She draws well on the inside today and should be in the hunt. (7) LOST WAR and (8) APPLE MINT are others with placing chances.

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

Fillies (and one mare) only here and plenty of chances including no fewer than five last start winners, all of whom come up in class. We'll side with experience of the level though and (4) SPEED FALCON overcame gate eleven to lead for much of the way around over 1400M on November 20th, ultimately ending up in 4th place. She gets a much better draw today and that combined with the slightly shorter trip make her the to beat. (7) ICHEON ARCH comes up in class and trip after a maiden win at start number two over 1000M on November 13th when she sat midfield and ran on well. She should measure up here. (5) SHOWMAKER beat Speed Falcon when 3rd in that November 20th race and while Speed Falcon may overturn that form today, Showmaker should be in the hunt too. (11) NAMSAN CHOCOLATE was an all the way winner at this distance at class 6 level a month ago and under a very light weight here can go close again. (8) MAGIC GRACIE another in the frame.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Another good race. (6) MY WIN is the justifiable favourite having returned from five months out to run a fast 2nd at class and distance on November 21st when leading most of the way around. He should strip fitter for that run and be on or close to the pace again and prove hard to beat. (13) RAON THE GOLD comes up in class having won on debut over 1000M. She came from midfield that day so the step up in trip should be ok and while she has to contend with a wide draw, she can be in the hunt. Drawn even wider is (14) COMPLETE TIME but she too has claims. She worked her way up to a win at start number three and now comes up in class and trip for the first time and while she may need some luck in running early on, should be competitive. (12) VICS GO and (8) GLOBAL MAGIC, both up in class, are others who can measure up in this company.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) THIS CHALLENGE comes in at the top of the weights but has fair claims. He struggled in 7th from gate twelve at his latest start but from a much more favourable gate today can get an easier run and he has plenty of potential. (5) DIRT SURFER comes in off a super win at class and distance on November 7th when he came from midfield to beat a field containing a couple of today's rivals in a fast time. He comes up a full 4.5kg in the weights as a result but a repeat can't be ruled out. (11) MUNHAK FIRE was 3rd that day and has since appeared again, registering a 4th place at class and distance two weeks ago He doesn't exactly win out of turn but is a model of consistency in the minor money and should be there or thereabouts again. (8) GREEN POKJU comes up in class following a series of near misses. She comes down significantly in the weights, should be on pace and can be in this a long way. (7) NONSTOP REWARD another who could place.

Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Competitive race. (7) DREAM KNOCK has won his latest two to be rapidly promoted to this class. The most recent of those was at this distance when she made all in a fair time on November 14th. She will need to improve more here but she has scope for further development and could win again. (4) YAHO GOLDEN CAT comes back in trip after his latest three efforts around two turns which included a win over 1700M and class 4 level. He has run fast times at this trip and looks a big danger. (8) PARK WIN is another rapidly up in class having won two of his last three, most recently when overcoming gate ten to sit handy and run on for a battling score at this distance. He comes down in the weights today and should go close. (6) RAON SPECIAL and (11) SAENAE SPURT are among others with at least placing chances.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

After winning back-to-back races to get promoted to this level, (6) LAPIEO BAN ran 2nd to Rubicon on her first try at this class and her first try at two turns over 1700M on November 20th. While she couldn't get to the winner, it was a solid performance nonetheless and the experience should stand her in good stead for this. Tactically versatile, she can get the trip and is the one to beat. (1) THUNDER WIND has plenty of experience at this class and stretches out an additional half furlong with his last eight outings all having been over 1700M. He rarely runs a bad race and should be finishing off strongly here. (2) REDBACK was a winner over 1700M at class 5 level two starts back before running a solid enough 6th of 12 over 1400M on his first try at this class and he should be competitive today. (5) WONDERFUL DEVIL comes up in class having scored on her first try around two turns last time out and comes down in the weights here. (4) JILJUUI KKUM another in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

The banker favourite of the day goes in the last. (6) DAEHAN JILJU placed in his first four starts but once he started winning, he hasn't looked back and has now registered five in a row. That brings him to class 2 level, and he enters nicely weighted having won at this distance at his latest start in a time that would win plenty of races at this class too. He is very hard to look past. (8) JANGSAN FLY had a hard time in the President's Cup on his latest appearance but should be more comfortable back in more amenable company today. He is a two-time winner at the distance already and can potentially push the favourite here. So too can (2) RAYMOND. It's a long time since his most recent win but he has loads of experience at this class and while again he doesn't look a winning chance, shouldn't be too far away. (11) GEUM ROYAL and (5) PALPAL VICTORY look best of the rest.