Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (5f) Special Weight A / $32,000
Maiden juvenile fillies with six of the ten racing for the first time. Conveniently, the four with experience all debuted in the same race over this distance on June 22nd and with (4) JOSE coming out the best of them that day, she is hard to oppose here. She led for much of the way around, ultimately coming home in 2nd and shouldn't need to improve too much to go one better. A couple of the debut-makers showed potential in trials. (7) MISS DORTIE came through two heats, winning the first, but going faster in the second, both times overcoming a wide gate. She should be nice and fit and is a chance first-up. (10) OKCHEON WIN STAR ran 3rd in her trial having shown on pace. Her time was fair, and she offered enough to suggest she can go well first-up. (6) I AM GO was 4th in the June 22nd race and along with (8) FOX TROT, who was 6th, can improve.
Selections (4) Jose (7) Miss Dortie (10) Okcheon Win Star (6) I Am Go
Next Best 8, 3
Fast Start 4, 5, 6, 10
Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (5f) Special Weight A / $54,000
Ten young imports make their racecourse debuts. Based on trials, (5) MIRACLE HANAM is the one to beat. He qualified only at the second time of asking, but he did it well, showing at the front and crossing the line five-lengths in front of the rest in a decent time. That was in early May but presumably he has been kept back for this race, and in that form, he can win. (3) DREAM HONOUR also came through two trials, winning the second of them on June 7th (it was a voluntary trial so may not appear in all racecards). His times have been good, he draws nicely to be on the pace, and he can be in this a long way. (4) CHEONDUNG LION registered a time as fast as any of the others here in his second heat (another voluntary one so be aware; it was on June 13th) and merits consideration. (9) A PURE GOOD WOMAN and (8) GLORY CITY are others who hinted at ability.
Selections (5) Miracle Hanam (3) Dream Honor (4) Cheondung Lion (9) A Pure Good Woman
Next Best 8, 6
Fast Start 3, 5, 7, 10
Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (6f) Special Weight A / $22,000
Having first trialed back in the summer of 2023, it took an look time for (6) PHANTOM DRAGON to get to the races, but it looks to have been worth the wait as the Federalist colt ran 2nd on debut over 6f on May 18th, showing on pace throughout. That day's winner has gone on to run 2nd at class 5 and Phantom Dragon can be going one better today. (5) SAEROUN GUY is the only one who has shown enough to suggest he can challenge the favourite having made steady progress across three outings so far, culminating in a 3rd place at this distance on June 16th when handy throughout. Expect similar tactics today and with some more natural improvement, he can be a danger. There are four first-time starters and while none really convince in their trials, (11) SHINING CHARM did show a bit when finally qualifying on June 7th and in this limited company can be given a chance first-up. (10) HERO NARA and (7) TALITHA CUMI are others likely to be in the placing market.
Selections (6) Phantom Dragon (5) Saeroun Guy (11) Shining Charm (10) Hero Nara
Next Best 7, 2
Fast Start 3, 5, 6, 8
Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (6 1/2f) Special Weight A / $22,000
Small but competitive field (it's a split race with Sunday's race 2). (5) GOOD FIGHTER didn't do much on debut last November but finally returned to trial twice in good fashion in May and then ran a solid 5th of eleven over 6f in an all-filly race on June 22nd. She should strip fitter for that run, CC climbs up, and she has as good a chance as any. (3) SHINE BOLT has four top-five finishes from five starts so far with her best being a 3rd place two starts back over 6f. She comes up slightly in trip today and her running style suggests it can suit. That will mean overturning form on (6) STUNNING SERVE, who finished 4th to Shine Bolt's 5th when they raced one another at 6f on June 2nd. That equaled Stunning Serve's best result to date, but he can get as close or closer this time. (8) MAX PARTY and (4) JILPUNG JAZZ others in the hunt.
Selections (5) Good Fighter (3) Shine Bolt (6) Stunning Serve (8) Max Party
Next Best 4, 2
Fast Start 2, 3, 5, 8
Seoul Race 5: Class 6 (7f) Special Weight A / $22,000
Competitive race. (5) CUPID RISE has been getting closer across recent starts, culminating in a runner-up finish at this distance on June 2nd when for the second time in a row, she raced on pace. She has the fastest time among these for the distance and drawn nicely to be on pace or handy again, she can win. (9) X-FACTOR has a 2nd and a 3rd from two starts so far, both over 6f and most recently on June 8th. He has come from off the pace both times and stepping up in trip today can suit. (11) YEONGWON FANTASTIC was 4th in that June 8th race behind X-Factor. That marked a promising debut and with some natural improvement, he can get closer this time. (4) CLOUD HEART and (8) SEONGSIN CHEONHA are others in the frame.
Selections (5) Cupid Rise (9) X-Factor (11) Yeongwon Fantastic (4) Cloud Heart
Next Best 8, 7
Fast Start 4, 5, 7, 10
Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (7f) Handicap / $32,000
(8) SEONGSIL YEONGUNG comes in having finished 2nd and 3rd in his latest two, both at this class and distance and racing just behind the speed. He has the fastest time among these for the distance and while he carries his fair share of weight again, he can win. (7) BLACK SPECTER got his maiden win at start number three over 6 1/2f on June 9th when settling midfield and running on. He comes up in class and marginally in distance here but comes down 2kg in the weights and can measure up in this company. (3) SINUI YEOIN and (4) TAP DIA both come in with recent form reading consistently well and both can be there or thereabouts again. (6) SEMYEONG LADY, the only one of these to have won over this distance, is another place chance and a 4kg apprentice claim.
Selections (8) Seongsil Yeongung (7) Black Specter (3) Sinui Yeoin (4) Tap Dia
Next Best 6, 2
Fast Start 1, 2, 6, 9
Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (6 1/2f) Handicap / $32,000
After missing almost six months following her maiden win, (2) STUNNING LADY took a couple of goes to find her way into form, but she has done that on her latest two appearances with a 2nd over this distance and a 4th at 6f, both times racing on pace. She draws nicely here, she carries a light weight, and she can return to winning ways. (5) TRAUM KING is the main danger. He too missed a few months but returned in May and then ran 3rd at this class and distance on June 15th. Third-up this preparation he can be peaking fitness wise, and he should be challenging for the lead right from the start. (1) ARCH RUNNER is yet to win in twenty attempts but has picked up plenty of minor money finishes and this is the kind of company she generally runs well in. (6) SOLAIRE and (4) WONDERFUL SPIRIT are others in the frame.
Selections (2) Stunning Lady (5) Traum King (1) Arch Runner (6) Solaire
Next Best 4, 3
Fast Start 1, 2, 5, 7
Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (6f) Handicap / $43,000
(7) MOONHAK HOLIDAY is yet to score in eight attempts but has been getting closer with a 2nd and a 3rd from her latest two, both at this distance and both times racing close to the pace. She continues under a light weight here and today can be her day. Solitary debut-maker (2) SFORZA may or may not be owned by fans of 1990s Swiss footballers, but he looked promising when easily winning a trial on June 7th, leading all the way. If he brings that form to the races, he can go very close first-up. (6) DOKKAEBE has won just once in thirty tries but comes in off a 4th and a 2nd in his latest two, both at this class and distance and both in fast times and a similar run will put him in the finish again. (1) DREAM RIDGE and (5) LAKSI are others to consider among a diverse field.
Selections (7) Moonhak Holiday (2) Sforza (6) Dokkaebe (1) Dream Ridge
Next Best 5, 4
Fast Start 2, 4, 6, 7
Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1M) Handicap / $43,000
(5) GIANT STEP has four top-two finishes from five starts and enters having run 2nd on his first try at this class and distance on June 9th. Against this set of opponents expect him to be on or very close to the speed from the start and he will be the strong favourite to go one better. (1) SHACKLE POINT was a comfortable winner over 7f two starts back before running a fair if below expectations 5th of nine on his first try at this class on June 9th. He remains lightly weighted and steps up to this distance for the first time with claims to go close. (7) JJARITHAN JAYU enters off a solid 2nd place at class and distance on June 16th. An apprentice claim takes his weight down significantly today and he can be in the finish again. (2) VIKING HEART and (10) PURGE KING are others to look out for.
Selections (5) Giant Step (1) Shackle Point (7) Jjarithan Jayu (2) Viking Heart
Next Best 10, 4
Fast Start 1, 5, 7, 10
Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1M) Handicap / $54,000
Competitive finale. (6) MEGA DRAGON never really got into things in the Korean Derby in May finishing well down the field but after nine weeks off, he returns to shallower waters today. An apprentice jockey claims 4kg and he is two for two at this distance, so he has every chance of bouncing back. (4) STUNNING SKY won back-to-back races in March and April to get rapidly promoted to this level, leading all the way both times. He almost managed to repeat the trick on his first try at this class and distance on June 2nd when he led only to get taken down in the closing stages and finishing 2nd. He comes up 2kg in the weights but will be on pace again and will be a danger. (2) HIGH GRAND is a model of consistency and though down in trip and up slightly in weight, can be in the mix again (1) NICE CHEETAH and (5) RIVER TAEYANG among plenty of others with placing possibilities.
Selections (6) Mega Dragon (4) Stunning Sky (2) High Grand (1) Nice Cheetah
Next Best 5, 3
Fast Start 1, 4, 5, 9
