Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener with eight of the twelve racing for the first time. We'll side with experience though and (9) CUPID IT, who ran 2nd on debut in a quick race over 1000M before finishing a fair 7th of thirteen in the Rookie Stakes at the end of August. Back in more amenable company today, he will be a warm favourite. (5) ECLIPSE EDGE was given a tough assignment on debut in the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy. He finished down the field but was in no way disgraced and having previously shown speed in his trials, he looks set for improvement today and will be second favourite. (6) STUNNING WORLD was a competent 5th on debut in a good time over 1000M and should have come on for the run. As for the first timers, (3) WORLD JOY beat three of these when 3rd in a trial on September 12th and looks best placed to make an immediate impact. (7) VOYAGER, 6th in that same heat, another.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Similar to race 1, we have a horse who ran well on debut before finishing back in the Rookie Stakes. That's (6) MORE THAN JOKE, who only beat two home in the Rookie Stakes but like everything in that race, ran creditably. He was 2nd over 1000M on debut back in July, racing on pace, and against limited opposition here, will be expected to win. (3) GLOBAL HAMSEONG was a close 3rd to More Than Joke on debut in July before notching another 3rd when stepped up to this distance on August 24th. He draws well and can be a danger.  (1) SEMYEONG STRONG improved at start number two and from the same gate today can continue to make progress. (10) PERFECT DANAEUN and (9) ARCH DAY others in the frame.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener on the south coast, with six of the nine racing for the first time. We'll go with a debut maker and (4) YOUNG SKYWALKER. He led all the way in his trial, crossing the line ten-lengths to the good having been barely asked to do a thing. If he brings that form to the races, he will take a lot of beating. (2) DOCTOR CITY and (7) RACE MAN came home 5th and 6th respectively when they debuted together over 1000M on September 13th in what was a fast race. Both should have come on for the run and the pair shape as the main dangers to the newcomer here. Turning to the rest of those debut-makers, (6) BREEDO COMET and (9) SEUNGCHUNHANEUNHAE are others who hinted at ability in trials. 

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(7) MARU JNGGUN got his maiden win at start number two in August over 1200M before running 4th at the same distance on his first try at this level on September 14th. HE stays under the same weight, the step up in trip can suit, and he is the one to beat here. (4) EAST QUALITY is yet to win in six attempts but got promoted to this level following back-to-back runner0uo finishes in June and July. He showed he can compete with a 4th place over this distance on September 1st and he can be on pace here and in this a long way. (6) CHEONGUCHAT is similarly a maiden but has plenty of near misses. He is another who should be on pace with every chance. (9) MOMO K and (2) MR. POWER the other logical place chances.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(3) BANGTANUI JEONSA stepped up to this distance for the first time on September 13th and beat three of these on his way to a much-improved 3rd place. It wasn't a quick race and generally betting on a horse that ran well at 70/1 last time out is as quick a route to the poor house as any, he comes in under almost the same weight, he draws very nicely, and he could come out on top here. (4) WILD DIXIE was 4th in that race, continuing a consistent recent string of results. He can get a bit far back in his races, but he should be running on strong here. (8) USANG RYUNG came home in 6th place that day, but at the start before, she was 2nd over the same distance and that's enough to put her firmly in the frame here. (6) I AM DREAMER has trialed well since an inauspicious debut while (10) BAEDARI BOSEOK has a 2nd place on his record which is enough to put him in the mix with this lot.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only here. (5) MISS CONCORD ran out a five-length winner over 1200M on September 14th, registering her maiden score at the seventh attempt. She comes up in class, but the manner of that victory suggests there can be more to come, and she can go back-to-back. Kozzi Asano rode Miss Concord that day but today he is on (10) CROQUIS. She also got her maiden win at her latest start when taking a narrow victory over 1300M on August 3rd, but it was at this class. She comes up 2.5kg in the weights and has the challenge of a wide gate but she can be a danger again. (1) ARCH RUNNER remains a twenty-three-race maiden, but she has an excellent record of picking up prize money in races like this and she should be there or thereabouts again. (9) BEOLGYOWISU and (11) TESTA RUBY others in the hunt.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) DRAGON NINJA came from off the pace to win handily over 1200M on debut on September 1st. He comes up in class and in distance but neither of these should be a problem and he will be strongly favoured to make it two from two here. (7) POWER WAGON is likewise up in class having run 3rd on debut in August before breaking through at start two on September 15th, leading from gate to wire. The step up in trip should pose no problem and he can be a danger. It took (9) ROSE DRAGON six starts to break through, which she did on September 15th. In her case, it was over this distance and up in class but down in weight, she can measure up here. (6) GOTOTHEVALHALLA needs a line drawn through his latest and along with (5) TAURUS KING, is a place chance.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(6) WONDERFUL ENERGY was a winner on debut over 1300M on September 1st, leading every step of the way and holding off a late challenge from the favourite. He comes up in class and slightly in trip but gets a small weight drop and in this company, he can maintain his 100% record.  (3) KKUMUI HYANGGI was beaten into 6th when favourite at this class and distance on September 15th. The margins were not big and if we go on her previous start when she was a close 2nd and posting the fastest time among these for the 1400M, she is well worth another chance here. (1) DAEMUL SOCKS overcame the widest gate to come from off the pace for a fair 5th on September 14th. He won at this class and distance as recently as July and can be in the mix here. (4) YEONGUNG JARYONG and (the up in class (8) DONKEY PLAY others to consider.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) UNJU GUY won back-to-back races over 1400M in July and August to get rapidly promoted to this level, racing on pace both times. He then ran 3rd on his first try at this class and distance on September 15th having taken a bump at the start and getting a bit further back than ideal. He continues under a light weight and from a good draw and a bit better luck at the start, he can win here. (7) GUKDAE STAR comes up in class having won at this distance on September 13th, settling midfield and running on. He comes down in the weights, Tanaka stays on, and he can measure up here. (6) VALHALLA is also up in class and in distance following a win and a runner-up finish in his latest two. He comes down a full 5kg in the weights, which can bring him into each-way contention here. (9) HAMPYEONG IS BACK and (3) MORNING FLOW, the latter having beaten Unju Guy last time out, are others to keep safe.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) NAMSAN MINAM got his maiden win at start number two over 1200M on September 15th, leading all the way and winning by as many as he pleased. He comes up in class and while he doesn't get a weight drop, the manner of that victory makes him hard to bet against here. (10) BEOLGYOUI STAR similarly got his maiden win on his second start, in his case on August 24th over 12000M. He doesn't get a weight break either and has the challenge of a wide draw, but he has shown enough to suggest he shouldn't have any problems settling in at this class. (3) JANGGUN MARU enters off a 2nd place at class and distance on August 25th having led for most of the way around. He comes up 3kg in the weights, but that's softened somewhat by a good draw, and he can be competitive again. (11) GEOSEON POKJU and (8) FINAL GO among others in the frame.

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(3) DOCTOR WICKY enters in excellent form with a win and four runner-up finishes from his latest five starts, most recently having been 2nd in a quick race at this class and distance on September 15th when he led for most of the way. He carries plenty of weight, but he won under just half a kilogram less at a mile in July and from a good draw, he can win again here. (9) YONG GUN similarly doesn't win out of turn, but he too enters with recent form reading well including a last start class and distance 2nd place on September 9th. He too comes up in the weights but can be there or thereabouts again. (5) BLAZING MAN is another ultra consistent type. He has a 2nd and a 3rd in two tries at this distance, most recently at this class on September 1st and under a light weight he can be challenging for the lead from the start. (11) TOP FRIEND and (4) BEST CHAMP are the other chances.

Seoul Race 7: Class Open (2000M) Weight for Age / President's Cup (KOR G1) / KRW 1 Billion

The penultimate Group 1 (local) of the season is restricted to Korean breds. (2) GLOBAL HIT is a winner of three from five this year beating the majority of these along the way and maintaining Korea's honour with 3rd place behind Crown Pride and Wilson Tesoro in the international Korea Cup on September 8th. A four-time winner at this distance, he is the best in the field. His stablemate is the danger. (15) SPEED YOUNG won the Busan Owners' Cup over a mile in June and then, instead of going for the Korea Cup, was pointed at the Korea Sprint where he was the best placed local in 4th. He has the challenge of the widest gate, but he has a strong finish on him, and he can be finishing strongly. (11) NAOL SNIPER comes in relatively fresh having not raced since finishing 3rd to Global Hit in the KRA Cup Classic at this distance on August 4th. He has won three times at 2000M and can be a danger here. The three-year-old pair of (10) WORLD DRAGON and (1) SUCCESS BAEKPA, the latter a bit of a wildcard having not raced since winning the final leg of the Triple Crown in June, are others who will be backed.

Busan Race 6: Class 1 (1200M) Special Weight B / KRW 110 Million

(2) GANGSEO GIANT broke the track record when winning at class and distance on August 3rd (on a weekend when the track was admittedly racing very quick) before running a creditable 7th of fifteen in the International G3 Korea Sprint on September 8th. She draws nicely here, and she can win again. The main danger is one gate inside. (1) FANTASTIC KINGDOM beat most of the rest of these when winning at this class over 1400M on August 8th, leading most of the way around. While up 2kg in the weights, he still doesn't carry much, and he is a big threat. (7) SSONSAL returns to action for the first time since winning the G3 SROA Chairman's Sprint at Seoul in May. He has been through three trials over the past month or so, winning them all, and an apprentice takes the edge off his weight. (4) CHOEGANG SSONSAL and (5) DAEAM JANGGUN other chances in a small but competitive field.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) THE GIANT won back-to-back races at 1700M at class 5 level before having a poor day at the office on August 31st, beaten by a couple of these when 9th on his first try at this class. He took a couple of bumps and also lay in somewhat ungenerously so there were excuses and if we take on trust, he is worth another chance here. (3) SIDAEUI MYEONGJAK returned from more than six months out to run a solid 4th over a mile on August 31st. He should strip fitter for that run and at a distance he has placed twice at, he can be a danger. (1) AMAZING ROCK has only missed the top five on one occasion in eight starts. She is up to this distance for the first time, but she carries a light weight, draws nicely, and she won at 1700M. The form falls off a bit after those but (2) PERFECT GUN MAN and (9) TRISTAN WANGJA can be place chances.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(2) DREAM HONOUR has finished 2nd in both his two starts so far, over 1000M and 1200M, both times coming from off the pace and running on. The additional furlong should suit, third-up he can be peaking fitness wise, and the Gormley juvenile looks very much the one to beat here. (9) T.C. FAMILY was a winner at this class over 1300M on August 17th, racing handy throughout. She was at big odds that day and she does come up 2.5kg in the weights but in a less than intimidating field, favourite aside, she can go close again. (4) DUSON CHAMP is yet to win in nineteen and he does mix his form, but he carries a very light weight, and this is the kind of race in which he can pick up some prize money. (6) WORLD VARIANCE and (8) JEDI FORCE others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Competitive race. It's been eight starts since (3) BLOOMING STAR was last in the winner's circle, but he comes in off back-to-back runner-up finishes at this class over 1300M, both times racing on pace. Unusually, he has never tried this distance before but from a good draw he can lead and potentially go all the way. (2) SPALTA has finished inside the top two in each of his last seven starts with two wins among them, including at this class. He carries his fair share of weight here but from a good draw, he has every chance of maintaining that run. (4) STAR TREK is the wildcard. He races for the first time since March, but he won a very quick trial doing proverbial handsprings at the end of August and could be an each-way option first-up here. (7) JECHUK IHO and (1) EUNBIT DOLPUNG among others to consider.

Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(9) THE PLAYER is up in class having won his latest two starts, both over 1400M. He comes down 2.5kg in the weights, but the step up to a mile can suit and he has every chance of completing his hat-trick here. The danger is (1) TOHO SKY. He is in following three consecutive runner-up finishes at class 4 level with the most recent two being over this distance. He comes down a full 5kg in weights, he draws very well, and he won't be far away. (2) UNICORN HIT was 2nd at this class over 1400M on September 29th, albeit well beaten by a good winner. She is one for one at the mile and looks very nicely in here. (5) GOOD NISEN and (10) JEONGWOO FOREVER are among plenty of others with at least placing chances.