Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Three-year-old maidens with four of the eleven racing for the first time. After winning an October trial, (2) RUN WILD debuted over 1200M on December 10th and raced on pace before running a very close 2nd in a fair time. He gets a good draw here and has every chance of going one better. (6) DONGJIN BULPAE was a close 4th on his debut at 1200M on December 31st. He was doing his best work late and like Run Wild, should have derived benefit from the experience. (5) YONGAM SESANG debuted last August and ran 2nd to Hangang Crown over 1000M in a quick time with a very fast final furlong. He hasn't raced since but looked well in a trial last month and he can be competitive first up. (1) RAON THE SPRINTER likewise returns five months after his most recent start. He won a trial at the turn of the year and can also be involved. Among the first-timers, trial winner (11) GIANT STEP perhaps offers the most appeal.

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

Fillies only in this maiden. (7) QUERER ran 2nd on debut over 1000M in October and has subsequently finished in 6th place twice, most recently on Christmas Day when beating a couple of today's rivals. That form, while not exactly world beating, is significantly better than anything else here has produced, and she will be a heavy favourite. The only other one to have picked up any prize money at all is (3) B.K. BELLE. She could only manage 9th place in that Christmas Day race but if we go on her 4th place at start number two in November, then she has to be in with a shout here. It gets patchy after that, but something has to finish 3rd although it really is hard to make a case with any conviction. (1) JILJU CHEONHA should at least be on pace from a good draw, and they might not all get past. (2) NATURAL SOUND and (5) MAGIC SOUND – the latter on the grounds of having done the least wrong by only racing once – other potentials.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

The form here is much better than in the previous race but there will still be a warm favourite. That's (1) SMART CLAIR who comes in off a close 2nd place over this distance on December 23rd when handy throughout. He has only missed the top-five on one occasion and today should be his day. Plenty of others come in with a win in them though. (7) STUNNING MONEY came close on December 10th when well beaten by a good winner (My Khan) but with clear daylight back to 3rd. A similar run here will put him in the finish. (11) GROUPER is done no favours by the draw here but if he can get a bit of luck at the start and find a decent position close to the pace, he can be in this a long way. (6) NAEGILUI LEADER and (5) TESTA BLUE among others who it would be no surprise to see in the mix.

Seoul Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Twelve three-year-old imported maidens go around here with six of the twelve racing for the first time. (4) BULTANEUN SIMJANG is the one to beat. After impressing in trials, he was sent off as favourite on debut in a similar race to this back on November 18th but while he finished off well, he could only make it up into 2nd place. He's had nine-weeks off since then, and with some natural improvement, he can go one better. (10) GLOBAL CLASS came from well off the pace to run 5th in a very quick race on debut on December 16th. The wide draw shouldn't be a problem and he can be a danger late here. (1) YEONGWON BIG MAN was similarly 5th on debut the same day but comes into a much better gate this time and can get closer. Among the first-time starters, (12) DRAGON BULPAE and (3) MIGHTY NIC ran 1st and 2nd in a December trial with little between them and both can go well first-up. 

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

Competitive race. (8) MANDAERO was a winner on debut over 1000M in October before running 2nd on his first try at this class and distance on December 16th when he led for much of the way around. That was a good effort, and he won't need to improve much to go one better here. (5) RAON THE TAP looks to be the main danger. He too got his win at 1000M and enters off a solid 3rd place at this class and distance at the end of November when racing handy throughout. He draws nicely to be on pace and can be a big threat. (6) DONGTEUJA WAY has the fastest time among these for the 1200M, recorded when 2nd on December 16th when he led most of the way and only went down narrowly. An apprentice takes him significantly down in the weights this time and he can go close. (1) SSING SSING SSING and (10) JANGHEUNG CLASS are among others to keep safe.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(4) GANGNAMBULCHANGGAK was a winner on debut on December 2nd when he settled midfield and ran on strongly to score convincingly over 1200M. He comes up in both class and distance today but neither should be an impediment to him making it two in a row. (1) SEIRENE is yet to win in five attempts, but she comes in here following a 3rd place at class and distance on December 2nd. She comes into a much better gate today and should get a relatively easy run to the lead and can be in this a long way. (3) MAGIC STRONG comes up in class following his maiden win at start number six over this distance on December 9th. The win had been coming and the manner of it suggests he can measure up at this level. Expect him to be challenging Seirene for the early lead. (10) INDIANUI BYEOL and (9) ECHO ZONE are other placing hopes.

Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Tricky one. (9) HERE I AM was slow away and got much further back than usual when 5th over this distance on his first try at this class on December 17th. He previously made all to win easily at 1200M and assuming a better start, he can be given another chance today. That will mean overturning the form on (1) JEONGMUN PAPAGO. He is yet to win in fifteen attempts but got his third runner-up finish in that December 17th race when settling midfield and running on. Ge comes up 2kg in the weights, but he should be in the finish again. (7) VINCERO KING has plenty of experience at this level and while he doesn't necessarily shape as a winning chance here, he could provide some interest on a place line. (10) SMART TAEYANG and (8) MISS HIGH FLY among others in contention for the minors.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) CONCORD QUEEN enters with her recent form reading pleasingly with two runner-up finishes and a 4th from her latest three, all at this class over 1200M and in consistent times. She looks nicely in here with a good draw and she should be on pace with every chance of it being her day. (5) EUNPA CHAMPION too has come back into form her latest two, winning at class and distance in October and most recently running 3rd in December, both times from on the speed. He carries 4kg more than he did when he won but he shapes as the big danger here. (9) RAON THE MAN ran around in midfield on his first try at this class on Christmas Eve. He continues here under a very light weight and can go closer this time. (8) POWERFUL SOCKS and (11) DAEHEUNG CLASS are among others who can enter the calculations.

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

We'll take a chance on (9) UMAPOY here. He is yet to finish any worse than 3rd in just four starts at comes up in class having run 3rd over 1700M on December 16th. He comes down significantly in the weights, the extended trip should suit, and he may be available at a decent price. (5) GEUMA CHIC was a winner at class and distance two starts back before running 2nd at the same on New Year's Eve. She comes up 2kg in the weights but that's balanced a little by a good draw and she can be a danger. So too can (1) SEONGSIL INDONG, who comes in with almost identical recent form having won at class and distance two starts back and then run 2nd on her latest. She likes to race on pace so is very nicely drawn and she should be in this a long way. (4) DEVIL K and (3) HANGANG SKY among others in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(6) LALA K was a good winner of the Listed NACF Chairman's Trophy in November but then failed to land a blow in the G2 Breeders' Cup for juveniles at Busan in December. He comes back into more amenable company here and under a light weight, he can kick off his three-year-old season with a win. (5) I'M JJANG led from coast to coast to win at class and distance on December 17th. He has never finished worse than 4th, and while he comes up a full 4kg in the weights here, he has every chance again. (3) ACHIM DONGJA was a very close 2nd to I'm Jjang in that December 17th race. He also has the fastest time among these for the 1400M, recorded when winning at class 4 level in September, and he can be a danger here. The unbeaten but rapidly up in class (1) ECLAIRFURY along with (4) GLOBAL MAGIC are among plenty of others with claims in a competitive race.

Seoul Race 11: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(2) RAON THE ARIA beat a few of these on her way to victory at class and distance on November 18th when from a wide draw, she settled back and then ran on, proving too strong. She comes up 2.5kg in the weights but she has every chance of winning again. (11) LAST PUNCH swooped from well off the pace to score at this class over 1400M on December 3rd. She has placed at this distance at this class as well and while she comes up 4kg in the weights, she is sure ot be a threat late on again. (9) MIGHTY LOOK was 2nd to Raon The Aria in that November race before returning to run a fair 5th, again at class and distance, on Christmas Day. Moon Se-young climbs on this time and she will have support. (1) THIS CHALLENGE and (10) SKY MANGCHI others to keep safe.