Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Maidens open proceedings with four of the eleven racing for the first time. The favourite though will be (1) MAX GOLD. He has a 2nd and a 5th place from two starts racing handy on both occasions. His times haven't been fast, but they have been faster than any of the others here and from the inside gate, he should be on pace early and can lead all the way. The rest of the exposed form isn't great so we will give a chance to one of the newcomers as second pick. (8) TAENG TAENG BALL ran a fair 3rd in his trial, a long way behind the experienced Wow Wow but he didn't do too much wrong, and this is a great race to debut in. (9) MAX WEEK improved to 6th at start number two and looks the most likely of the experienced ones to make further progress. (3) BEOLGYOSAMJOKO and (6) CALIPH other potential improvers.

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(2) ROYAL BEST has made steady progress across three starts so far, culminating in a 3rd place over 1200M on Christmas Eve when he raced close to the pace throughout. From a great draw he can get a soft run to the front again and this time he can go one better. (7) CHEONGUCHAT has similarly shown improvement across his three appearances, most recently registering a 2nd place over 1300M on December 31st when settling midfield and running on. The slight step up in trip can suit and he will be a danger here. After an inauspicious debut, (3) JERAQUEEN has been there or thereabouts in three subsequent starts most recently racing on pace over this distance on December 30th and finishing 4th in a decent time. A similar run will see her int the finish again. (5) NAVY CHROME and (6) WINNER ZONE among others in the frame.

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Maiden fillies in the south coast opener with five of the eleven racing for the first time. The hot favourite though will be the only one who has raced more than once before, (6) DRAGON PUNCH. After running 3rd on debut in November, she overcame gate ten to run a close 2nd on December 29th, again over this distance. She should have too much and go one better here. (9) PASSION ran 3rd on debut over this distance in a faster time than – albeit on a much wetter and faster track surface – than Dragon Punch has recorded so far. She should have come on for the experience and can be the main danger here. Of the debut-makers, (3) RUBY STONE is the standout. She went through two trials and was very quick in the second of them when she led from gate to wire. She draws nicely here and can put in a bold showing first up. (8) SEOGWI STAR and (11) SUNCHEON YEOWANG are potential improvers.

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(2) BAEKRYONG comes in off a best to date runner-up finish over 1300M on Christmas Day when settling just behind the speed from gate ten and running on well. That continued a positive pattern of improvement and with an extra half furlong to play with here, as well as a better gate, today can be his day. Disputing favourite status will be (8) SHOUT KURO. He is yet to finish in the top two in seven attempts but enters off two 4th place finishes and a 3rd from his latest three, most recently beating a couple of today's rivals over 1300M. He likes to come off the pace so the slight step up in trip can suit and he should be close. (10) CLOVER PARTY was 4th behind Baekryong last time out but two starts back got a runner-up finish of his own over 1200M and while he draws a touch wider than ideal, he can be a danger. (4) DRAGON FANTASY and (7) SINUI UNMYEONG are among others to keep safe.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) GRAND CHASER ran a good 2nd on debut to Great Queen, settling midfield and running on and stopping the clock in a good time. She should have come on for the run and she will be expected to go one better here. (2) DREAM WAY got a 3rd place on debut all the way back in June before running down the field in two subsequent appearances. He hasn't raced since August, but he looked a much better proposition when finishing 2nd in a quick trial earlier this month and from a good draw, he goes straight into contention here. (11) DRAGON FIRE ran 4th on debut over 1200M on December 29th overcoming a wide gate and a slow start. He should have derived benefit from that and can be running on here. (10) BIG WILD and (3) RIVERSTONE among others who can be considered on a place line.

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies and mares only here. We can draw a line through the latest effort of (2) GLADIUS, which came in the Listed Gwacheon Mayor's Trophy for juvenile fillies in early December where she raced fairly but was back down a competitive field. She has placed at this class over 1200M before and back in more amenable company and drawing well, she should be the one to beat. (10) AL SIMON doesn't exactly win out of turn, but her recent form reads well with a strong 2nd last time out at class and distance. A similarly run will put her in the finish here. (8) MORNING PEARL is yet to win at all but has no fewer than eleven top-four finishes from thirteen starts. She races for the first time since last July but a trial in November suggests she can pick up from where she left off and be in the placing mix first-up. (1) PLAN B and (5) HEALING HAVEN the best of the rest.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(4) ASTIN MARINE got his maiden win in fine style when stepped up to a mile for the first time at start number four on Christmas Eve and racing on pace throughout to score by a full seven-lengths. He comes up in class here and while he doesn't get much in the way of a weight break, the step up to two turns can suit and he can win again. It is a tricky race though. (3) THE BEST EVER beat three of these on his way to victory at class and distance on December 29th when handy all the way around until proving too strong late on. He comes up 3kg in the weights, but draws well again, and a repeat isn't impossible.  (7) WITH STAR was 2nd in that December 29th race coming from off the pace to get within just over a length of The Best Ever. He has a slight weight swing here and can get close. (5) LUCKY BRAND was similarly a class and distance winner last time out and along with (6) DOCTOR CAPTAIN is one of plenty in with a shout in a very competitive race.

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

(3) CROWN HAMSEONG ran 2nd on debut in November before getting her maiden win at the second time of asking over 1200M on Christmas Day, sitting on the heels of the leader throughout before racing away in the closing stages. She comes up in class here but is down slightly in the weights, she draws well, and she is strongly favoured to repeat. (8) SANSAMEUN HAMYANG is similarly up in class following a maiden win, in her case at start number three over 1200M on Christmas Eve. She sat handy and ran on well that day and can repeat and measure up in this company. (1) SMART CAT has only missed the top-four on one occasion He enters off a 3rd place at this class and distance on December 31st when slowly away from the widest gate and with a much better draw this time can be dangerous. (5) KOREA GOLD hasn't quite managed to repeat his prodigious late run on his debut but is to be kept safe in wider numbers alongside (10) NAOL DAEWANG.

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

Tricky race. We'll take a chance on (10) WAITING FOR YOU who came from off the pace to win at class and distance on December 29th. That continued a positive run of form and while she comes up a full 3.5kg in the weights this time, she could repeat. (3) FLYING KHAN was sent up to a mile for his first try at this class on December 15th and while he led, he ultimately didn't see things out and finished in 5th. He comes back to a trip at which he is won before in a quick time and from a good gate he can be on pace and force them to try to get past him. (11) NUMBERONEPICK will also need a line drawn through his latest. It was over 1400M though and with him already a two-time winner over this distance, he can be given another chance here despite the wide draw. (1) FINAL SEVEN and (9) HONOR CAL others in the placing hunt.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1700M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(3) GOLDEN DRAGON swung home from well off the pace to win on January 6th at this class over 1300M. He comes up a full 3.5kg int the weights and he also steps up to two turns for the first time. The former is perhaps more a concern than the latter and the manner of his finishing off last time suggests that a bit of distance can be ideal for him. (2) CHOEGANG NICE is yet to win in twelve attempts but comes in off a smart 2nd place over a mile at this class on Christmas Day. He comes up 2kg in the weights, but he is another whose running style suggests that two turns can suit, and he can be considered here. (7) STAND BY ME beat three of these on his way to victory at this class over 1700M on December 30th and while up in the weights, warrants respect. (9) STORM BREAKER and the up in class and distance (11) LOVE MUNMAK among others to consider in a very competitive race.

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(6) WISE KING was a winner on debut all the way back in January of 2023 before disappearing and not returning until December 22nd. The layoff didn't seem to do him any harm though as he picked up from where he left off and then some, as he bounded away from the field for a nine-length win. He only gets a month between races this time instead of almost a year and he does come up in class and in distance, but he can continue on his merry way. This is a stern examination though. (11) SEVEN DRAGON was a winner over 1300M at class 5 level two starts back before finishing 4th at 1400M on December 22nd. He has never finished outside of the top-four, and he can suit a mile. (10) GLOBAL TAEYANG comes in having finished midfield in the Breeders' Cup champion juvenile race over 1400M on December 10th. Given that she had to contend with the widest gate, it wasn't a bad run and back in more amenable company she can be a danger. (4) STAR DAERO and (7) HAENGBOKAN HAMAN among other placing chances.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(8) EAST JUMP has a 4th and a 2nd from her two starts so far, both in similar races over 1200M one of them racing handy and the other leasing. She should be on pace here and she can figure things out at the third time of asking. (6) FAIR SKIES has shown similar promise in two appearances, most recently when 2nd over 1200M in a quick time on December 16th. She'll be on pace here and has plenty if scope for further progress. (1) QUEEN TOP is a local bred who rapidly won her way up to this level with back-to-back wins over this distance in September and October. She has a 2nd and a 6th in two starts at this level, both over 1400M and with the margins not being big in the latest of them. She carries a light weight and can be a danger here. (7) LEGEND K and (9) HANGANG JILJU others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 6: Class 1 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

This could be a big year for (2) SPEED YOUNG. The best juvenile of 2022 didn't quite get his reward on the Triple Crown trail, with 2nd place behind stablemate Global Hit in the Minister's Cup being his best. He rounded off his three-year-old campaign with a 3rd place behind Winner's Man (and Global Hit) in the President's Cup before beating several of these making all at this class and distance on Christmas Eve. He wins. Despite the recent class 1 rating adjustment, (10) CRAZY CONTI still puts most of these out of the handicap. He cold only manage 4th in that December 24th race but his quality means he mustn't be ruled out of getting closer here. (7) MACH TITAN was 2nd in that race, continuing a return to form and while he comes up 2.5kg in the weights, he can be close again. (4) FANTASTIC MAN comes in having run midfield in the Grand Prix Stakes at Seoul last month. He has finished ahead of plenty of these in the past and can do so again. The up in class (6) DOCTOR TAKE may make for some interest at an each-way price.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Two standouts here. (7) HANGANG HERO had been threatening to return to winning ways for a while and he did it at this class and distance on December 30th when on pace throughout. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights, but he can repeat. He has though won just the two from twenty-four so those looking for a potentially more progressive type, may prefer (10) RAON THE FANTA. She is a winner of two from five, most recently over this distance on December 23rd when settling handy and running on. She comes up in class here but is significantly down in the weights, and she has every chance once more. (9) HWASUBOON and (5) SOARA TO TO come in having run 2nd and 3rd respectively when they raced one another at class and distance on Christmas Eve. Both carry the same weight and both can be in the finish again. (8) UNICORN KINGDOM another who can enter the placing calculations.

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

(8) TIZ INDY came from off the pace to win at this class over 1700M on December 23rd. He comes up 2kg in the weights and it is certainly true that he mixes his form, but the step up to two turns really seemed to suit, and he can back up here. (3) HAWK PRINCE beat a couple of these on his way to 3rd place at class and distance on New Year's Eve, settling handy and running on well. He comes up just 1.5kg in the weights and comes into a good gate which can make him a danger again. (2) CHALLAN HANNAL was a winner at this class over 1400M two starts back with Tiz Indy well back behind him. He enters off a smart 3rd place at a mile on December 23rd and it would be no surprise to see him going close here. (6) GLOBAL LUCKY and (10) HWA SSI BYEOK among others in line for the minors.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Wide open race so we'll take a chance on (6) GOOD HAPPY. He comes in following his maiden win at start number five over 1400M on December 17th when settling back and running on. He is up in class and in distance but neither should be an issue and under a light weight, he has the potential for another win. (8) MUNHAK TAPIT has won just once in eighteen attempts, but he enters here with his recent form reading well. He has a 2nd and two 4th place finishes from his latest three and should be in the mix again. (2) ROCK IMPACT enters seeking a hat-trick of wins having cored in both his latest two at 1700M. He is up in class here but significantly down in the weights to an extent that should bring him into contention. (9) SPURT BIT and (10) YOUNGYOUNG SOCKS others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

Competitive class 1 to finish with. (6) RAON THE POINT is a winner of six from seven so far and comes up to class 1 for the first time having own over this rip on December 16th, making all. He carries a light weight, draws nicely and another win isn't beyond him. The Grand Prix Stakes didn't suit (2) MIGHTY NEW although he still gave a good account of himself in finishing 8th. This is a much more suitable assignment and while he carries his fair share of weight here, he draws beautifully to get a ground saving run behind the speed, and he can prove too strong late on – he will probably be favourite. (4) LEEWOLMA is up in class. He has never finished any worse than 4th in twelve attempts and enters off two solid runner-up finishes over this distance. Under a light weight, he can measure up. (7) PARK WIN and (1) CHOEGANG GAME others to consider.