Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million 

(6) UNSEOK has improved over the course of three starts so far and beat a couple of these on his way to 2^nd place over the distance last time. True, he was a long way back behind the winner that day, but that winner has gone on to strike again and Unseok looks the one to beat here.

(3) WONDERFUL STORY and (4) YONGGU came hoe 5^th and 6^th that day and could improve but a bigger danger may be (7) BAEKDU JEONGGI. Thomas Gillespie’s colt has a 3^rd and 4^th from two starts so far and steps up in trip for the first time today and it may well suit. (2) I’M YOUR STAR will be expected to improve as well.

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million 

Not a strong race this so we’re going to give another chance to (4) RARARA. She could only manage 7^th of 12 last time but it was a significantly stiffer contest than this and she had plenty of bad luck along the way. With a better trip today, she can win.

(7) KWAEHAN SINGANGJA overcame a slow start to run on pleasingly enough for 5^th on debut last month and can continue to show promise here while (2) YUHWI has shown plenty of immaturity across two starts so far but can improve. There are three debut-makers. (9) MENIFEE HOPE was the most competent in trials but do watch the market with (1) BAEKDU MYEONGWOL and (3) SEUNGNI DAEJANG as well.

Race 4: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million 

(7) LUCKY KOREA was favourite on debut on December 22^nd but came up against a decent looking one and went down by half a length having made all until the closing stages. She surely gets it right this time. She’s the banker favourite of the day and it would be a big surprise were she to be beaten.

Clear second-favourite is (2) ROYAL RIVER, who has shown good consistency across five starts to date, all of them over this distance and comes in following 2^nd place last time. Similarly consistent has been (5) YEONGCHEON STAR, who has he not hung in for the majority of his latest outing, would probably have bettered his career-best finish of 4^th. He gets the opportunity to do so today. The remaining ones with prior experience do not entice so to fill out the money well look to the first-timers. (1) BAENGNICHONG and (4) BAENGNYEON DAERO look the pick of those.

Race 5: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million 

Really good race this for class 5 and any number could come out on top. (8) ORYONG was 2^nd over 1300M on his first try at this level having been a good winner at the minimum on debut and looks as though he could benefit from the extended trip today and we’ll make him the slight favourite. He raced a touch ungenerously last time but had excuses throughout and he can win. Oryong is one of four who race at a mile for the first time and a couple of the others also have good claims.

(4) CORE BLADE is up in class following her maiden win on New Year’s Eve and looks ready for a longer race as does (1) JEIL MUJEOK, 3^rd at 1300M at this level last time and seemingly with plenty of potential too. At the other end of the experience scale, (10) BAENGMANDORI has only won one from twenty-six but enters in solid form with a strong 2^nd place at class and distance on December 30^th in a race that was of similar strength to this and is bound to be well-backed. If it’s a distance winner you want, then (2) VICAR OF THE SUN is the one having done precisely that in early December. Different tactics were employed on his reappearance two weeks ago, leading but then tiring in the closing stages. Look for better today.

Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million 

(11) TANGY BITE beat Lucky Korea, who we saw in race 4, on what was his second start on December 22^nd. He is up in both class and distance today but the way in which he finished suggests that should be a benefit and he is favoured to win again. It won’t be easy.

(5) RAON POWER has been luckless in two efforts at this class so far but looks like he can come good again while (2) BIRYONGUI HUYE is up in distance today but should be able to get on the early speed and can potentially go all the way. He’ll be joined in seeking a fast start by the up in class (7) CHANG GONG, who also goes further than the minimum for the first time following a six-length score a month ago. (10) JIRANJIGYO has plenty of experience at this level and steps back in trip from a mile which may well be in her favour.

Race 7: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million 

Just fillies and mares here and (5) QUEEN OF CAPTAIN drops back in trip having finished 3^rd in a similar race over 1300M on December 22^nd, beating a couple of these in the process. Her only win to date was on her only previous try at this distance and she could win here. Trying the minimum for the first time today is (8) HANEOL GONGJU. She was a winner over 1200M on debut last September and has held her own in two tries at this level since.

We’ll expect her to be on the early speed today and look to go all the way. Three fillies step up in class for the first time here and all three have claims. The strongest belong to (6) UJU DAEWANG, a four-length all the way winner at this distance last time and another likely fast starter. Bart Rice’s (9) NINA made her breakthrough at the fourth attempt last month and while it wasn’t quite as eye-catching as UjuDaejang’s win, it was satisfactory enough and suggests more could follow. The remaining up in class one is (7) DYNAMIC RUN and although she remains a maiden, she looks to be on the improve and can compete for a place here.

Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million 

After an indifferent 6^th place on debut, (4) YEONGGWANGUI CHAMP won his next two in an extremely facile manner and despite being up in both class and significantly in distance today, he’s going to be the one to beat here. He’ll likely try to lead gate to wire.

Employing the opposite tactics will be (3) INDIAN GANGJA. He’s come from behind to place in his latest two, both at this distance and so long as he doesn’t leave himself too much to do, he stands a good chance of reeling them in late in the race. Both (6) SEUNGSEUNG JANGGUN and (8) VEGA KHAN have won at the distance, both of them beating Indian Gangja in the process. The former is probably a better bet here but Vega Khan too could surprise. (1) SINBIHAN JILJU and (10) DAEHO CHUKJE are others to consider in another competitive affair.

Race 9: Class 4 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million 

One of those tricky races which sees a couple of inexperienced imports taking on some very experienced locally bred horses but with trainer Kim Young Kwan coming in double-armed here, we’ll go with his. (3) TEUKGEUP GAMDONG is the pick despite only running 5^th of 7 after losing ground at the start last time. He was gong well before that and was a good winner at this distance in November. The trainer’s other entrant is (11) YEOSINUI PUMGYEOK.

Her only prior outing was last August when she made little impact. She’s only trialled once since and that was back in October so she’s a bit of an unknown quantity – watch the market. (6) CHODONG TEUKGEUP returns for the first time since running 3^rd at the distance at the beginning of November and with a good start, can be involved while (8) SEULVELY steps back in trip and into the frame for a place. (1) YEONGGWANGUISINHWA another to be considered.

Race 10: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million 

Another wildly competitive race. (3) BAEDARI HANI has been 2^nd favourite for both her two most recent starts and has accordingly been 2^nd, last time behind the very good Captain Blade. This time she has a very good chance of getting out of the gate best and going one better at the end.

(2) KKEUTPAN AERO is an accomplished sprinter who showed great potential across six starts last year. He’s been off since August and while an indifferent trial (in terms of time anyway) two weeks ago suggests he may need this, he’s not to be ruled out. (1) SMART GENTLEMAN’s recent work has been at 1400M and the experienced five-year-old may benefit from being dropped back today. (6) MY ALICE enters off a strong 2^nd place at class and distance on December 10^th and is firmly in the frame. So too is (10) SINUIPUMGYEOK, who returned from six months out with a very close 4^th place two weeks ago and should have come on for it.

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

Six of these raced each other at class and distance on December 22^nd. That day, (7) BADA GANGJA, longest but one shot on the board scored an 86/1 victory bringing to an end the four-race winning streak of (12) RED SIREN, who raced awkwardly throughout but still came home in 2^nd place. Not many will bet Bada Gangja to repeat that today although it is of course possible, but will Red Siren return to winning ways? It’s possible although 3^rd place-getter that day, just a nose back,

(5) SEONGSAN JILJU enters in good form and will be looking to lead from the gate. Among the others who went that day, (11) WORLD LOVE and (4) BOMHEMIAN may improve but we do have one more race of reference to consider. That was class and distance on New Year’s Eve when (9) ILLYU STAR ran 2^nd with (8) CHEONHA TONGIL and (3) PHANTOM BLADE behind him. All three can make an impact here.