With Seoul taking a week off there is a rare (as in twice a year rare) Saturday card at Busan! 10 races from 10:45 to 18:00 and big fields all round. It should be a very good day’s racing:
Busan infield – the track hosts a rare Saturday card this week
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
A field of twelve two-year-old debutants will face the starter in the first over the short course. There were two smart trials identified when looking over the replays. The on top selection is (8) MUJEOK YONGBYEONG who won his trial in the softest of fashions. The Mupae Gangja gelding raced in a professional manner when pouncing out of the gates and running through the line in cruise control. Lee Hyo-Sik didn’t pull the whip on him and he looks a nice type on debut. (5) SECRET ILLUSION is the other galloper engaged that impressed in her trial. The daughter of Thunder Moccasin was fast out of the gates before having the pressure applied by other runners for the length of the straight. She also was not struck with the whip once and looked to have plenty more to offer. She ran the fastest time when qualifying and should be considered a winning chance. (4) STRONG MIND trialed in good fashion when finishing third. He was urged along in the straight and responded duly. If he takes some improvement out of the trial, he can run into the money. (7) SEONGSIL SONYEO ran a fair trial when qualifying. She was beaten a big margin but did line up against some more experienced types.
Selections (8) Mujeok Yongbyeong (5) Secret Illusion (4) Strong Mind (7) Seongsil Sonyeo
Next Best 10, 12
Fast Start 5, 7
Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maidens here with just four of the fourteen having previously appeared on the racecourse. And in fairness, all four of them acquitted themselves well. That, combined with the fact we have some promising first-timers as well, makes for a very competitive affair. (5) ONE PICK is the slight pick. He debuted at this distance on December 6th and ran well for 3rd place in a good time behind a couple of useful looking prospects. He can come from just off the pace here and run on well. (7) BANJIUI MAGIC debuted impressively back in September, running 2nd at 1000M. He’s not been seen since but returned to trial two weeks ago and looked in fine order, running a controlled 2nd. Among the first-timers. (13) TOP OF TOP looks most likely. By a Korean Derby winner and out of a multiple Korean Stakes winning mare, he led for much of the way in his trial, ultimately finishing 2nd in a quick time and should go well first up today. (1) PERFECT JEWANG and (3) GEUMA KAIROS are others who caught the eye in the mornings and look in with a chance,
Selections: (5) One Pick (7) Banjiui Magic (13) Top Of Top (1) Perfect Jewang
Next Best: 3, 12
Fast Start: 1, 7, 9, 13
Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million
A capacity field of fourteen will line up in the third all looking for their first win. (8) DONGNIP YEOLGANG looks mighty hard to beat coming off a last start second behind Master King. The Any Given Saturday colt sat on speed in the 1300m event and went down less than a length. He clocked a good time for this class and should prove hard to beat. (7) SPACE POWER showed some improvement last start. The two-year-old Clear Attempt colt settled well back before running on fairly. He comes out of a tougher affair and will appreciated the drop in class. (2) SPEED KINGDOM comes out of the same event as Space Power where he finished midfield. Leading Busan rider You Hyun-Myung takes over which must be seen as a positive. He should take improvement out of his last start run and he is drawn well to sit in the first four in running. (9) WONDERFU EI placed last time out behind Queen Up. The chestnut showed early speed to overcome barrier eleven and sit on speed. He has drawn wide once again so expect Park Jae-I to work forward from the wide draw and position on speed.
Selections (8) Dongnip Yeolgang (7) Space Power (2) Speed Kingdom (9) Wonderfu Ei
Next Best 3, 4, 9
Fast Start 3, 8
Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
He may be up in class but (9) YEONGSEONG VICTORY is the one to beat here. Having run 2nd over 1000M on debut in October, he stepped up to this distance and saw off a strong group of rivals for a battling win on November 22nd. It’s a stiffer ask again here but he looks o have plenty of improvement in him and he should prevail. Yeongseong Victory will be looking to cross and get on pace early and a couple of his main rivals have a tougher task as they try to do the same from wider draws. (11) CAPTAIN STEALTH led for much of the way around on his first try at this level last start, only to be denied late and has serious claims to go close again. Meanwhile (12) LISTEN TO ME and (13) YEONGGWANGUI TIME also come in off runner-up finishes in their respective latest outings and will aim to get across and on to the early speed. Of that pair, Yeonggwangui Time, whose recent form has been very consistent, is the more favoured to be successful. (5) MAJOR HIT left things a bit too late last start but did run a few down to finish 6th and can be a threat in the closing stages again here.
Selections: (9) Yeongseong Victory (11) Captain Stealth (13) Yeonggwangui Time (12) Listen To Me
Next Best: 5, 14
Fast Start: 9, 11, 12, 13
Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
A field of twelve line up in the fifth where there appears to be only a few winning chances engaged. (11) HANBIT TAEYANG has finished second at his past two starts in this grade. The most recent of them he looked the winner at the furlong before being nabbed by Nansan Yeoje on his inside, going down a neck. He is speedy out of the barriers and looks to map in the leading division. The chestnut has only had the five starts yielding a win and two minor placings. (1) BIG PICTURE has been racing consistently of late. He finished fifth last start when having to overcome the outside gate. You Hyun-Myung will ride the three-year-old from barrier one suggesting he will get every chance to use his natural speed and hold on for some money. (7) HAPPY MAGIC has put two good runs together placing at her past two starts. She seems to have improved in recent times and looks one to include in your wider selections. (4) SHARP BELL comes out of the same race as Big Picture where he finished fourth. He ran through the line fairly and in a race that lacks depth, looks one that collect a cheque. He hasn’t won a race from forty-seven starts but it is a weak affair.
Selections (11) Hanbit Taeyang (1) Big Picture (7) Happy Magic (4) Sharp Bell
Next Best 2, 6
Fast Start 1, 2, 11
Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(11) STAR OREUM won two of his first three and while he came up short when up against the best juveniles at the track – he was 6th in the Breeders’ Cup trial and 5th in the Gyeongman Do Min Ilbo Cup – he’s back in shallower waters today and can make a return to the winner’s circle. He likes to come from off the pace so the wide draw is no problem and he looks the one to beat. It’s a good race though. (2) YEONGCHEON JILJU won two on the bounce in October and November to take his chance in the Breeders’ Cup race itself. He only beat a couple home but like Star Oreum, should find the company much more amenable today. He’ll be on pace from the start as will (10) SECRET LEGACY. She never really got going during her first stint across the turn of last year but has won two and finished 2nd in the other in three starts since returning to action in October. All of those were at 1000M and she is up in class as well today but she should be competitive. (1) MORNING BRAVO and (6) STAR LINE are others who have placing claims.
Selections: (11) Star Oreum (2) Yeongcheon Jilju (10) Secret Legacy (1) Morning Bravo
Next Best: 6, 12
Fast Start: 1, 2, 9, 10
Race 7: Class 4 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
A field of fourteen will line up in the seventh where the two-year-old imports line up over the 1300m. The trial of (9) NICE CHANCE was superb when winning by seven lengths and looking like a seasoned campaigner. The Kim Young-Kwan trained galloper ran 61.7 seconds on a dry rated track with more up his sleeve. He looks an easy ride for Jung Do-Yung as he should work forward early and prove hard to run down. (8) SPACE MARINE is having his third career start after being thrown in the deep end last time out in the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Cup. The Into Mischief colt ran an admirable seventh in the principle race. He finished second behind King Of Boss on debut who has since placed in Class 3 company so he looks a solid each way chance. (2) BLACK EAGLE WING has had three starts to date and is yet to finish worse than fourth. The gelding is by Jack Milton who was best performed over a mile suggesting there is scope to stretch him out. He finished second last start when seven lengths behind Black Shield. (1) BABEL HIT is having just his second starts after finishing third on debut. He sat on speed on debut when placing at big odds and another forward showing would not surprise, albeit this looks harder on paper.
Selections (9) Nice Chance (8) Space Marine (2) Black Eagle Wing (1) Babel Hit
Next Best 7, 12
Fast Start 1, 2, 12
Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
(7) HARUGAKINU was an eye-catching five-length winner on debut on November 22nd, pretty much making all over 1200M. He looks a good prospect and while there are a couple of additional things to overcome today – namely an extra 4kg and two more furlongs to travel, he’s the pick to go two for two here. No concerns about either of those things for (10) AFLEET YOUNG who has already won twice at this distance and carries a feather-weight 52kg. He found himself overmatched when down the field in the Breeders’ Cup at the start of this month but this looks a far more suitable assignment and he can pose a problem for the favourite. (4) BARAMUI YAKSOK comes in off two near-misses at class and distance and should be a placing factor once more. (1) TIZBE is a useful filly who has won at this distance and while she only managed 5th when favourite last start, Seo Seung-un stays aboard and she warrants another chance. (5) REVERSE SWEEP perhaps best of a competitive rest.
Selections: (7) Harugakinu (10) Afleet Young (4) Baramui Yaksok (1) Tizbe
Next Best: 5, 3
Fast Start: 1, 7, 13, 14
Race 9: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
A handy bunch of gallopers will go over the mile in the ninth. There looks a dominant form line race which took place on November 24, where Yeongseongfighting won over 1600m. Running second in that race was (12) WONDERFUL MORNING where he clocked an impressive 1:39.7. The Rock Hard Ten three-year-old has been punishing for straight out punters finishing second at five of his past six starts. He’s likely to work forward from his wide draw and sit on speed. He’s as honest as they come and should give backers a good sight with 54.5kg on his back. (3) RAJPUTANA is another coming out of that race where he finished third. The lightly race four-year-old has had just the seven starts, all this year which have yielded three wins and three minor placings. Choi Si Dae knows the horse well and is engaged to ride him in this assignment. (13) GYEONGJUUI DUREBAK has mixed his form of late but has plenty of ability. The four-year-old has saluted in this class and performs his best over the middle distances. (2) TRUE KING is always thereabouts but we haven’t seen him salute since April. He has had three runs since the triple crown features and has finished in the top four on each occasion.
Selections (12) Wonderful Morning (3) Rajputana (13) Gyeongjuui Durebak (2) True King
Next Best 6, 8
Fast Start 3, 12
Race 10: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
A really good race to finish with as plenty of talent lines up for this class 2 sprint. Best horse in the race is probably (8) SEOBU CAT what with him coming in off back to back victories, the latest of which saw him beat no fewer than five of these at class and distance on November 15th. While he has to deal with an extra 3kg today, his class can see him through. Among the ones he beat that day, (2) POWER TOUCH, who was less than a length back in 3rd, should pose the greatest threat. She returned to action three weeks ago and ran 3rd once more again at class and distance and this time has a bigger weight advantage. Runner-up in that race, more than two-lengths ahead of Power Touch, was (1) MAPLE CLASSIC. That was his third start back since six months off and he only missed out by a beck. He again looks nicely weighted and is in with a shout. (3) SMART DANCER was a 118/1 class and distance winner on her latest outing, beating five of these in the process and while lightning probably won’t strike twice, she’ll need more respect today. (4) TONGIL HANGUK was well back that day but has since run 5th at this class over 1400M and can aim to at least match that here.
Selections: (8) Seobu Cat (2) Power Touch (1) Maple Classic (3) Smart Dancer
Next Best: 4, 7
Fast Start: 1, 2, 4, 10
Horse Racing in Korea 