Nice Choice / Gangho / Northern Ace / Bukgeukseong
After five days off it’s back. Racing on the Korean peninsula gets underway again this Friday at Busan and at Seoul and Jeju on Saturday and then all three tracks on Sunday.

Munhwa Ilbo winner Nice Choice is the biggest draw in the weekend’s headline race at Seoul on Sunday. The three year old steps up to class 1 racing for the first time and will be up against SBS Cup winner Hallyu Star.

While the big race is on Sunday, many racegoers will have their eyes on Saturday’s card which sees a number of potential stars on show. Earlier this year, US import Gangho swept all before him, winning his first four races barely breaking into a gallop. He then flopped in the JRA Trophy in May and hasn’t been seen since. He’s back in race 11 on Saturday when he’ll take on thirteen others over 1900 metres.

Saturday may also see some clues to next year’s Classics as two year old filly Brown Girl is looking to go three for three in race 8. An hour earlier, Northern Ace will have made his second start. The colt broke the five furlong track record on his debut and his reputation was enhanced without him even leaving his stable last week as the horse he beat into second that day, Ace Galloper, cruised to an eighteen length win. Northern Ace goes over six furlongs this time.

At Busan, prolific filly Bukgeukseong steps up to class 1 in Friday’s feature. Although classified as domestically bred, the three year old was ineligible for the Oaks due to having being conceived outside of Korea. She has five wins to her name from six starts and will be up against the likes of Annika Queen and Sky Star over a mile. Sunday’s Busan feature has track stalwarts Angle Slam, Dongbang Geona, Bugyoeng Choegang and Crafty Louis facing younger rivals King Kephalos and Jilju Hara.

Busan Race Park

Friday August 28: 10 races, first post 13:00, last 17:30
Sunday August 30: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday August 29: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Sunday August 30: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:00

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday August 29: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10
Sunday August 30: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10