2016 concludes with a bumper New Year’s Eve Saturday card at Busan. There are 15 races from 10:50 to 18:00. They include two big races, one for 2-year-olds and one for 3-year-olds to see the year out with. No live racing at Seoul or Jeju but the racecourses are open for the Busan simulcast. There is no racing in Korea on New Year’s Day.

English race cards are available here. Notes on races which will be simulcast overseas are below:

Race 6: Class 5 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 13:25

(4) FREE CARE is up in class following her maiden victory, achieved by making all to score by four lengths over 1000M a month ago. She’s also up in distance for the first time but has every chance of winning again. (10) DINAH is yet to win in four outings but has never finished worse than 3rd and should keep that record going here while (12) TAEYANGUI SINHWA was 3rd on his first try at this level two weeks ago and can continue to develop here. Darryll Holland taking the mount makes (8) MADEIN MYEONGSEONG attractive to continue his recent run of placings while (3) VICAR SARANG and (5) ONLY BLUE are others to consider.

Selections: (4) Free Care (10) Dinah (8) Madein Myeongseong (12) Taeyangui Sinhwa
Next Best: 3, 5
Rating: 8, 5=12, 4, 6
Fast Starters: 6, 4
Start-200M: 8, 12, 4, 6, 7
200M-Finish: 4, 1, 10, 8, 6

Race 7: Class 5 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 13:50

Thomas Gillespie’s (4) PARTY AGAIN comes in following 4th place in the Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo Cup in November and will be strongly favoured to return to winning ways on what will be his first try at 1300M. (1) ADELE ACE is yet to win in three outings but finds himself up in class and distance following two 3rd place finishes and a 2nd and can continue to place here – he should get an easy lead early – while (5) SONATILLED stepped up to a mile for his first attempt at this class three weeks ago and can improve on the 5th he managed that day. (2) MANGANG and (7) BEONGGEULBEONGGEUL others to look out for.

Selections: (4) Party Again (1) Adele Ace (5) Sonatilled (7) Beonggeulbeonggeul
Next Best: 2, 3
Rating: 4, 5, 7=9, 1
Fast Starters: 1
Start-200M: 1, 6, 11, 4, 8
200M-Finish: 4, 1, 7, 9, 5

Race 8: Class 4 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 55 Million / 14:20

(8) WONDER WALL was 3rd in the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo (beating Party Again who we saw in race 7) and then 4th in the Breeders’ Cup race at Seoul earlier this month and he is favoured to score here in what is more modest company than either of those two races. He could very well make all. Main danger looks to be (10) MORNING KOREA who has shown potential in three starts so far even if he was overmatched in the Do Min Ilbo while (5) THE GRAND too improved on what was his second career start a month ago and can go well again. (3) SPEED MARK and (12) WHITTE QUEENS look best of the rest.

Selections: (8) Wonder Wall (10) Morning Korea (5) The Grand (12) Whitte Queens
Next Best: 3, 2
Rating: 10, 1=3, 5, 2
Fast Starters: 8, 5
Start-200M: 8, 5, 11, 12, 3
200M-Finish: 10, 6, 3, 5, 7

Race 9: Class 3 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 72 Million / 14:50 

Competitive race this and (12) GABO STAR is perhaps likely to start favourite having come close in similar company in recent starts. The draw is not ideal but can be overcome. (10) LOAD CELL made light of a wide draw at 1000M last time to run a decent 2nd and may be considered but there will be plenty of support too for both (2) SUNSHINE ALPHA and (6) YUSEONG TIGER, the latter of whom comes in following a class and distance win and will be much shorter than the near 20/1 she started at that day. (11) MY ALICE returns to action for the first time since May and is the wildcard.

Selections: (12) Gabo Star (2) Sunshine Alpha (6) Yuseong Tiger (10) Load Cell
Next Best: 11, 9, 5
Rating: 8, 6, 3, 12, 5
Fast Starters: 10, 11
Start-200M: 10, 11, 3, 7, 5
200M-Finish: 1, 10, 12, 4, 5

Race 10: Class 4 / 1600M / Handicap / KRW 55 Million / 15:20 

(10) PPUDEUT looked suited to a mile on his first try at it two weeks ago, running a close 2nd and he can make the breakthrough here. (6) TRIPLE YEONGGWANG made his own breakthrough at the end of last month with a battling win over 1200M. He steps up considerably in distance today but should be able to handle it. Those two are the standouts but (2) FIRST KING, (3) KWAESOK BOLT and (12) JEONSEOLUI SIJAK are among a number of others who have claims on places.

Selections: (10) Ppudeut (6) Triple Yeonggwang (3) Kwaesok Bolt (2) First King
Next Best: 12, 8, 9
Rating: 3=6=12, 7=10
Fast Starters: 4
Start-200M: 3, 4, 9, 10, 7
200M-Finish: 6, 10, 8, 12, 3

Race 11: Class 4 / 1600M / Handicap / KRW 55 Million / 16:00 

(5) GALILEE HO is two for two and was a class 5 winner at this distance three weeks ago. However, he is up in class once more and faces his stiffest test yet He should go well but others may be favoured, especially (3) MUHAN YEOLJEONG, 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup at Seoul earlier this month and is another with good potential. So too is Kim Young Kwan’s (6) BRACHAH, like Galilee Ho already a winner at this distance. (4) MUJEOK SINHWA and (8) DAESTAR also have claims in what is another competitive race.

Selections: (3) Muhan Yeoljeong (5) Galilee Ho (6) Brachah (4) Mujeok Sinhwa
Next Best: 8, 2, 9
Rating: 4, 6, 9, 10, 7
Fast Starters: 3
Start-200M: 3, 12, 4, 2, 7
200M-Finish: 8, 6, 3, 5, 11

Race 12: Class Open / 1200M / Allowance (2yo) / KRW 200 Million / 16:30

(7) TODAY is three for three and will be favourite to maintain his 100% record in this valuable two-year-old race. He’s made all in his last two and will attempt the same here. (4) I’M YOUR FATHER won the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Cup ahead of (1) DIVINE TOUCH on November but did look a little flat when beaten earlier this month and the latter will be favoured to overturn that form today. (2) PERLIN and the still unexposed (8) DROP THE BEAT also have claims.

Selections: (7) Today (2) Perlin (8) Drop The Beat (1) Divine Touch
Next Best: 4, 6, 5
Rating: 4, 6, 3, 7, 2
Fast Starters: 2, 7
Start-200M: 2, 8, 6, 7, 1
200M-Finish: 4, 6, 7, 2, 1

Race 13: Class Open / 1800M / Allowance (3yo) / KRW 300 Million / 17:00 

2nd in the final two legs of the Triple Crown and a very creditable 5th in last month’s President’s Cup at Seoul, (1) ZETTABYTE is favoured to claim this valuable race which is restricted to three-year-olds. (2) TONGIL SIDAE showed great promise earlier this year but hasn’t been seen since running 4th in the Korea/Japan Challenge at Seoul in June. He looked sharp in a trial two weeks ago though and may be considered first up. (6) TARIAT TALE and (5) BUHWARUI BANSEOK come in having finished 2nd and 3rd in what was for both of them a first attempt at class 1 over this distance earlier this month and both can go well here. (9) SAENGIL GIPPEUM was 4th in that race and at least match that here. Oaks winner (4) OTTUG OTTUGI and (10) MORNING DAERO both favour shorter distances and are the wildcards.

Selections: (1) Zettabyte (5) Buhwarui Banseok (2) Tongil Sidae (6) Tariat Tale
Next Best: 9, 4, 10
Rating: 9, 2=10, 4, 5
Fast Starters: 4
Start-200M: 4, 2, 10, 9, 3
200M-Finish: 5, 6, 7, 10, 2

Race 14: Class 3 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 72 Million / 17:30 

(1) MATCH POWER beat four of these when winning over 1400M on November 25th. He carries an additional 4kg today but the drop down to 1200M may mitigate that somewhat and he is to be respected. (12) JILJUUI SIN was 2nd that day and will be a danger again as will (8) PAMPAS FARM, who was 3rd. Among those who didn’t go in that race, (3) GREAT SONG and (7) DYNAMIC TANK look most dangerous while (5) KWAESOK BARAM should also be capable in this company.

Selections: (1) Match Power (12) Jiljuui Sin (8) Pampas Farm (3) Great Song
Next Best: 5, 7
Rating: 12, 1, 6, 5=7
Fast Starters: 7
Start-200M: 2, 7, 3, 1, 6
200M-Finish: 12, 6, 4, 5, 3

Race 15: Class 1 / 1400M / Handicap / KRW 105 Million / 18:00 

Really competitive class 1 to round out the year. Governor’s Cup winner (7) MS. MARGAUX may be best known for racing at further distances but must be taken seriously here despite being up against specialist sprinters (5) GAMDONGUIBADA and (6) WONIL GANGJA. All three will be well backed as will (1) TOHAMSAN who makes his class 1 debut here and is the likely pace-setter. Also trying class 1 for the first time is (9) USEUNG LINE following a smart win at this distance a month ago and he too can be considered as can (8) FERVENT STORM, 2nd at class and distance in November. Happy New Year!

Selections: (7) Ms. Margaux (6) Wonil Gangja (5) Gamdonguibada (1) Tohamsan
Next Best: 9, 8
Rating: 5, 7, 6, 4, 2
Fast Starters: 1
Start-200M: 1, 5, 9, 6, 10
200M-Finish: 7, 8, 5, 2, 9