Just two weeks until the Korea Cup! The final list of accepted nominations will be published shortly but in the meantime, we have racing business to get on with and 10 Friday races at Busan from 14:30 to 21:00. Notes on simulcast races below:
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
| 1. LUCKY ADELE – Faded to 6th of 10 on debut on July 14th. Can improve today. |
| 2. CHEONHA MANSE – Debut-maker. Average in trials. |
| 3. GOLDEN KNIGHT – Last of 12 on debut in July and sent back to trial. Looked better on re-qualifying but too early to back. |
| 4. SUPER WINGS – Best of 3rd place was just over a year ago. Only beat one home on latest start. |
| 5. B.K. MASTER – Raced twice last autumn. Trialed up ok a couple of weeks ago. |
| 6. MIO – Beaten into 3rd when odds-on favourite two weeks ago. Another chance here. |
| 7. EURO GONGJU – Much improved 2nd of 8 on August 6th. Big chance again |
Verdict: Seems a bit of a two-horse race as (6) MIO and (7) EURO GONGJU look streets ahead of the rest at this stage. Euro Gongju was slightly more impressive in defeat last start so we’ll go with that one to get the maiden win as both likely bid farewell to class 6. (1) LUCKY ADELE didn’t disgrace himself on debut and looks to the only other one in with a shout.
| Selections | (7) Euro Gongju (6) Mio (1) Lucky Adele (4) Super Wings |
| Next Best | – |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7 |
Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
| 1. ISLE CAT – 1st time starter, did ok in trials and nice race to debut in. |
| 2. UICHEONGEOM – Best of 5th in three starts so far. Softer company today and can look to place. |
| 3. I’M ADELE – Managed a 2nd place last December but well back in two outings since returning from lengthy layoff. |
| 4. HUIMANGUI NORAE – Top jockey booking but she always seems to get one of those. Only beat one home in latest two. |
| 5. HOSEUNG DREAM – First-time starter. Didn’t excite in trials. |
| 6. BAENGNYEON SIDAE – 6th and 5th in two outings so far. Beaten by Yeongcheon Star on debut in June and in the frame here. |
| 7. YEONGCHEON STAR – Beat Baengnyeon Sidae when 4th on debut in June. Followed up with 5th of 8 three weeks ago. A chance. |
| 8. GAO – Offered little in seven outings so far. |
Verdict: Weak race and while (6) BAENGNYEON SIDAE was beaten by (7) YEONGCHEON STAR
On debut in June, he looks to have a little more about him and can win this. Yeongcheon Star is the main danger while improvement is possible from (2) UICHEONGEOM.
| Selections | (6) Baengnyeon Sidae (7) Yeongcheon Star (2) Uicheongeom (3) I’m Adele |
| Next Best | 1, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6 |
Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
| 1. ROYAL TRIPLE – Back to back 3rds in May and June and decent 5th of 12 last time in reasonable company. A chance. |
| 2. RICH BOLT – Yet to go better than 3rd in seventeen outings but could get close in this company. |
| 3. MACH KAISERIN – Best is a 2nd place back in June. Led early but ended up 5th last start and should look to at least match that today. |
| 4. SEORABEOL YEOJE – First outing since March. Had shown a few glimpses before that and trialed up in reasonable fashion. |
| 5. YEOWANGUI JEONGWON – Just missed out by half a length last time in much improved showing. The one to beat here. |
| 6. SAEROUN STAR – Never got into gear over 1000M last start behind Jiranjigyo. Should appreciate being back up in trip but won’t be among the favourites. |
| 7. QUEEN STEALTH – 6th behind Yeonwangui Jeongwon last start and a bit of form to overturn here. |
| 8. JIRANJIGYO – Improved 5th ahead of Saeroun Star last time. Top jockey and trainer combination and could go close. |
| 9. MUST LADY – Offered little in five efforts so far. |
Verdict: (5) YEOWANGUI JEONGWON led for much of her last start just two weeks ago before eventually being overhauled close to the line. It was a much improved performance and we’ll go with her to score today in this all-filly contest. (8) JIRANJIGYO looks to have scope for more development and is next best while (1) ROYAL TRIPLE and (2) RICH BOLT also have potential to go well in this company.
| Selections | (5) Yeowangui Jeongwon (8) Jiranjigyo (1) Royal Triple (2) Rich Bolt |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 8 |
Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million
| 1. CHEONNYEONUI GANG – First-time starter. Won his trial well and in the frame first-up. |
| 2. GRAY STORM – First start today. Trialed up behind Seolgwanghwa. |
| 3. EXPRESSIVE – Decent enough 5th of 8 on debut three weeks ago. Can improve here. |
| 4. SEOGANG JILJU – 3rd of 12 on debut. Wasn’t a great race but must be respected and can build on that here. |
| 5. KING JJANG – Debut-maker. Average in trials. |
| 6. YEONGGWANGUI CHAMP – 2nd in his trial. Wasn’t quick but could go well. |
| 7. YEOKJEONUI MAMA – 3rd in trial. Stablemate of King Jjang. |
| 8. OS TOP – Didn’t impress in trials and likely an outsider here. |
| 9. SEOLGWANGHWA – Trialed well ahead of Gray Storm. |
| 10. MASTER WIN – 6th of 9 on debut over 1200M behind Yeonggwanguiwinner and can improve here. |
| 11. YEONGGWANGUIWINNER – 2nd of 9 on debut over this distance. Looks very much the one to beat today. |
| 12. SINSERYEOK – Only just scraped through a trial a couple of weeks ago but trainer/jockey combination will tempt some. |
Verdict: Big prize money on offer for these 2-year-olds and we’ll likely have a strong favourite in the shape of (11) YEONGGWANGUIWINNER. He ran on nicely that day and can go one better here. (10) MASTER WIN was 6th in that race and can improve while (3) EXPRESSIVE and (4) SEOGANG JILJU also put in encouraging debuts. Among the first-timers, David Miller’s (1) CHEONNYEONUI GANG looks to be the pick.
| Selections | (11) Yeonggwangui Winner (3) Expressive (4) Seogang Jilju (1) Cheonnyeonui Gang |
| Next Best | 10, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 12 |
Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
| 1. PENTA HEELS – A winner at this class over 1200M in June and a close 4th over 1000M last time. A chance. |
| 2. RECHAE – Recent form is cold. |
| 3. SUPER STEAL – Winner at this distance at class 6 in June and 2nd on first try at this level last month beating Queen’s Bullet and Eorok.. Big chance today. |
| 4. TWO TWO KINGDOM – Well back behind Lady Chartered last time. |
| 5. QUEEN’S BULLET – 3rd behind Super Steal in July and 6th of 10 on reappearance two weeks ago. Can place here. |
| 6. LADY CHARTERED – Comes in off back to back 4th places and could match those today. |
| 7. EOROK – Hasn’t been great in three starts back from a layoff but should beat a few. |
| 8. MAIN VICAR – Yet to win in 18 but capable of coming close in this company. |
Verdict: (3) SUPER STEAL comes in off a seven-week layoff since running 2nd in a similar race at class and distance and looks to be the one to beat here. (5) QUEEN’S BULLET was 3rd that day, just a head back and should be competitive while (1) PENTA HEELS enters in form and is to be considered.
| Selections | (3) Super Steal (1) Penta Heels (5) Queen’s Bullet (6) Lady Chartered |
| Next Best | 8, 7 |
| Fast Start | 4 |
Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 55 Million
| 1. BAROGA – 6th of 12 last time ahead of a couple of these and very close to the places. A chance. |
| 2. WORLD NUMBER ONE – Solitary win so far came at a mile. Steps up to 1800M for the first time and not impossible. |
| 3. TARIAT MACHO – Back to back 3rd places in April and Mat but struggled in latest two. |
| 4. GLOBAL CHAMPION – Surprise win over a mile in July got him promoted back up to this level. Decent 5th of 12 last time which he could match. |
| 5. HIDDEN CHOICE – 9th of 12 behind Baroga last start and plenty to find here. |
| 6. CHEONNYEON BIMA – 2nd over 1300M on latest start and 4th at a mile the time before. Didn’t go well on previous try at this distance but could be an interesting outsider. |
| 7. ACE JILJU – Maiden win came at the 21st time of asking just two weeks ago. Up to two turns for the first time and won’t be easy. |
| 8. TTEUGEOUN HAMSEONG – Getting closer with a 3rd and then a 2nd ahead of World Number One and Wonderful Captain last start. Significantly up in trip today. |
| 9. BAY KINGS – Decent 2nd over a mile ahead of Global Champion on August 11th. Big chance here. |
| 10. GOLD GUST – 4th behind Usain Nut at a mile last start. A bit to find today. |
| 11. USAIN NUT – Has a 2nd at class and distance to his name already. 3rd last start at a mile ahead of Gold Gust. Strongly in the frame. |
| 12. WONDERFUL CAPTAIN – Surprise winner at a mile in June to get back to this level. 6th behind Tteugeoun Hamseong and World Number One last time. |
Verdict: Tricky contest this with half the field trying the distance for the first time. We’ll go with (11) USAIN NUT to get the job done though, entering as he does in solid form and proven at the trip. (9) BAY KINGS also has solid claims following a strong 2nd at a mile last time while (1) BAROGA and (8) TTEUGEOUN HAMSEONG look very much in the frame too.
| Selections | (11) Usain Nut (9) Bay Kings (1) Baroga (8) Tteugeoun Hamseong |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 9, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 