After last week’s excitement it’s back to more mundane matters this weekend. Racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 10 races from 11:30 to 18:00. Here’s the race-by-race summary:
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Tricky little opener and (9) BOLD RULES showed enough in her 3rd place on her debut to suggest that she won’t be sticking around at the bottom level for very long. She can get to the front from the outside gate here and can win. (6) STAR LINE was an improved 2nd on what was his third outing a month ago and can match that today while (1) QUEEN OF CAPTAIN and (5) SILVER LINE can also build on by no means poor debuts.
| Selections | (9) Bold Rules (6) Star Line (1) Queen Of Captain (5) Silver Line |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 9 |
Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million
Six of the eleven race for the first time here and it’s one of them, (1) CHRISTIANO who is the pick to score on debut. He was quick in trials and could well have too much today. Also impressive in trials was (5) DIVIDE WIND. He’s trained by Kim Young Kwan and is therefore sure to be well-backed first-up. Of the experienced ones, both (10) SMART DANCER and (11) ISLE CAT put in promising runs on their debuts and can build on them here.
| Selections | (1) Christiano (5) Divide Wind (11) Isle Cat (10) Smart Dancer |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 7 |
Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
He’s not been too far off in his latest three and (1) HAENGUN STORY is very much the one to beat here. He should be on the early speed and can go all the way. (7) TONGHAP BULPAE and (3) JANGHAN JILJU ran 3rd and 4th when they raced together at this distance on August 18th and both can be competitive again while (10) CONTADOR was 6th on debut but not too far away and can improve here.
| Selections | (1) Haengun Story (10) Contador (3) Janghan Jilju (7) Tonghap Bulpae |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 10 |
Race 4: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Only seven runners here and it should end with (5) SAMSEONG BLADE making his breakthrough. He’s been close in his four outings so far and was 4th on his first try at this distance two weeks ago, beating (2) GOLDEN TROPHY in the process. It’s difficult to imagine him getting beaten. Golden Trophy should go well also while threats are possible from (1) SEDA and (7) GASOK TRIPLE.
| Selections | (5) Samseong Blade (2) Golden Trophy (7) Gasok Triple (1) Seda |
| Next Best | 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7 |
Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Competitive race this. Thomas Gillespie’s (6) GYEONGJUUI DUREBAK was a three-length winner over 1200M in July and returns here eight weeks later up in class. She looks to have solid claims. (5) BARONESS has just found a couple too quick in each of her outings so far but should go close again while (9) CITY WINNER is proven at finding the money in this company. (10) NAVARRA was a shock winner last start beating a couple of these and must be given more respect today while likewise (12) VEGA ONE also enters having won his latest and should be in the frame again.
| Selections | (6) Gyeongjuui Direbak (5) Baroness (12) Vega One (9) City Winner |
| Next Best | 10, 3, 7 |
| Fast Start | 6, 9, 10 |
Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 55 Million
(10) YEONGHUI SIDAE has won two of three so far and while she is up in class once more, she should be able to account for this modest set of rivals. The outside gate doesn’t look set to be a problem and she should score comfortably. (7) METELITSA is also up in class following a game win last start and she can be a threat while Korean Oaks also-ran (6) DAEHO CHUKJE can be competitive too. (3) DUBAI FORWARD debuted with a 3rd place in robust company a month ago and may also be considered for improvement.
| Selections | (10) Yeonghui Sidae (7) Metelitsa (3) Dubai Forward (6) Daeho Chukje |
| Next Best | 5, 8 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7 |
Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 55 Million
Several in the hunt here and both (4) GOOD ONE MAN and (5) YEONGGWANGUI PARK come in having both run close 2nd places at this class last time and look to have solid claims to get even closer this time. (9) MORNING PARK was 4th behind Good One Man on August 20th and can be competitive again while (3) GEUMTE finished in the same position behind Yeonggwangui Park. The can run places here. (6) RED YOUNG MYEONGUN is up in class today but should be able to deal with this level and can be involved in the finish.
| Selections | (5) Yeonggwangui Park (4) Good One Man (9) Morning Park (6) Red Young Myeongun |
| Next Best | 6, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 10 |
Race 8: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
The manner in which Bart Rice’s (11) ACE KOREA won on debut in July suggests he has plenty of potential. He has had eight weeks off and is up in both class and distance but he should be hard to beat. (3) TOKYO BLUE keeps on just missing out and may have to settle for 2nd once more while (1) GABO STAR and (10) HI SEXY should also be in at least the placing hunt.
| Selections | (11) Ace Korea (3) Tokyo Blue (10) Hi Sexy (1) Gabo Star |
| Next Best | 5, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 11 |
Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Small field here and five of them raced each other over 1900M on August 18th. (1) OCEAN LINE finished the best of them that day in 3rd place and he’ll be a threat again. For the pick though we’ll go with one who didn’t race that day. (6) WONDER WALL returned from four months off to run 3rd over 1200M three weeks ago. He’s proven himself at this distance before and can win here. (4) MUJEOK SINHWA also comes in following a near miss last time and should be close while (2) HOT COMMEND can also be considered.
| Selections | (6) Wonder Wall (4) Mujeok Sinhwa (1) Ocean Line (2) Hot Commend |
| Next Best | 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6 |
Race 10: Class 2 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(1) WOOA keeps on missing out at short odds but surely gets it right this time. His record of one win from seventeen doesn’t really reflect his ability and he can start to put that right today. If he is to miss out once more then (4) I ONE probably has the best chance. He was just beaten a neck at class and distance last start and looks to have more wins in him. (8) ROCKET BLADE, who is up in class, and (12) TOUGH COUNTRY should also be in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (1) Wooa (4) I One (8) Rocket Blade (12) Tough Country |
| Next Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 