The weekend’s racing gets underway on Friday with 10 races at Busan from 11:30 to 18:00. Let’s take a look at them:
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Bart Rice’s (8) THUNDER DOME has put in a couple of encouraging performances so far and was superior to a couple of these when running 3rd last start on September 1st. He is very much the one to beat here. One of those behind him last time was (3) HAEDONG YEOGEOL. That was a slightly disappointing showing from one who has shown ability and she can get closer today as indeed could the other one, (4) CHOEGOREULHYANGHAE. However, it may be that (7) B.K. MASTER, who has had an interrupted career so far but did ok on his return from a length absence a month ago, turns out to be the main threat.
| Selections | (8) Thunder Dome (7) B.K. Master (3) Haedong Yeogeol (4) Choegoreulhyanghae |
| Next Best | 9, 12 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 12 |
Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Nice and competitive race here and the three main contenders actually raced each other last time on September 1st. (10) PINK BLUE came out on top that day, an improved 4th on what was just his second career start and we’ll side with him. He’s started slowly in both races so far so that is a slight concern but so long as he doesn’t leave too much to do, he can win this. (8) BEONKWAE JANGGUN was 6th that day but has already recorded 2nd and 3rd place finishes and has every chance of being on the early speed and staying on. Meanwhile splitting that pair last time was (9) FIRST SHINHWA, who was himself racing for just the second time and looks to have scope for more development. (1) MANNAMUI SIJAK and (2) CHOEGANG STEALTH both also look to have some potential but we’ll be boring and stick with the three from last time in the same order.
| Selections | (10) Pink Blue (9) First Shinhwa (8) Beonkwae Janggun (2) Choegang Stealth |
| Next Best | 1, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8 |
Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Another tricky one but following on from consecutive 4th place finishes at this distance in tidy enough company for this level, Thomas Gillespie’s (4) JIRANJIGYO looks ready to win this time. She can settle just behind the early lead and although she’s found others quickening better in her last two, can get it right today. (3) DYNAMIC RUN was a much improved 2nd over 1200M last time and should get on well enough with the extra half furlong today while (10) EXPRESSIVE also looks set for improvement. (11) BUSAN BOLT has plenty of experience – admittedly not all of it necessarily good – and should have enough to contest the minor places.
| Selections | (4) Jirangiyo (3) Dynamic Run (10) Expressive (11) Busan Bolt |
| Next Best | 6, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 9, 12 |
Race 4: Class 4 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Up in class following a two and a half-length score to secure her maiden win over this distance in August, (1) GYEONGYEONHANJILJU should have enough to make a repeat win here. She should get the early lead and go all the way. (4) YEOKJEONUI GIHOE disappointed when well backed over 1200M last time but comes in off seven weeks out and can be given another chance here while (3) JEOKDOUI HWASIN and the up in class despite not having won (7) VIVA TRINITY should both be in at least the placing hunt as well.
| Selections | (1) Gyeongyeonhanjilju (4) Yeokjeonui Gihoe (3) Jeokdoui Hwasin (7) Viva Trinity |
| Next Best | 5, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5 |
Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Another small field but still plenty of interest and it’s actually quite a similar scenario to the previous race. (6) BEAUTIFUL ACT got her maiden win over this distance on August 18th, making all to triumph by almost two lengths. She is up in class here but we’re going to go with her to do exactly the same here. There are dangers. (3) GOLDEN KINGS has lots of experience and has come very close in similar races and can do so again. A couple of starts ago, she beat (1) KOREA HUNTER, who should also be in at least the placing frame while (5) COMING AGAIN and (7) YES RED are others to consider.
| Selections | (6) Beautiful Act (3) Golden Kings (7) Yes Red (5) Coming Again |
| Next Best | 1, 4 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6 |
Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
This could go plenty of ways. Likely favourite is (4) CHARYONG, who has missed out by narrow margins in each of his latest two, both times beaten by solid favourites. He can set up camp behind the early lead and this time have enough in the closing stages to come through in front. Four of the ten are up in class here and look to have varying degrees of potential for this level. (5) EURO GONGJU and (8) SARANG MISO both impressed in their maiden wins and should compete for the win here. (9) MIO comes up having been 2nd to Euro Gongju in August and while he certainly has a bit to find on that one and his only previous try at further than the minimum distance didn’t go well, improvement is not impossible. (2) RICH BOLT finally makes it up in class for his 19th start but minor money looks her best chance. Peter Wolsley’s (1) DINAH is another to take into account for the show bet.
| Selections | (4) Charyong (5) Euro Gongju (8) Sarang Miso (1) Dinah |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 9 |
Race 7: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 55 Million
It took (8) ACE DOLPUNG a couple of races to figure things out but he’s won his last two by a combined margin of eighteen lengths and while that has bumped him up rapidly in class, he’s going to be hard oppose here. If he gets in front early, it could be game-over. (10) ZEKI FILA is a decent type as well and is up in class and down in trip here following a smart win at a mile three weeks ago while Bart Rice’s (3) FIRST KING needs to be respected following a 3rd place at class and distance on September 8th. He makes his 31st start today but looks in the best form of his career. Those three are all domestic-breds who have won their way up in class and generally have the advantage in these kinds of races so long as there aren’t any hidden superstars among the imports who are required to begin at this class. There aren’t (unless debut-maker (2) WHIIK can pull off something unexpected) but (11) TUSCARORA BILL looks to be on the improve and could get close.
| Selections | (8) Ace Dolpung (10) Zeki Fila (3) First King (11) Tuscarora Bill |
| Next Best | 9, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 8, 10 |
Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
A rare valuable race for juvenile imports sees six of the eleven make their racecourse debuts. Among those, the most eagerly awaited is Ghostzapper colt (7) KING OF GLORY. He ambled through his trial but looked competent and could well win first-up. (5) PASHA and (6) BLUE CHIPPER are other first-timers who looked good in trials and will be backed first up. Likely favourite though is one who has already run before. (8) YEONGGWANGUIFACTOR has a 3rd and a 2nd in two outings to date and could well go one better today – he just missed out by a nose at this distance last time having led almost the whole way. Bart Rice’s (11) I’M YOUR MOTHER ran ok on debut three weeks ago and may improve.
| Selections | (7) King Of Glory (8) Yeonggwanguifactor (11) I’m Your Mother (5) Pasha |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 8, 10 |
Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
After a creditable 6th place in a tough renewal of the Jeju Governor’s Cup at Seoul three weeks ago, (11) PINK BLADE returns to Busan today and will likely return to the winner’s circle. She’s proved herself at this distance and further already and should have too much here. (8) DIVINE KING beat (9) BAEKDUBONG by a length as the pair ran 3rd and 4th in a tight contest at class and distance on September 1st and both are firmly in the hunt today; both are likely to be ridden in a forward position early and should stay on. (3) IN THE BACK returned to some form with a 2nd place over 1400M two weeks ago and could also go well.
| Selections | (11) Pink Blade (9) Baekdubong (8) Divine King (3) In The Back |
| Next Best | 6, 2 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 8, 9 |
Race 10: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Really competitive contest to finish with and any number have solid claims. Thomas Gillespie’s (6) GREAT SONG has just come up short in his latest three but steps back a furlong here and has as much chance as any here. (5) SEONGSAN JILJU is very dangerous at this distance and while he was surprisingly beaten by (10) BARAMUI JEONSEOL last time out, should overturn that form today. (1) PHANTOM BLADE is up in class following a smart win over the distance last month and looks very nicely in while (3) SPECIAL ROOKIE returned to action following almost six months out at the end of August and ran out a comprehensive winner. She too is up in class here. (11) BLUE STORM and (2) AJU CHOEGANG are others in with a chance although there really aren’t many here who can be truly ruled out.
| Selections | (6) Great Song (1) Phantom Blade (3) Special Rookie (5) Seongsan Jilju |
| Next Best | 2, 10, 11 |
| Fast Start | 3, 9, 10, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 