It’s President’s Cup Weekend! Triple Nine faces Power Blade and Final Boss in the big one at Seoul on Sunday but before that of course, we have plenty of racing to get through. We begin at Busan on Friday with 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00.
Here are the previews:
Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Tough one to begin with and a few of these look close to getting their maiden wins. We’ll side with (6) OKDAN YEOGEOL, who steps up to this distance for the first time following a 2nd place over 1000M on September 1st. She’s run on well in most of her starts and the distance may suit. (5) CHOEGANG BOLT also comes in off a career best 2nd place achieved at 1600M two weeks ago and can be considered while it’s a fresh start today for (10) ABILITY, who races for the first time since April and did indeed, show some ability when trialling up impressively last week. (2) TONGHAP BULPAE and (9) ACE VICTORY are others in the hunt.
| Selection | (6) Okdan Yeogeol (10) Ability (5) Choegang Bolt (9) Ace Victory |
| Next Best | 2, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 9, 10 |
Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million
Juvenile fillies here with three newcomers and five having raced before. (1) BYEOL GEURIDA is likely to be the strong favourite having run a good 3rd on debut two weeks ago and looks to have plenty of potential. Slightly less impressive but still competent on debut was (5) MISS TANK and she’s next best while among the others who have raced before, (6) B.K. MARINE looks most likely to improve. Of the debut-makers, the Bart Rice-trained (2) QUEEN THE QUEEN looks most promising at this stage.
| Selection | (1) Byeol Geurida (5) Miss Tank (2) Queen The Queen (6) B.K. Marine |
| Next Best | 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 8 |
Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million
More Juvenile fillies going round here with three prior raced and five newcomers. (8) CHEONNYEONDONGANDO has been 3rd on both outings so far and that’s probably just about enough to make her favourite for this. The other two with experience, (3) OS TOP and (5) B.K. GOLD both look to have a bit to find but should really have the edge on most of the first-timers although (7) UJU DAEWANG looked promising in trials and trainer/jockey combination with (4) FLASHY MISS could tempt some.
| Selection | (8) Cheonnyeondongando (7) Uju Daewang (4) Flashy Miss (5) B.K. Gold |
| Next Best | 3, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 8 |
Race 4: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million
Three standouts here in this Juvenile contest each of whom come in here off the back of a 2nd place last time out. For (5) MASTER WIN and (10) YEONGGWANGUI BOSS it was on their second career starts and they both showed plenty of improvement with the latter especially looking lively and ready to win. For (6) CHEONYEONUITAEYANG, his 2nd place was on debut on September 29th and contained plenty of promise. All three look set to be on the early pace here and all have a chance. As for the rest (9) DYNAMIC GO also enters off a 2nd place on debut. That was over 1200M three weeks ago and he actually led close to home so he must come under consideration. There are also two first-timers here and of them (2) USEUNG TEN looked sharp in a recent trial and can go well first up.
| Selection | (10) Yeonggwangui Boss (5) Master Win (6) Cheonyeonuitaeyang (9) Dynamic Go |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 10, 11 |
Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Tricky one this. (8) REALLY QUEEN was a class and distance winner back at the end of September but had a hard time when stepped up to a mile three weeks ago. Back in trip today, she has a much better chance. She’ll likely lead early alongside (9) MOST POPULAR. She was just beaten a nose at this distance on her first try at this level on October 15th having led almost the entire way around. The same apprentice jockey keeps the weight nice and low today and she should be very close once more. Disappointing back in the field that day was (2) JIRANJIGYO but she will be worth another chance while (7) BONA GIRL steps up in class following her maiden last time. She’s shown proficiency at this distance and can’t be ruled out. The experienced (4) GODAE didn’t go well in tough company last time but is not without minor money hopes here.
| Selection | (9) Most Popular (8) Really Queen (7) Bona Girl (2) Jiranjigyo |
| Next Best | 4, 3 |
| Fast Start | 8, 9 |
Race 6: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
It’s not often Kim Yong Kwan has a horse which has gone nine races without breaking its maiden but that’s the case with (2) TEUKGEUP GAMDONG. He got within a length of it at class and distance last time and today, he’ll be favoured to go one better, likely leading all the way. Another who is due a maiden win is (8) MIO. He beat both (1) MAJOR SLAM and (6) BOUND TODAY as the trio ran 2nd to 4th on October 13th and all three can back up that form here. (11) EURO GONGJU was well back behind Teukgeup Gamdong last start but can improve while (3) SHINE STAR steps back to a more appropriate trip today and can enter at least the placing frame.
| Selection | (2) Teukgeup Gamdong (8) Mio (1) Major Slam (11) Euro Gongju |
| Next Best | 6, 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4 |
Race 7: Class 4 (1000M) Allowanc / KRW 75 Million
Big prize on offer here for these juveniles and while it’s a small field, it’s an open one. Likely favourite is Kim Young Kwan’s (5) MALIBU MILLION, an improved 3rd on his second start two weeks ago at 1200M and trying the minimum distance for the first time today. El Corredor colt (7) KASBAH PRINCE poses an interesting challenge though. He was a decent 2nd – albeit a long way behind a good winner – on debut on October 13th and should have come on well for that run. Korean-bred (3) GOP DDA is a proven winner and looks a crafty entry here to at least pick up some prize money while Thomas Gillespie hands a debut to (2) AWESOME KING IJI, an Oxbow colt who trialled up adequately enough and could be interesting first-up.
| Selection | (5) Malibu Million (3) Gop Dda (7) Kasbah Prince (2) Awesome King Iji |
| Next Best | 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5 |
Race 8: Class 5 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
David Miller’s (9) CHEONNYEONUI GANG was a winner on debut in August and then 3rd on his first try at this level on September 24th. He’s up to a mile for the first time but should get it and looks to be the one to beat here. The main danger looks to be the more experienced (2) HAENGBOKAN JILJU, consistently close in recent starts and with every chance of going well again. He is a closer and suits this distance. Yet to win but with a good record at this distance is (6) SOJUNGHAN INYEON – we’ll give her a pass on her latest run and look for her to get back in form here. (5) NURI ACHIM is still unexposed and steps up to a mile for the first time with every chance of being in the hunt.
| Selection | (9) Cheonnyeonui Gang (2) Haengbokan Jilju (5) Nuri Achim (6) Sojunghan Inyeon |
| Next Best | 8, 7 |
| Fast Start | 5, 9 |
Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 55 Million
Banker favourite of the day time here and while it’s true that (6) ROAD TO WARRIOR didn’t beat an awful lot when getting his maiden win on his second start on October 13th, there’s not much he needs to beat here too and he should be comfortably scoring. (3) SEULVELY, who actually finished in front of Road To Warrior on the latter’s September debut, should join the favourite on the early lead and could prove to be the main danger while (4) CHASEDAE, 5th behind Road To Warrior last time, can get a little closer today. (2) CHOEGANG POWERFUL looked quick trialling up off a five month layoff last week and can go well first-up here while (10) ITSAGAINT WARRIOR is another who can find at least the minor money in this company.
| Selection | (6) Road To Warrior (3) Seulvely (2) Choegang Powerful (4) Chasedae |
| Next Best | 10, 8 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6 |
Race 10: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(12) ADELEUI CHUKJE beat four of these on his way to victory at class and distance on September 29th. That took his recent form to three wins from his last four and while he carries an extra 4kg today, he remains the pick to score again. (10) KING THE GRAY was 3rd that day and came back out two weeks ago to run 2nd, again at this distance, and has every chance of being close once more while (1) GREAT KING was 4th and also should be at least matching that here. (11) KKEUTPAN BOOSTER has been 5th in each of his latest two and while he does have form to overturn, came come close while (7) SPEED MARK has risen up the levels under the radar slightly and could go well on his first try at class 2.
| Selection | (12) Adeleui Chukje (10) King The Gray (1) Great King (7) Speed Mark |
| Next Best | 11, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 10 |
Race 11: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 55 Million
(5) KING JJANG is up in class once more having won two of three so far, the latest being a three-length triumph over 1300M on September 13th. He’s up to a mile for the first time here and he could well get an unchallenged early lead. It’s not impossible that he could go all the way. Waiting to pounce will be (4) ADELEUI JINJU. She’s gone well at this distance before and comes in following a 4th place in a useful race at 1400M last month. (2) ATHENS was 5th that day and should also be involved here while (10) THE STARS and (11) FIRST SUN are others to look out for.
| Selection | (4) Adeleui Jinju (5) King Jjang (2) Athens (10) The Stars |
| Next Best | 11, 6 |
| Fast Start | 5 |
Horse Racing in Korea 