It’s December! It’s very very cold. But the sun is shining and the weekend’s racing is about to get underway! There are 11 Friday races at Busan from 11:30 to 18:00:
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million
Small field of just eight juveniles to kick things off but they’re going round for a big prize here. There are three first-timers and of them (1) GIOI BLADE looks a decent prospect. He won a trial in good fashion a month ago and this is a nice race to debut in. However, the favourite will be (7) CHEONYEONUITAEYANG. 2nd and 3rd in two starts to date, most recently in a fast time in capable company, he’s hard to oppose. (5) GRAY STORM looks the pick of the rest. She comes in freshened and had shown improvement in her latest start. (2) TANGO AND TANGO and (8) EL DRAGON can improve on underwhelming debuts.
| Selections | (7) Cheonyeonuitaeyang (1) Gioi Blade (5) Gray Storm (2) Tango And Tango |
| Next Best | 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 7 |
Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million
The second round of juveniles come out here and this looks like a slightly more open contest. Four debut-makers this time and a couple look to have very solid claims first-up. Both (1) JANGSEONGUI JILJU and (5) ARAM NARAE trialled up very nicely and both have top jockeys on board. Watch the market with those two and with the other two first-time starters, (3) ORYONG and (7) GANGHAN JILJU. Among the ones with prior experience, (4) TWO TWO ACE and (8) SONGAM MYEONGJANG both showed signs of not being completely useless and could improve here.
| Selections | (1) Jangseongui Jilju (5) Aram Narae (4) Two Two Ace (3) Oryong |
| Next Best | 8, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6 |
Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million
The third consecutive juvenile race and we’re returning to the An Woo Sung/Jo In Kwen combination here with (7) TANGY BITE, impressive in trials and very nicely in first-up here. (5) MISS TANK has a 3rd and a 2nd in two outings to date and has every chance of making the breakthrough here while (6) THUNDER STRUCK had a hard time stepped up to 1200M last start but comes in fresh and dropped back in trip today and should be better. (1) UNSEOK and first-timer (3) THUNDER FLY look best of the rest.
| Selections | (7) Tangy Bite (5) Miss Tank (6) Thunder Struck (1) Unseok |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 9 |
Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
(2) TAGONAN JILJU being beaten nine lengths into 2nd place last start looks better now that the easy winner that day, Yeongcheon Derby, has since gone on to win a big race. Tagonan Jilju himself showed good improvement that day and could well make his breakthrough here, likely leading from the start. (10) ACE WOMAN comes in following a pair of 4th place finishes in races at least of equal strength to this and can at least be matching today while (3) BAEKDU QUEEN refused to parade last week and had to be scratched but if she behaves herself today, should improve on a reasonably encouraging October debut. The more experienced pair of (5) TONGHAP BULPAE and (9) HWANGGEUMBITYEONGUNG are never going to be superstars but both should have enough about them to compete for prize money in this company.
| Selections | (2) Tagonan Jilju (3) Baekdu Queen (10) Ace Woman (5) Tonghap Bulpae |
| Next Best | 9, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5 |
Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Just fillies (and one mare) here and Thomas Gillespie’s (7) CHEONNYEONDONGANDO is the pick to score. She’s up in class following her maiden win which came on her third start and followed back to back 3rd places in her opening two. She came from the widest gate in a small field that day to win handily but coming out of the middle today, she should be on the early speed and can go all the way. Two others join her up in class for the first time today. (11) BOLD RULES was an all the way winner over 1300M three weeks ago and should be similarly competitive at this level while (8) ISLE CAT is yet to win but has two 2nd place finishes to her name and looks to have potential. Of those with experience at this class, (4) YEOWANGUI JEONGWON was a solid 3rd in a similar race two weeks ago and can match or better while (3) YUKRYONGI, who weakened to 5th having led a slightly stiffer contest than this in November, should also figure.
| Selections | (7) Cheonnyeondongando (4) Yeowangui Jeongwon (3) Yukryongi (11) Bold Rules |
| Next Best | 8, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 11 |
Race 6: Class 4 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
Sent off at even money on debut, (2) FINEST WARRIOR could only manage 2nd place but if anything will be an even stronger favourite to get off the mark today. He just missed out by a neck that day having made all and dropped back to the minimum distance here, should have too much. Bart Rice’s (8) THUNDER DOME has won his latest two and steps up in class to try his luck against the imports here. He should join Finest Warrior to contest the early lead and is clear second favourite. (3) CHIEF ACE was a creditable 3rd on debut on October 27th, beating (6) CHANGJO DAERO and (1) SWEEP WINNING in the process and looks good for a repeat.
| Selections | (2) Finest Warrior (8) Thunder Dome (3) Chief Ace (6) Changjo Daero |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 8 |
Race 7: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Two standouts here, both making their second attempt at this level. (2) SEOGANG JILJU was a strong 2nd over 1000M three weeks ago having landed his maiden impressively over the same trip in October. It’s his first time at 1300M today but he should be ready for it. Proven at this distance already is (9) BONA GIRL. She got her maiden victory at it in a filly-only contest back in August and returned from almost three months off to run a decent 4th, again at this distance, four weeks ago. Attention will be paid to Kim Young Kwan’s (3) HANEOL NURI. He hasn’t raced since May but looked good in a trial last week and will have backers. (1) YEONGUNG JEWANG needs to be forgiven his latest couple but can go better today while (10) DOCHI’s 3rd place at 1200M in similar strength company to this last time, gives hope.
| Selections | (9) Bona Girl (2) Seogang Jilju (3) Haneol Nuri (10) Dochi |
| Next Best | 1, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3 |
Race 8: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Tricky one this but we’ll go with (9) JOYFUL STORY, 2nd in a similar class and distance contest on November 5th to score today. However, that 2nd could easily have been 5th and Joyful Story is yet to break his maiden. If that continues, (1) GEUJIKOJI could be the one to take advantage. Her 5th at the distance last time was in a good contest and she’ll likely get to the front early from the inside gate. Joining her on the early speed should be (8) WIDAEHANGWANGGYONG, a class and distance winner back in August and with plenty of claims of his own here. (4) SAEROUN STAR and (6) UJU JEONGBEOL are others in the frame in a competitive race.
| Selections | (9) Joyful Story (1) Geujikoji (8) Widaehangwanggyong (4) Saeroun Star |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 8 |
Race 9: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 55 Million
A winner at this class over 1200M six weeks ago, (4) FREE RUNNING has already won twice at this distance and looks to be the one to beat today. He’ll be on or close to the early speed (1) COURAGIO has already managed to beat Free Running, finishing 2nd to his 4th at class and distance back in September and if anything can defeat him today, he is the most likely – we’ll give him a pass for his latest run three weeks ago. The intriguing one is (3) SHE JUST WIN. It’s a bold name and to be fair, all she has done so far is win. Twice. Stiffer test today for her as she is up in both class and distance but she could well come through it. (5) BOUND QUEENS and (7) RED YOUNG MYEONGUN others to take note of.
| Selections | (4) Free Running (1) Couragio (3) She Just Win (5) Bound Queens |
| Next Best | 7, 6 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 8 |
Race 10: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Anything could win this but it’s (3) SPEED MARK who comes in with the most convincing recent form and having beaten four of these on his way to 3rd place at class and distance on November 3rd but still being very nicely in the weights, he’s the one to beat. Of those behind him that day, (1) PUREUN ACE, (7) IRON TRAIN and (9) KKEUTPAN BOOSTER all have potential to overturn the form. The latter was especially disappointing on that occasion but can be given another chance here. (12) WOOA has only won once in nineteen attempts but is rarely far away at the business end of races. Similarly, (11) ROYAL IMPACT does have form to make up on a few of these but can get close here.
| Selections | (3) Speed Mark (12) Wooa (11) Royal Impact (9) Kkeutpan Booster |
| Next Best | 7, 1, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 9 |
Race 11: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Another competitive one to finish with although there is likely to be a warm favourite. That’s (8) YEONGGWANGUICOUNTRY, who steps up in class following an eye-catching six-length win over this distance all the way back on September 1st. That time off is perhaps a mild concern but can be set in the context of the main danger looking to be one who returns from an even greater time out. (2) CAPTAIN BLADE won three races in a row between May and July but hasn’t started since. He trialled up in good order in November and can be considered here. His stablemate (7) EUROPA hasn’t quite lived up to early potential but is one race into a comeback following some time out and could go better today. (6) KWAEHAN JILJU and (11) YESURI MYEONGUN are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (8) Yeonggwanguicountry (2) Captain Blade (7) Europa (11) Yesuri Myeongun |
| Next Best | 6, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 9 |
Horse Racing in Korea 