It’s Friday! It’s Busan! There are 10 races on the South Coast this Friday with the first at 11:30 and the last at 18:00.

Trainer Kim Young Kwan (2^nd from right – Pic: KRA) saddled Divide Wind to win the KRA Cup Mile last Sunday. It was the dominant trainer’s 38^th Korean Group winner. Kim only sends out four runners at Busan on Friday but three of them will be expected to win: SPOT in race 1, SUN DAY in race 5 and HI SEXY in race 10. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(12) SPOT has run 3^rd on both starts so far and surely makes the breakthrough today. This looks a softer maiden than his previous two and despite having the widest gate, Kim Young Kwan’s colt should be on speed early and have far too much. (8) EVELYN was 2^nd on debut all the way back last November. She returns today having trialled up well enough two weeks ago and is surely the main danger although (9) MYEONG GONGJU was promising enough on debut at the end of February and could improve. (1) KWAEHAN SINGANGJA overcame a poor start to run 5^th behind Spot last time and should be looking to better that today while of the three debut-makers, (11) SUPER GOLD looks the most likely to attract interest first-up.

Selections	(12) Spot (8) Evelyn (1) Kwaehan Singangja (11) Super Gold
Next Best	9, 5
Fast Start	9, 12

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(2) USEUNG TEN hasn’t been too far away in any of his six races to date and while he has looked a little one-paced, could well have enough to prevail here. He most likely won’t lead early but can be handy and steadily improve. Hanse filly (8) BAEKDU QUEEN improved into 3^rd place last start over 1200M and can continue her upward trajectory today. She’ll be expected to be on the early pace alongside (1) GEODAEHAN WONSEOK who recorded her best finish so far when 5^th of 12 over this distance two weeks ago and can be in the hunt for even better today. Aside from those we’re really looking for ones who can show things they’ve not managed to do so far. Of them, Useung Ten’s stablemate (4) EONJENA SEUNGNI and (7) SECRET MEMORY, who races at further than the minimum distance for the first time, are perhaps the most likely.

Selections	(2) Useung Ten (8) Baekdu Queen (1) Geodaehan Wonseok (7) Secret Memory
Next Best	4, 10
Fast Start	1, 5, 8

Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

Small but competitive three-year-old maiden here. (1) TEXAS SIDAE was sent off as favourite for a similar contest on March 23^rd but didn’t perform well, coming home in 3^rd place, a head behind (5) EL DRAGON. He started poorly that day and never looked wholly fluent but is probably worth another chance here. El Dragon outperformed expectations that day but she can build on it here and can go close again. (2) DAEHO MYEONGGA went well in 4^th on what was his first try at this distance a month ago and will be expected to be on the early pace here with chances of going all the way. (3) GAMDONGUI SUNGAN stumbled out of the barriers last time out but still finished only about half a length behind the second place-getter. He steps up to a mile for the first time. So too does (4) GANGHAN JILJU, who is a slow starter, but has run on well in both his latest two efforts at 1300M and could appreciate the additional trip today.

Selections	(3) Gamdongui Sungan (1) Texas Sidae (2) Daeho Myeongga (5) El Dragon
Next Best	4, 7
Fast Start	2, 7

Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

Just beaten a head when favourite over 1000M last time, (1) HOTHAE steps up in trip for the first time today and will be hot favourite to score. He came out of the widest gate that day but from the inside today, should get on to the lead early and it would be a big surprise were he not to win. (3) NOPIGOM NAREUSYA finished behind Hothae two starts ago when the pair raced 7^th and 4^th over 1000M but went really well over 1300M on his latest start four weeks ago, just going down by a neck in a tight three-way finish. He can (more…)