May’s Korean racing program gets underway at Busan on Friday with 10 races from 11:30 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

Not an especially strong opener and that makes it nice and competitive. (4) WINNING AGAIN had to be scratched (not for lameness reasons) from a planned start two weeks ago and he would have been well backed in it. He finished 2^nd at this distance in March and while he struggled at 1300M on his reappearance, back at the minimum today and with a favourable draw to get to the lead early, he can win. (8) SAEROUN BOMUL has a pair of 3^rd place finishes at this distance to his name and can be a threat. (2) GOLDEN AGE is the most experienced in the race – not really a good thing at class 6 – and she should beat plenty while (10) IHYEN has had excuses in two outings to date and can improve. The big danger though is likely to be the sole first-time starter. (5) HWANGJE BONSAEK looked good when running 3^rd in a fast trial three weeks ago and couldn’t have picked better race to debut in.

Selections	(5) Hwangje Bonsaek (4) Winning Again (8) Saeroun Bomul (2) Golden Age
Next Best	10, 11
Fast Start	4, 5, 10

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(5) MAJOR THUNDER ran 2^nd, a full seven lengths behind the decent-looing Felarof, at this distance on April 6^th. That was a continuation of steady improvement she’s shown across four starts so far and with nothing like that day’s winner among the field here, she can go one better. Major Thunder in that race returned the favour on (1) S S YOUNG, who had narrowly defeated her when the pair ran 2^nd and 3^rd at the distance in February. S S Young has talent too and should go close again, likely challenging Major Thunder for the lead from the start. (3) GIPPEUM SARANG will try for a fast start too and she ran well on her latest appearance just two weeks ago. (2) SWEEP MAN and (7) MANGO PUNCH, the latter showing some promise in a trial last week, are others who could feature.

Selections	(5) Major Thunder (1) S S Young (3) Gippeum Sarang (2) Sweep Man
Next Best	7, 10
Fast Start	1, 3, 5

Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

Expectations of (6) SANGSEUNG POWER on debut on March 23^rd were not high but he ran well, finishing 4^th behind the very promising Sun Day and running on very nicely to get within less than a length of the 2^nd place-getter. Accordingly, he’ll be much more fancied today to the extent that with an extra furlong to play with, he looks a warm favourite. He’s out of Sangseung Geotap, a mare who ran very well at this track. (1) SEONBAL CAT and (9) B.K. MARINE have both demonstrated ability too. The latter was a good 3^rd at this distance in a similar race last start while the former steps up to this trip for the first time and it may well suit. There are two debut-makers and both (4) KKEUTPAN STORM and (7) QUEEN OFFICER did enough in their trials to suggest they should beat a few.

Selections	(6) Sangseung Power (9) B.K. Marine (1) Seonbal Cat (4) Kkeutpan Storm
Next Best	7, 3
Fast Start	5, 9

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(1) BAEKDU MYEONGWOL’s 6^th place last time out on March 30^th was better than it looked with the margins not huge and the company competitive. She steps back up to 1300M today, a distance at which she already holds a 3^rd place finish and she should be firmly in the frame. (3) BREAKING NEWS managed a 2^nd at the distance in March and ran creditably enough in 5^th of 12 on reappearance a month ago and can get close here. (4) BELLAMY GONGJU and (6) TESTA MAGIC ran 2^nd and 3^rd at this distance on March 23^rd before the former stepped up to a mile and again ran well on April 6^th. Testa Magic (more…)