This Sunday sees the final leg of the 2018 Korean Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup at Seoul. Seven horses from Busan, including Derby winner Ecton Blade are involved and that means seven jockeys have gone with them and therefore won’t be riding at Busan on Friday.  Nevertheless, there’s still plenty of action on the South Coast, with 10 Friday races from 11:30 to 18:00:

Those in the capital include You Hyun Myung, Franco Da Silva and Fergus Sweeney and their absence leaves Jo Sung Gon and Jo In Kwen, former and current champion jockeys at Busan, both on several live chances throughout the afternoon.

Foreign trainers could have a good day as well. Peter Wolsley will saddle Cheonnyeonui Gang in Sunday’s big race in the capital, but he sends out seven on Friday afternoon including Contador, who will be favourite to land his fifth win on his ninth start in race 9.  Bart Rice has four, all of whom have at least some claim while Thomas Gillespie’s Royal Blue is set to be favourite for race 4.

Here are the previews:

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

(4) FASHION WANG produced a much-improved performance to run 4^th in a better race than this at the end of March. She’s been out for eleven weeks since then but should have too much for this limited set of opponents. (2) THUNDER SHOWER did nothing wrong on debut three weeks ago and can build on the 5^th place she managed. (1) JISAN OREUM steps back in trip to the distance at which he produced by far his best performance to date back in January and looks next best. Aside from that we’ll be looking for big improvements and (3) MACH RANGER and (7) TAMNA HANEUL are perhaps most likely.

Selections	(4) Fashion Wang (2) Thunder Shower (1) Jisan Oreum (3) Mach Ranger
Next Best	7, 5, 6
Fast Start	2, 7

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

(3) HUNTER PARK ran 4^th over 1300M on what was his second career start on April 20^th. The Macho Uno gelding has had eight weeks off since then and drops back in distance to the minimum for the first time with every chance of making the breakthrough. (8) CLOVER QUEEN came close to making all with an improved performance at this distance on May 25^th. Ultimately, she went down by less than a length, but she’ll be expected to go to the front from the gate again and this time could get home in front. (4) SERENDIPITER has shown improvement in his latest two and can continue the momentum here while (5) MUJEOK BEAT and (7) TRIPLE GOLD look best of the rest.

Selections	(3) Hunter Park (8) Clover Queen (4) Serendipiter (5) Mujeok Beat
Next Best	7, 6
Fast Start	2, 8

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

Tricky contest with plenty in the frame. (3) EURO SHINHWA has started to show some ability in his latest two including a good 2^nd last time out over this distance and may well have enough to come home on top here. (5) KKEUTPAN STORM was 2^nd on debut, just beaten a nose, at this distance at the beginning of May and while she didn’t go quite so well on reappearance two weeks later, she’s worth another chance here. (9) PEACE RIDER was similarly a touch disappointing last start but has had some good results and should be close. (6) CHOEGANG STEALTH drops back in trip today following some useful finishes behind some reasonable horses and can be involved. There are two debut-makers and one of them, (7) HORTENSE, ran well in a trial last month and there’s no reason why she can’t put in a good showing here. She’s likely to be on the early speed.

Selections	(3) Euro Shinhwa (9) Peace Rider (5) Kkeutpan Storm (7) Hortense
Next Best	6, 10
Fast Start	7, 10

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

(8) ROYAL BLUE has come up short when favourite on both his latest starts, missing out by a nose two weeks ago. He should get to the front early here and this time can go all the way. (3) SILENT PARK was an improved 3^rd on what was his second start last month, running on pleasingly enough and he is a contender as is (4) SUNSHINE BOLT, who ran creditably on his return from almost a year out last month and should have come on for (more…)