It’s KNN Cup weekend at Busan with the 2nd leg of the Queeens’ Tour series being run at the track on Sunday. That means top Seoul jockeys Lim Gi Won and Kim Yong Geun are both in action on the south coast on Friday when there is an 11-race card from 14:30 to 21:00:

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

Rather weak maiden to begin with to the extent that it might be worth looking to one of the three first-time starters purely on the grounds that they’ve done nothing wrong so far. Of them, (1) URANUS J fits the bill having looked competent and reasonably fast when running 2^nd in a June trial. He couldn’t ask for a better race to debut in. Of those who have raced before, (2) TIZ POWER registered back to back 4^th place finishes in March. She’s been out since but trialed reasonably well last weekend and go well first-up. (6) PARTY WINNER did ok on debut at this distance and while he didn’t go so well at 1200M on his reappearance, can be better dropped back to the minimum today. (4) YEOWANGUI GWIHWAN and (9) BUGYEONG STORY are others who could improve.

Selections	(1) Uranus J (2) Tiz Power (6) Party Winner (4) Yeowangui Gwihwan
Next Best	9, 10
Fast Start	1, 5, 9

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

A maiden for two-year-olds and just two of the eleven runners have raced before. Of the two, (7) YEONGGWANGUI FIGHT was by some margin the better, running 2^nd at this distance on July 13^th and that experience can stand him in good stead here. Kim Young Kwan’s debut-makers always attract attention and (3) KING SOCKS will be no exception. He trialed well enough and a top jockey is booked. Slightly preferred at this stage though is (5) TRUE KING. The Hansen colt raced prominently in his trial posting a good time and looks ready to hit the ground running. (2) MIGHTY POWER went through a pair of trials and was quicker in her latest one last week. The stable tends to have plenty of success with juveniles and the champion jockey is aboard. (6) JEONSAUI JULJU is another who showed promise in her trial and can be considered.

Selections	(7) Yeonggwangui Fight (5) True King (2) Mighty Power (3) King Socks
Next Best	6, 1
Fast Start	5, 7, 11

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

More two-year-old maidens, this time with four debut-makers and the rest having raced once each. Beginning with experience, (11) TIARA WINNER beat a couple of the others who go here on the way to 2^nd place over this distance on July 20^th. Seoul jockey Lim Gi Won, in town to ride in Sunday’s KNN Cup, takes the mount and she has a chance. (3) SINBIHAN YEOIN similarly beat two of today’s rivals on her debut a week earlier. She ran a solid 3^rd that day and can build on it here. She too is ridden by a currently Seoul-based jockey as Kim Yong Geun – former Busan champion – returns for the weekend. Of the other experienced ones, (9) ARCADIA did nothing wrong when 5^th on July 6^th and should be in the hunt. As for the first-time starters, one of them may well begin as favourite. That’s (7) GEUMGANG CHILBO, who looked very sharp when winning a trial on July 21^st in a quick time ahead of some experienced horses. While slightly slower, (4) GIDAEHAE went round in the same heat and also acquitted herself well.

Selections	(11) Tiara Winner (7) Geumgang Chilbo (3) Sinbihan Yeoin (9) Arcadia
Next Best	4, 5
Fast Start	4, 5, 8

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

Back to regular maidens here and (9) MUJEOK VETERAN, 3^rd on debut at 1000M on July 20^th, looks very much the one to beat. He ran on well and will likely benefit from the additional distance today. (6) GOLDEN JOY and (1) SMART BANK came home 3^rd and 4^th when they raced each other over a mile on July 20^th and both can look to at least match those finishes today. (3) ROYAL CLUB registered her best finish to date on her only previous try at this distance back in May. She comes in following a solid 4^th place at 1200M last time and should be in the hunt. There is just one first-timer starter. (2) TRUE WARRIOR won a trial two weeks ago and must be taken seriously.

Selections	(9) Mujeok Veteran (3) Royal Club (2) True Warrior (1) Smart Bank
Next Best	6
Fast Start	3, 5, 9

Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(8) QUEEN OFFICER looked to be making all on her first try at this class on July 13^th, only to get overhauled by a long-shot in the closing stages and ending up in 2^nd. Nevertheless, it was an encouraging performance and suggests that it won’t be too long before she adds to the maiden win she achieved back in June. (6) JANGHAN JILJU’s 7^th last time was perhaps a touch disappointing but was in tougher company than this over 1400M and she can get closer today. It’s similar with (1) SIMON MAGIC, who had a hard time in a difficult race over a mile last month but will surely be more comfortable this time. (4) HAEDONG YEOGEOL and (7) RARARA are others who should be in the hunt.

Selections	(8) Queen Officer (6) Janghan Jilju (7) Rarara (1) Simon Magic
Next Best	4, 2
Fast Start	6, 7, 8, 10

Race 6: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(5) WINNER CINDY is up in class having landed her maiden win at the seventh time of asking three weeks ago. That win had been coming as she had been getting progressively closer and dropped back to the minimum trip today she has every chance of following up. (8) SHARP BELL and (2) DONE IT MY both remain maidens but came home 2^nd and 3^rd at class and distance on July 22^nd. This looks a harder race but both can be competitive. (6) NICE HUMOR only came home 7^th of 11 at this distance two weeks ago, however, the margins were not big and he’s worth another chance today. (1) B.K. MARINE has struggled in both starts at this level so far but shouldn’t be given up on just yet. (11) CHEONNYEONUI ACHIM is promoted to this class following a 2^nd place and two 3^rd place finishes at class 6. He will have to find a little more if he is to get his maiden win but certainly looks capable of holding his own at this level.

Selections	(5) Winner Cindy (2) Done It My (11) Cheonnyeonui Achim (6) Nice Humor
Next Best	1, 8, 9
Fast Start	5, 6, 7, 11

Race 7: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

This race is wide open with any number of potential winners. Two are up in class after maiden victories last time. Both (1) TRIPLE BOSS and (2) TEXAS SIDAE have a bit to find but both have top jockeys on and could go close. (8) SMART MARINE got his maiden win last start at what was the 32^nd time of asking. Lightning probably won’t strike twice but he will need to be a bit more respected in the market today. (5) WHITE POINT ran a good 3^rd in a similar class and distance race to this just two weeks ago and he has convincing claims. So too does (4) BIG RED IJI, beaten by White Point a couple of starts ago but rarely too far away. (3) EOMJI CHEOK is another who generally finds one or two too quick but doesn’t tend to be beaten by many. She’ll be on the early speed here. (12) YUHWI was last seen as an also-ran in the Korean Oaks but while that was an ask too far, she does have a 3^rd place to her name at this class and distance and can at least match that here.

Selections	(4) Big Red Iji (12) Yuhwi (5) White Point (2) Texas Sidae
Next Best	3, 1, 8
Fast Start	1, 3, 5

Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

An eight-length winner at the distance on July 22^nd, (9) WONDERFUL MEMORY is up in class today but the Lookin At Lucky colt has every chance of making it two in a row. He overcame gate 11 last time to make all and similar tactics will be expected today. (7) CHEOLBI has been close at hand in three tries at this class so far and should be in the mix once more here while (6) DAEHO MYEONGGA beat a couple of these on his way to 2^nd place at 1400M three weeks ago and has claims again. (4) NANGMAN JEONSA was 3^rd in that race, less than length behind and he too can be a factor. (5) TANGY BITE returns for the first time since March. He’s won at this trip in the past and won a trial at the end of July in good order and may be considered first-up here.

Selections	(9) Wonderful Memory (6) Daeho Myeongga (4) Nangman Jeonsa (7) Cheolbi
Next Best	5, 10
Fast Start	3, 5, 9

Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

All three of (3) YUSEONG SPEED’s victories to date have been at 1000M but he looks ready to take on further once more and is the one to beat. The small field is nicely competitive though. (1) THUNDER FLY has had an interrupted career but has won two from three so far and is up in class following a five-length score at the distance a month ago and looks to have plenty of potential for more. (2) BANJIUI JANGMI should be much happier dropped back in trip today while (4) USEUNG HWANHO was 4^th in a good race at this class over 1300M three weeks ago and is the other one with claims here.

Selections	(3) Yuseong Speed (1) Thunder Fly (4) Useung Hwanho (2) Banjiui Jangmi
Next Best	7
Fast Start	3, 6, 7

Race 10: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) CHERRY VANQUISH ran out a three-length winner at class and distance three weeks ago and while he carries an additional 3.5kg today, Bart Rice’s filly has every chance of backing straight up with another win. (1) WHISPER WISH remains a maiden after six tries but has had several close calls and has beaten a few of these along the way. She’s likely to lead here and it could well be uncontested in the early part of the race which could make things interesting. (11) HAETBAL finished 3^rd behind Whisper Wish on the former’s latest outing on June 22^nd. He too is yet to win but is rarely far away and should be in at least the placing frame again. (6) WONDERFUL CAPTAIN and (8) I’M YOUR UNCLE are others in the hunt.

Selections	(5) Cherry Vanquish (1) Whisper Wish (11) Haetbal (8) I’m Your Uncle
Next Best	6, 9
Fast Start	1

Race 11: Class 2 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

Six of these raced each other at class and distance on July 22^nd and it was (10) SIN STEALTH who took the win that day, a length and a half ahead of (11) GABOGAPJJANG in 2^nd. A repeat is not impossible but Sin Stealth will need to deal with the imposition of an extra 4kg today. Gabogapjjang can go well again while better will be expected of (9) ACE DOLPUNG, who was second-favourite in that race but only managed to finish in 5^th. Favourite here though could well be one who didn’t run that day. (5) LUCKY NOVA is a winner of six from eleven so far and steps back in trip following 3^rd place over 1800M on July 13^th. He’ll be on the early speed here and has every chance of leading all the way. Lucky Nova’s stablemate (7) TAEYANGUI SINHWA is also more than capable of going well in this company.

Selections	(5) Lucky Nova (10) Sin Stealth (11) Gabogapjjang (7) Taeyangui Sinhwa
Next Best	9, 6
Fast Start	3, 5, 9