The 2019 Korean Racing Season gets underway at Busan on Friday with a 13-race card running from 11:30 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan hosts the first Korean card of 2019
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Maiden fillies to kick off the New Year at Busan and a couple of them have shown promise. (4) HALLA HWANGHU is the slight pick, registering a 5th and a 4th from two outings to date, both at this distance. She’s well drawn to get on pace early here and can win. Both (5) MISS FACT’s efforts so far have been at 1300M and she ran well enough for (an admittedly distant) 3rd last time five weeks ago. She drops back in trip here and it can suit. (3) AMAZING WINNER was a similar well-beaten 3rd last time at 1300M but also showed improvement and can continue that today. (6) TWO TWO FIRE put in an encouraging debut in November and is another who can go well. (9) RAON ARES, 5th behind Halla Hwangu, should also be in contention to get better.
Selections | (4) Halla Hwanghu (5) Miss Fact (3) Amazing Winner (6) Two Two Fire |
Next Best | 9, 8 |
Fast Start | 4, 7, 9, 12 |
Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
This one is restricted to maidens who have just turned three-years-old. (1) HAPPY GATE has been a touch inconsistent across four outings so far but looked to be getting things together with a 3rd place over 1300M last start. He drops back in trip today and can win. (3) TWO TWO SPINO ran poorly last time to the extent that he got sent back to trial. He looked a completely different prospect in that trial, however, winning it in a fast time and can go much better today. (8) FOREVER NINE was similarly green on debut in November but he too looked much better when subsequently trialling and can be given another chance here. (6) RINGING FLYING and (7) ACE CRUSH others in contention.
Selections | (1) Happy Gate (3) Two Two Spino (8) Forever Nine (7) Ace Crush |
Next Best | 6, 5 |
Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 8 |
Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
More three-year-old maidens. Seven of the twelve have raced before and among them, (9) SEOBU CAT is the pick. He was expected to win on debut but having led for much of the race, just ran out of steam in the closing stages. He surely puts it right today. (3) BEAUTIFUL MARINE did nothing wrong when 3rd on her own debut last month and can go well again while (8) YEONGGWANGUIFORCE can also improve. Among the five first-time starters, (2) TWO TWO SIMON and (4) BIGROADIJI look the most likely to make an immediate impression.
Selections | (9) Seobu Cat (3) Beautiful Marine (2) Two Two Simon (8) Yeonggwanguiforce |
Next Best | 4, 5 |
Fast Start | 7, 9, 11, 12 |
Race 4: Class 4 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Competitive race here that’s open to foreign as well as Korean-bred horses. (7) QUICK MOVE is a winner of two from three and is up in class having prevailed over this distance last time in a tight finish. He’ll look to lead early here and has every chance of winning again. (9) WINNING AGAIN comes in having run 2nd to the very useful Spot over 1200M four weeks ago and looks to be the main danger. (3) GENERAL was just over a length back in 4th that day and should be close again. (5) MUPAE CHARLIE has offered glimpses of ability over just two outings so far while (10) THUNDER DOME has gone through two trials since a disappointing effort in November and is another to consider here.
Selections | (7) Quick Move (9) Winning Again (10) Thunder Dome (5) Mupae Charlie |
Next Best | 3, 11 |
Fast Start | 5, 7, 9, 10 |
Race 5: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million
Back to the maidens here and (3) B.K. THUNDER has as good a chance as any of shedding that tag. He ran 2nd at the distance in November and his 6th place on his latest start was in tougher company than this. He should get forward early and it could be his day. There is only one debut-maker here and it’s a potentially nice looking one. It’s taken (9) IGGYDA a while to get to the track but the gelding looked sharp when trialling in early December and could well be the principle danger. (7) WILD CASH hasn’t been too far away of late and should be looking to at least match her best finish of 3rd. (2) GOLDEN REX and (11) CHEONJI KINGS others in at least the placing hunt.
Selections | (9) Iggyda (3) B.K. Thunder (7) Wild Cash (11) Cheonji Kings |
Next Best | 2, 8 |
Fast Start | 2, 3, 9, 11 |
Race 6: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maidens only and it’s the weakest of the day so far. That means that (9) CHEONSANG OREUM, who struggled against tougher company over a mile on December 7th, has every chance of going much better here. She led that day and should lead again. Three of these raced each other at this distance that same day. (4) I AM CHAMPION came