After a string of near-misses, the hard work paid off for Richard Oliver at Busan Racecourse on Friday afternoon, the British jockey riding four runners-up throughout the day before finally being rewarded with victory on Core Blade in the concluding race 12.

It was perhaps fitting that the win came on Core Blade, the filly who provided Oliver with his first Busan mount as a late pick-up a month ago. Since then there has been the Lunar New Year holiday and Oliver returned for the first meeting back in fine form, dead-heating for 2^nd on his opening mount of the afternoon, Lucky Number One in race 3.

Oliver then guided 10/1 chance Baekdu Daeho to the runner’s up spot in race 6 followed by 23/1 shot I’m Your Hope to a close 2^nd in race 9 followed. Mr. Scat duly gave the jockey his fourth near-miss in race 11 although, in truth, they were only ever racing for silver in that one.

Core Blade had been well-fancied when 27-year-old Oliver got the late call-up a day after arriving in the country last month. However, the Menifee filly was heavily bumped coming out of the gate and while she recovered well, could only manage to finish 3^rd that day. This time there were no such difficulties as the pair got away well and stayed handy until proving too strong in the closing stages, scoring by two-and-a-half lengths on the line.

The reason Mr. Scat was only every likely to be competing for 2^nd in race 11 is that the race saw the fourth Korean start of New Legend.

The four-year-old was bred in Korea but broke his maiden at Arlington Park last summer. He returned home in the autumn and has since gone on to establish himself as the hottest up and coming talent in the country. Under jockey Lee Hyo Sik, the colt made it four out of four with a facile victory, cruising away from a class 3 field to win by four-lengths and continue his stately through the levels.

A big 13-race card to welcome racing back to the capital following the Lunar New Year holiday. Race 1 at 10:45 and race 13 at 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

The opener is restricted to three-year-old maidens. (4) BIG PRO has shown some ability over three outings so far. He was a narrowly beaten favourite over a slow-running track last month and is well worth another chance to get things right today. (8) O PI M J did nothing on debut in December but returned last month to run a much improved 2^nd place, running on very pleasingly and into contention today. (5) BUCKETFUL GOLD raced greenly in his two starts last autumn to the extent that he got suspended for two months and ordered to do two trials. He’s looked much more competent when completing those and with improved manners, we should see an improved performance today. (6) BLACK WINGWING was a disappointing last on January 6^th but went well on debut and gets another chance. (1) P. K. JEONSA and (3) PINEAPPLE MARK others in the frame.

Selections	(4) Big Pro (5) Bucketful Gold (6) Black Wingwing (8) O Pi M J
Next Best	1, 3
Fast Start	1, 2, 5, 9

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

(7) MAGPIE was a 50/1 chance on debut over 1000M on January 19^th but didn’t run like one as she came from of the pace to come home 2^nd. She steps up in trip today and she should win. (2) REAL GANGJA has a couple of 3^rd places to his name already and if we draw a line through his latest effort, can go close. (1) KAHINAH and (4) JEOKTO BIMA have also hinted at some ability and should be looking to place. Wildcard is (12) SERA YEOJE who left It far too late on debut but did actually finish off nicely and is another who may like the step up in distance.

Selections	(7) Magpie (1) Kahinah (2) Real Gangja (12) Sera Yeoje
Next Best	4, 9
Fast Start	4, 8, 10, 11

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(11) OKAY TAP was 3^rd on debut and 2^nd on re-appearance last month, the latter at this distance. Finishing anywhere inside the top three will be enough to send him up in class next time and it’s likely he’ll bow out of the bottom tier a winner here. (9) JEONGMUN SARANG’s showed promise as a juvenile and was an also-ran in Seoul’s top race for two-year-olds. He’s not run since, but this looks a nice assignment to ease back into things. (5) COILRO ran a solid 3^rd on debut and while she was 6^th of 9 on her second start, she too should be closer today. (3) DELTA BROTHER and (7) MENI SPEED both ran adequately on their respective debuts at 1000M and both could show improvement here.

Selections	(11) Okay Tap (9) Jeongmun Sarang (5) Coilro (3) Delta Brother
Next Best	7, 6
Fast Start	3, 5, 9

Race 4: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maiden fillies only here. Eight of them have raced before, none especially convincingly. Fortunately, we have a couple of promising debut-makers. Both (2) SIMON QUEEN and (5) GEOM HYANG showed well in trials and couldn’t have picked a nicer race to start in. The latter of the pair is the more fancied first-up. They’ll have to beat a returnee who didn’t cover herself in glory on debut on December 1^st. That’s (9) JEMA TEUKGEUP, who after getting bumped at the start proceeded to first hang outwards and then veer out of running completely around the turn. Stewards ordered her to trial three times before being allowed to race again and she has looked steadily more impressive over the course of them. Manners shouldn’t be a problem this time and she can win. Of the ones who have actually completed a race, (1) CENTER POLE and (4) COMPLETE MOTION look best.

Selections	(9) Jema Teukgeup (2) Simon Queen (5) Geom Hyang (1) Center Pole
Next Best	4, 3
Fast Start	2, 3, 4

Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Fillies only and it’s a really competitive handicap. Slight pick is (10) CHARON BLADE, who beat a couple of these on her way to a solid 2^nd place on her first try at this class on January 12^th. Prior to that she beat (6) HORSE QUEEN by a nose when scoring her maiden win at this trip in December and she can win today. Horse Queen followed up by making all to win at this distance in early January. She’ll have to improve today but should be in the hunt as should (3) UDAERYUNG, one for one having sored on debut by a cool three lengths a month ago. The latest outings of both (4) ROMAN BLADE beat (1) HOMECOMING as the pair ran 2^nd and 6^th over this distance on January 6^th. The latter has a low draw for the first time and looks set to improve. We can also strike a line through the latest effort from (2) THANK YOU MOTHER. She drops back in trip today and should be a very different prospect.

Selections	(10) Charon Blade (1) Homecoming (2) Thank You Mother (3) Udaeryung
Next Best	6, 4
Fast Start	1, 2, 5, 8

Race 6: Class 6 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

Another competitive race although this time we have a set of maidens who look equal in their fragility. Only five have tried the distance before, the others sent up to try something different. That may pay off for (4) RAON STELLA, who has finished either 4^th or 5^th in all five of her appearances to date. She has always been making ground at the (more…)