The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

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

Three-year-old maidens to begin with and while eight of the twelve have raced before, it’s one of the four debut-makers who’s set to be favourite. (6) SMART MOD trialled a couple of times last summer in good fashion, but setbacks kept him from making his debut. He trialled again similarly well last month and if he brings that form to the races, should win. Of those with prior experience, (9) MERCI CHERIE ran well for 3^rd on debut at the end of December and while he was a touch disappointing on his return, can be backed to improve here. (3) RAPIDO MAN debuted last September and finally returns having trialled well in February – he is from the track’s top stable and will be expected to improve. (2) BUSAN CITY looks best of the rest.

Selections	(6) Smart Mod (9) Merci Cherie (3) Rapido Man (2) Busan City
Next Best	4, 12
Fast Start	3, 7, 12

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

Weak maiden here and (4) LISTEN TO ME, who after a shaky debut, has put in two solid 4^th place finishes beating a couple of these in the process. She won’t have to be much better to win this. (5) SINHEUNG JANGSU has shown glimpses of ability with a pair of 5^ths among three outings so far. She should be on pace early and can cause problems for the favourite. (8) ARA MYUNGMA managed a 3^rd place on her only try at this distance so far. She struggled at 1300M last time but should be better here. (1) WORLD SLAM and the solitary debut-maker (2) RAINBOW PARK are others to consider.

Selections	(4) Listen To Me (5) Sinheung Jangsu (8) Ara Myungma (1) World Slam
Next Best	2, 3
Fast Start	5, 9, 12

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

With a 3^rd and a 2^nd from two starts so far, (5) WONDERFUL MORNING should be making his breakthrough here. He just missed out by half a length at this distance last time having led almost the entire way around and can get it right this time. (1) MAEPSI COLOR was a much-improved 2^nd on his latest effort on February 1^st and looks set to go well again. (10) USEUNG STORY came home 3^rd in that same race, less than a length behind Maepsi Color and he too can be a threat once more. (11) GUKMIN STAR steps back up in trip after a good 3^rd around 1000M five weeks ago and should be in at least the placing hunt. (2) DOCTOR WEEK had a poor day at the office when well backed last time out but has run well at this distance before and can be given another chance here.

Selections	(5) Wonderful Morning (1) Maepsi Color (10) Useung Story (2) Doctor Week
Next Best	11, 6
Fast Start	1, 5, 8

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

(1) MORNING WANGJA and (6) CHEONJI KINGS came home 3^rd and 4^th when they raced each other over this distance on February 1^st. They were a long way behind the winner and runner-up, but both showed enough to suggest they’ll be competitive in this kind of company. Cheonji Kings is favoured to overturn that form and take the honours here, most likely leading all the way. (10) YEONGBONGSAN has been inconsistent but should have enough about him to challenge for a place here. (2) DARK TEMPLAR and (3) YAKSOKDAERO are others who should go close

Selections	(6) Cheonji Kings (1) Morning Wangja (10) Yeongbongsan (2) Dark Templar
Next Best	3, 8
Fast Start	2, 6

Race 5: Class 4 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million

Ten three-year-old maiden imports here with five having raced before and five making their debuts. Of those first-timers, (6) SSONSAL has gone through plenty of trials, most recently last weekend when he made all in a fast heat. So long as he didn’t leave his race there, the Adios Charlie colt has an excellent chance first-up here. (1) JANGSAN BOBBY and (4) EVERLASTING GIRL are other debut-makers who showed promise in trials but it’s two experienced ones who are likely to be the biggest threats. (8) RETURN OF SUBSIDY and (10) JINJJA GANGJA came home 2^nd and 4^th respectively when they raced each other on February 1^st over 1300M. Both look to be improving and can appreciate the drop back to the minimum trip here.

Selections	(6) Ssonsal (8) Return Of Subsidy (10) Jinjja Gangja (4) Everlasting Girl
Next Best	1, 5
Fast Start	5, 6, 8

Race 6: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

Four of these raced each other at the distance on February 1^st and it was (6) CHOEGANG SEONBONG who came out on top, finishing in 2^nd place – his best performance in sixteen starts.  He could go one better here, but it won’t be easy. (9) MARU JJANG was 3^rd in that race and (3) DYNAMIC BOLT 4^th and both have claims to get closer this time. (4) HARVEST SEASON ran a close 4^th at this distance just two weeks ago and makes a quick return with Franco Da Silva in the saddle. There’s not much early speed in this race and he could be tempted to try and lead all the way. (11) ALBERT KING is another who comes in following an encouraging performance last time and may be considered.

Selections	(4) Harvest Season (6) Choegang Seonbong (11) Albert King (9) Maru Jjang
Next Best	3, 8
Fast Start	4, 8, 9

Race 7: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(5) RAON ARES got his maiden win in impressive fashion at the beginning of January over 1000M but was a significant let-down when well-backed for his first try at this level over 1300M later that month. He steps back slightly in trip today, should be on pace from the start, and can be given another chance. (8) POWER WINDY was another who performed significantly below market expectations last time. He raced most ungenerously but does have ability and if his manners are better, he’ll be much closer this time. (2) HEUIMANG YEOJEONSA won on debut back in October and finally reappears here following a couple of setbacks. He was quite ordinary in a trial last week but was competent enough and can go well. Also returning for the first time since October is (1) MUJEOK VETERAN. He displayed plenty of talent across four starts prior to the layoff and looked good when trialling two weeks ago. (7) TWO TWO SPINO is up in class today and despite remaining a maiden, should be comfortable in this company.

Selections	(5) Raon Ares (1) Mujeok Veteran (7) Two Two Spino (2) Heuimang Yeojeonsa
Next Best	8, 6
Fast Start	2, 5, 7

Race 8: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(6) YEONGGWANGUIFORCE is up in class today having secured his maiden win at the third time of asking four weeks ago. It was at this distance and he prevailed by four-lengths and has every chance of winning again today. Main danger is (5) ROCK CHOICE. His maiden win came at this distance in December and after having a hard time over a mile, he dropped back to 1300M last time for a good 3^rd place in what was a fast race. (2) AMAZING WINNER is another one up in class after a maiden win and while she perhaps has a bit more to find, she should be competitive. (8) ATOMIJI and (10) COMING AGAIN are others who should be in at least the placing hunt.

Selections	(6) Yeonggwanguiforce (5) Rock Choice (2) Amazing Winner (8) Atomiji
Next Best	10, 1
Fast Start	1, 2

Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(9) VANJEFE comes in here in solid form having beaten plenty of these in recent outings. He was somewhat surprisingly beaten last time by (4) DYNAMIC ROOKIE but has every chance of overturning that form here and can return to the winner’s circle. Dynamic Rookie will be one of the principle dangers but there are plenty of other capable ones here. (5) DUBAI TEUKGEUP is two starts into a comeback following several months out. He ran 5^th behind Vanjefe on his latest outing six weeks ago but can get closer today. (2) YONGGU tries this trip for the first time after closing out 2018 with a good 2^nd at a mile and can be considered as well. (12) DELMARUI GIJEOK looks best of the rest.

Selections	(9) Vanjefe (5) Dubai Teukgeup (4) Dynamic Rookie (2) Yonggu
Next Best	12, 11
Fast Start	5, 9

Race 10: Class 1 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

A rare Friday class 1 and (12) BAENGMUNBAEKDAP is the one they’ll need to beat here. He comes in following a win and a 4^th place in two tough races over 2000M and could well have too much. (2) APPROACH and (4) GOOD CASTING both return after short absences and both can go well here but the biggest danger may be the still somewhat unexposed (1) NEW YORK MANGCHI. A winner of four from nine so far, he’s up in class today following a fine and battling win on his first try at this distance on February 1^st.  He’ll be on pace from the start and he could go close. (5) PASHA another who should be in the hunt.

Selections	(12) Baengmunbaekdap (1) New York Mangchi (4) Good Casting (2) Approach
Next Best	5, 9
Fast Start	1, 3, 8

Race 11: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

A winner at this distance at class 5 in January, (10) PRECEDE finished 3^rd on his first try at this level four weeks ago. This looks a less onerous assignment and while he needs to overcome the widest gate, he can get on pace early and is likely to lead all the way. (4) WONDERFUL STORY was a class and distance winner last time and while he carries some extra weight today, should be a factor again. (1) JANGHAN JILJU steps up in trip following solid recent work at 1300M and has placing chances. (7) MYEONGSIN POWER and the returning (3) EVELYN are others in the hunt.

Selections	(10) Precede (4) Wonderful Story (1) Janghan Jilju (7) Myeongsin Power
Next Best	3, 8
Fast Start	10

 

+++UPDATE+++

He did quite well:

Dolkong will make his third Dubai World Cup start when he tries his luck in the Listed Curlin Handicap at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday evening (1.50am Friday mmorning Korea time).

The Simon Foster-trained 5-year-old ran 6th in Group company over a mile in January before running 3rd in a handicap at tonight’s distance of 2000M last month. That day’s winner Salterin Dubai, also returns. Olivier Doleuze will ride Dolkong for the second time.