The 2019 Korean Triple Crown starts this weekend with the KRA Cup Mile at Busan on Sunday. We’ll have a full preview of the big race on Saturday but before that, the weekend’s action gets underway at Busan on Friday with 10 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 kick things off with seven of the twelve having raced before. Among those, (9) SMART MOD is comfortably the top pick having run 2^nd on debut on March 1^st. He was the beaten favourite that day after also impressing in useful company in trials but today he should make no mistake. (12) GOOD TREND didn’t do too much wrong on his first start four weeks ago and can improve on the 6^th place he registered while the only one of these to have already raced more than once, (5) CHODONG RUSH offered some evidence of progress when dropped back to this trip in January and returns after three months out for a fresh start here. Of the first-timers, (2) KAHEKILI is a half sister to prolific winner Cinderella Man and trialled well. (4) ME NOVIA also went well in trials.

Selections	(9) Smart Mod (2) Kahekili (12) Good Trend (4) Me Novia
Next Best	5, 8
Fast Start	2, 6

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

He’s been inconsistent across seven outings so far but (2) GOLDEN SHARP is the slight pick to prevail here. True, his best work to date has been at 1000M but a previous try at this distance yielded a 5^th place finish and after a solid 3^rd at the minimum last start, he looks well placed to get to the front from a good draw and go all the way. (10) DAEHO JILJU races from the first time since finishing 3^rd behind Golden Sharp’s 2^nd in January. It’s his first crack at the distance today and he should be close. (6) DAEHEUNG SIDAE enters off a solid enough last start 4^th at this distance and can match or better today while (7) ALBERT KING and (11) RINGING FLYING, both back in trip today, should also be in at least the placing hunt.

Selections	(2) Golden Sharp (10) Daeho Jilju (6) Daeheung Sidae (11) Ringing Flying
Next Best	7, 12
Fast Start	2, 11

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

(5) MATCH WINNER ran 3^rd on debut in a useful maiden at this distance on March 8^th, running on well. There could be more to come and with a bit of progress today, he looks the one to beat. (3) MAJOR POWER had two 3^rd place finishes and a 4^th among four outings so far. She’s not the fastest of starters but can take up a handy position here from a decent draw and should be competitive. Since returning from six months out, (9) GIMABUDAEJANG has progressively improved over three starts and steps up to this distance for the first time. He’ll be on pace and can be taken seriously. (6) SMART WINNER beat three of these on his way to an improved 3^rd when stepped up to this trip on March 15^th and looks set for more development. (1) ECTON SMILE was 4^th in that same race and is another with at least placing chances today.

Selections	(5) Match Winner (9) Gimabudaejang (3) Major Power (6) Smart Winner
Next Best	1, 10
Fast Start	4, 9, 10, 11

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

Maiden fillies here and the banker favourite of the day goes. (1) BANJIUI YOJEONG ran 2^nd on debut on March 8^th, running prominently throughout having previously impressed in trials. She’ll be on pace from the start and a similar performance should prove far too much for her rivals here. The main danger could be one from the same owner. (10) BANJIUI JILJU debuts here having performed strongly in trials and has every chance of going nicely first-up. Also debuting with decent claims is (6) LUCKY TOGETHER, who showed plenty of promise when trialling a month ago. Of the others who have raced before, (4) MILLION BEAT and (9) TWO TWO WAY look the best.

Selections	(1) Banjiui Yojeong (10) Banjiui Jilju (9) Two Two Way (6) Lucky Together
Next Best	4, 7
Fast Start	1, 7, 9

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

(4) YONGYEON is one of three of these up in class following a maiden victory last start, in his case a front-running four-length score at this distance. He’ll be on pace again and is the slight pick to repeat. (12) FINAL RULES made all for a two-length win four weeks ago (beating Banjiui Yojeongsa, who we saw in race 4). That was just her second start and she looks to have improvement in her. Similarly, (1) SINHEUNG JANGSU led from gate to wire to win by five-lengths on March 1^st and while she probably has the most of the three to find, shouldn’t be far away here. Of those with prior experience of this class, (7) YAKSOKDAERO and (8) SUCHEOJAKJU are the best looking.

Selections	(4) Yongyeon (12) Final Rules (1) Sinheung Jangsu (8) Sucheojakju
Next Best	7, 6
Fast Start	1, 4, 10, 12

Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(8) SAMBA RHYTHM got her maiden win by six-lengths just before the New Year and then ran a solid 2^nd on her first try at this class in January, both at this distance. Things (more…)