This week’s feature race in Korea is Sunday’s Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup at Seoul, which sees the nation’s top three-year-old fillies re-convene following last month’s Korean Oaks. That race’s winner, Deep Mind, heads the field. Before that though the weekend’s action kicks off at Busan on Friday with a nine-race card from 11:30 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) 2YO Allowance / KRW 75 Million 

The first bunch of Busan two-year-olds for the new season will take to the track in the first on the card. (2) TOP ACE showed early speed in his trial when going on for a solid victory. He ran a slick 1.02.0 and was not over exerted. Choi Si-Dae has been in good form and will partner with the son of Thunder Moccasin. (3) ACE JACKPOT hit the line strong in her trial. She was asked to extend at the top of the straight and ran home well when second in her trial. She ran a handy 1.02.5 in her trial. Francisco Da Silva will ride her after Choi Si-Dae who was aboard for the trial elected to ride Top Ace. (4) BLUE POWER jumped away well in his barrier trial. He was beaten by a big marking but ran through the line fairly. (8) ECHO SUN looks a place chance after finishing fourth in his trial running 1.03.4.

Selections	(2) Top Ace (3) Ace Jackpot (4) Blue Power (8) Echo Sun
Next Best	7, 6
Fast Start	2, 4

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

There is a lack of speed engaged in the second which suggests that (11) BANJIUI JILJU will be able to pounce out of the gates and find the lead with ease. You Hyun-Myung should be able to dictate the speed in the affair and if she gets a cheap sectional she will take some running down. (9) SUN MOUNTAIN looks the main threat. The Simon Pure colt is coming off a solid performance when coming from well back and finishing third over the 1300m. (4) DANDI QUEEN ran home fairly last time out when finishing fifth in similar company. The Limitless Bid filly is having her eighth career start with Jung Do-Yun remaining aboard. (10) TURBO SPEED sat behind the leading division last time out and ran into third. Lee Sung Jae rides for the first time.

Selections	(11) Banjiui Jilju (9) Sun Mountain (4) Dandi Queen (10) Turbo Speed
Next Best	1, 5
Fast Start	10, 11

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

A field of ten three-year-olds go around in the third on the card. (4) MORNING TAEYANG performed well at his second career start when finishing second behind Perfect Ace. The Colors Flying colt will have the services of Choi Si-Dae who will benefit from a better draw in this event. (3) MILLION BEAT has run third at two of his three career starts. He was beaten a substantial thirteen lengths last time out but expect improvement at his fourth start. (1) CASTEL CORE improved last time out when midfield in a 1300m event. He has drawn the inside today for the first time so will be aided by and economic run. (8) NANSAN YEOJE is having her second start after running out of gas up the straight last time out. The Ecton Park filly originally trialed well and should be better for the run.

Selections	(4) Morning Taeyang (3) Million Beat (1) Castel Core (8) Nansan Yeoje
Next Best	2, 6, 10
Fast Start	4, 6, 7, 8, 10

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

There appears to be plenty of speed engaged in the fourth and one of those with early pace is (5) OCEAN PHEONIX. The Menifee filly ran a strong second last time out behind the well-performed Brown Pie. She has been mighty consistent this preparation. The four-year-old should sit in the first three and prove hard to beat. In contrast (6) ORANGE MARINE is yet to break maiden status but has been consistent this preparation finishing in the top four at all four starts. The import has a solid turn of foot and can be considered an each-way chance. (9) YEONGUNG ILGI should settle rearwards and steam home late. The six-year-old produced one of the fastest sectionals in his race last time out when finishing third behind Nakita. (8) USEUNG TICKET saluted in Class 5 company last time out. She drops two kilograms on last run but may struggle from a wide draw.

Selections	(5) Ocean Phoenix (6) Orange Marine (9) Yeongung Ilgi (8) Useung Ticket
Next Best	7, 2
Fast Start	1, 2, 5, 7, 10

Race 5: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

A lackluster field of maidens go around in the fifth where (8) DOCTOR MIMI gets her best opportunity to break maiden status. The three-year-old has ran some respectable races this preparation including a last start fourth over the mile. The Colors Flying filly has settled both forwards and rearwards in her eleven start career so Jin Kyum will have options when she jumps. (9) HAENGBOK KOREA finished a distant third in his last race start over the 1600m. He has since had a trial at the start of the month when well back. The outside gate combined with the 56kg appears to be the hurdle but his competition lacks depth. (3) LISTEN TO ME showed speed last time out over the mile. The chestnut jumped well from the outside gate before taking up the early lead. The filly started to tire at the top of the straight and plugged away for fifth. She looks the likely leader. (1) WORLD SLAM looks next best coming off a fourth over the 1300m. The good draw won’t necessarily help the three-year-old’s chances as he is normally tardy out of the gates. (more…)