The recent uptick in Covid-19 cases in Korea has ended any prospect of punters returning to racecourses for the forseeable future and if the situation doesn’t stabilise soon, is likely to see racing forced back on an extended break. For now though things continue behind closed doors and with no legal betting in Korea. It’s a big weekend of action with the SROA Trophy and Ttukseom Cup at Seoul on Sunday but before that things get underway with a 15-race Friday card at Busan from 11.30 to 18.00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million

Juvenile maidens kick off the card with six of the eleven racing for the very first time. We’ll go with experience though and (2) GOOD SOCKS showed potential when 3^rd on debut on July 24^th. The filly is well drawn to get to the front here and the additional furlong shouldn’t be an issue. (1) YEONGGWANGUICHUKJE ran 5^th in that race. He is the only entrant to have raced twice prior to today and having run on well both times at 1000M, looks like he could benefit from the increased trip today. (4) ALPHA AGAIN led on debut and while he weakened late on, he should have come on for the run and can improve on the 4^th place he secured. Among the first-timers, (10) PYEONGHWA SIDAE looked well when 3^rd in a trial last month and can go well first up here with a top jockey on board.

Selections	(2) Good Socks (1) Yeonggwanguichukje (4) Alpha Again (10) Pyeonghwa Sidae
Next Best	3, 8, 7
Fast Start	2, 4

Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

The Korean-bred maiden gallopers line up in the second where there is limited early speed engaged. (6) WISE GIRL looks a promising type after finishing second on debut. The filly rattled off a solid sectional after settling well back in the run. If Jo In-kwen can settle her closer from barrier six she looks a good chance of breaking through. (5) SUN ALPHA looks an each-way chance from a good draw. The Thunder Moccasin colt should be able to settle closer in the run. Two starts ago the three-year-old finished third behind Wind Park which reads well for this assignment. (3) CHEONMA HASEO is another that looks capable of figuring. The chestnut has had the three starts with a career best fourth to date, which came at his most recent start. (7) GABO TODAY looks next best but times he has clocked to date have been slow.

Selections	(6) Wise Girl (5) Sun Alpha (3) Cheonma Haseo (7) Gabo Today
Next Best	8, 1
Fast Start	7, 8

Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(1) HAPPY SONG looked ready to win with a solid 3^rd place on the weekend of the shutdown in February over this distance. Aside from an April trial which offered few clues, she’s not been seen since but if she can pick up today from where she left off, she has to be considered a real chance here. (6) HAMAN HAPGANGJEONG has shown improvement over three starts so far, culminating in a 4^th place last time out at this distance. She tends to take an age to get going but in this company she won’t need to improve very much to go close. Both (2) BAEDARI SUNSHINE and

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