Day: December 11, 2020

Busan Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (December 12)

The last three wagering places that were accepting customers for betting have had to close so with no wagering available in Korea and low Stakes prize-money, we are back to all three tracks running in Korea simultaneously behind-closed-doors just one day a week. That day this week is Saturday and the 12-race Busan card is available for overseas simulcasting so that’s the one we will focus on for our previews, however, there is one sensational race in prospect at Seoul so we’ll add a preview for that at the bottom too:

The racecourses will be deserted and running simultaneously on Saturday only

Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

A juvenile maiden to kick things off at Busan with five of the fourteen racing for the first time. (5) HAPPY WOMAN started slowly but ran on for 4th on debut over 1000M on November 20th., registering a fast final furlong. She should have come on for that run and with an extra furlong to play with here, should have every chance. (2) B.J. KING debuted over this trip at the end of October running a somewhat one-paced 6th. Improvement seems on the cards here and he can go close. (10) BAEDARI ICON beat a couple of these on his way to 6th place on debut last month. He benefits again from a very light weight and also can appreciate the additional distance. Among the first-timers, the jockey/trainer combination for (9) GOSUUI POWER will tempt plenty. The colt offered few clues when 2nd in a November trial but looked competent enough. His dam won nine of fifteen races here. (1) WONDERFUL BOBCAT too acquitted himself well in his heat.

Selections(5) Happy Woman (2) B. J. King (9) Gosuui Power (10) Baedari Icon
Next Best1, 3, 6
Fast Start4, 6. 9, 14

Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

More maidens and again there are five debut-makers. (13) RANK THE POWER breezed through a trial in mid-November (having missed the qualification time in October) in the kind of time that would see him win plenty of actual five furlong races. The wide draw may not be ideal but if he brings that form here, then he should win. (12) WORLD CHANGE and (14) YEONSEUNG BRAVO are two other first-timers who also suffer from somewhat dodgy draws but performed adequately in trials and can go well first up. As for the ones with prior racing experience, (10) YEONGGWANGUI SPEED has a 3rd and a 4th place finish among three outings so far. He hasn’t been exactly fast but won’t need to be in order to challenge for a place again. It’s a similar story with (5) TEAM SKY who today benefits from a good apprentice jockey taking some weight off. The fastest time of any of these at the distance so far was recorded by (6) GOLD LUCK when 5th on debut and he too can aim for the places here.

Selections(13) Rank The Power (10) Yeonggwangui Speed (5) Team Sky (12) World Change
Next Best14, 6
Fast Start3, 5, 6, 8, 13

Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

It may be class 6 but there are two previous winners among the field in the shape of (3) FIRST WIND and (12) GOLD MAGIC and it would be no big surprise were either of them to strike again. That said, there are a few who are yet to score who should be firmly in the frame. They include (2) NEW LUX, who has been getting steadily closer over four outing so far. That culminated in a useful 2nd last start behind Good Socks and the filly has every chance of going one better today. (9) OMEGA GIRL beat a couple of these on her way to a career best 3rd place at this distance on November 8th and has every chance of building on that here while (10) JANGSAN PRIDE too improved significantly at his latest outing, running 2nd over 1300M.

Selections(2) New Lux (3) First Wind (12) Gold Magic (9) Omega Girl
Next Best10, 1
Fast Start3, 7, 14

Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(4) CATCH THE VICTORY comes in having run 3rd and 2nd in his two starts so far. He was well beaten by a good winner last start but in coming 2nd recorded the fastest time of any of these at the distance and he is the slight pick to go one better here. (7) KING BID steps back up in trip today after a good 3rd over 1000M in November. Seo Seung-un takes over in the saddle and he is sure to have plenty of backers. (9) LUCKY MAGIC looks to finally be figuring things out having run a career best 3rd last time out. Her times haven’t been exactly quick but they she won’t need to be too fast to be in the mix today. There are two first-time starters and (2) SKY MORE looks a prospect. By Hansen and out of a Korean Oaks and SBS Cup winning mare, she ran 4th in her trial in a useful enough time and should go well first-up.

Selections(4) Catch The Victory (7) King Bid (2) Sky More (9) Lucky Magic
Next Best1, 6, 12
Fast Start1, 2, 7

Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

A good little race this with plenty in the hunt. (6) TAKE INDY KING was an emphatic winner on debut on November 6th, running on strongly to score by four-lengths. Her is up in both class and in distance today but neither should be an issue and he can win again. So too can (9) TOP OF KOREA. He too is up in class following a win in late August. It came at this distance and if he can get on or close to the speed, he has a good chance of following up. (5) MR. FUSION has the best time of any of these at the distance and from a good draw is likely to be on speed from the start. He too races for the first time since August when he was beaten by (11) POWER GATE. Power Gate has raced twice since then and hasn’t been too far away. A host of others have placing chances with the wildcard being (1) QUEEN UP, who began her career in an ultra-consistent manner but hasn’t raced since January. She trialed up seemingly within herself a couple of weeks ago and could be a factor.

Selections(6) Take Indy King (9) Top Of Korea (5) Mr. Fusion (11) Power Gate
Next Best1, 2, 14
Fast Start5, 9, 11

Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 28 Million

A somewhat motley mixture of imports and locals ranging from juveniles to seven-year-olds line up here. The first California Chrome to race in Korea makes his debut. (5) BLUE CHAMP trialed nicely and in such a race has to go into contention. So too does another first-timer, (1) CLEAR. He ran 3rd in his trial in a decent enough time on a dry track and the Wolsley/Perovic combination will tempt plenty. As for the rest, (10) ECHO SUN looks the most convincing Although his best recent work has been over 1400M, he enters in good form and while the 57kg won’t help him, he looks to have solid claims. (13) DALGI was a very good winner over 1300M in August and while her performance over this distance at the end of October was slightly concerning, she is worth another chance in this company today. (8) HAPPY GATE has lost his way a touch in his latest two starts but may benefit from the drop back in trip and should be on pace from the start.

Selections(10) Echo Sun (1) Clear (13) Dalgi (5) Blue Champ
Next Best8, 9, 12
Fast Start8, 13

Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 28 Million

A very competitive race. (14) YEONGGWANGUI TIME was a class and distance winner on October 31st with a front-running performance and came home in a time faster than any of the others have achieved at the distance. He gets no penalty for that win and has every chance of repeating. What he does get though is a bad draw and it won’t be easy for him to get the run of the race this time. (11) TITLE CODE and (10) NICE ONE came home 2nd and 3rd when they raced each other at class and distance on November 6th. Both look in the hunt here and with a weight advantage this time, Nice One could well overturn that form. (7) LUCKY NUMBER ONE is a front-runner who drops back into trip and should be in the frame from a central draw. (2) HAPPY WITCH finds herself up in class after a win and two runner-up finishes in three outings to date. She is nicely drawn to get on the early speed and can be competitive. 

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