Day: March 5, 2021

Busan Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (March 6)

Saturday’s racing is at Busan with 10 races from 13:30 to 18:00. Busan Racecourse and Jeju Racecourse may admit customers along with off-course betting locations in Busan, Changwon, Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon and Cheonan. Attendance at these locations is capped at 20% of indoor seated capacity and must be booked in advance using the “MyCard” app. Seoul Racecourse and all off-track betting centres in the Greater Seoul area remain closed to customers. Here are the Busan previews:

Ace Korea returns on Saturday

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

Maidens kick things up with six of the fourteen going round for the very first time. Among those with experience, (5) ACE SOLOMON perhaps looks best. After winning a trial, he ran 6th of 14 on debut at this distance at the end of last November having led for most of the early part of the race. He has had three months off since then and is well drawn to get to the front again here. He goes close. (7) K.B. HONOR ran a good 4th on debut over 1000M. He was prominent throughout and can be a danger stepped up in trip for the first time. The most experienced runner in the race – the only one who has raced more than once – is (10) MOVIE BROTHER. While his latest three starts have been underwhelming, he does have a 2nd and a 3rd in his record and minor money at least should be in play here. Among the others with experience, (13) FANTASTIC LEADER was poor on debut in January but looked much better when sent back to trial and should improve here. The first-timers don’t exactly get the heart racing but (12) FIRST PARK looked well in her trial and should get some backing first-up.

Selections(5) Ace Solomon (7) K.B. Honor (12) First Park (13) Fantastic Leader
Next Best10, 2
Fast Start5, 7, 8

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

Fillies only here. There is one previous winner in the field and it would be a surprise if she didn’t win again. That’s (12) APRIL QUEEN, who ran on well to score on her debut on January 18th over 1000M. Seo Seung-un taking the mount can only help her chances and the step up in trip shouldn’t be an issue. (4) TOP STORM ran twice last summer and was much-improved second-up with a front-running 2nd place over this distance. That was last July but she looked in decent condition in a trial two weeks ago and can be a danger here. (7) HORAENGI’s times have not been quick across three starts so far but she has done enough to be knocking on the door on each occasion. She’ll stick to her task and simply doing that can put her in the placing frame in this company. (8) BEST WIND has shown progress across four outings to date and is another who can aim for some prize-money while (10) FIRST CHOICE did nothing wrong when 5th on debut and is another in the hunt. Of the first-timers, (11) GEUMA STARLET ran 2nd in in her trial and should be in the mix first-up.

Selections(12) April Queen (4) Top Storm (7) Horaengi (11) Geuma Starlet
Next Best10, 8
Fast Start4, 8, 12, 13

Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(9) MENI GLORY ran a good 2nd on debut on January 15th over 1000M, He was well beaten by a very good winner (First Edition) but showed a nice turn of foot and ran on well. The step up in trip should suit and he looks the favourite here. His main rival is (7) MONEY BAG. He’s shown steady improvement over three outings culminating in beating a couple of his rivals here on his way to 3rd place over 1200M on January 15th. He’s come from well back all three times and may well appreciate the additional furlong today. Of those who have tried the distance before, (3) MINYEO GEOMGAEK has the fastest time. She put in dreadful performance last start in January but she was first-up for five months and is worth another chance for some minor money here. (10) S. L. KING was well back behind Meni Glory on debut but didn’t do too much wrong and the jockey booking catches the eye. (14) NORTHERN LIGHTS has run on strong in most of her starts so far and is another who may appreciate a bit of distance to get stuck into today.

Selections(9) Meni Glory (7) Money Bag (14) Northern Lights (10) S. L. King
Next Best3, 11
Fast Start4, 5, 9, 11

Race 4: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Five of these raced each other at class and distance on January 15th and it was (14) GLOBAL SEUNGNI who came out on top. He ran 2nd, just half a length behind the winner but a full ten-lengths ahead of the third-place getter. The draw shouldn’t be an issue with a very long back straight before the turn and he will be hot favourite to score here. The horse in 3rd that day was (3) TEN TEN QUEEN. It was a big improvement for her having never got going in her two previous outings over shorter distances and she should build on that today. Ten-lengths is a lot to overturn though. Of the others who went in that race, (1) KEUN HAENGBOK is perhaps a placing chance. He was an improved 7th that day on what was just his second start and he can build on that here. (5) DUMUSAN has shown promise over four starts so far and looks the type who will appreciate a bit more distance while (10) WONDERFUL SECRET showed ability in his first two outings before running poorly in his third, last December. He got sent back to trial after that and looked sharp when going around in a heat last week.

Selections(14) Global Seungni (3) Ten Ten Queen (10) Wonderful Secret (5) Dumusan
Next Best1, 8
Fast Start2, 6, 10, 13

Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 32 Million

Very competitive race here. A couple of them come up in class following last start wins. (2) TWO TWO CARLTON came from well back to score at start three on January 29th. It wasn’t a fast race but he has gone quicker before and can run on strong again today. (13) DASEUNG E hasn’t raced since getting his maiden win over 1300M last August. He looked well in a trial just last week and while there may be a concern that this is a little bit too much too soon, on his record he has strong claims. (5) ONNURI JILJU will probably start as favourite. He showed he has speed with a fast all the way win over 1200M in November before running 2nd to Alpha Again at this class on January. He led for much of the way that day before Alpha Again – who went on to win again last week and is potentially in the Classic frame – passed him late on. Onnuri Jilju is up in trip today but has a big chance here. (9) B.K JOHN is a winner at this class and distance already, scoring in a fast time last October. He had a hard time at a mile in Janaury but is worthy of another chance here. (4) TRIPLE MAGIC and (10) TAKE INDY KING are others in at least the placing frame but there are a host of others too – if you like something, it may well be available at a good price.

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