The Seoul Racecourse and Capital region OCBs remain closed to customers for the foreseeable future – more on that tomorrow – but Busan is open to pre-bookings and there are 7 races on Friday from 13:20 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 33 Million

The likely favourite here is (2) ADELE SOFT who has taken a somewhat unusual route up to this point, having debuted at a mile and finishing midfield, before dropping back to 1400M and running 2nd having overcome the widest draw. He drops back even further here and for the first time draws well with every chance of overcoming this small field. (8) MY DESTINY has improved across three starts so far. Last start at this distance she settled handy before running on for a good 2nd place and while drawn in the outside gate today, with such a small field, it shouldn’t be a concern. (6) HAVE A GOOD TIME has looked much better this preparation with a 3rd and a 4th place. He has proven capable of running a competitive time at this distance and should be on pace from the start. (7) DIA FORCE and (5) CATCH THE SUN are others with placing hopes. 

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Tricky one. (8) SWEET BAND has been running very consistent times over her recent starts, all of them at 1400M. She can be one-paced but dropping back in trip slightly her may be in her favour. (11) CHEONGMA HWANGHU has the fastest time among these at the distance. That was recorded at her latest start when as favourite, she worked hard to get on pace from a wide draw before ultimately finishing 5th. She doesn’t draw well again but most of the speed here looks set to come from wide gates anyway and she does get an apprentice taking 2kg off. She should go close. (10) INTO MARINE looks to be on the improve. He came from a handy position to run 3rd over 1200M at his last start and can step back up to 1300M with confidence. His times haven’t been world-beating but he has mixed it with some decent horses and looks to have as much chance as any here. There is one solitary debut maker. (1) GOOD STAR has been through two trials and while he was relatively anonymous when qualifying in May, he went through a second one on June 18th and after a slow start ran on strong in a decent time to finish close to some good horses. This looks a good distance for him first-up and he has claims.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(10) CRYSTAL THINKING comes in off the back of consecutive runner-up finishes including at her latest start on June 19th when she beat several of today’s rivals. She settled handy that day having drawn the inside but the time before she came from off the pace so the widest gate shouldn’t be a problem and the only filly in the race can go one better today. (7) B J’S TERMS came home in 3rd place that day continuing his consistent run of form at this distance. He usually settles back and runs on and should be close again. (2) CHEONGDAM DRIVE has a 2nd place at the distance to his name and enters off a last start 4th over 1400M in a good time and beaten by good horses. He draws nicely here and is set to be a danger. (3) WONDERFUL WORLD looks like he is figuring things out after four starts. He ran on strong for 3rd over 1300M last time out and gives every indication that he is looking for further, which he gets today. (8) CENTUM THOR the best of the rest.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Two horses here come up in class seeking a hat-trick of wins. We’ll side with (3) COOL GUY who after finishing 2nd in both his first two starts, registered back to back wins, both at 1200M and both by convincing margins. He generally sits handy in the early stages before taking command and the step up in trip should suit. (11) DOCTOR GIANTS has also won two in a row to be rapidly promoted in class and just like Cool Guy, they came at 1200M. He has a slightly different running style in that he has tended to sit midfield and then run on. One concern is that when he attempted a mile back in February it didn’t go well, but he looks ready for 1400M here. (2) MR. HANSEN hasn’t quite managed to recapture the explosive form of the very beginning of his career, when he recorded some very fast times at this distance. He showed signs of a return to form at his latest start when a close 6th over 1200M and with an apprentice taking some weight off today, he can get closer still. (5) SUNLIGHT BOY was a good winner at this distance two starts back at class 5 level and ran a strong 4th in a fast time on his first go at this class on June 20th. He’ll be on pace and has every chance again.

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

The banker favourite of the day goes here. (3) KING OF THE MATCH won a trial in a fast time in May before coming from off the pace to win well on debut on June 5th. He does come up in the weights here but he should have come on for the experience and if anything this is a weaker field than the one he defeated first-up. (9) K.B. BOSS had a poor day at the office at his latest start, capitulating having led into the straight. She is better than that though and is worth another chance for a place in this company. The most intriguing entrant is (1) MARK ONE. His recent efforts have been at a mile and 1800M and he ran well for 4th at the latter distance at his latest start a month ago. He has shown ability at sprint distance too and should be competitive here. Not much else arrives in anything much resembling form, so (7) SKITTER could take advantage and improve on recent appearances. He has won at class and distance before.

Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 33 Million

Two turns is unchartered territory for the majority of these runners and the ones that have tried it before do not enter in good form. There are a couple who should be able to make the step up though. (11) SEUNGNI GLORY was a fine front-running winner over a mile on May 29th and comes up in class as well as distance today. The widest gate at the 1800M start at Busan is never ideal but he doesn’t need to lead and if Seo Seung-un can find a decent spot for him, he has every chance. The main danger is (8) GOLDEN KAISER. He got his maiden win back in January at 1400M and has since run well in three attempts at this class with a very good 3rd behind Raon The Boss and Mr. Indie at his last start over a mile. He can be close to the pace or further back and run on and the additional trip can suit. (3) YEONGWON POWER was 7th behind Golden Kaiser last start on what was his first try at class 5. He has won at a mile before and he too looks like he can take to two-turns well. (2) KING BROTHER comes up in class and while he remains winless, his recent form has been consistent and he could find the minor money here.

Busan Race 7: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(3) JANGSAN DOKKI is up in class following a good win over this distance on May 30th when from a handy position he hit the front in the straight and ran on for an easy victory. He enters here under a light weight of 52kg and that could give him the decisive advantage over (4) THE SABER, who will carry a full 6kg more. He is already a class 2 winner having scored over 1400M in February and he races here for the first time since running 4th over this distance in a really good race on April 25th. He is tactically versatile and regardless of the weight, is sure to be in the finish. Those two are the standouts but (6) THUNDER KING, who has previously posted a fast time at this distance comes back into action for the first time since April. He looked very well when winning a trial in June and can go well under a light weight today. Continuing the theme of light weights. (8) GYEONGJUUI DUREBAK returned to form with a very good class and distance 3rd last time out on June 13th and can aim for the money again here.

In the least surprising news of the year so far, the reopening of Seoul Racecourse as well as capital region OTBs will not now go ahead from this weekend.

Due to a rise in the number of Covid positives in the Seoul and Gyeonggi area, local governments have decided to hold off on altering their social distancing guidelines for at least another week. This means that while baseball and football stadiums in Seoul may accommodate 30% of capacity (including the completely enclosed Gocheok Skydome), racing is permitted 0%. However, outside of Seoul, the new levels will come into effect meaning the permitted capacity level in those locations has risen to 50%.

Open this week will be the racecourses in Busan and Jeju as well as OTBs in Busan (two of them), Changwon, Daegu, Cheonan and Gwangju. A total of approximately 11,000 punters will be allowed across the south of the country.

At the same time, the bill to permit online betting on horse racing once more failed to pass the National Assembly Agriculture Committee last week. Online betting on track cycling as well as lottery and sports betting is now legal, however, they are overseen by different ministries.

For the first Friday thoroughbred meeting of 2021, there are just 5 races (local punters will be betting on simulcast pony racing from Jeju as well) abd here are the previews:

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

A distinctly average set of gallopers line up in race 1. (8) TAEPUNGI was a distant 3rd on debut behind King Allie when racing prominently throughout before running a less convincing 7th over the same 1000M distance on reappearance in June. She did run on though and the step up in trip for the first time may be to her benefit. The trainer/jockey combination will attract plenty and she will probably start as favourite. (6) BUSAN ACE has recorded the fastest time of these at the distance, although that is perhaps faint praise. She mixes her form but based on her effort two starts back when she led for much of the race, ultimately finishing 2nd and beating Doctor Giants, who has subsequently gone on to win twice, she warrants consideration. (10) WONDERFUL LADY came from well back to run on for 5th place over 1300M on May 30th. She’s nicely weighted again and while she drops back in trip, should be looking for a career-best finish here. (1) K.B. HONOR and (2) INDY DANCER are others who have hinted at ability and also may improve.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Good little race this with three standouts. Not much to choose between them but (5) POKPUNG JILJU might be the improving one. He ran a decent 3rd working home strongly behind Gold Fountain on his first try at this distance on May 30th. It was a decent time on a good rated track and he can better it here. (2) YEONGGWANGUI SPEED has managed to maintain good consistency over six starts spread across eighteen months. At his latest start he came from off the pace to run home strongly for 2nd place to Queen Of The Queen in a fast time, albeit assisted by a sloppy track. A similar performance today puts him in the finish again. (3) FIGHT DREAM led for much of his latest outing at this distance, being passed ultimately in the final 300M to finish 4th. He has shown he is capable of running decent times and merits some thought here. (1) SIMON TOP GUN flew home late for 4th over 1300M last time out and may appreciate the step up in trip.

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 33 Million

Fillies and mares only here and the banker favourite is among them. (4) SAGARMATHA has finished no worse than 3rd in any of her five starts to date with two wins among them. Last time out on May 8th, she beat four of these on her way to 2nd place in a very similar class and distance race. She carries an additional kilo today but she draws better and should be winning this. Having said that, she only narrowly finished ahead of (10) MASTER QUEEN in that race and the latter filly has gone on to since put in another good performance, finishing 2nd at class and distance on June 5th. She led that day as is her style and while the barrier may not be in her favour today, she has a good start on her and we can expect here to work around to challenge for the early lead again. (7) SECOND WIND comes up in class following a breakout victory over 1400M three weeks ago. She had mixed her form prior to that and this is a stiffer test but further improvement can’t be ruled out. (3) HANHYEOLMA and (5) GREAT GO are other potential dangers.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) MR. FUSION ran out a three-length winner at class and distance on May 29th. That was his second career win but he has never finished worse than 4th. He has performed well when both handy or from coming from further back and while he does go up 3kg today, he has every chance of scoring again. Meeting him at better weights than last time is (4) SMART MOD, who was 3rd in that May 29th race. He settled back and then ran on strong and while that day he was conceding 1kg to Mr. Fusion, today he is getting 1.5kg. He has three-and-a-half lengths to overturn from last time and can be a danger. (2) CRONUS is a two-time winner at this distance and comes in off a good 3rd place last time out. He is nicely weighted again and he’ll aim to come from off the pace and hit the line strong. (3) MINYEOBONG finished in midfield on her first try at this class over 1200M on May 22nd. She ran well enough on her only previous try at this distance last year and could be a place chance in this small field.

Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) GREAT BOSS was a beaten favourite over 1200M last on May 22nd, hitting the front in the straight but ultimately being worn down by Doctor Fashion. That continued his impressive run of form with eight top-two finishes from nine starts so far and was enough to push him up in class here. This is his first attempt at a mile although he has run well over 1400M already and he comes down a full 6kg in the weights. That gives him a big advantage in that respect over the other standout (4) GEUMA CAVALRY who comes up a full 4kg for his super win at this class and distance on April 24th. That day the Violence colt practically made all and cruised away for a five-length victory in a fast time on a dry track. Regardless of the additional weight, He looks a talent and if he can deal with the weight, he has every chance of following up. (3) YEONGGWANGUI FIGHT beat a couple of these on his way to a solid 2nd place at class and distance on June 5th. He doesn’t win out of turn but is a prolific place getter and can be in the finish again. (5) MY TIZ GEM and (9) MALIBU BYEOL are others in at least the minor money hunt.

No need to click “more” that’s it!