It’s the penultimate weekend of the season and the weekend’s focus will be on the filly and mare division with both the final leg of the filly Triple Crown and also the Jeju Governor’s Cup for older fillies and mares taking place at Seoul on Sunday. The weekend’s racing kicks off in Busan on Friday with 7 races from 12:40 to 18:00. Despite new restrictions having been imposed, currently all betting locations are set to be open (this is subject to change if the government decides so) but advance reservation through the MyCard app is required. Here are Friday’s previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
They’ve managed to find twelve previously unraced juvenile fillies to kick us off, which is quite a feat for the penultimate week of the season. Unsurprisingly none set the world alight in trials, but a couple put in decent showings. (7) DAEJI PERFECT was fastest, leading for much of her heat and ultimately crossing the line in 2nd place without being asked for too much effort. It was her second trial and she showed great improvement from the first and if she continues that trajectory can win here. She will vie for favourite status with (1) GASOK DAY. She also showed prominently in her trial finishing 2nd in a slower time than Daeji Perfect but on a drier and slower running track. The jockey booking will ensure she is well-backed. (12) BEAUTY BROWN led her trial and while she needs to overcome the widest draw, she may be considered here. (8) RED COLOR and (2) SPECIAL FACT are others who hinted at ability in their heats and may go well first up.
| Selections | (7) Daeji Perfect (1) Gasok Day (12) Beauty Brown (8) Red Color |
| Next Best | 2, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 7, 12 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Having made progress across four starts so far, culminating in 2nd place last time out over 1200M on November 14th, (1) ADELE CHUKBAE is the one to beat here. He was only beaten last time by Wonderful Fager, who came out and won again two weeks later and from the inside gate, should be on pace and be hard to run down. (11) USEUNG HUNTER looks the clear second choice. He too has shown improvement over four outings and was 2nd last time overcoming an indifferent start to run on well. He too steps up to this distance for the first time and while the wide draw is not ideal, he has claims. Draw a line through the latest effort by (5) GIANT CAL when drawn very wide over 1400M. He has a 2nd place to his name at today’s trip and should be competitive here. (9) CHEONMA BRAVO and (4) BAEDARI ICON are others with placing claims.
| Selections | (1) Adele Chukbae (11) Useung Hunter (5) Giant Cal (9) Cheonma Bravo |
| Next Best | 4, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 8, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
A small field tackle the mile, but plenty have chances. We’ll take a chance on (8) CHEONGHO LEADER, who is one of the few who steps up to this trip for the first time. He has been consistent at 1400M, running on well in his races and the additional furlong may well suit. (5) DAMYANG DOLPUNG has plenty of experience at the distance and comes in with his latest couple of outings being positive. His times haven’t been special, but they won’t need to be in order to be in the mix here. (2) YEONGCHEON SOLEMIO is an interesting one as his three starts so far have all been at 1000M. He has been well backed in all three of those but hasn’t managed to finish better than 4th. It may be that the extra distance today is what he needs. (1) GEUMUI MAN steps up in trip after a decent 3rd place at 1200M last start and is another with placing claims while (3) URI JOEUNNAL is another who can be there or thereabouts.
| Selections | (8) Cheongho Leader (5) Damyang Dolpung (2) Yeongcheon Solemio (1) Geumui Man |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here. (7) ILBEONJI fully justified her odds-on status with a facile gate to wire win on debut over 1000M on October 24th. She comes up in class and in trip here but can lead again and can have too much again. Also up in class is (11) H. DAY, who got her maiden win at start number two on October 10th, settling handy and then running on strong in a fast time. She too should be able to handle the additional distance and can measure up in this company. (1) SUNSET MELODY was a winner on debut back in September and has proven competitive in two subsequent efforts at this class and distance, finishing in 3rd place on her latest outing two weeks ago. She draws nicely here and should be in the hunt. (13) GOLDEN POWER comes up in class after a win at this distance on November 26th. She may need some luck in the run from the wide gate but warrants respect here. (8) HALLA NURI another in the placing frame.
| Selections | (7) Ilbeonji (11) H. Day (1) Sunset Melody (13) Golden Power |
| Next Best | 8, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 11, 12 |
Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) CHEONNYEONUI QUEEN beat three of these on her way to 2nd place at class and distance on November 21st, continuing a run of good form and she has every chance in this competitive handicap where she can sit midfield and run on from off the pace. (2) FLASHY CHARM comes up in class and in distance after a good win over 1200M on November 28th. His running style has been to sit behind the pace and run on, suggesting the increased trip should be no problem and he has the potential to ultimately go higher than this class. (4) CHEONNYEONUIYAKSO mixes his form but has the fastest time among any of these at this distance. He draws much better than in his latest two outings and should be in the mix here. (14) CRONUS and (9) MUJEOK CHARLIE among others with placing hopes.
| Selections | (8) Cheonnyeonui Queen (2) Flashy Charm (4) Cheonnyeonuiyakso (14) Cronus |
| Next Best | 9, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
A good race and it is stablemates who were both also-rans in the Korean Derby on November 7th who top the contenders. (4) WORLD CHANGE is set to be favourite. He runs for the first time since the Derby when he was well back, but his prior form was good including a super win over a mile. He also beat (7) KING GOLIATH when they met at a mile in September. King Goliath himself has raced since the Derby, finishing 2nd at class and distance just a couple of weeks ago when he ran on well but couldn’t quite get to a good winner. He should be going very close again. (1) YEONGWON POWER beat King Goliath when the pair ran 1st and 2nd over this distance at class 5 level back in October. He comes in after a good class and distance 2nd at the end of November and under a light weight and from a good gate should be very competitive again. (10) COOL GUY and (8) WHITE GALLOPER among other chances in a competitive race.
| Selections | (4) World Change (7) King Goliath (1) Yeongwon Power (10) Cool Guy |
| Next Best | 8, 6 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
It didn’t happen for (6) SUCCESS MACHO in the Owners’ Cup on November 21st, a race in which the previously unbeaten three-year-old was sent of as favourite but turned out to be a bit much too soon. Plenty of others had off-days in that race too and given the level of performance he had put in over five winning starts before that, he has to be given another chance here. Like Success Machi, (9) ONNURI JILJU found the elite level a bit hard at this stage of his career, finishing down the field in the Cup Mile and Derby in his latest two starts. Returning to shallower waters today, he should be a much more dangerous prospect. Continuing the pattern of drawing lines through latest starts, (3) ALPHA STAR was on pace early but weakened over 1800M at his latest three weeks ago and should appreciate the drop ack to a mile today. (2) SMART MOD and (11) TOP FIRE among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (6) Success Macho (9) Onnuri Jilju (3) Alpha Star (2) Smart Mod |
| Next Best | 11, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 9 |
Horse Racing in Korea 