The weekend’s action gets underway at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 12:00 to 18:00. All betting locations are open as usual although attendance must be pre-booked and proof of vaccination against Covid-19 is required. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
A maiden for three-year-olds kicks things off. (2) HANEUL GANGJA raced once back in August of last year when he performed fairly over 1000M. He is favoured for this based on a January trial which he won in fine style, running through the line well. He draws nicely and on that form is the one to beat. (13) ART KELLY won a trial before debuting just a week later on January 21st at this distance. She took a while to get going and only ran 7th but should have come on for that run and despite the wide draw can go better today. (7) DOCTOR KONGDOLI improved to 2nd place at start number two on January 23rd. He comes up in trip and for the first time and can continue his progression. (3) BARBELL POSEIDON has shown some promise and he draws much better today than he did on his first go at this distance last month. He will be coming on strong at the end. There are four debut-makers and among them (4) TRIPLE THUNDER looks the most likely to make an immediate impact.
| Selections | (2) Haneul Gangja (13) Art Kelly (7) Doctor Kongdoli (3) Barbell Poseidon |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 9 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
A very competitive maiden here. (11) CHEONGMA POWER has four top-five finishes from seven starts so far and is the only runner in the field with a 2nd place to her name. She ran on fairly for 5th place last start and has the fastest time among these at the distance. Today can be her day. (12) SPEED SUNSHINE comes in off back-to-back 4th place finishes. He too has registered competitive times at this distance and while the draw does him no favours, he can be in the mix here. (4) BAEK GU does draw well. She ran a decent 6th on her first try at this distance three weeks ago and can build on that today. (14) BARBELL STORM has been up and down the distances but may finally have found his go with a 4th at this trip on January 21st. He settled midfield and ran on that day so the draw may not hurt his chances here. (6) SUPER CRACK may improve from his debut at what should be good odds.
| Selections | (11) Cheongma Power (12) Speed Sunshine (4) Baek Gu (14) Barbell Storm |
| Next Best | 6, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 10, 13 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Another competitive race, this one for fillies only. Without huge confidence we’ll side with (10) GREEN PAPAGO. Her best finish came when 2nd on debut but she has run fairly in two starts since then and regardless of the wide draw, should be right in this. Draw a line through the latest showing from (9) B. K. HANA at 1000M. Instead go on her two starts immediately before that when she ran places in good times. Expect her to be on pace and to be in this a long way. (8) BLUE CARSON can be treated similarly. She had a hard time last start from the widest gate but prior to that had been going well with a 3rd and a 2nd, both at 1200M and from a kinder barrier today, should be a danger. (13) NEW FRESH was a much-improved 3rd last time out at this distance and under the same light weight today can be competitive again. (12) BAEDARI ICON another in the placing frame.
| Selections | (10) Green Papago (9) B. K. Hana (8) Blue Carson (13) New Fresh |
| Next Best | 12, 7 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Fillies and mares only here and (11) MISS GO is favoured. She has finished in the top-four in all four starts so far and comes back in trip following a good 2nd over 1400M last start when she led for most of the way around. She may need a touch of luck at the start but if she can get on pace again, she will be hard to go past. (9) ILNYEOM CHEONHA beat a couple of these when 5th at class and distance last time out when settling back and running on. She carries a light weight again and should be in the mix here. (13) GUARDIAN ANGEL is up in class following an all the way score over 1000M at her second start. She will need to overcome the draw but can measure up in this company. So too can (14) BORAMI who got her own maiden win at her third outing last month and can aim for a money finish again. (7) COLORFUL WIND struggled on her first attempt at this level but can be given another place chance here.
| Selections | (11) Miss Go (9) Ilnyeom Cheonha (13) Guardian Angel (14) Borami |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 11, 13 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
(5) STAR ACE was a good winner on debut, getting on top early and running on to score comfortably over 1000M on January 31st. He comes up in both class and distance here but down in weight and from a good draw, he looks the one to beat again. (11) USEUNG GANGJA has performed solidly at this distance, including a good 3rd place last time out. She likes to settle back and run on, and she should be working home strongly again here. (7) INDIAN PART Y is yet to win in twenty-one starts but has no fewer than twelve top-four finishes to her name. She may find one or two too quick again but don’t rule out another money finish. (6) MONEY BAG and (13) HOT PLAY are among others in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (5) Star Ace (11) Useung Gangja (7) Indian Party (6) Money Bag |
| Next Best | 13, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 13, 14 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
(2) MISS INDIE ran out a class and distance winner on January 28th when prominent all the way around and running on well. She comes up 2kg in the weights, but she gets a nice draw again and should take some beating. (3) DOCTOR GIANTS ran 2nd to Miss Indie in that race, running on well from back in the field. He is a consistent performer and shapes to be the main danger once again. (5) ILBEONJI is rapidly up in class having won both of her starts at 1000M and 1200M. She has had two months off since the latest of those and while this is a significantly harder assignment than she has faced so far, she may well be equal to it. (6) ENDLESS RUNNING comes in here following bac-to-back 3rd place finishes at this class over 1200M and should be in the placing frame again. (4) CHEONNYEONUIYAKSO another to consider.
| Selections | (2) Miss Indie (3) Doctor Giants (5) Ilbeonji (6) Endless Running |
| Next Best | 4, 13 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 7 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(11) ADELE CROWN won back-to-back races to over a mile in November and December to get rapidly promoted to this class. He then ran 2nd, again over a mile, on his first try at this level on January 7t with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. He tackles two turns for the first time but there is no reason why it can’t suit, and he can return to winning ways here. (3) LANE KILLER was a good winner over this distance at his latest start on January 16th. He comes up in class here but that’s offset by a significant drop in the weights, and he has every chance of going close again. (14) TRIUMPH KING has plenty of experience at this level and comes in off a 3rd place over this distance last time out. The widest gate at 1800M at Busan is never ideal but he can be competitive again. (5) DUMUSAN and (13) SNYDER are others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (11) Adele Crown (3) Lane Killer (14) Triumph King (5) Dumusan |
| Next Best | 13, 6 |
| Fast Start | 7, 8, 12, 13 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
A competitive race to finish with. We’ll side with (14) YEOKJEON MYEONGSU to continue his consistent run of form which has seen him place no worse than 3rd in five outings to date. At his latest start on January 21st, he beat several of today’s rivals on his way to 2nd place at class and distance and while he comes up a full 4kg in the weights and has the widest gate to contend with, he can go one better here. (4) QUATTRO MAX is also ultra-consistent and comes in on a string of 3rd place finishes over 1800M. He comes back to the mile today and from a good draw looks firmly in the hunt here. (7) MAN OF TOP and (5) JANGSAN BOBBY were among those beaten by Yeokjeon Myeongsu last time out and they, along with (9) DUNCAN are among others to consider for the places.
| Selections | (14) Yeokjeon Myeongsu (4) Quattro Max (7) Man Of Top (5) Jangsan Bobby |
| Next Best | 9, 11 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 9 |
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