The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday. The 8-race card has been shifted a little from previous Friday’s in order to accommodate an additional pony race at Jeju where two races were lost to the weather a week ago. Busan runs from 12:30 to 18:00. All betting locations are set to be open although attendance must be pre-booked and proof of up to date vaccination against Covid-19 is required. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens open the program with six of the fourteen racing for the first time. We’ll side with (3) INDIE MAGIC, who ran (an admittedly distant) 2^nd on debut over 1000M at the end of January, when he worked home well from a wide draw. The step up in trip should suit and coupled with the good barrier, makes him the one to beat. (6) ALPHA SONGDANG also ran well for 2^nd on debut. Expect her to be on pace here and to be in this a long way. (4) FLOWING RIVER came from the middle of the pack to run home well for 3^rd on debut and is another who may appreciate the additional journey here. As for the debut-makers, (8) TWO OF US looks to be the pick. He made all to comfortably win his trial and can make a bold showing first up here. (10) BABEL PHOENIX another in the frame.

Selections	(3) Indie Magic (6) Alpha Songdang (4) Flowing River (8) Two Of Us
Next Best	10, 9
Fast Start	4, 6, 8, 14

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

A very ordinary maiden here. Nothing really deserves to win but we’ll take a chance with (9) YONGGARI, who seems to be figuring things out after a decent 4^th place over 1200M last time out. He can settle back and run on here and should beat plenty. (8) CHIEF OFFICER comes in off an improved 3^rd place over 1200M on January 16^th. He has certainly mixed his form to date but in this company has every chance. (5) STATICE has plenty of experience and has raced fairly in recent outings. She has a 2^nd place to her name at this distance and also has the fastest time at it among those who have raced at 1300M before. She can go close here. (11) ETTEUMI improved at start number two last time out and along with (1) DONGBU STAR is among others who have at least placing claims here.

Selections	(9) Yonggari (8) Chief Officer (5) Statice (11) Etteumi
Next Best	1, 4
Fast Start	2, 9, 10, 13

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(1) ADELE STELLA has been consistent across his four starts to date and comes in here having run 4^th at his latest outing over 1300M. He has a 3^rd place to his name at this distance too and could well be peaking today. (14) GRAND CHUKJE beat three of these on his way to 2^nd place at the distance on January 28^th. The draw does him no favours today, but he should be competitive again in this company. (9) CHOEGANG MARINE stepped up to this distance at his latest start and ran a very solid 3^rd place. He will be close to the pace again here and can go close. (6) DAEJI SPECIAL has been solid, if unspectacular, in recent outings and has fair placing claims. (8) HAEUNDAE BLUE mixes her form but does have a 2^nd place finish to her name and is another to take into consideration.

Selections	(1) Adele Stella (14) Grand Chukje (9) Choegang Marine (6) Daeji Special
Next Best	8, 4
Fast Start	6, 8, 9, 12

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Small field here but it’s certainly competitive enough. (4) SANGSEUNG BOY gets the nod. He won on debut over 1000M before running 3^rd at class and distance on January 30^th. He will be on pace here and has every chance of going all the way. (2) FANTASTIC LOVE is yet to win in five starts but has finished no worse than 4^th with three runner-up finishes to her name, including last time out on her first try at this class and distance. She too will look to get forward early and while she may find one too quick again, should be maintaining her consistent record. (1) JATNAMUGIL comes up in class following a good win at the distance on January 28^th when he sat handy and ran on strong. (7) YEONGCHEON SOLEMIO and (8) UNJU HERO are others in the placing frame.

Selections	(4) Sangseung Boy (2) Fantastic Love (1) Jatnamugil (7) Yeongcheon Solemio
Next Best	8, 6
Fast Start	2, 3, 4, 6

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Having taken himself out of contention on debut, (5) USURP returned to win well second up on January 21^st over 1200M when leading gate to wire. He comes up in class here and slightly up in trip too, but neither should be an issue and he can win again. (13) MONEY CASE is up in class too following a win at start number three on January 16^th. He doesn’t get the best of the draw, but he should be able to measure up in this company. (14) ADELE CHUKBAE draws even worse but is better than his latest effort suggests, and he can be given another chance here. (7) D’LOVELY QUEEN comes in off two positive showings over 1200M and along with (1) HARDY CHARLIE, who showed a big uptick in form at his latest start, is another in at least the placing frame.

Selections	(5) Usurp (13) Money Case (14) Adele Chukbae (7) D’Lovely Queen
Next Best	1, 2
Fast Start	1, 5, 6, 13

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

The two main contenders here both come in having had an off day at their respective latest starts. For (11) PUREUN JANGMI it was in the Korean Oaks back in November and having shown on the front, she didn’t see out the trip. She was going very nicely prior to that though and after a couple of months off, can be given another chance here. (3) DONGTEUJA BOY was beaten by a couple of these in a flat showing over 1400M last time out. He is much better than that though and back in trip and with a nice gate, can go much better today. (14) MILLION BANK was one of those who finished ahead of Dongteuja Boy last time out. She is yet to finish any worse than 4^th and can maintain that record today. (13) CLEAR and (6) WONDERFUL FAGER are others in the minor money hunt.

Selections	(11) Pureun Jangmi (3) Dongteuja Boy (14) Million Bank (13) Clear
Next Best	6, 7
Fast Start	3, 4, 11, 13

Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Tricky one this but we’ll give (10) SEUNGNI TOUT a chance to return to form. He is a class and distance winner and while he has come up short in his latest two, Seo Seung-un climbs back aboard today and he should be right in this. (7) BULMYEORUI GIL shapes as the probable favourite courtesy of his class and distance win on January 21^st when he came from off the pace to run on very strongly. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights but has every chance of a repeat. (11) LUCAS SUN comes up in class having won at this distance a month ago. His running style is to settle back in the field so the wide draw shouldn’t be an issue and he can be competitive at this level. (9) ACE JACKPOT and (12) CHEONGDAM DRIVE are among others with placing chances.

Selections	(10) Seungni Tout (7) Bulmyeorui Gil (11) Lucas Sun (9) Ace Jackpot
Next Best	12, 1
Fast Start	1, 8, 9, 10

Busan Race 8: Class 2 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 90 Million

A really good race to finish with. (9) YEONGUNG LOUIS came up short in two big Group races at the end of last year and then was surprisingly beaten when racing alongside many of these on his return to normal racing on January 23^rd. He has plenty of quality about him though and can return to winning ways today. (3) DAEAM JANGGUN enters having won his latest three in fine style. All at this distance. He is up in class today but draws nicely and can measure up in this company. (11) QUEEN OF THE WORLD beat Yeongung Louis and a host of today’s rivals when winning at class and distance on January 23^rd. She comes up in the weights and draws less favourably today but she clearly warrants respect. (1) ONNURI JILJU is up in class following a good win over 1200M last month and along with (10) SUCCESS PARTY, is another to take into account.

Selections	(9) Yeongung Louis (3) Daeam Janggun (11) Queen Of The World (1) Onnuri Jilju
Next Best	10, 7
Fast Start	1, 2, 9, 10