The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with an 8-race card from 12:00 to 18:00. All betting locations across the country are open although attendance must be pre-booked through the MyCard app. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maiden fillies to kick off proceedings with five of the ten racing for the very first time. The favourite will be (4) ART KELLY. She has raced twice previously, improving to 2nd on her second appearance on February 18th, when she came from off the pace and worked home well. She’ll be hard to beat here. The second favourite will be one of the first timers, (8) BURNING PASSION. The Hansen filly trialed up nicely two weeks ago and a bold showing can be expected in this limited company. Another debut maker, (5) SEOBU TEUKGEUP also trialed in an encouraging manner and can go well here while (3) FANTASTIC YEOGEOL also hinted at some ability in her heat. As for the others with experience (1) DAEJI PERFECT was 3rd on debut, albeit in an utterly plodding time, and can be considered here.
| Selection | (4) Art Kelly (8) Burning Passion (5) Seobu Teukgeup (3) Fantastic Yeogeol |
| Next Best | 1, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Competitive race. We’ll take a chance on (7) BARBELL POSEIDON, who has raced fairly across his four starts so far with a best of 2nd over 1000M. At his latest, he ran on for 5th at this distance and with Seo Seung-un climbing aboard today, could be ready to win. Possible betting favourite is (8) YOUNG BOSS. He was a much-improved 2nd at big odds on February 18th over this distance when he settled back and ran on and he could go one better here. (1) YONGGARI too has shown improvement across his latest two including 3rd place last time out over 1300M. The time wasn’t fast, but he draws very nicely here and can be in the finish again. (5) DOCTOR CANDY and (6) CHIEF ONE are others with the potential to improve.
| Selection | (7) Barbell Poseidon (8) Young Boss (1) Yonggari (5) Doctor Candy |
| Next Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
(5) KING GRACE has been working towards a win across his ten starts so far and will be hot favourite here following his latest couple of showings at this distance which ended in 5th and 2nd. His racing style is to settle back in the field and run on and he will probably do similar here and should prove too strong late on. (2) ANNIKA GIRL has lost her way a touch in her latest two but the step up in trip today may help. She was badly away last time from a wide draw but from a better gate she should go well here. (4) BARBELL STORM similarly had a rough time from gate fourteen at his latest start over 1200M a month ago. He has a 3rd place to his name at this distance and can find his form again here from a good draw. (1) HERO MAN and (7) HAEUNDAE BLUE are others in the placing frame.
| Selection | (5) King Grace (2) Annika Girl (4) Barbell Storm (1) Hero Man |
| Next Best | 7, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 7 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
This is a very open race. We’ll go with (11) YEONGCHEON SOLEMIO, who has been finding her feet at this level with fair performances in her latest two. She has shown a bit of sped in the past and while the draw may not be in her favour as his best results have come when leading early, she can return to winning ways today. (10) MENIFEE SONG weakened on his first try at this class over a mile on February 13th. He won at this distance two starts back at class 6 level and the furlong drop should suit today. (6) USEUNG GANGJA comes in off a 3rd and a 4th at class and distance in her latest two, both at big odds. She’ll run on here and should be in contention for a place again. The up in class (7) GOSUUI POWER along with (9) DALYEORA VOLPONI are others who should enter the calculations.
| Selection | (11) Yeongcheon Solemio (10) Menifee Song (6) Useung Gangja (7) Gosuui Power |
| Next Best | 9, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (2) SANGIM YEOWANG comes up in class having scored her maiden win at start number two on February 20th when she sat handy and ran on well over this distance. She draws well again and looks to have plenty of scope for further development, making her the one to beat here. (4) RAON THE FLASH is yet to win in six starts having been promoted to this class after three 3rd place finishes. At her latest start she led for much of the way around, ultimately finishing in 4th place and can be on or close to the speed again and be in this a long way. (8) ANASTASIA too led her latest outing ultimately coming home in 2nd place. She’ll be on pace again and will be competitive. (1) SEOBU QUEEN can have a line drawn through her latest and along with (10) HANEUL MISO is another in the hunt.
| Selection | (2) Sangim Yeowang (4) Raon The Flash (8) Anastasia (1) Seobu Queen |
| Next Best | 10, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
(2) GEOMEUN SSONSAL returns to action for the first time in more than six months but is set to be favourite first-up here. He recorded two wins in five starts before the layoff and they were in fast times at this distance and at 1400M. He looked well when trialing two weeks ago and if he has any of his previous form about him, will be hard to beat here. (7) NAMDO QUEEN runs consistent, if unspectacular, times at this distance. She has very much found her level having been rapidly promoted at the start of her career, but this is the kind of race she can go close in. (3) ENDLESS RUNNING weakened late on over 1400M at his latest start, something he has done twice at that distance now. This is a more suitable assignment, and he can go close. (1) CHEONNYEONUI QUEEN and (9) JERA are others to consider for the places.
| Selection | (2) Geomeun Ssonsal (7) Namdo Queen (3) Endless Running (1) Cheonnyeonui Queen |
| Next Best | 9, 11 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 8, 11 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
(5) DOCTOR FAITH comes back in trip after recent good work at a mile and further, most recently leading for much of the way over 1600M only to finish 2nd. He is an on-pace type and should get the lead here and will take some getting past. By contrast, (1) KING BROTHER likes to come from off the pace. His solitary victory came at this distance, and he will settle back here and run on strong again. (6) ACHIM BIT finished ahead of King Brother last time out when they ran home in 3rd and 4th places. He doesn’t win out of turn either but has an excellent record of money finishes and can go close again here. (4) PURE KING is another who comes back in trip, and it may well suit. (2) GLOBAL TOP another with placing claims.
| Selection | (5) Doctor Faith (1) King Brother (6) Achim Bit (4) Pure King |
| Next Best | 2, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 7 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(1) HANEUL ULLIM is developing into a handy stayer who has won at this class and distance and at his last start was hampered early when a close 2nd. He is nicely drawn today and can settle handy to midfield and is sure to make his presence felt. (3) CLEAN SHOT must be considered on his last start when a good 2nd under set weight conditions, beating plenty of these. The handicap favours him more today and he looks right in this. (2) YEOKJEON MYEONGSU is a galloper on the improve and can have his latest start disregarded when he had to contend with a wide draw. His previous form was very sound for a race like this. (6) QUATTRO MAX is a model of consistency and while he doesn’t win out of turn, he is always in the mix and worthy of thought. He is versatile and comfortable to settle from midfield to handy to the leaders place again. (9) TUHONUI BANSEOK another in the hunt returning from a layoff
| Selection | (1) Haneul Ullim (3) Clean Shot (2) Yeokjeon Myeongsu (6) Quattro Max |
| Next Best | 9, 4 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 7 |
Horse Racing in Korea 