It’s KRA Cup Classic weekend with the big race at Seoul on Sunday. The action gets underway though at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 12:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maidens in the opener with four of the eight racing for the first time. This time the first-timers look to have the edge and (5) SAVAHA will be hot favourite. He went through two trials, improving significantly in the second of them in August when on pace throughout and crossing the line well ahead of everything else in a fast time. If he runs to that level here, he will win. (8) HANGANG SAVER showed well in a trial, sitting midfield and then running on in a fair time. He too should go well first-up. Of the experienced ones, (3) NALA has shown the most so far, running fairly in two relatively strong races. She should improve here. (1) B.K. ROAN and another debut-maker, (6) HELLO SUNSHINE are others in the hunt.
Selections | (5) Savaha (8) Hangang Saver (3) Nala (1) B.K. Roan |
Next Best | 6, 7 |
Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 6 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
(8) JEONGMUN CHITA just about gets the nod here based on his last start 4th place when trying this distance for the first time and beating a couple of today’s rivals on September 23rd. He led for much of that race, should have come on for that experience and is the one to beat. With an apprentice engaged, (5) GLOBAL CATCHER comes back to the weight she carried when 2nd over 1400M two starts back. She can tend to get a bit far back in her races but the mile can suit and she will be running on. (7) WISH LUCK also comes up to this distance for the first time. She is another who likes to settle back and run on and can go close here. (1) EONJENA YEONGUNG and (4) GEUMUI MAN others in the placing frame.
Selections | (8) Jeongmun Chita (5) Global Catcher (7) Wish Luck (1) Eonjena Yeongung |
Next Best | 4, 3 |
Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 8 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only in this maiden. (2) TAKE ADELE comes in off a solid 4th place over this distance on September 25th when settling midfield, dropping back and then running on. An apprentice takes 4kg off and with no early speed in this race, she can get a good position from a good draw and has as much chance as any here. (8) UNJU SSAGSSEULI will probably be favourite based on her 3rd place at start number two in early September. She was away badly on her return to action on September 30th and finished down the field but with a better start should be much closer today. (5) TITAN K comes back in trip and down in the weights with an apprentice on board and that should be enough to bring her into contention. (4) STORM AGAIN and (3) WONDERFUL SMARTY are others who can enter the calculations.
Selections | (2) Take Adele (8) Unju Ssagsseuli (5) Titan K (4) Storm Again |
Next Best | 3, 1 |
Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 8 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) RADAR will be hot favourite to score here. She got her maiden win in her return to action following five months out in August with a front-running effort over this distance, before finished 2nd on her first try at this class in an all-filly race over 1400M. She will be on pace again and will be hard to beat. (6) EAGLE STAR is the main danger. He enters in goof form following back-to-back runner-up finishes at this class and distance and while he comes up 3kg in the weights, he can be competitive again. He can settle midfield and he has a strong finish. (11) SMARTY DOLPUNG is a consistent type who has been no worse than 5th in her last four outings. She comes back in trip, gets a light weight and the wide draw shouldn’t matter too much. The up in class pair of (1) NICE DAY and (5) BUSAN SORY are others who can be in the frame.
Selections | (8) Radar (6) Eagle Star (11) Smarty Dolpung (1) Nice Day |
Next Best | 5, 2 |
Fast Start | 1, 4, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
There are two standouts here. (5) WIND CROSS is yet to win in nine attempts but has only finished outside of the top four on one occasions. He comes in off back-to-back runner-up finishes, both at this class and the latter over this distance. In this company he can settle on pace or handy and then run on. Today can be his day. The big danger is (4) ALL CROWN. She does have a win on the board, scored over 1300M at class 6 level and she has subsequently proven competitive in this class too. She enters off two consecutive 3rd place finishes at class and distance and while she got a bit far back in both of those, she has a strong finish and will be running on. (2) GOLDEN POINT is up in class following a few too many near-misses. He draws well, comes into a good gate, and can measure up, (11) MILK DAY and (3) SUSO POWER are among others to consider.
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