This week’s big race is in Busan with Korea Sprint winner Eoma Eoma in town to contest the Kookje Shinmun Trophy on Sunday. And it’s on the south coast where the week’s action kicks off on Friday afternoon with an 8-race card from 12:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maidens with seven of the twelve racing for the very first time. (5) SEOBU BIGSTEP debuted in the Areumdaun Jilju Stakes at the start of this month and while he showed on pace, it ultimately proved too much too soon. He previously won a trial in a fast time and coming back to the minimum distance and into more amenable company, we should see a much better showing today. (7) FLYING TOUCH ran a good 2nd on debut on September 16th, sitting on the speed throughout, before being left behind by a good winner. He should have derived benefit from that run and may start as favourite here. Of the first time starters, (3) YEONGGWANGUI ACE won his trial without being asked to do very much. He strode nicely through the line and from a good draw can go well first up. (11) SKY PUNCH ran on strong in his trial alongside some experience racehorses and along with (10) WONDERFUL TOP is another who can show positively on debut.
| Selections | (5) Seobu Bigstep (7) Flying Touch (3) Yeonggwangui Ace (11) Sky Punch |
| Next Best | 10, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
(6) VICTOR BASIUM has been sent off as favourite in both his two starts since returning from ten months out. He has been on-pace both times but ultimately found a couple too quick and finished 3rd on each occasion. Third-up this preparation, he may be peaking, he should be on pace again, and it can be third time lucky here. That would mean overturning the form on (9) USEUNG YEOGEOL. She ran in a career-best 2nd when beating Victor Basium on September 30th. She once more carries a very light weight and she should be running on strong late on again. (7) SPEED MAST has been knocking on the door for a while now. He can settle behind the leaders here and can be running into the money. (3) NONSTOP SONG, who along with Useung Yeogeol, has the joint-fastest time for the distance of any in this field is another one who can go well and from a good draw can challenge Victor Basium for the early lead. (1) HALLA BAEKDU also in the placing frame.
| Selections | (6) Victor Basium (9) Useung Yeogeol (7) Speed Mast (3) Nonstop Song |
| Next Best | 1, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Back to the juveniles here and (2) NICHOLAS G. will be favoured to score at star number two. On debut on September 30th, he sat handy before running on for a close 2nd over 1000M and the small step up in trip may assist him here. (5) SOUTHERN JOY has raced twice before, finishing 3rd and 4th, both at 1000M. He can be expected to lead here and he can be in this a long way. (9) CHANGCHANG DAERO debuted at this trip on October 2nd and having settled back in the field, ran on strongly for 4th. He should have come on for that run and can be competitive again here. (7) GLOBAL SARANG finished in 5th place in that race, just a Head behind Changchang Daero. That was his second start and he showed progress from his first and can show some more here. (1) THUNDER FURY was a touch disappointing when favourite on her second start on September 18th but she draws better today and can be given another chance.
| Selections | (2) Nicholas G. (5) Southern Joy (9) Changchang Daero (7) Global Sarang |
| Next Best | 1, 11 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 11, 12 |
Busan Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million
Not the strongest of maidens and that encourages us to take a chance on one of the two first-timers in the field. (7) ALEC KING IJI went through two trials, posting respectable times in both and improving in the most recent. He ran through the line well, the 1200M should suit first-up and in this limited company, he can win. The other debut-maker is (6) WINK DAY and she too showed enough in her trials to suggest a chance here. In the most recent she led before being passed by four experienced horses in the closing stages. If she brings that kind of run to the races, she can be in the mix. (1) SPECIAL JOHN was a much-improved 3rd over 1300M on October 2nd, coming from well off the pace. The same apprentice keeps the weight light and in this company he can be competitive again, (2) PHANTOM ACE and (5) BURUI YEOSIN others in the placing hunt.
| Selections | (7) Alec King Iji (6) Wink Day (1) Special John (2) Phantom Ace |
| Next Best | 5, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Small field but it’s a race of many chances. (7) STAR CLASS won well on debut over 1000M on September 30th, sitting in 2nd throughout before running on strongly. He is up in class and in distance and is the only juvenile in the field, but he may measure up. (3) O.K. THUNDER has finished outside the top-five just once in six starts and comes back in trip here. He has posted a good time at this distance and draws nicely here. (1) ART KELLY has the fastest time among these at the distance and comes in off a strong 2nd place on October 7th when from a wide draw she settled back and then ran on well. The gate is much better today and third-up this preparation, she can be peaking. (6) DOCTOR KONGSUNI is yet to win in eight attempts but is getting closer with a 4th and a 2nd from her latest two. She comes back in trip and will be in contention again. It’s tough to draw a line through any of these but (5) HANEUL JILJU is perhaps the next best.
| Selections | (7) Star Class (3) O. K. Thunder (1) Art Kelly (6) Doctor Kongsuni |
| Next Best | 5, 8 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) KENDRICK returned from five months out to run a good 2nd over class and distance on September 30th, beating three of today’s rivals in the process. He should have come on for that run and under today’s handicap conditions, he even comes down in the weights, and he can win here. (4) RAON THE FLASH looks the most logical danger. She ran 3rd in that September 30th race having led on what was her first try at this class following an all the way victory at this distance in August. She’ll be on pace again and can be in this a long way. (9) GREAT CAPTAIN comes up in class having won over this distance in a good time on September 25th. He overcame an even wider gate that day and is down in the weights here. He can measure up in this company. (1) YASAENGHWA comes back in trip and along with (2) NICE CHOEGANG looks a place chance.
| Selections | (8) Kendrick (4) Raon The Flash (9) Great Captain (1) Yasaenghwa |
| Next Best | 2, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 6 |
Busan Race 7: Class 1 (2000M) Allowance / KRW 110 Million
A very competitive race. (4) MACH TITAN was a very good 2nd behind Tuhonui Banseok at class and distance back in July, leading for most of the way around and followed it up with another runner up finish over 1800M in August. He finished in the middle of the pace when dropped back to a one-turn race last month but this can suit and he has as good a chance as any. (7) TOUCH STAR MAN returns to action for the first time since an unsuccessful Stakes race campaign in late Spring and early Summer. He looked extremely well when winning two trials earlier this month and while 2000M is undoubtedly a hard ask first-up, his quality should make him competitive. (9) SMART PRINCE enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes in similar races, both times with Mach Titan one spot ahead in 2nd. He will settle back here and will be coming home strongly. (3) BARBARIAN gets a nice weight drop here and from a good gate can return to form while the first-up (6) ALPHAKING IJI is another who shouldn’t be discounted.
| Selections | (4) Mach Titan (7) Touch Star Man (9) Smart Prince (3) Barbarian |
| Next Best | 6, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 7 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
(7) GALLANT WARRIOR had a poor day at the office when favourite over class and distance on September 23rd. He drew wide and didn’t start well enough to get to his favoured forward position and was scarcely involved from then on. The draw is a touch kinder today and with a better start he can be given another chance. (1) FLAT BABE was one of those who beat Gallant Warrior in that September 23rd race, finishing a good 3rd. She looks to be working back towards another win and from the inside gate, Franco can pick his spot to settle behind the early leaders and then finish strongly. (3) MAN OF THE WORLD comes up in class following an all the way score over 1800M on September 25th. He is another on pace type and he can measure up in this company. (4) CHANGE BACK and (11) RAON THE BOSS among plenty of others with placing chances.
| Selections | (7) Gallant Warrior (1) Flat babe (3) Man Of The World (4) Change Back |
| Next Best | 11, 8 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 9, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 