Day: December 8, 2022

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (December 9)

It’s Grand Prix Stakes weekend! The big ace is in Seoul on Sunday but the weekend’s action gets underway at Busan on Friday with 9-races from 12:30 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Can Busan’s Korea Cup hero Winner’s Man win the Grand Prix Stakes at Seoul on Sunday? (Pic: Ross Holburt/KRA)

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener and there are two standouts. (6) RUN FIRST settled back and ran on for 3rd on debut over this distance on November 4th. The time wasn’t hugely fast, but he should have come on for the experience and can win here. (1) GOHEUNG CLASS was quicker than Run First when 6th on debut over the same trip on November 11th. She was well back behind a good winner, but she too should have derived benefit from the run and from a better draw can be on pace with every chance. (7) BORA CHAMP debuted in the same race, coming home in 7th place having drawn the widest gate. From a kinder barrier and with a run in her, she can go closer this time. There are four debut makers and (3) MORNING FLOW and (5) SUCCESS YEONGGWANG look to have the most potential for an immediate impact.

Selections(6) Run First (1) Goheung Class (7) Bora Champ (3) Morning Flow
Next Best5, 9
Fast Start1, 3, 5, 8

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

More juvenile maidens, this time with seven of the nine racing for the first time. Among them is probable warm favourite (5) ALL OR NOTHING. He sat handy during his trial running on for 3rd place in a decent time. He couldn’t pick a kinder race to debut in and he won’t need to improve much from the trial to win first up here. (8) SUNDAY MONEY is one of the two with prior experience. That was all the way back in July when a well-beaten 8th in a slow time. He had a few months off and after coming back into training, trialled promisingly enough three weeks ago. He can be a different prospect this time around. (4) DAHAMKKEDALLIJA showed on pace in his trial before falling back a little late on. In this company he can be competitive. (9) SKY MOUNTAIN wasn’t quick in her heat but was on pace and beat a couple of these home which is enough to put her in the numbers. (2) BLACK VOLT, the other experienced one, could improve.

Selections(5) All Or Nothing (8) Sunday Money (4) Dahamkkedallija (9) Sky Mountain
Next Best2, 7
Fast Start5, 7, 8, 9

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Maiden fillies. (4) GOLDEN RACER has mixed her form across four outings so far but her two 4th places have been useful, and she has set a time over this distance more than half a second faster than anything else in this field has managed.  An apprentice keeps her carried weight very light and she shapes as the one to beat. (3) TWOTWO FLYING had a trying time on her first try at this distance on November 18th. Her previous form was promising though and from a better draw and an apprentice bringing her down 3kg in the weights, she is worth another chance here. There is one debut-maker. (9) WONDERFUL IMPACT ran on pleasingly enough in her trial in a fair time. There is nothing especially intimidating in this field and a bold first-up showing is possible. (5) GOLDEN CAMP and (6) GOLD CROWN are others who may not necessarily get the gold but can compete for the minors.

Selections(4) Golden Racer (3) Twotwo Flying (9) Wonderful Impact (5) Golden Camp
Next Best6, 2
Fast Start2, 3, 5, 8

Busan Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

More maiden fillies (and one mare) here. There is one debut maker, and she is probably going to be the favourite. (6) GOLD CHEONSA is from the Kim Young-kwan stable, and she looked extremely competent when stalking the lead in her trial, before going past and crossing the line 1st in a fast time. If she brings that form to the races, she will be very hard to beat. (8) STORM AGAIN has five top-five finishes from seven starts, including a good 3rd over this distance two starts back in a good time. She likes to settle handy or midfield and can run and looks the most logical challenger to the favourite here. (9) MY LULLABY debuted over 1300M and used up plenty of energy from a wide gate to get a forward position before tiring. She should have come on for that run and while drawn wide again can improve. (3) QUEEN ROMANCE and (2) B.K. ROAN others in the frame.

Selections(6) Gold Cheonsa (8) Storm Again (9) My Lullaby (3) Queen Romance
Next Best2, 7
Fast Start3, 6, 8, 9

Busan Race 5: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

(3) DOCTOR PERO has been working up to a win across three races so far and it should come here. At his most recent, he ran on for a good 2nd place over 1400M beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process. He draws well, the step up to the mile should suit, and he is the one to beat. (4) SKY ARCH comes in off her best finish to date when 4th over 1200M when slow away and settling right back before running on. A bit of distance to play with this time can be in her favour and she can continue to improve. (6) HAMAN BAEKISAN has found some consistency and enters off back-to-back 4th place finishes, most recently behind Doctor Pero. He should be there or thereabouts again. (7) LET IT GO and (2) WONDERFUL ROMANCE among others with the potential for better.

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