The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with a 9-race card from 11:00 to 18:00. Seo Seung-un, who rode a remarkable 14 winners in January, is suspended while You Hyun-myung had surgery following a fall last week and will be out for some months. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens in the opener and there will be a hot favourite. (7) DAHAMKKEDALLIJA has raced twice so far, finishing 3^rd on both occasions most recently over this trip in a good time on January 13^th when handy and running on. He will be up to class 5 with any top-three finish and can be expected to win here. (1) POWER PLANE was a much improved 4^th at start number two over 1200M on January 8^th settling back and running on. The additional half-furlong should suit and he gets a much better draw today. (2) SUPER KANEL also showed marked improvement on his latest appearance four weeks ago, running on for 2^nd over this trip. With an apprentice engaged today he comes down significantly in the weights and should be going close again. (8) NAKDONG JEONSAN and (9) STORMY DAY others with the potential to improve.

Selections	(7) Dahamkkedallija (1) Power Plane (2) Super Kanel (8) Nakdong Jeonsa
Next Best	9, 4
Fast Start	2, 8, 10, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

More three-year-old maidens and another hot favourite. This time it is (9) MY MANTRA. After running 5^th of twelve over 1000M on debut in November, Peter Wolsley’s filly was an on pace runner-up when stepped up to this trip on December 18^th. Despite being drawn a touch wide, she can be on pace again and should be too good for this lot. (8) DOCTOR CUCKOO comes in having run a very solid time over this distance on his latest start on January 15^th. His 4^th place that day, coming from off the pace, was his best so far and he can continue to make progress here. (7) HONOR LORD raced twice over 1000M late last summer. He comes in here having looked very well across two trials and will be backed first-up. There are two first time starters and both (4) GREEN LEGEND and (2) YONGSAN KEUNBYEUL did enough in their trials to suggest they can measure up in this somewhat limited company. Both should be on pace from good draws.

Selections	(9) My Mantra (8) Doctor Cuckoo (7) Honor Lord (4) Green Legend
Next Best	2, 1
Fast Start	2, 4, 8, 9

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

Standard maiden here. (7) SOUTHERN JOY has been relatively consistent across her five outings to date and her runner-up finish on her latest start on January 6^th when she overcame the widest draw to settle midfield and run on for 2^nd place is enough for her to get the nod here. (2) FAST FURY could only manage 6^th when well supported in the same race, but she previously ran the quickest time of all of these at the distance when runner-up back in October. She should be on the speed again here and can be in this a long way. (11) THEIA ran fairly for 5^th on debut over 1300M on January 13^th. She should have come on for that experience and with some natural improvement may offer some value at an each-way price. (6) GOLDEN RACER and (8) ALPHA BRAVO are others who have demonstrated ability and can be in the money frame here.

Selections	(7) Southern Joy (2) Fast Fury (11) Theia (6) Golden Racer
Next Best	8, 12
Fast Start	2, 7, 8, 9

Busan Race 4: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

It could be thirteenth time lucky for (3) YEOSU TORNADO here. He’s been knocking at the door in his latest few and most recently got his first runner-up finish when overcoming a wide draw to sit handy to the speed and then run on over this distance on January 13^th. He draws much better today and a similar run can see him home on top. The main danger looks to be (7) ARTHUR KING IJI. He was 3^rd in that January 13^th race on what for him too was his first try at a mile having raced prominently throughout. He has three-lengths to find on Yeosu Tornado but perhaps has more scope for further improvement than the favourite. (12) HAMAN BAEIKISAN was 5^th in that race having settled back and running on when it was too late. He was runner-up at this distance two starts back and with the same apprentice keeping the weight down, he can run into some money again. (1) ECTON POWER and (6) SPECIAL FACT among others in the placing frame.

Selections	(3) Yeosu Tornado (7) Arthur King Iji (12) Haman Baekisan (1) Ecton Power
Next Best	6, 8
Fast Start	2, 4, 7, 9

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(more…)