The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 9 races from 11:00 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maidens in the opener. (5) ROAD TO GLORY ran a fair 5th on debut over 1000M before coming back on January 27th at 1200M and settling right at the back of the field before finishing strongly for 2nd. He was well beaten by a good winner but it was a solid effort and with the slight step up in trip, he can be winning today. (7) RAON THE HARLEY has a 2nd and a 3rd from two outings to date, both at 1200M, the first time racing on pace the second in midfield and running on. In this company, he should be at the front early and is the main danger. (12) SPECIALIST has raced fairly enough in two outings to date and was an improved 5th in the most recent of them. He has the fastest final furlong time among these so the wide draw may not be a problem and he can continue to improve. (8) SKY SHOT and (10) SILK FASHION ROAD other potential improvers.
Selections | (5) Road To Glory (7) Raon The Harley (12) Specialist (8) Sky Shot |
Next Best | 10, 3 |
Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million
A maiden restricted to three-year-old fillies with four of the twelve racing for the first time. We’ll go with (3) THEIA who has raced adequately for 5th and 6th in two prior appearances and has recorded the fastest time among those here who have already tackled this distance. In both of those she was drawn wide, but she comes into a much better gate here, and she can win. She will be disputing favourite status with (6) B.K. GALLOP. She’s been on pace in both outings so far and led until the final furlong on her second start on January 27th, ultimately finishing 3rd ahead of a couple of today’s rivals. She will be on pace again and will surely be in this a very long way. (9) GIJEOGUI GEUMBIT was 4th in that same race. She has two-lengths to find on B.K. Gallop but she improved from her debut and can improve again here. (10) DYMANIC WINNER and (11) GREEN LEGEND are others who should have some natural improvement from their respective debuts.
Selections | (3) Theia (6) B.K. Gallop (9) Gijeogui Geumbit (10) Dynamic Winner |
Next Best | 11, 4 |
Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
A regular maiden here and the form isn’t great with the twelve of them having thirty-two prior starts between them but not a single top-three finish. (11) SAEKDAL FIGHTER does have a couple of 4th places, recorded at this distance and at 1300M in back-to-back starts in December and January. His times have been fair, including on his latest when tried over 1400M two weeks ago and he has as good a chance as any here. (10) AQUA MAGIC also has a brace of 4th places. They were both over this distance and she also has the fastest time of any of these for the 1200M. She likes to race handy so may need some luck from the wide draw, but she should have a big say here. (1) GANGSEO JEORYEONG raced once without distinction last autumn. She re-qualified at the beginning of this month and then went through a second voluntary trial two weeks ago when he stopped the clock in a very encouraging time. He draws nicely and could be much better this time around. (8) WORLD POINT and (5) WONDERFUL CHACHA the others who have hinted at ability
Selections | (11) Saekdal Fighter (10) Aqua Magic (1) Gangseo Jeoryeong (8) World Point |
Next Best | 5, 7 |
Fast Start | 1, 3, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(3) HANGANG SAVER is the one to beat here. His win came at this distance three starts back when making all and he enters having run a good 4th in a fast time at this class on January 13th. From a nice draw he can get an early lead and he may take some getting past. (11) MY MANTRA was an all the way winner on January 29th having previously run 2nd. She comes up in class here and while she draws a touch wide for comfort, her early speed can see her to a good position and she has every chance of measuring up at this level. The wildcard is (2) CUTE GUY. He raced three times between March and June last year finishing no worse than 4th and secured a class 6 win over 1400M. He has been out for seven months but looked well when trialling up at the end of January and a bold first-up showing is possible. (1) JEONGMUN COBIT needs a line drawn through his latest in December but has placed at class and distance and can be given another chance here. (5) CHEONHA NUMBER ONE another in the placing frame.
Selections | (3) Hangang Saver (11) My Mantra (2) Cute Guy (1) Jeongmun Cobit |
Next Best | 5, 10 |
Fast Start | 2, 3, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Tricky race. (10) TAP STAR returned from almost six months out to run 3rd in a fast race over 1200M on January 13th. He should have derived benefit from that run and he doesn’t need to lead so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem. This is his first time tackling 1400M but Seo Seung-un remains aboard and he has every chance. (1) SPECIAL HERO enters off a very close 4th place in what was a tight finish over 1300M at this class on February 3rd. That was an uptick on her recent form but she draws the same good gate today and continues under a light weight. Speaking of light weights, an apprentice claim enables (2) RUBY STORM to come down a full 5kg from his latest effort, which was an unsuccessful tilt at 1800M on January 27th when weakening in the straight. Prior to that he recorded back-to-back 3rd places over this trip and today should be much more to his liking. (7) CHEONMA HASEO has won just once in thirty-eight starts but he knows how to pick up a cheque at this level and will be running on late. (8) DOCTOR PENTAGON among plenty of others capable of challenging for minor money.
Selections | (10) Tap Star (1) Special Hero (2) Ruby Storm (7) Cheonma Haseo |
Next Best | 8, 12 |
Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 12 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1600M) Special Weight B / KRW 40 Million
Anything could win this. (4) ARTHUR KING IJI is actually yet to win, but comes up in class following some near misses, most recently over this distance when leading on February 3rd. He draws nicely to be on pace again and despite the class rise, he looks a winning chance here. (12) BARAMBARAM was an also-ran in the Breeders’ Cup Champion Juvenile race last December and comes in having run 5th of twelve on his latest start which was his first at a mile. The time was fair, and his racing style means the wide draw shouldn’t be an issue. The trainer/jockey combination may mean he starts as favourite. His stablemate (7) WONDERFUL FILE hinted at a return to form when 5th over 1800M last time out. She looks nicely in here and could offer some value at a probable each-way price. (11) ADELE ALLIE’S and (9) ROCK AND ROLL among others in the frame.
Selections | (4) Arthur King Iji (12) Barambaram (7) Wonderful File (11) Adele Allie’s |
Next Best | 9, 1 |
Fast Start | 1, 4, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Another very competitive race. (5) MAHAMERU comes up in class on the back of two consecutive runner-up finishes, both times behind decent winners and both times at this distance. He likes to settle back and run on and under a light weight once more, there is little to fear in this company. (12) CATCH THE SKY won’t mind the widest draw. He has a strong finish on him and comes back in trip after recent mixed performances over 1800M. He has a fast time on his record over the mile and he comes down in the weights today. (1) UNJU HERO comes back down in class following an unsuccessful shy at the class 2 stumps. While that means coming back up in weight, Seo Seung-un returns and he should be a big player here. (6) RAON THE FIGHTING and (9) SEONGSIL SIHWA among others to keep safe.
Selections | (5) Mahameru (12) Catch The Sky (1) Unju Hero (6) Raon The Fighting |
Next Best | 9, 10 |
Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) STAR MATTA will be a warm favourite here. He was a class and distance winner two starts back in a very fast time when on pace throughout before showing his versatility by settling back from a wide draw on February 5th and running 3rd, again at class and distance. On both occasions he beat plenty of todays rivals and with an apprentice claiming 4kg, he is very much the one to beat here. (2) HORAENGI is becoming a notorious non-winner but he has finished in the top-four on no fewer than thirteen of his sixteen starts. That win may prove elusive once more but he has beaten a few of these in recent outings and another placing seems likely. (10) HAPPY JAZZ comes up in class after a good win over this distance on January 27th . She is nicely weighted here and aside from the favourite two, there is little to fear here. Form drops off precipitously after those three with (7) ADELE BOSS and (12) ALL CROWN perhaps the next best.
Selections | (4) Star Matta (2) Horaengi (10) Happy Jazz (7) Adele Boss |
Next Best | 12, 3 |
Fast Start | 2, 3, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Another competitive race to conclude the card. (7) GLORY KING hasn’t won since he was a three-year-old, missing the first half of last year and coming through class 4 without a win but with a number of near-misses. Those near misses continued on his first try at this class on January 13th when overcoming a wide draw to race handy and only be very narrowly beaten into 2nd. A similar run here may well see him home on top. It’s been a long time between drinks too for (1) ONE PICK. With an apprentice claim he is down 3kg on his last start 3rd place over 1400M and while his style is to settle back and run on, from the inside gate he may be a little closer today and should a threat at the business end of the race. (8) YEONGGWANGUILEGEND had a poor day at the office last time out and is worth another chance here. (10) GOOD TANK impressed in a trial two weeks ago and if he brings that form to the races, can be considered. (5) HWARANG BEST, who beat both One Pick and Yeonggwanguilegend on January 29th comes up 2kg in the weights but warrants respect.
Selections | (7) Glory King (1) One Pick (8) Yeonggwanguilegend (10) Good Tank |
Next Best | 5, 12 |
Fast Start | 8, 9, 11, 12 |