The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with an 8-race card from 12:00 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maidens in the opener with five of the twelve racing for the first time. (9) JEONGMUN SPECTER ran well on debut for 4th last August but didn’t reappear until January when he very much needed his run. He improved to 2nd from a wide draw on February 12th over this distance and third-up here, he should be peaking and can win. A few of the first timers look promising. (7) YEONGGWANGUIHAMSUNG led his heat, crossing the line in 2nd in a good time. He’ll be on pace here and Seo Seung-un being engaged is sure to make him well-supported. (8) ZETTA DREAM went through a very quick trial alongside some experienced racehorses and held his own well. If he can bring that form to the races, he can go close. So too (6) HWANGU DAEJANGGUN led every step of the way in a March 4th trial, crossing the line plenty to the good. He gets the benefit of an apprentice claim and is another who can make a bold showing first up. Returning to the experience, (1) CHOICE ROAD is probably the best of the rest.
| Selections | (9) Jeongmun Specter (7) Yeonggwanguihamsung (8) Zetta Dream (6) Hwangu Daejanggun |
| Next Best | 1, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million
More three-year-old maidens and it’s hard to go past (2) ROAD TO GLORY. After a runner-up finish over 1200M in January, he came from off the pace to run 4th over 1300M on February 24th, beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process. He seems to be needing further and he gets an additional half furlong to play with here and he could be hard to hold out. (11) HERE THE QUEEN was slow out last time out and scarcely featured over 1300M. She was sent off as favourite that day on the back of a strong runner-up performance back in January. Park Jae-i climbs aboard today, and she can be given another chance. (1) HAENGBOKHAN GIL has hinted that he might be figuring things out in his latest two, including a last start 5th over a mile just two weeks ago. He gets a great draw here which should allow Song Kyeong-yun to pick his spot, and he has as good a finish on him than any here. (3) STORMY DAY and (6) KELLY QUEEN among others with placing hopes.
| Selections | (2) Road To Glory (11) Here The Queen (1) Haengbokhan Gil (3) Stormy Day |
| Next Best | 6, 4 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Tricky race. (10) SKY SHOT enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes at 1200M and 1300M, both times beating some of today’s rivals. He drew wide in both of those so gate ten isn’t a concern, and today can be his day. He will vie for favourite status with (5) ADELE HORANGI. He has only missed to top-five once from seven starts and his best finish, a 2nd place, came at this distance. He generally settles midfield and runs on and should be in the finish again here. (1) SEOGWI FLASH enters off a 3rd and a 4th from her latest two, most recently at this distance on March 3rd. She draws a much better gate today so may well be on what little speed there is here, and she can be in this a long way. (7) VICTOR BASIUM races for the first time since last November. In a race of absolutely no early speed he may get an easy lead and while after is absence he has to be taken somewhat on trust; he should go close. (6) ETTEUMI another in the frame.
| Selections | (10) Sky Shot (5) Adele Horangi (1) Seogwi Flash (7) Victor Basium |
| Next Best | 6, 12 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Fillies and mares only and (5) PAN STAR gets the nod here. She made all for her maiden win over this trip two starts back before trying to repeat over 1400M on her first try at this level on March 3rd. She comes down slightly in the weights, comes back in trip and will be aiming to lead gate to wire. (10) META QUEEN comes up in class following an on-pace win over 1200M back on January 29th. She comes up in class and slightly in trip here and while she may need a touch of luck at the start from the wide draw, she can measure up. (11) FAST FURY is done even fewer favours by the draw. Having got her maiden win over 1200M back in February, she ran a solid 4th on her first try at this class on March 5th, racing handy throughout. She remains nicely weighted and like Meta Queen, with a bit of early luck, she shouldn’t be far away. (3) GAMDONG ENERGY and (7) MY SONG among others to keep safe.
| Selections | (5) Pan Star (10) Meta Queen (11) Fast Fury (3) Gamdong Energy |
| Next Best | 7, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
It’s about time (8) NICHOLAS G. won He got promoted to this class after two runner-up finishes and ran 2nd for the third time on February 24th when on pace throughout over 1400M. He comes up to the mile for the first time and there is no reason why it can’t suit. He’ll be on pace and today can be his day. (5) KING BOSS is a consistent type with recent form reading well. He draws much better than he did when 5th at class and distance on March 5th and should be going closer here. (7) GREAT ONE comes back up to this trip after recent work at 1400M. He has the second fastest time of any of these for the mile and he can improve on his latest efforts here. (6) NOBLE COWBOY and (4) ARTHUR KING IJI among others who can be kept safe on a place line.
| Selections | (8) Nicholas G. (5) King Boss (7) Great One (6) Noble Cowboy |
| Next Best | 4, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Wide open race where none of the twelve finished any worse than 6th on their respective latest outings. (8) GRAND SUN returned from almost a year out on February 3rd to score a come from behind win over 1300M. He comes up in class and slightly in trip but is down in the weights and if anything, should be better for that run. He has as good a chance as any. (6) RELEASE EDITION is also up in class, in his case following a comfortable victory over 1300M on February 17th. In this company he may well be ridden a bit further forward and the distance can suit. (1) DOCTOR PERSIA comes in off a 3rd place at class and distance on February 17th when settling right back and running on. He stays nicely weighted, draws well, and should be close. (5) PEOPLE POWER and (10) TWO OF US among plenty of others with credible chances.
| Selections | (8) Grand Sun (6) Release Edition (1) Doctor Persia (5) People Power |
| Next Best | 10, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 8 |
Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here. Several of these raced each other in a very similar race at class and distance on February 15th, with (1) ALPHA THOR coming out the best of them in 2nd place. She was a long way behind strong winner Carpe Babel but, having been on pace throughout, comfortably handled those she faces again here. It continued a positive start to her career and from a good draw, she can get her maiden win. (4) CROWD ONE has placed in each of her latest five outings, with a 2nd and four 3rd place finishes. Both her wins came at this trip and she also has the fastest time among any of these for the six furlongs. Tactically versatile, she has a strong finish and should be running into some money again. (7) GRAPHENE RAP WORLD comes up in class having almost led from gate to wire over 1300M on February 26th, only to finish 2nd. She comes down significantly in the weights and should be on pace here and in contention a long way. (8) ANOTHER MARINE and (2) BLUE CARSON among others in the frame.
| Selections | (1) Alpha Thor (4) Crowd One (7) Graphene Rap World (8) Another Marine |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 8, 12 |
Seoul Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 75 Million
(10) JEOLGEOUNYEOJEONG suffered a surprise defeat when favourite over a mile on March 3rd, racing handy but just coming up short in 3rd place. She has previously won at this class over 1400M and comes up to the Oaks distance of 1800M for the first time. The first leg of the Triple Tiara is four weeks away and she should return to winning ways here. Another three-year-old filly looks to be the main danger. (5) DOCTOR OSCAR won the Listed Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Trophy for juveniles over 1200M last November and comes in here having beaten a couple of these on her way to 2nd over a mile on February 24th having led for much of the way. She also comes up to two turns for the first time but gets a better draw, and she should be in this a long way again. (3) SEONGSIL SIHWA was 3rd behind Doctor Oscar in that February 24th race, continuing a consistent run of form, and she should be close once more. (11) STAR MATTA and (2) SEOBU TEUKGEUP among others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (10) Jeolgeounyeojeong (5) Doctor Oscar (3) Seongsil Sihwa (11) Star Matta |
| Next Best | 2, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 10, 12 |
Horse Racing in Korea 