This weekend sees the first leg of the 2023 Triple Crown with the KRA Cup Mile at Busan on Sunday. The south coast is where the action kicks off with 8 races on Friday from 12:00 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. (6) ZETTA DREAM looks the one to beat following a runner-up finish on debut over 1200M on a wet track on March 24^th when briefly leading in the straight. He stopped the clock in a good time, he should have come on for the run and from a central draw can be aiming to lead from gate to wire. The main danger is (11) THE PURE MAN. After a good trial he ran a close 2^nd on debut over 1200M on March 31^st, overcoming a slow start and then running on. That run suggests the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and he should go close. (4) HERE THE QUEEN has mixed her form across three starts so far but she has a runner-up finish in a quick time to her name over this distance and comes in having overcome gate eleven to run 3^rd over 1400M on March 24^th. Any top-three finish will see her at class 5 level next time and a win isn’t impossible. (2) DYNAMIC WINNER and (8) QUEEN OF JOY other possible placers.

Selections	(6) Zetta Dream (11) The Pure Man (4) Here The Queen (2) Dynamic Winner
Next Best	8, 5
Fast Start	2, 5, 6, 8

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(6) SEUNGNIUIYEONGUNG will be one of the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend. After winning a trial, he’s run 3^rd in both starts so far at 1200M and 1300M and in decent times. He settled back and midfield and can do similar here and should be hard to hold out in the closing stages. The clear second favourite will be (1) UNJU OREUM. She has a 2^nd to her name at 1200M and come sin off back-to-back 4^th places in decent times at 1200M and 1300M. She draws much better than she has done in any of her four appearances so far so may well be ridden more forward. (7) SHINE MONSTER went right back before running on for a valiant 4^th at this distance on March 31^st. That was a big uptick in form but puts her in the minor money frame here. So too (2) SEONGSIL CHEONHA, who ran 2^nd two starts back at 1200M and from a good draw, can be on pace and in this a long way. (8) NINE FORCE ONE another with hopes of the minors.

Selections	(6) Seungniuiyeongung (1) Unju Oreum (7) Shine Monster (2) Seongsil Cheonha
Next Best	8, 10
Fast Start	1, 2, 3, 8

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Tricky one. We’ll go with the filly (5) SKY SEUNG, who has only raced once and that was all the way back last July when 4^th at this distance. She looked well in a trial two weeks ago and once again can put in a bold showing first-up. (7) DOCTOR CUCKOO has three 4^th place finishes from his latest four appearances including last time out over this distance when on pace. He has the fastest time among these for this trip and shapes as the main danger. (9) MOVIE MORE ran a much-improved 2^nd last time out when on the speed in an all-filly affair over this distance on April 7^th. That was just her fourth start, it was a good time, and she may well have more improvement. (3) ECTON POWER and (4) GOLDEN CAMP probably don’t have much improvement in them but in this company are capable of money finishes.

Selections	(5) Sky Seung (7) Doctor Cuckoo (9) Movie More (3) Ecton Power
Next Best	4, 6
Fast Start	7, 8, 9, 10

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

This is a good race for the level with plenty entering with recent form reading well. (2) GOLD ROSE just about gets the nod following a 3^rd and a 2^nd from her latest two, both at this class and over 1300M and most recently this distance on March 31^st. She has been on pace in both of those and is well drawn to lead again. She may prove hard to pass. (3) CUTE GUY weakened late on when tried over 1400M on his latest on March 26^th. He is third-up today having returned in February from eight months out, and this lightly raced five-year-old could be peaking fitness-wise. (6) B.K. GALLOP got his maiden win over this distance two starts back before running 4^th on her first try at this class on April 16^th having raced on pace. She remains under a light weight, draws slightly better, and she can be dangerous. The up in class pair of (1) QUEENS LANDING and, to a lesser extent, (11) AQUA MAGIC, are others in the hunt.

Selections	(2) Gold Rose (3) Cute Guy (6) B.K. Gallop (1) Queens Landing
Next Best	11, 5
Fast Start	2, 3, 5, 6

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(7) FANTASTIC CHAMP comes up in class having run 2^nd on debut all the way back last May and then finally returning to action ten months later on March 26^th and winning over 1200M with a front-running effort. H comes sown in the weights, draws the same gate and neither the class rise nor the slight rise in trip should trouble him. He can win again. Also up in class is (12) SINHAE MANGCHI. He was 3^rd in his first two starts before getting his maiden win over this distance on April 2^nd when leading all the way. The draw here will mean that he should be available at an each-way price, and he could surprise. (1) DIA BOSS ran 2^nd on his first start at this class over 1400M on April 2^nd when beating three of these and having led for much of the way. He’ll be on pace again and the slight drop back in trip should suit. (11) SPECIAL WIND and (6) MENI GLORY others to consider.

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