The weekend’s racing gets underway in Busan on Friday with 8 races 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. After a couple of fair showings as a juvenile, (9) HONOR LORD has his season curtailed by injury and finally returned, gelded, in March. He ran well on his return for 3rd place over this distance on March 19th and should have come on for that run/ In this field, he should be on pace and can win. (8) RUN TO KING beat a couple of these when coming from off the pace to be 4th over this trip on April 14th. He doesn’t have an apprentice claim today but should be in the mix. First-time starter (7) LADY VADER looked good when winning a trial three weeks ago. This is a nice race to debut in and if she can get a good start, she should be in this a long way. (3) EVERY KING IJI and (4) PIMI others to consider.
| Selections | (9) Honor Lord (8) Run To King (7) Lady Vader (3) Every King Iji |
| Next Best | 4, 10 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here. We’re going to need to give (4) MIRACLE ONE a pass on her last start showing over 1300M when from a wide gate, she was never a factor and finished well back. Her prior form at this distance was good though and she draws a much better gate to get to the lead and with Seo Seung-un climbing on, she can be given another chance. (3) B.K. NUMA has been unspectacular but consistent across her seven starts so far. She has a strong finish on her and can sit behind the speed and run on here. (5) QUEEN ROMANCE has shown improvement in her latest couple, most recently when 2nd over this distance on April 14th. She’ll be on pace and can go well again. (7) WONDERFUL SMARTY and (8) MORO other minor money hopes.
| Selections | (4) Miracle One (3) B.K. Numa (5) Queen Romance (7) Wonderful Smarty |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 10 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(5) SEOGWI FLASH will be favourite here. She comes in off a strong 3rd place over this distance on March 24th when she went back and ran on strongly. She stopped the clock in a time faster than any of these have managed for the 1300M and while she can leave herself a bit too much to do, she should be too quick here. (6) PURPLE STAR will be second favourite. She enters off a runner-up finish at this distance on March 24th when handy throughout. She should be on the speed here and can be a big danger. Dead-heating for 3rd place in that March 24th race were (7) KICK’N RUSH and (8) FLYING AARON and while the pair of them have a length-and-a-half to find on Purple Star, both can go close again. (4) I’M KING IJI is another in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) Seogwi Flash (6) Purple Star (7) Kick’N Rush (8) Flying Aaron |
| Next Best | 4, 3 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(11) STAR FURY has finished no worse than 4th in four starts so far and enters off a solid 2nd place at class and distance on April 23rd. He was the beaten favourite that day and he does have the challenge of the widest gate, but he doesn’t need to lead and if he can find a handy position, he can win. (3) NICE DAY ran out a winner at class and distance on April 9th when on pace throughout. An apprentice claim means he stays under a light weight and from a good draw, he can be at the front again and a repeat isn’t impossible. (5) SPECIAL HERO has been working back into form with a 4th and two 3rd placed finishes from her latest three. She is nicely in here and can maintain that run, probably sitting behind the speed, and running on. (8) FANTASTIC WOMAN was an unexpected winner at this distance on April 7th and while she comes up in class, she warrants respect. (4) MULTI HIT another to keep safe.
| Selections | (11) Star Fury (3) Nice Day (5) Special Hero (8) Fantastic Woman |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 8 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(8) SAEKDAL FIGHTER was a winner at this class over 1200M two starts back before running 4th over 1300M on April 10th when midfield and running on. He carries his fair share of weight here but has proven versatile tactically and he looks the one to beat. (2) WONDERFUL PHONE made all to get her maiden win over 1300M in March and then finished 5th of nine on her first try at this level over 1200M on April 16th. She draws well here and may go well at a probable each-way price. (10) PILGRIM remains a maiden after sixteen attempts but enters with recent form reading well. He can settle back and finish strongly and should be picking up another cheque. (4) ARBERLOUR and (3) CHEONMA HASEO others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (8) Saekdal Fighter (2) Wonderful Phone (10) Pilgrim (4) Arberlour |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Lee Hyo-sik returns to the saddle today having completed his national service and (1) CHEONNYEONUIGUREUM looks to be the pick of his rides. The mare was a class and distance winner on April 16th and while she comes up a full 4kg as a result, she also comes into a much better gate, and she could win again. (8) BARAMBARAM had a hard day at the office when well-backed last time out over 1800M. He has since been back to trial, which he came through in good style, and he won the last time he tackled this distance. Don’t rule him out here. (4) LEGACY is very lightly raced for an eight-year-old and comes in having run 5th on twelve on his return to action following almost exactly a year out. He should strip fitter for that run and can be considered. (5) COME ON FIRST and (2) NEW CROWN can also be considered.
| Selections | (1) Cheonnyeonuigureum (8) Barambaram (4) Legacy (5) Come On First |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
The second division of the class 4 handicap will see the shortest-priced favourite of the day. (1) BLACK MAMBA won his first two outings to be rapidly promoted in class and then acquitted himself well when asked to navigate 1800M on his first attempt at the level on March 31st. The drop back to one-turn can suit and he will take some beating. (2) ADELE ALLIE’S loves coming 3rd, something he has done in each of his latest three and sic times in total. He comes down in the weights here and into a very nice gate and another 3rd should be the minimum acceptable. (3) INDY CHOICE ran well for 4th at this class over 1400M on April 23rd. He draws better today the step up in trip may suit. (5) LADY GOLDEN and (4) ACE FOUR TEN others who may contest the minors.
| Selections | (1) Black Mamba (2) Adele Allie’s (3) Indy Choice (5) Lady Golden |
| Next Best | 4, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 5, 6 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 75 Million
Several of these raced one another at class and distance on April 14th and the leading contenders all come out of it. (9) LANE KILLER was 3rd that day, continuing a recent run of solid form when settling back in the pack and finishing strongly. He carries the same weight here and this time is the one to beat. That will mean overturning the form on (10) CHOEGANG LIGER, who ran out the winner of that race at odds in excess of 50/1. He carries an additional 3kg this time but warrants respect. (8) TRIUMPH KING and (5) LUCAS SUN were also-rans in that April 14th race but have decent records at this level and can be considered for improvement this time. With an apprentice claim, (7) WONDERFUL WORLD is another who should be close.
| Selections | (9) Lane Killer (10) Choegang Liger (8) Triumph King (5) Lucas Sun |
| Next Best | 7, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 9 |
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