The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 12:00 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million
It’s the first two-year-old race of the season and that means a return to the five-furlong chute. All are unraced but fortunately most came through the same trials, so we have plenty to go on (5) GLORY CROWN was held together very nicely in his heat on April 29th breaking well to lead comfortably and went round under a hold only passed in the closing stages by one going flat out. The time was good, three of today’s rivals were behind him, and if he brings that form to the races, he can win. (9) WELCOME BACK was asked to do a little bit more in his trial but came through well, running 3rd in a quick time and beaten only by a pair of four-year-olds. A repeat of that will put him firmly in contention. (11) BORIS MARINE was a further two-lengths back in the same trial, running through the line well. (3) YEONGGWANGUIPRINCE and (6) DOCTOR KINGDOM among others who could go well first-up.
| Selections | (5) Glory Crown (9) Welcome Back (11) Boris Marine (3) Yeonngwanguiprince |
| Next Best | 6, 7 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Three-year-old maidens. (7) HAVE A GOOD YEAR has shown progress across three starts so far culminating in a 2nd place at this distance on April 14th when he led through the early stages. He can be expected to be on the speed again and this time can go all the way. (10) CHAS PALPAL offered nothing in his first three outings but significantly improved when 2nd at start number four over this distance on April 9th. He posted a time for the 1200M faster than any of the others have managed and the way he came from off the pace, from an even wider draw, suggests gate ten won’t be an issue. To cap it all off, an apprentice claim takes him down 2kg. (4) GEUMA HUGE HIT didn’t do much on debut last November but looked much better when 4th on her return on April 23rd, albeit well back behind a good winner. She should benefit from that run and can improve here. (2) SUCCESSFUL and (5) BRAVE CAPTAIN, the latter back in trip and sure to be on pace, are others to consider.
| Selections | (7) Have A Good Year (10) Chas Palpal (4) Geuma Huge Hit (2) Successful |
| Next Best | 5, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million
More three-year-old maidens and a few look ready to win. (3) HWANGWU JANGSA won two trials and then ran 3rd on debut over 1200M on April 9th. He overcame gate ten that day to reach a handy position and with the benefit of experience and a better draw, he can go close here. (8) ZETTA DREAM has a 2nd and a 4th from two starts so far, the latter at this distance. He can be on pace here and has solid chances. (11) THE PURE MAN beat Zetta Dream when 3rd over this distance on April 28th. That followed a 2nd on debut at 1200M. He drew the same gate last time out and proved himself able to settle back and run on and he can be a danger late on here. There are two debut-makers and (1) THUNDER GONGJU will have plenty of backers. She went through two trials, failing to qualify in the first of them behind Hwangwu Jangsa but was much better in the second when on pace and running 2nd in a quick time. She draws well here and can put in a bold first-up run. (4) THE BEST EVER debuted inauspiciously last year but looked much better when trialling up two weeks ago and is another to consider.
| Selections | (3) Hwangwu Jangsa (8) Zetta Dream (11) The Pure Man (1) Thunder Gongju |
| Next Best | 4, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Tricky maiden with the form unconvincing for most. (9) SUCCESS BATTLE was a significant improver at start number three over 1200M on April 23rd when 3rd over 1200M, settling midfield and running on. Like most of the field he steps up to 1400M for the first time and it can suit. (6) JORDAN FIGHTING has been solid if unspectacular across four outings so far. In this company he should be on pace and solid if unspectacular may be enough to see him go very close. (2) KICK’N RUSH has a 2nd and a (dead-heat) 3rd to her name, both over 1300M. A previous attempt at 1400M didn’t go especially well but she is nicely drawn here and should be ready for another go. (7) SUPER KANEL and (8) ECTON BATTLE among others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (9) Success Battle (6) Jordan Fighting (2) Kick’N Rush (7) Super Kanel |
| Next Best | 8, 10 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Competitive race. (8) SPECIAL WIND is the probable favourite despite still being a maiden after twelve attempts. He has no fewer than nine top-five finishes including last time out on April 28th when he overcame gate eleven to run 2nd over 1300M with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. He also has a 3rd place at this distance and today could be his day. If he does find one too quick again then it’s most likely to be (11) GEUMA UNO. He ran 3rd in that April 28th race, a length and a half behind Special Wind. That was his second consecutive 3rd place finish, both times from the same gate as today and third-up this preparation, he may be peaking fitness wise. (2) DYNAMIC WINNER comes up in class and slightly in trip following a maiden win at start number four when she made all over 1300M. She comes down in the weights, draws well, and can measure up in this company. (3) POWER GUY, impressive n a trial earlier this month, and (6) MONEY BAG, are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (8) Special Wind (11) Geuma Uno (2) Dynamic Winner (3) Power Guy |
| Next Best | 6, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(7) BLACK VOLT got his maiden win two starts back over 1200M before running 2nd at 1300M on his first try at this class on April 21st. He comes up to the mile for the first time, but his running style suggests it can suit and he is the one to beat here. (9) DAHAMKKEDALLIJA comes up in class having secured his maiden win at the third time of asking back in February, making all over 1300M. He’s had sixteen weeks off since so comes in fresh and while a mile may be a hard ask first-up, he looks to have plenty of ability and should be competitive. (2) HEARTBREAKER is another up in class following a maiden win. In his case, it came over today’s distance and while the time wasn’t quick, he comes down in weight and draws well and can measure up. (10) NAKDONG JEONSA and (11) CUQUENAN among others in the frame.
| Selections | (7) Black Volt (9) Dahamkkedallija (2) Heartbreaker (10) Nakdong Jeonsa |
| Next Best | 11, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 11 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Fillies only here. (9) ATLAS comes in having run 5th of twelve in the first leg of the Triple Tiara, the Luna Stakes, over a mile n April 23rd. She is skipping next week’s Korean Oaks and comes back into a class and a distance at which she won in January. She’ll be close to the pace here and can win. (6) AREUMDAUN INYEON enters seeking a third consecutive win having scored in her latest two most recently at class and distance on April 14th when going right back before running on. She does come up a full 5kg from those wins, but she is tactically versatile, has good speed, and she has every chance here. (4) WONDERFUL APPEAL is also seeking a hat-trick. She comes up rapidly in class having won her latest two, both at 1300M. She draws nicely and she should be competitive at this level. (2) UNJU MACH beat three of these on her way to 2nd place last time out and comes into a better gate today. She, along with (3) B. K. NEW MOON are the other main contenders for the places.
| Selections | (9) Atlas (6) Areumdaun Inyeon (4) Wonderful Appeal (2) Unju Mach |
| Next Best | 3, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 60 Million
(5) K GOLD BAR is up rapidly in class having own his latest two over 1400M and 1300M racing on pace both times. He also steps up to two turns for the first time but there is no reason why it can’t suit and while today’s set weights don’t’ do him any favours, he can make it three in a row. The main danger is (11) WONDERFUL CHANCE. He beat K Gold Bar when they raced over a mile at class 6 level, and he too tackles this grade of racing for the first time. He was a good winner over this distance on April 16th when he had to contend with a similarly wide draw, and he has every chance of backing up here. (10) DOCTOR PERSIA ran well for a close 2nd over 1400M three weeks ago. He has fared well over this trip too and should be close. (1) GEUMA INFINITE and (6) ADELE BOSS, the latter a class and distance winner who can have his latest from a wide draw forgiven, are others to keep safe.
| Selections | (5) K Gold Bar (11) Wonderful Chance (10) Doctor Persia (1) Geuma Infinite |
| Next Best | 6, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 