Day: June 22, 2023

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (June 23)

The main even this weekend is the KNN Cup, the final round of the Queens’ Tour spring and summer series. That’s at Busan on Sunday afternoon but the action kicks off on the south coast on Friday when there is a 7-race card from 12:30 to 18:00:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Eleven previously unraced juveniles step out for the first time here so it’s to the trial videos. One of two fillies in the race, (1) AUTUMN BREEZE goes on top. She ran on pace in her heat on June 3rd, crossing the line 2nd, well back behind five-time winner Raon The Power but well ahead of the rest. The time was fair, she draws nicely here, and she has as much chance as any first up. (10) BACCHUS actually went a bit quicker in the second of his two trials albeit on a wet and fast track. That additional experience can be in his favour, and he can be the main danger with the wide draw not set to be an issue. (11) GREAT WINNER raced on pace in his heat so the outside gate may not be quite as ideal for him, but he showed enough in that trial to warrant consideration. (8) DREAM WAY and (9) CAPTAI N DIA were others who trialled well and can enter the calculations. As ever, watch the market for clues.

Selections(1) Autumn Breeze (10) Bacchus (11) Great Winner (8) Dream Way
Next Best9, 2
Fast Start1, 4, 9, 11

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

(1) CHAS PALPAL has got his act together in his latest two, registering a 2nd and a 3rd, both over 1200M and both times coming from off the pace having drawn wide. He comes back up to 56kg today but that’s balanced somewhat by him coming into a much better gate, and he is the one to beat here. The logical danger is (6) CAPTAIN CHARLIE. After a good trial, he ran a solid 5th of eleven in a fair time over this distance on April 23rd. It’s taken him nine weeks to return but he should have derived benefit from that experience and with some natural improvement can go closer here. (8) B. K. HUNTER has the fastest time among those who have tackled the 1300M before. He races for the first time since January, but he looked well when 3rd in a quick trial last week and so long as he didn’t leave his race there, he can be competitive. (7) EVERY KING IJI and (5) WIDAEHAN SEONTAEK among other placing chances.

Selections(1) Chas Palpal (6) Captain Charlie (8) B. K. Hunter (7) Every King Iji
Next Best5, 3
Fast Start3, 5, 9, 11

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

This is a very tricky race. Without much confidence we’ll side with (5) DONGNAM WINNER on the perhaps spurious grounds that she has only raced four times and can still have plenty of scope for more development. Those four include a win at this distance at class 6 level on March and a fair 6th of eleven last time out at this class over 1200M. She can settle on pace or handy here and can be in this a long way. (3) GLOBAL CHOEGO overcame big odds to run 2nd at class and distance on June 4th, beating three of these in the process. He only comes up 1kg in the weights and will warrant more respect here. (1) DOCTOR PANGPANG remains a maiden, but he has a 4th and a 5th from his two starts at this level. He is nicely weighted and draws very well to get on pace and it isn’t impossible that today can be his day. (9) SEOGWI CHUKJE and (10) NALA among plenty of others in at least the placing frame.

Selections(5) Dongnam Winner (3) Global Choego (1) Doctor Pangpang (9) Seogwi Chukje
Next Best10, 2
Fast Start1, 5, 7, 8

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) FAST GUN was a winner at this class over 1400M on May 21st when racing handy throughout. He is yet to finish any worse than 3rd in five attempts and while he comes up in the weights to the tune of 3.5kg, and up to the mile for the first time, he can sit behind the speed here and can prove too strong again. (3) CUTE GUY is the main danger. He has only missed the top-four on one occasion and was a good winner at class 5 level two starts back over 1200M. He likes to run on pace and the distance is a question mark, but he should be equal to the challenge. (10) COOL RUNNING was a good winner at class 5 over 1300M on May 28th. He comes up in trip here but down in the weights and his recent running style suggests this can suit. (6) WONDERFUL APPEAL and (7) INFINITY POWER among others who can challenge at least for places.

Selections(9) Fast Gun (3) Cute Guy (10) Cool Running (6) Wonderful Appeal
Next Best7, 8
Fast Start3, 6, 10, 11

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Another tough puzzle to solve. (11) HWANGU DAEJANGGUN probably warrants favourite status, having won three of his four starts so far including his latest on May 28th at this class over 1200M. There are a couple of concerns. His only defeat came at this distance, and he was a long way back on a very wet track, and he comes up a full 5kg in the weights from his latest appearance, but he still looks to have scope for more development, and he can win here. There are plenty of dangers though. (8) RELEASE EDITION had a poor day at the office on his first try at this class on March 24th, but he has run well at this distance in the past and comes in here fresh with the in-form Da Silva climbing aboard. (5) FINAL SEVEN was an also-ran in Busan’s Classic Trial in March but enters off a solid 4th over a mile at this class and should be competitive in this company. (9) TAEYANG EUTTEUM and (7) SPECIAL WIND, both up in class but nicely weighted, are others in the frame.

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