Day: July 6, 2023

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 7)

The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with a 7-race program from 12:30 to 18:00. Jockey You Hyun-myung is back following a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury while Lim Sung-sil has transitioned from the weighing room to the trainer’s room and he sends out his first runner in the concluding race. Here are the previews:

Jockey You Hyun-myung is back in action (Pic: KRA)

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Eleven previously unraced juveniles in the opener. (2) SINCHEON FIRST made all to win his trial on June 10th stopping the clock in a fair time on a dry track. That’s enough to make him favourite here from a good gate. (11) CORNER ONE was 2nd in that same June 10th trial, just half a length in arrears having settled just behind the pace. He is done fewer favours by the draw, but a repeat of that effort should put him in the frame. (3) SKY JILJU is another trial winner, coming from midfield to cross the line in front back in May and he shapes as the clear third favourite here. Another heat-winner is (6) NUMBERONEPICK who was a little slowly away on June 3rd but then went quickly to the lead and ran on. He may not be the number one pick, but he can put in a bold showing first up. (8) PERFECT ACTION among others who could go well.

Selections(2) Sincheon First (11) Corner One (3) Sky Jilju (6) Numberonepick
Next Best8, 1
Fast Start2, 4, 6, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(5) DOCTOR KINGDOM will be a warm favourite here having run 2nd on debut on May 26th when settling behind the speed and running on over 1000M. He should have come on for that run, the slight step up in trip can suit, and he may take some beating. (3) LEMON BULPAE offered little in two appearances in December and February. After a spell he returned to trial on June 17th and blitzed his heat crossing the line six-lengths to the good in a quick time. He will be expected to be close here. (9) UNJU GLOBAL has mixed her form so far, but she does have a 2nd and a 4th to her name at this distance as well as the fastest time among these and she looks promising at a probable each-way price. (10) BORIS MARINE and (1) FIRST MENI others in the hunt.

Selections(5) Doctor Kingdom (3) Lemon Bulpae (9) Unju Global (10) Boris Marine
Next Best1, 2
Fast Start3, 5, 7, 8

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Competitive race. (4) HAENGBOKHAN GIL enters with his recent form reading well with a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two, both over today’s trip when he has been ridden much further forward than in previous starts. He draws well to do similar today and with an apprentice claiming 3kg, he comes down in he weights. Today can be his day. (1) POWER RIDE didn’t do much in three starts across the turn of the year but after almost four months off, he returned to action with a much-improved 2nd over this distance on June 9th when on pace throughout. He should have derived benefit from that run and can be a danger here. (2) SOLEDAD comes in off a best finish of 2nd over this distance on June 2nd and from a much better draw can go close again. (10) RUN TO KING and (6) WONDERFUL IMPACT are the other placing contenders.

Selections(4) Haengbokhan Gil (1) Power Ride (2) Soledad (10) Run To King
Next Best6, 7
Fast Start1, 2, 4, 11

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(7) HONOR LORD got his maiden win over 1200M at class 6 level two starts back before leading on his first try at this class on June 16th over 1400M, ultimately being passed in the closing stages and finishing 3rd. He only comes up slightly in the weights but the drop back in trip can be in his favour and he can lead all the way this time. (11) BABEL HEART ran 4th in that that June 16th race, her best finish at this level. She has more than two lengths to make up on Honor Lord but comes in nicely weighted and she has a good finish on her so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem. (3) FIRST STAR is very experienced, and this is the kind of race where she can pick up some prize money, as she did when 2nd over 1200M last time out coming from off the pace. (8) PILGRIM and (1) SANGSANGGEUISANG others in the hunt.

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Jockey Kim Gui-bae Retires After 44-Year Career

Kim Gui-bae, one of very few jockeys around the world to have ridden winners in six different decades, has retired. The veteran rider reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 last December and accordingly was unable to extend when his license expired at the end of June.

Kim Gui-bae at his retirement ceremony (Pic: KRA)

“I always said I would go on until 60.” Kim said at his retirement ceremony at Seoul Racecourse last week. “I could do 65 or 70 were it not for the limit.”

Kim Gui-bae debuted as a sixteen-year-old in April 1979 at the old Ttukseom Racecourse. It was at that track where he enjoyed the most successful part of his career, especially when guiding Pogyeongseon to win the Grand Prix Stakes in 1986 – “he was so easy to ride” Kim recalled. That would be the only Graded winner of Kim’s 44-year career. He assumed the mantle of oldest jockey in Korea more than twenty years ago.

Kim’s overall figures reflect the era in which he qualified. Up until the 2000s, jockeys were restricted to a small number of race rides each week (as few as five), and while that system changed, Kim did not, riding sparingly but doing plenty of trackwork. Over the 44-years he rode 328 winners from 4568 rides. His final winner came on June 4th on four-year-old filly Complete Time in a class 3 handicap. HIs final ride was 4th place on Star Princess in a class 5 handicap on June 25th.

“I’ve worked hard to keep up with the younger riders and they are always very considerate to towards me. I started out 44 years ago knowing nothing but I have picked up a few things along the way and have grown to love being a jockey. I will stay around horses.” Kim said. As for the question as to if he could go back to 1979 and do it all over again, would he? Kim thought for a while, smiled, and said “No.”

Kim Gui-bae presented with a bouquet from punters after his last ride on June 25th (Pic: KRA)