A short season of twilight racing begins this weekend. Things get underway at Busan on Friday with 7 races from 15:40 to 21:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Eleven previously unraced juveniles in the opener so we head to the trial videos (1) BLACK SPRING won his trial, racing in midfield from gate eight and then producing a strong effort in the closing stages to pull away under only minimal urging. The time wasn’t quick, but it was on a very dry track, and it wouldn’t surprise to see him win here. (2) CONTROLLER posted the fastest time in trials when running 2nd in a June heat, settling handy and then running on without the jockey needing to use his stick. He draws well and a repeat performance will see him in the mix first-up here. That fastest time will probably mean he starts the betting favourite locally. (6) HANGANG CLASS was an on-pace 3rd in his heat, and along with (3) YONGBI CHEONWANG and (10) BEST PRIME, can go well.
| Selections | (1) Black Spring (2) Controller (6) Hangang Class (3) Yongbi Cheonwang |
| Next Best | 10, 11 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
It’s hard to go far past (1) DOCTOR KANE here. After a good trial, she debuted in an all-filly juvenile event on June 9th and sat behind the early speed before running on 2nd. She was eight-lengths behind the odds-on favourite winner, but five-lengths clear of the rest and with some natural improvement, she will be hard to beat. (3) COLUMBIA CHAMP debuted in that same race, initially settling back before working home well for 4th place. She has plenty to make up on Doctor Kane, but she too should have derived benefit from that run and can be a contender at this slightly extended trip. (5) MAGIC ELEVEN has a 3rd place to her name and among those who have tackled this distance before, by far the quickest time. Seo Seung-un climbs on and she should be close. (9) THE ONE and (4) HOTFLEX others who can enter the placing calculations.
| Selections | (1) Doctor Kane (3) Columbia Champ (5) Magic Eleven (9) The One |
| Next Best | 4, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 7 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(9) HAMA has been getting closer across her five starts so far culminating in a 2nd place over 1300M on June 16th when racing behind the leaders and running on well. She steps up to 1400M for the first time and she can make her breakthrough here. (3) B. K. HUNTER returned from five months out to run 3rd over 1300M on June 23rd. He should strip fitter for that run and can go close again. (7) KELLY QUEEN came home 4th when sent off at big odds over this distance on June 30th. She returns quickly here and, in this company, should be on pace and can be in this a long way. (8) HAEUNDAE JEONSEOL and (5) CHOICE ROAD will need their respective latest starts overlooked but, in this field, can be competitive.
| Selections | (9) Hama (3) B. K. Hunter (7) Kelly Queen (8) Haeundae Jeonseol |
| Next Best | 5, 4 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(4) SUCCESS SHOW ME comes up in class having notched his maiden win at start number two on June 18th when he was on pace throughout and crossed the line a cool ten-lengths to the good. He is up in distance as well but that shouldn’t be a problem and he can win again here. (7) VERLUC took a couple of goes to figure things out, but he too comes up in class following a 2nd place in May and then an all the way four-length score over 1300M on June 16th. He’ll be challenging Success Show Me for the early lead and he can be in this a long way. (2) NAMYANG BOLT beat a couple of these on his way to 5th place over 1300M on his first try at this class on June 18th. He holds a win at this trip and from a good gate can be a danger here. (10) WAITING FOR YOU and (1) MORNING MUSE among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (4) Success Show Me (7) Verluc (2) Namyang Bolt (10) Waiting For You |
| Next Best | 1, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 5: Class 2 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 90 Million
(11) GOLDEN POWER returned from five months out to run a good 3rd in a trophy race over this distance on May 14th. She has had another couple of months off since then and comes in here under a light weight and the winner of all three-legs of last year’s Triple Tiara, can return to winning ways. (4) LANE KILLER comes up in class after back-to-back wins at class 3 level, both over this distance. He comes down significantly in the weights and from a good gate, he can measure up at this level. (10) DUNCAN returned to action for the first time in seven months on June 9th and put in a very solid effort to run a close 2nd at this distance. That brings him up in class but like Lane Killer, significantly down in weight, and he can be a danger. (3) DOCTOR TAKE and (7) BABEL HIT among others who can enter the placing calculations.
| Selections | (11) Golden Power (4) Lane Killer (10) Duncan (3) Doctor Take |
| Next Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 7, 8, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(9) HWANGU FIGHTER will be hot favourite here. In ten starts he has never finished outside of the top four and has two runner-up finishes to his name at this class and distance. He can settle behind the early leaders here and he should prove too strong this time. (10) ROCKET SORI won at this class two starts back over 1200M and then followed up with a fair 5th at 1400M. An apprentice claim takes his weight right down and given that aside from the favourite, this is a field of just moderate ability, he can be competitive again. (8) YONGGARI has the fastest time among these for the distance and his recent form suggests a place is a realistic ambition here. (7) INDY CHOICE and (4) ALPHA THOR others in the hunt.
| Selections | (9) Hwangu Fighter (10) Rocket Sori (8) Yonggari (7) Indy Choice |
| Next Best | 4, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 7 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(5) SPICE ECTON was a front-running class and distance winner two starts back in April, before running a very creditable 2nd in a valuable trophy race, again at 1200M, on May 14th. He carries his fair share of weight here, could prove too good. (8) WINNING DANCER ran 2nd to Spice Ecton in that April race before again finding just one too quick when beating a few of today’s rivals at class and distance on June 2nd. An apprentice claim keeps his carried weight nice and light, and he should be there or thereabouts again. (2) JATNAMUGIL can mix his form but enters off a good 3rd place over 1400M on June 23rd. He has run fairly at this distance in the past and can be a placing chance here. (3) CHOICE RUN was well back behind Winning Dancer last time out but comes into a much better gate and is down in weight with an apprentice claim. (9) D’LOVELY QUEEN another to keep safe.
| Selections | (5) Spice Ecton (8) Winning Dancer (2) Jatnamugil (3) Choice Run |
| Next Best | 9, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 7, 8 |
Horse Racing in Korea 