The feature race this weekend is the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the 2023 Triple Crown at Seoul on Saturday evening. Before that though, racing gets under way with a 7-race twilight program at Busan on Friday running from 15:40 to 21:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile fillies with all but two racing for the first time. (8) WHITE FALCON ran 3rd on debut on June 9th, well beaten by a good winner, but running on solidly. She should have derived benefit from the experience and with some natural improvement, can be firmly in contention here. (10) MOTHER ROAD trialled up on a saturated track and acquitted herself well running a close 2nd to an experienced horse in a quick time with just a bit of pushing. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and if she can bring that form to the races, she’ll go close. (5) AJANTA will have plenty of backers. She sat midfield in her trial before running on well for an unhurried 3rd in a fair time and the jockey/trainer combination will ensure she starts at a short price. (3) AMBITIOUS GIRL and (2) WORLD FIRST CAT look to be the other debut-makers to follow.
| Selections | (8) White Falcon (10) Mother Road (5) Ajanta (3) Ambitious Girl |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(8) BACCHUS was well-backed on debut on June 23rd, but he was slow out of the gates and took an age to get into stride before running on late. Accordingly, he was ordered back to trial, and he came through it in accomplished fashion, winning a heat and requalifying just a week later. If he behaves himself at the start this time, the additional trip can suit, and he can win. (1) JEONGMUN LEGEND was a much-improved 2nd when almost leading all the way over 1200M on June 4th. He too steps up to this trip for the first time but from the inside gate, he should be on pace again and he can be in this a long way. (6) MASTER YODA didn’t do much in his first two appearances in the early spring, but after being put away for three months, he returned to run a smart on-pace 2nd over 1300M on June 23rd. He should strip fitter for that run and can be in the mix here. (9) WIN STING and (2) MORO among plenty of others in the minor money hunt.
| Selections | (8) Bacchus (1) Jeongmun Legend (6) Master Yoda (9) Win Sting |
| Next Best | 2, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 40 Million
(2) STAR DRAGON got his maiden win over 1300M in May and then stepped up to this class and distance for the first time on June 25th and ran a big 3rd, beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process when settling back and running on. An apprentice claim takes 3kg off his back, he draws well, and he can win. (6) HAENGBOKHAN GIL comes up in class having secured his maiden win at the tenth time of asking over 1400M on July 7th. The win had been coming and while he tackles the two turns for the first time, there is no reason why that can’t suit. He doesn’t have the benefit of an apprentice claim this time but that’s balanced by Seo Seung-un climbing aboard and he shouldn’t be far away. (9) DOCTOR PERO has been ultra-consistent with a 2nd, a 3rd, and then back-to-back 4th places in four starts since being promoted to this level. Those two placings were over this distance, and he should be a big player again. (3) CENTUM THOR and the up in class (5) GASOK JEIL among others in the frame.
| Selections | (2) Star Dragon (6) Haengbokhan Gil (9) Doctor Pero (3) Centum Thor |
| Next Best | 5, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 6, 7 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
This is a competitive race. (2) SKY SHOT is yet to win in nine attempts but has no fewer than seven top-four finishes with his best of 2nd coming over this trip. He comes back in distance today and under a light weight and from a good gate, today could finally be the day. (11) JUST BE HAPPY comes up in class having scored her maiden win at 1200M on June 16th. She has a good finish on her and while she draws a touch wide, she has the potential for more development. (6) GOLD ROSE is a front-runner who enters off a couple of positive results. She will be expected to lead here and can be in this a long way. (1) GOLDEN CAMP and the up in class (4) HWANGWU JANGSA are among others who can have a say.
| Selections | (2) Sky Shot (11) Just Be Happy (6) Gold Rose (1) Golden Camp |
| Next Best | 4, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(11) HWANGOO MONEY has never finished worse than 4th but it took him until his most recent start on June 16th to get his maiden win when he stalked the leader all the way before taking things up late over 1400M. He does come up in class here, but he is down slightly in the weights and could well be the one to beat. (6) MIRACLE ONE took six goes to get her maiden win but she evidently enjoyed it as she promptly followed up with another, both at 1200M. That brings her rapidly up in class, but she too is nicely weighted and from a good draw could very well be on or close to the speed this time, and she should measure up in this company. (8) CROWD ONE enters off a solid 3rd place at this class over 1400M on June 25th when ridden further forward than usual. She has a good finish on her, and similar tactics here should see her close. (7) RUBY STORM is up in class following a last start win at this distance. He comes in under a light weight with an apprentice claim and isn’t to be dismissed. (10) GOLDEN POINT another who can be competitive.
| Selections | (11) Hwangwoo Money (6) Miracle One (8) Crowd One (7) Ruby Storm |
| Next Best | 10, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
It’s hard to look too far past (5) ADELE ROSARIO here. She returned from fifteen months off in fine fashion on July 2nd to make all at this class and distance in a quick time with plenty of today’s rivals back down the track behind her. She does come up slightly in weight, but that’s balanced by a better gate, and she will be favourite to win again. (9) SPECIALIST comes up rapidly in class having won two of his latest three, most recently over this distance at the start of the month. He comes down significantly in the weights and can maintain his positive run of results here. (4) HAENGBOKAN HAMAN and (7) SPECIAL HERO came home 3rd and 4th behind Adele Rosario in that July 2nd race, continuing a solid run of form for both. They both come in here 5kg to the good of the favourite and they could pose a threat. (8) GAMDONG ENERGY comes in off a class and distance 3rd place a month ago and is another in the placing hunt here.
| Selections | (5) Adele Rosario (9) Specialist (4) Haengbokan Haman (7) Special Hero |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 5, 7 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(7) HWANGU DAEJANGGUN is a winner of four from five so far and comes up in class following back-to-back wins at class 4, most recently over this distance on June 23rd when he settled handy before taking things up a long way out. This is a stiffer assignment, but he is fairly weighted and still has potential for more improvement. (5) SHAKA returned from ten months out in May only to unceremoniously dump his jockey coming out of the gates. Rider and conveyance managed to stay united when he reappeared on June 16th, and he comfortably scored over this distance. He comes up in class here but should be on the speed and should be in this a long way. (2) SEOBU TEUKGEUP is a class and distance winner as recently as April and from a good gate, she can be a danger here. (6) CAPTAIN GOLD and (8) YEOKJEON MYEONGSU also come in with recent form reading well and have placing chances.
| Selections | (7) Hwangu Daejanggun (5) Shaka (2) Seobu Teukgeup (6) Captain Gold |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 