With Seoul taking its summer weekend off, there is a rare Saturday card at Busan. It’s a twilight schedule with 8 races from 15:00 to 21:00:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Maidens in the opener with all but two having raced at least once before. (6) DREAM WAY was sent off as favourite on debut over 1000M on June 23rd and rana fair 3rd after starting slowly and settling back before running on. He should have benefited from that experience, the additional furlong can suit, and he looks to be the one to beat here. (2) CHARON TODAY ran once last October without distinction and hasn’t raced since. She looked very well when making all in a trial two weeks ago, stopping the clock in a quick time, and that will be enough to give her plenty of backers first-up here. (3) YONGBI STAR ran fairly for 5th on debut having raced right at the back most of the way around. The experience and the step up in trip should be beneficial. (9) GRAY BOSS and (5) TODAY QUEEN others to consider for improvement.
| Selections | (6) Dream Way (2) Charon Today (3) Yongbi Star (9) Gray Boss |
| Next Best | 5, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 9 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(3) TAURUS KING didn’t do much in two initial starts across the turn of the year, but he returned after four months off in June, gelded and looking much more like a racehorse. He has finished 2nd and 3rd in his two starts back, both at 1200M and third-up this preparation, he can be peaking and can win. (11) ILGANG DAERO put in some positive efforts during his juvenile campaign with his best being an on-pace 2nd at this distance. He returns to action for the first time since last October but while he will need this, he trialled well, and he warrants consideration first-up. (4) YEONGGWANGUIHAMSUNG has shown steady improvement across three starts so far, most recently when 4th over 1300M on June 30th. He comes up to this trip for the first time and it can suit. (6) ANY SINGS and (8) BLUE CAVIAR are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (3) Taurus King (11) Ilgang Daero (4) Yeonggwanguihamsung (6) Any Sings |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 11 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
(9) DOCTOR KINGDOM has run 2nd and 3rd in two starts so far at 1000M and 1200M, both times sitting behind the speed and running on. The slight step up in trip can help and he looks to have scope for plenty more improvement. In this company he may be a little further forward than in those two previous outings, and he can win. (3) ANOTHER ONE showed significant improvement at start number five on July 9th when coming from off the pace to run 2nd at this distance with three of today’s field behind him. A repeat of that effort will put him in the finish again. (2) HERO J also beat a couple of these when a close 2nd at 1200M on July 9th. That was his third start, all at 1200M, and he has shown progress each time. He draws well, and the slightly extended trip can be in his favour. (6) VELOCIRAPTOR and (5) YONG GUN others in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (9) Doctor Kingdom (3) Another One (2) Hero J (6) Velociraptor |
| Next Best | 5, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
A very tricky race with plenty having chances. (3) SUCCESS BATTLE is still a maiden but comes up in class here following a 3rd place and then two runner-up finishes. She posted a good time over this distance last time out, she carries a light weight, and having finally drawn a good gate, she can get on pace here and can win. (4) COLUMBIA CHAMP is up in class having registered her maiden win at the second time of asking over 1200M on July 14th racing in pace throughout. She too draws nicely here to get to the front early and she should measure up at this level. (10) SUCCESS YEONGGWANG is another up in class despite being winless. He really looks to have figured things out in his latest three though, all at this distance, and while he draws wider than ideal, with a touch of luck at the start he can get a forward position and be in this a long way. (2) BEAUTY HILL and (7) LET IT GO have both placed at this class and can potentially do so again.
| Selections | (3) Success Battle (4) Columbia Champ (10) Success Yeonggwang (2) Beauty Hill |
| Next Best | 7, 11 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 60 Million
Another very competitive race. (3) BACKTOTHELEGEND was an also-ran in the KRA Cup Mile but returned to shallower waters and ran 2nd at class and distance on June 16th when slowly away but quickly up to a handy position. He stays down in the weights, he draws well, and he can have benefitted from that experience of racing around two turns. (10) CHAMP GO enters having won at class and distance on July 16th when close to the pace throughout and then running on to win very pleasingly. He comes up 3kg in the weights, but a repeat is not to be dismissed. (8) HONEY DRAGON is a twenty-race maiden, but his recent form reads well with a 3rd and a 2nd from his latest two, both at this class and distance. He comes up 3kg in the weights, but he can be running on late and it’s not impossible that today can be his day. The up in class (7) WONDERFUL FILE along with (1) NAKDONG JEONSA are among plenty of others with at least placing chances.
| Selections | (3) Backtothelegend (10) Champ Go (8) Honey Dragon (7) Wonderful File |
| Next Best | 1, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 7 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
After having run 2nd on debut in June (1) MAGARITA got her maiden win in fine style with a dominant all the way effort over 1200M on June 30th. She comes up in class here, but the manner of that win suggests that there is plenty more to come and she should make it two in a row. (6) BACKKTOTHECHAMPION also got his maiden win on his second outing over this trip on July 9th when settling midfield and finishing strongly. He is nicely weighted here, and he too can measure up in this class. (9) SUCCESSFUL got his first win two starts back and then ran a good 2nd on his first try at this class on June 25th when racing handy throughout over the same trip as today. He comes up slightly in the weights but should be very competitive again. The wildcard is (10) RAON THE TANGO who raced once – and won – last September. He offered few clues in a June trial, but he has ability and can’t be dismissed. (2) BURNING PASSION another in the hunt.
| Selections | (1) Magarita (6) Backtothechampion (9) Successful (10) Raon The Tango |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(9) GOLDEN PLUS comes up in class having won two in a row in April and in June at class 4, both over this distance and both times racing on pace. She comes down a full 3.5kg in the weights and while this is much tougher assignment, she can make it three in a row. The biggest danger is (1) FANTASTIC DAY. An all the way winner at this distance in May, he then ran 2nd on his first try at this class, again over the 1200M on June 2nd when leading for much of the way. He continues under a light weight, he draws well to lead again, and he can win. (4) B.K. LOOKS enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes at 1400M and 1200M, both at this class and both in good times. He comes up 2kg in weight but should be there or thereabouts again. Stablemates (8) SPICE ECTON and (3) JEONGMUN DRAGON are among others to keep safe.
| Selections | (9) Golden Plus (1) Fantastic Day (4) B.K. Looks (8) Spice Ecton |
| Next Best | 3, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 9 |
Busan Race 8: Class 2 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(7) GANGSEO GIANT will be favourite to score here. She comes in following a strong and close 3rd place in the KNN Cup, a group race for fillies and mares, over a mile in June and while she did put in a somewhat lacklustre performance at this class and distance two starts back when sent off as favourite but beaten but a couple of today’s rivals, she should have too much here. (4) DAEJI CHOICE dropped back to 1200M and picked up a smart win last time out. That was back in May so he comes in here fresh and while he can mix his form, he is the highest rated horse in the race by some margin and warrants respect. (10) DOCTOR FAITH won that June race at class and distance ahead of Gangseo Giant, making all. He too mixes his form but while he does have to deal with a wide draw, he shouldn’t be dismissed. (5) ONE PICK and (3) TOP FIRE among others with placing claims.
| Selections | (7) Gangseo Giant (4) Daeji Choice (10) Doctor Faith (5) One Pick |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 8, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 