September’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 11:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million
Juvenile maidens in the opener with ten of the twelve racing for the first time. The two that have raced already didn’t exactly pull up trees on their respective debuts, so we’ll go for the first timers. (4) TEAM PERFECT is the pick having run an on-pace 2nd in her trial, stopping the clock in a good time. If she brings that form to the races, she has every chance first-up here. (5) DAESUNG FLY won her trial in fine fashion running on pace and finishing well in a good time. Just like Team Perfect, if she brings that to the races, she won’t be far away. (12) GEUMA REJOICE ran 2nd in her trial in a fair time. The way she came from off the pace suggests the wide draw won’t be a problem and she is from a top stable. (10) CHRYSOL HERO has raced once and can improve while the amusingly named (11) WORLD THUNDER MAN is another debut maker who can put in a bold showing.
| Selections | (4) Team Perfect (5) Daesung Fly (12) Geuma Rejoice (10) Chrysol Hero |
| Next Best | 11, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
A competitive maiden. (2) BRAVE CAPTAIN has progressed across five starts so far, and enters off back-to-back 2nd places, most recently over this distance on July 30th when settling midfield before improving to sit behind the speed and run on well. She draws well here, and today can be her day. (5) SPRIT FIGHTER races for just the second time. He raced handy throughout his debut over 1000M on August 11th, ultimately finishing in 4th place. He should have derived benefit from that run, the additional trip can suit, and he should be showing some improvement here. (1) HAERANG ISEUL has finished no worse than 4th in three starts so far, most recently in 3rd over this distance on July 2nd. She draws very nicely to be on pace here and should be close once more. (6) THE ONE and (8) HAEUNDAE STAR are others in the frame.
| Selections | (2) Brave Captain (5) Sprit Fighter (1) Haerang Iseul (6) The One |
| Next Best | 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 8 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million
Tricky maiden. Jockey Lee Sung-jae has been in good form of late and he could pick up another win here in the shape of (5) WONDERFUL ONE. He has a 3rd and a 4th from his latest two, racing handy both times and stopping the clock in good fashion. He won’t need to improve much to win here. The boldly named (11) NUMBERONEPICK did precisely nothing on debut being slowly away and continuing to be slow throughout. He has though been back to trial since then (it may not appear in all race cards, so beware), and looked much better, overcoming gate twelve to get on pace and ran very close in a good time. If he can translate that form to the races, then he is right in this. (3) MACH TURBO showed significant improvement when 3rd at start number three over this distance on July 29th and can maintain that momentum here. (7) JEONGMUN LEGEND needs a line drawn though his latest and along with (5) GREAT BOY, is another in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) Wonderful One (11) Numberonepick (3) Mach Turbo (7) Jeongmun Legend |
| Next Best | 5, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
Two standouts here. The Bart Rice and Seo Seung-un connection is enough to make us side with (3) JEONGMUN SPECTER. He remains a maiden after five starts but has four top-four finishes and while he last raced in April, he looked very well when winning a trial in a quick time on a good-rated track on August 19th. So long as he didn’t leave his race there – and he has had almost two weeks to recover – he looks a big chance here. The main danger is (4) CHARON TODAY. She comes up in class following a maiden win at start number two over this distance on July 29th. That was her first run since her nondescript debut last October and she should strip fitter for it. Expect her to be on pace and in this a long way. (9) HWARANG SKY has outperformed her odds in her latest two and under a light weight, warrants respect here. (8) DONGNAM WINNER and (7) DALEHOLRINGWANGDAE others in the minor money hunt.
| Selections | (3) Jeongmun Specter (4) Charon Today (9) Hwarang Sky (8) Dongnam Winner |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 6 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(6) NAMYANG BOLT shapes as a warm favourite here. He comes in having run 2nd and 3rd in his latest two most recently beating a couple of these over 1400M on August 11th when, as is his style, he settled midfield and ran on strongly. He comes up to a mile for the first time and it can suit. (10) HERO J remains a maiden after four attempts but comes up in class here following a few near misses. He comes down significantly in the weights and his running style so far suggests that the step up to a mile can be in his favour. (7) WORLD POINT has raced at this distance before. He does tend to get a bit far back in his races, but he has a good finish on him and if he is withing striking distance, then he should be passing plenty late on. (1) MORO and (2) DOCTOR SHARK others in the frame.
| Selections | (6) Namyang Bolt (10) Hero J (7) World Point (1) Moro |
| Next Best | 2, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) ROAD TO GLORY will be a warm favourite here. He’s a winner of three from seven so far including his latest at class and distance on July 23rd when prominent throughout and beating a couple of today’s rivals in the process. He comes up 3kg in the weights but should have enough about him to win again. (1) WONDERFUL BOBCAT ran 2nd in that July 23rd race, beaten just a head. He only comes up 1.5kg and from a great draw should be a danger again. (2) GREAT ONE was a solid 3rd over 1800M on August 11th. He has run well at this distance too and under a very light weight and from a good gate, he can go close here. (5) CHANGCHANG DAERO and (11) ROCKET SORI are the others to keep safe.
| Selections | (6) Road To Glory (1) Wonderful Bobcat (2) Great One (5) Changchang Daero |
| Next Best | 11, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 7, 8, 11 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) BACKTOTHELEGEND led every step of the way to win at class and distance in a decent time on July 29th. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights and has the challenge of a wider gate here, but he should be equal to both tests, and he can win again. (4) WONDERFUL APPEAL has two 3rd places and a 4th in three starts at this class at 1400M and a mile. She comes up to two turns for the first time and carries a light weight and draws well. She can go close. (7) WONDERFUL FILE was 5th behind Backtothelegend in that July 29th race. She carries the same light weight today and has won at this distance at class 5 level so is not to be dismissed. (11) DALLILLAEYO and (3) SAEKDAL FIGHTER others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (10) Backtothelegend (4) Wonderful Appeal (7) Wonderful File (11) Dallillaeyo |
| Next Best | 3, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(6) HANGANG SAVER ran out a super winner over this distance in a very quick time on July 30th, settling back in midfield and producing a fine finish. He comes up in class here but is significantly down in the weights, and he can win again here. The main danger is (8) HALLOWEEN PARTY. He comes in off back-to-back wins over 1300M and 1200M in July and August, both times racing on pace. The latest of those was at this class and while he does come up in the weights, an apprentice claim takes the edge off. He can be close again today. (11) NAMDO QUEEN and (5) GOLDEN came home 2nd and 5th when they raced one another at class and distance on July 29th and both can be in the placing hunt today. (4) B.K. LOOKS another who can enter the calculations.
| Selections | (6) Hangang Saver (8) Halloween Party (11) Namdo Queen (5) Golden |
| Next Best | 4, 7 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 7, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 