Day: November 16, 2023

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (November 17)

President’s Cup weekend gets underway at Busan on Friday with 9 races from 11:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener with six of the twelve racing for the first time. It will be one of those first-timers who is the favourite. (8) ASTRO KING went through two trials, running on pace in both and finishing 2nd in both. His times were fast, especially in the second of those trials, and if he brings that form to the races, he will take some beating. (4) HI CHAMP led for most of the way around on debut over this distance on October 20th, ultimately finishing a close 2nd in a decent time. He draws nicely to be on pace, and he can be a big threat to the newcomer. (3) ARION KING has raced twice and while both efforts have been a touch plain, his time in his latest was good. He is another who can be on speed and can improve again here. (2) HI LEGEND and debut maker (6) CHEONHA GEONGANG others in the frame.

Selections(8) Astro King (4) Hi Champ (3) Arion King (2) Hi Legend
Next Best6, 12
Fast Start3, 4, 8, 9

Busan Race 2: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Twelve imported juveniles go around here with six racing for the first time. The six who have raced once each all did it in the same race over 1000M on October 20th and it was (9) BEOLMAUI YEONGUNG who ran out the winner, racing on pace throughout.  They stretch out to 1200M today but there seems little reason to oppose him following up. The main danger this time could be one of the first timers. (4) BIWOL sat midfield in his trial before running on strongly to cross the line in front in a quick time. 1200M should suit first up and he can go close. (11) VICE ROYAL ran 3rd in that October 20th race and that’s enough to put him in the numbers here. (7) TROUBLE MARINE was 4th and along with newcomer (8) NICE BIG GUY, is another who could trouble the scorers.

Selections(9) Beolmaui Yeongung (4) Biwol (11) Vice Royal (7) Trouble Marine
Next Best8, 3
Fast Start1, 4, 7, 9

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Fillies only in this maiden and (1) AUTUMN BREEZE will be hot favourite. It took her a couple of goes to figure things out, but she has posted a 3rd and a 2nd in her latest two at 1300M and 1200M, both times racing on pace and both in quick times. She draws very nicely again and won’t need to improve much to win this. (3) SANGIM STAR has shown steady improvement across three appearances so far, most recently a runner-up finish at this distance on October 20th when handy throughout. She can be in the mix here. She will be vying for 2nd-favourite status with (2) UNJU TWO HEARTS. She too has a 2nd place on her resume which came back in August over this distance. She followed up with a 4th place on October 20th in a stronger race than this and she should be there or thereabouts again. (6) LUCKY HIT and (9) WONDERFUL KAYLAN others in the frame.

Selections(1) Autumn Breeze (3) Sangim Star (2) Unju Two Hearts (6) Lucky Hit
Next Best9, 5
Fast Start1, 2, 3, 5

Busan Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Two standouts here who come in off identical results on their respective debuts. (10) BEAT DRAGON had hinted at having some speed in his trials and he came from off the pace to run 4th on debut over 1200M on October 27th. He was doing his best work late and the step up to 1400M should suit. (2) HI WINNER was also 4th on debut, in her case on October 29th when settling midfield and running on over 1200M. She too should have come on for that experience and can also appreciate the additional furlong. (5) SSING GA will need a line drawn through her latest, but she has a runner-up finish to her name over 1300M and on that form she can be competitive here. (11) ILNYEOM SINHWA and (6) TODAY QUEEN are others in the placing frame.

(more…)