No Stakes races this weekend but plenty of action nevertheless, getting underway at Busan on Friday where there are 8 races from 11:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
A maiden for juvenile fillies and all nine race for the first time, so it’s to the trial videos that we head. We’ll go with (1) JULGEOUN DONGHANG. She went through two trials, running steadily in both and stopped the clock in good times. She draws nicely, she has the top trainer and jockey combination, and she should be just right for this. (4) BRIGHT MARINE went through just one heat but looked good, running 2nd in a quick time having led for most of the way. She should be on pace here and can be in this a long way. (6) FANTASTIC HIT beat a couple of these when winning a trial on May 25th and looked equally well in a further tune up early this month. (8) EMPIRE DAY and (2) MOTHER POWER, the latter 2nd to Fantastic Hit in that May trial, are others who caught the eye.
| Selections | (1) Julgeoun Donghang (4) Bright Marine (6) Fantastic Hit (8) Empire Day |
| Next Best | 2, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(1) WE LIKE MONEY has shown steady improvement across her seven starts, culminating in a close runner-up finish over 1300M on June 7th when coming from off the pace and running on strongly. She tackles the 1400M for the first time and it may be just what she needs to get over the line in front. (7) YONGBI CHEONWANG has also been showing progress with a 4th and a 3rd from his latest two, most recently at this distance on June 2nd. In this company he can be ridden on pace and has every chance. (10) BIG MUSICAL STAR ran a fair 5th on debut at 1000M on May 31st. He should have come on for that run and the extended trip may be more suitable. (3) HANEUL SINHWA and (5) MUNMAK USANG other placing chances.
| Selections | (1) We Like Money (7) Yongbi Cheonwang (10) Big Musical Star (3) Haneul Sinhwa |
| Next Best | 5, 11 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
One debut-maker in the field and he will be the favourite. (6) GRAND DREAM may already be four years old, but he looked competent when winning a trial on June 1st, leading the whole way around and stopping the clock in a good time. If he brings that form to the races, he’ll be hard to beat. It isn’t an especially intimidating set of opponents. (4) DONGBU CHOEGANG is perhaps the best of the rest, at least based on his last start 4th place over 1400M when he was ridden further forward than in previous starts. Expect similar tactics here and he can be a danger. (3) CHRIS MORE raced twice, badly, last year and was then put away. He returned having been gelded and looked much better when trialling at the end of May and he can be a different prospect this time around. (9) OCEAN ONE TAP and (8) WORLD ANGEL CAT others in the minor money frame.
| Selections | (6) Grand Dream (4) Dongbu Choegang (3) Chris More (9) Ocean One Tap |
| Next Best | 8, 5 |
| Fast Start | 3, 8, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(6) WONDERFUL BIDDER was a winner on debut over 1200M on May 19th when settling midfield and finishing off well. He comes up in class and in trip here but is down in the weights and he can go for two for two. (2) BLACK EAGLE got his maiden at this distance at the beginning of Mar and while he was slowly away on his first try at this class on May 31st, he can be given another chance here at what should be at least each-way odds. (1) META PRINCESS is already a winner at this class. She comes in off back-to-back 5th places and should be doing her best work late here. (4) OVER THE TRIPLE and (5) GWANGYAEUIHAMSUNG are others to consider.
| Selections | (6) Wonderful Bidder (2) Black Eagle (1) Meta Princess (4) Over The Triple |
| Next Best | 5, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(5) MAX THE CAT scored his maiden win over this distance in February and comes n having beaten a couple of today’s rivals on his way to 3rd place, again over the mile, on May 19th when coming from off the pace. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights as a result, but he won under similar, and he can win today. (4) BIG BOY made all to get his maiden win at start number six over 1400M on May 12th. He is up in class and up in trip today but can be on pace again and can measure up. (2) DAESEUNGNIJA is yet to win in nine attempts but has seven top-five finishes to his name and with Seo Seung-un climbing on, will be well back to be close again. (3) STREET ROCK and (7) YONGBI STAR are the other placing chances.
| Selections | (5) Max The Cat (4) Big Boy (2) Daeseungnija (3) Street Rock |
| Next Best | 7, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(5) DALBITSANYANGKKUN is never going to be a race-caller’s friend, but he showed plenty of promise when stepped up to a mile at start number three on May 17th and ran a close 2nd. He comes up slightly in the weights and up to two turns as well and with Seo Seung-un get on, he is sure to be sent off the favourite here. (9) BEOLMAUI MONSTER has a 3rd and a 2nd among three tries at this distance with the runner-up finish last time out on May 24th when he ran on from a handy position. He carries his fair share of weight again, but he can be in the finish. That may mean overturning the form on (7) MILK DAY, who won that May 24th race. That was a big uptick in his recent form, and he does carry more weight here, but the veteran warrants respect. (8) UNJU WINNER and (2) NICE BIG GUY are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) Dalbitsanyangkun (9) Beolmaui Monster (7) Milk Day (8) Unju Winner |
| Next Best | 2, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Fillies and mares only and it’s a tricky one but (5) FANTASTIC WOMAN just about warrants the top pick. She was a winner at this class and distance two starts back and comes in having run 3rd, with a couple of today’s rivals behind her, in a similar race on May 17th She comes up in the weights again but is the one to beat. (11) AUTUMN BREEZE has finished behind Fantastic Woman in both of her last two outings, both times having been sent off more favoured. She mixes her form and has the challenge of the widest gate but if she can find a forward position, she can go close. (6) MASARANGGIL has been working her way closer to another win. She enters off a smart 3rd place over a mile on May 31st and can be competitive again today. The up in class (7) FLEX DAY, along with (4) DOCTOR RICH are others in at least the placing frame.
| Selections | (5) Fantastic Woman (11) Autumn Breeze (6) Masaranggil (7) Flex Day |
| Next Best | 4, 1 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(9) STAR CLASS has had a stop/start career so far and having got his second win last July, he didn’t race again until this February. Since coming back, he has three 2nd places and two 4th places to his name, most recently with back-to-back runner-up finishes over a mile. That brings him up in class here, but he is down a full 4kg in the weights, and he can return to winning ways. (1) BREEDO PRINCE comes up in class following a dominant win over this distance at start number four on June 2nd, coming from off the pace. The manner of that victory suggests there is more to come. (8) ROCKET SORI enters off a smart class and distance 3rd on May 10th with a couple of today’s rivals back down the track and he can be in the mix again. (3) KING ANYDAY and (5) FINAL SEVEN are the other minor money chances.
| Selections | (9) Star Class (1) Breedo Prince (8) Rocket Sori (3) King Anyday |
| Next Best | 5, 10 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 7 |
Horse Racing in Korea 