The final Graded race of the first half of the year is the highlight of racing on Sunday with the Owners’ Cup (1600M KOR-G3) being contested at Busan. There are 9 races at Busan from 10:35 to 17:30 and 8 at Seoul from 11:25 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Unusually for a Sunday, we start at Busan and a maiden for fillies only opens proceedings. (4) NEOM CITY has shown steady progress across six starts to date, culmination in a runner-up finish over 1300M on May 26th in a very similar race to this. She can settle in midfield before running on to go one better this time. (10) DREAM TREE ran a fair 4th of twelve on debut over this distance back in March. She has had a further fourteen weeks off since, but she showed a nice late turn of foot that day and she can be a danger. (2) DAESUNG DOLPUNG enters off a to date best of 3rd at 1200M on June 16th. She makes a quick return here and from a nice draw should be in the mix. (8) GOLDMASK and (1) GREEN LEGEND are the other main contenders.
| Selections | (4) Neom City (10) Dream Tree (2) Daesung Dolpung (8) Goldmask |
| Next Best | 1, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 11 |
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(7) CHARON TODAY will be a hot favourite here. A winner and two-time placer before a layoff, she returned from nine months away to run 5th over 1200M on June 14th when leading and running out of steam. She should strip fitter for that run, she should be on pace again, and this limited field may not be able to stop her. (8) MACH MAN will need a line drawn through his latest on May 25th but if we go on his class and distance 3rd two starts back then he is in placing contention here. (1) VALHALLA too was only ordinary on his most appearance in April. He was a good winner over 1200M in February and then proved competitive at this class in March when 5th over 1400M. CC climbs on and from the inside gate, he can be close. (11) TWO TWO LIME and (5) RAINBOW ROAD perhaps the best of a limited rest.
| Selections | (7) Charon Today (8) Mach Man (1) Valhalla (11) Two Two Lime |
| Next Best | 5, 9 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 7, 10 |
Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
The capital opens with a maiden where five of the nine line up for the first time and one of those debut-makers, (3) DAESEONG STAR, will be the strong favourite. He came from off the pace to run 2nd in his trial in late May in a quick time. Moon Se-young is engaged and the two-year-old won’t need to find much on that trial to win this. Of the experience, (2) KYLIE is the best of a weak bunch. She hinted at figuring things out with an improved 5th place on June 1st over 1300M when racing on pace. She will be on speed here and can be close. It gets hard after that. (4) FLYING RED was much improved in a second trial and beat a couple of his fellow debut makers in the process, so that is enough for him to go into the numbers here. (5) GEUMSEONG POWER and (1) CANVASEN GO are experienced ones who may – and may is very much the operative word – improve.
| Selections | (3) Daeseong Star (2) Kylie (4) Flying Red (5) Geumseong Power |
| Next Best | 1, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 5 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Plenty of chances here. (11) COLUMBIA CHAMP come sin off a very close 2nd place over 1200M when coming off the pace from a similarly wide draw. She hasn’t gone well at the 1300M before, but she could be ready for another crack and third-up this preparation following four-months off, she can be peaking fitness-wise. (5) DRAGON PUNCH returns to action for the first time since February. She looked very well when 3rd in a quick trial last week and so long as she didn’t leave her race there, can go well first-up. (7) GONJOHARI got his maiden win at 1200M in April before finishing down the field on his first try at this class and distance on June 2nd. He comes into a better gate today and can be given another chance. (8) FANTASTIC DREAM and (3) YONGSAN KEUNBYEUL among plenty of others in the money frame.
| Selections | (11) Columbia Champ (5) Dragon Punch (7) Gonjohari (8) Fantastic Dream |
| Next Best | 3, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 7 |
Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(4) LEGEND TAP is the one to beat. He enters off a 3rd place over this distance on June 15th when as is his style, he came from off the pace and ran on well. He draws nicely, Moon Se-young takes over in the saddle, and he will take some beating. (5) HIPPODROME has mixed his form across five starts so far but his last outing was a solid one when 4th over 1300M. He comes up to this distance for the first time and he shapes as the main danger. (11) GANGCHEOL JEONSA was an improved 4th at start number three over 1300M on May 19th and can continue to make progress in this company. (9) LONDON GOLD and (1) DAEMUL SOCKS other minor money chances.
| Selections | (4) Legend Tap (5) Hippodrome (11) Gangcheol Jeonsa (9) London Gold |
| Next Best | 1, 10 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(more…)