Day: July 18, 2024

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 19)

It’s been a wet week in Korea as the monsoon season is in full flow and that could continue across the racing weekend. The action gets underway at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 12:10 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener, with six of the eleven racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience though and (6) ARION TAEYANG is the only one in the field to have raced twice, running 4th on debut over 1000M at the end of May before finishing a very close 2nd at start number two on June 28th, racing on pace and finishing in a quick time. Third-up she can have the edge fitness-wise on these and she can go one better.  (5) JULGEOUN DONGHANG didn’t have the smoothest of trips on debut over 1000M on June 21st, but she overcame it to run on well for 3rd. She should have benefitted from the experience and the step up in trip can suit. (10) MORE AND MORE debuted in the June 21st race, running 4th just over a length behind Julgeoun Donghang. Franco climbs up and she too can improve. Among the debut makers, (2) SWORD WING and (9) SHACKLE SUN look to have the best chance of an immediate impact.

Selections(6) Arion Taeyang (5) Julgeoun Donghang (10) More And More (2) Sword Wing
Next Best9, 7
Fast Start6, 7, 9, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Maidens (of any age) with four of the eleven racing for the first time. (8) WATER DRAGON looked green in his trial, but he still won it with dismissive ease in a decent time with minimal urging. If he brings that form to the races, he can win. (3) BACK TO THE LADY has raced twice, finishing 4th on debut on June 16th and then improving to 2nd at start number two on July 5th, both at this distance and in the latter, racing on pace. She makes a quick return here and from a good draw it can be a winning one. (6) RUN TO QUEEN enters off a smart 3rd place in a good time over this distance on June 28th when racing handy. She also has a 2nd to her name and will probably be the betting favourite. Among the debut-makers, (7) DONGNAM GANGTAJA won a trial last November but never made it to the races. He has been in consistent work since April and returned to trial again in July, running 2nd in a decent time. Seo Seung-un being engaged suggests hopes are high first-up. (5) WHO IS NEXT another first-timer to look out for.

Selections(8) Water Dragon (3) Back To The Lady (6) Run To Queen (7) Dongnam Gangtaja
Next Best5, 4
Fast Start1, 3, 4, 8

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies only here. (11) RAON THE LEGEND has made progress across three starts so far with her latest being her best when 3rd over 1300M on June 26th. The slight step up in trip can be in her favour, the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and she can win this. (8) WE LIKE MONEY was a very close 2nd two starts back over 1300M before running 5th on her first try at this distance on June 21st. She has a smart finish on her and can be a danger late on here. (2) NEW LEADER was an improved 4th at start number three over 1200M on July 5th when coming from midfield. She makes a quick return here and from a good gate and with Munro up, she can get closer again. (9) GOLDEN NICE has a 3rd and a couple of 4th places to her name and should appreciate the step up in trip. (10) LUCKY HIT, who beat Raon The Legend when 2nd last time out, is another to consider.

Selections(11) Raon The Legend (8) We Like Money (2) New Leader (9) Golden Nice
Next Best10, 5
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 11

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Strong race for the level with no fewer than four up in class following last start maiden wins. Not among them is (10) WONDERFUL BIDDER, who was a winner on debut over 1200M in May before running 3rd when favourite for his first try at this class and distance on June 21st. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem as he has demonstrated he has a strong finish, and he can win here. That will mean overturning the form on (7) GWANGYAEUIHAMSUNG, who ran 2nd in that June 21st race having settled behind the speed and then run on. That continued a consistent run of form, and he can be in the finish again. (2) KING DRAGON may be the best of those up in class having won at start number two over 1200M back in April. He hasn’t raced since but looks nicely in here from a good gate and with Franco up. (3) BIG MUSICAL STAR and (4) CHEONHA SARANG among others in at least the placing hunt.

Selections(10) Wonderful Bidder (7) Gwangyaeuihamsung (2) King Dragon (3) Big Musical Star
Next Best4, 6
Fast Start2, 3, 10, 11

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

The only juvenile in the race, (1) OASIS RED got his maiden win at start number two on June 28th, leading for most of the way around over a mile. He comes up in class and up to two turns, but his trainer has a track record of successfully sending youngsters around 1800M very early, and he can win again here. (4) YEONGGWANGUICLASS remains a maiden after thirteen attempts but has plenty of near-misses with six to-three finishes. That includes his latest three, all at this class and distance and beating a few of today’s rivals, and while he comes up 2kg in the weights, he should be finishing strongly here. (7) THEIA is a winner of just one from twenty but has been getting progressively closer in her latest few and she should be there or thereabouts again. Up in class pair of (11) GOAT KING IJI (beaten by Oasis Red last time) and (10) SUNCHEON YEOWANG may offer some each-way value.

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