The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 9 races from 11:25 to 18:00, Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Three-year-old maidens with five of the eleven racing for the first time. (11) GREAT TOP led for much of the way around on debut, ultimately finishing in 3rd place over 1200M. He has the challenge of the widest gate here but Seo Seung-un gets on and he can have come on for that run. (5) YEONGGWANGUI HONEY trialed well but got off to a bad start on debut before running-on well enough for 5th. She’s had eleven weeks off and a stalls test since then and with better manners she can improve today. Of the first timers, (3) TEUTA trailed well in January running 2nd having been handy throughout. Times don’t mean much at the moment, so she draws well and has every chance first-up. (2) SEUNGNI YEYAK and (10) MEANINGFUL TIME, the latter another debut-maker, others who could figure.
| Selections | (11) Great Top (5) Yeonggwangui Honey (3) Teuta (2) Seungni Yeyak |
| Next Best | 10, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 8, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) GLOBAL HIGH has a 3rd, a 2nd and a 4th from his three starts so far, all at 1200M. He has shown both on pace and come from behind, depending on his draw so in today’s company he should be on or close to the speed, and he can get it right. (12) EAST SUN led for much of the way around at this distance on January 26th, ultimately finishing in 3rd, her second time finding just two too quick. She has to contend with the widest gate here but if she can find a handy position, she should be in the finish. (7) SUCCESS COW has picked up in his latest couple with a 3rd and a 2nd at this distance and 1400M. He has been one-paced but should have enough about him to challenge for a place again. Last start runner-up (1) HANEUL POKPUNG will be on pace and in this a long way. (11) HOUND POKER is another chance.
| Selections | (3) Global High (12) East Sun (7) Success Cow (1) Haneul Pokpung |
| Next Best | 11, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 12 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(11) DONGBANG JEONSA has made progress across three starts so far, culminating in a 2nd place at this distance on January 10th, when settling midfield and running on. He’ll want a forward position early so may need a touch of luck at the start from the wide draw, but he shapes as the one to beat here. (8) BABEL COME ON ran 3rd in that January 10th race, her best to date when handy throughout. Expect similar tactics today and she can be close again. (7) TRIPLE J has shown his best in trials so far without managing to bring it to the races. It’s sixteen weeks since we saw him in the afternoon, but he looked – as ever – well when 3rd in a January trial, and he has to be given another chance in this company. (3) ARIONUI GEOM has finished 5th in both outings so far, beating a couple of these along the way and that’s enough to expect him to improve. (5) DIVINE KINGDOM another with place hopes.
| Selections | (11) Dongbang Jeonsa (8) Babel Come On (7) Triple J (3) Arionui Geom |
| Next Best | 5, 6 |
| Fast Start | 6, 8, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) YULIM SESANG will be favourite. He got his win over this distance at start number two last November when leading all the way and has since run 3rd and 2nd in two tries at this level, beating plenty of today’s rivals in the process. He’ll be on the speed and should return to winning ways. (10) CHEONGWAN got her maiden win at the third time of asking on November 15th when leading all the way over this distance. She comes up in class but is down 2kg in the weights and she can measure up in this company. (1) KING FIGHTER scored at this class and distance at big odds on January 17th, leading all the way. He was third-up that day so could have been peaking, and he is up 3kg in weight, but he shouldn’t be dismissed. (8) BURUI PYEONGHWA and (2) GLORY GANGSEO others to consider.
| Selections | (9) Yulim Sesang (10) Cheongwan (1) King Fighter (8) Burui Pyeonghwa |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (4) DRAGON PUNCH returned from over six months off on January 17th to run 4th over 1200M, sitting handy throughout and running on well. She should strip fitter for that run and is the one to beat here. (10) CHRYSOL HERO broke through at start eleven over this distance in a filly maiden on January 10th, coming from off the pace. She comes up in class here but is down in weight and may make for some appeal at a probable each-way price. (3) SEUNGNI GITBAL was a winner at this class and distance in a very similar race to this on January 5th, sweeping home from well back. She’s up in weight but comes into a better gate and a repeat shouldn’t be completely ruled out. (2) SEVEN QUEEN and (12) MOTHER CHUKJE others in the frame.
| Selections | (4) Dragon Punch (10) Chrysol Hero (3) Seungni Gitbal (2) Seven Queen |
| Next Best | 12, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 11, 12 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
It’s been a while between drinks, but (3) SEOGWI OREUM has been getting closer across recent starts with two 3rd places and a 2nd from his latest three. Last time on January 10th he led close to home at this class and distance and nicely drawn, he can go one better today. That will mean overturning the form on (2) ARION TAEYANG, who won that January 10th race, overcoming an uncharacteristically bad start to run on beautifully. He comes up a full 3.5kg in the weights but that’s balanced a little by a much better gate, and he can repeat. (5) BURUI TONGCHI races for the first time since last May. He has shown very good promise before the layoff and having won a January trial in fine order he can be supported first-up. (8) WORLD PINK CAT and the veteran (10) DAEHOMA among others in the hunt.
| Selections | (3) Seogwi Oreum (2) Arion Taeyang (5) Burui Tongchi (8) World Pink Cat |
| Next Best | 10, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 4, 6 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Fillies and mares only. (7) HUIMANG RANI won her first two starts at 1200M and 1300M to get rapidly promoted to this level and has run 4th in both her class 4 tries, both over the mile. In this company she should be on pace and back in restricted filly and mare company, she can return to the winner’s circle. (3) CATCH THE DREAM made all to win over 1300M on January 17th, taking her record to two from four. She comes up in class and in trip, but is down in weight, draws well, and she can measure up. (12) MAX THE DRAGON enters off back-to-back runner-up finishes at class and distance. That brings him up in weight, but his running style means the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and he can be challenging late. (5) AMUR and (1) HAMAN BONGHWASAN among plenty of others in contention in a competitive race.
| Selections | (7) Huimang Rani (3) Catch The Dream (12) Max The Dragon (5) Amur |
| Next Best | 1, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) GASOK JEIL has been getting closer in his lates starts, most recently when 2nd at this class and distance on January 12th. He likes to settle back and run on, and he can be powering through late here. (10) DOCTOR NEXT ran 3rd to Gasok Jeil’s 2nd when they raced one another at class and distance in that January 12th race. He gets a weight swing this time and he can be a danger. (12) BLACK FALCON has been racing in tougher company than this and while he doesn’t win out of turn, he looks to be nicely in here and should be a threat coming from off the pace. (4) BEAT DRAGON and (9) GUKDAE HERO are among plenty of others in contention for the places.
| Selections | (3) Gasok Jeil (10) Doctor Next (12) Black Falcon (4) Beat Dragon |
| Next Best | 9, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(9) ONEULISUNGAN is a winner of four from seven, most recently over this distance on January 3rd when settling midfield and running on. He comes up in class here but is down a full 5kg in weight, and he can win again. (3) AUTUMN BREEZE beat a couple of these on his way to win at this class and distance on January 3rd. He was a longshot that day and lightning probably won’t strike twice, but he can be there or thereabouts. (12) KING DRAGON mixes his form but is a winner of four from eight so shouldn’t be ignored here. (10) RAON STRONG was 3rd behind Autumn Breeze last time out and along with (11) FIRE MAGIC is one of plenty who can compete for at least the places.
| Selections | (9) Oneulisungan (3) Autumn Breeze (12) King Dragon (10) Raon Strong |
| Next Best | 11, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 12 |
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