The weekend’s action gets underway at Busan on Friday with 9 races from 11:25 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Three-year-old maidens with nine of the twelve racing for the first time. (9) FLASH PARK went through two trials, winning one and running a close 3rd in the second, both in quick times. Both times he was going well late so the draw shouldn’t be a problem, and he can win first-up. Of the experienced ones, (12) FLYING RACE has appeared twice, improving to 2nd at start number two over this distance in December. He’s had eleven weeks off since, but that experience can be important here. (11) TOP DOG did nothing on debut last September but looked much better prospect when a close 2nd in a January trial and should be better this time around. (3) STUKA led all the way to win his trial with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. (5) APDOJEOK NUMBERONE another who hinted at ability across a couple of trials.
| Selections | (9) Flash Park (12) Flying Race (11) Top Dog (3) Stuka |
| Next Best | 5, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(3) UNLIMITED RUN was an improved 3rd at start number two on January 24th, settling midfield and running on. Third up he can be peaking, Seo Seung-un climbs on, and he is the one to beat. (4) STARTMAN ran a solid 3rd on debut over this distance on January 24th racing handy throughout. He should have come on for the run and has every chance of matching or bettering that here. (6) DALBITWIE needs line drawn through his latest in December when luckless and coming back slightly lame. He was back in work within a week, and he has placed at this trip as recently as November. (10) DONGNAM DOLPUNG is next best and then the form drops off the proverbial cliff. Without much confidence (11) SHACKLE SUN will probably be fifth in the market.
| Selections | (3) Unlimited Run (4) Startman (6) Dalbitwie (10) Dongnam Dolpung |
| Next Best | 11, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(5) BARBELL MOMO comes in having beaten three of these on his way to 2nd place on his first try at a mile on January 24th. He was slow away and went right back before running on very pleasingly and a similar effort today should see him go one better. (9) YEOSU GUARDIAN was one of those behind Barbell Momo that day, coming home 5th. At the start before he was a good 3rd, also over the mile, and he shapes as one of the dangers. (4) EAGLE POWER was the longest but one shot on the board in that race. He defied that to run a good 4th and with an apprentice keeping his weight light, he can match or better that here. (3) DREAM TREE and (12) FLYING ICE are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) Barbell Momo (9) Yeosu Guardian (4) Eagle Power (3) Dream Tree |
| Next Best | 12, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 8, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies only here. (12) B.K DANCING GIRL will be favourite having run 3rd on debut before winning in an utterly facile manner at start number two over 1200M on January 19th leading all the way. She comes up in class and in trip but is down in the weights and the manner of that win suggests there is more to come. (9) BLACK EQUUS similarly scored at start two, in her case over this distance on January 19th coming from off the pace. This is harder but Munro stays on and she can measure up. (1) AWESOME SUNRISE is a nineteen-race maiden but has nine top three finishes and from the inside gate, this is the kind of race she can find the money in again. (3) MUSKET GIRL and (10) SIMON STAR among plenty of others with at least placing chances.
| Selections | (12) B.K Dancing Girl (9) Black Equus (1) Awesome Sunrise (3) Musket Girl |
| Next Best | 10, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 12 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(8) BEOLMA KING was a winner on debut over 1300M in November before running 3rd on his first try at this class over the same trip on December 13th. He comes in fresh following ten weeks off and while there will be the question as to whether the 1200M is too sharp, he has every chance. (2) SPEED TOP will probably be the betting favourite. He won on debut at 1200M last November before running 2nd on his first try at this class on December 29th, beating a few of these in the process. He draws nicely to be on pace and third-up he can be peaking. (9) SING FOR ME was similarly a winner on debut before running midfield on his first try at this class on January 24th. He can settle back and run in and can be a danger late here. (7) ROAD TO THUNDER and (12) MR.WOLF are other chances.
| Selections | (8) Beolma King (2) Speed Top (9) Sing For Me (7) Road To Thunder |
| Next Best | 12, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(5) BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN has won two of her latest three, most recently at this class and distance on January 12th when sitting midfield before finishing strongly. She comes up 2.5kg in weight but should have enough about her to win again here. The unkindly named (7) FAT BOY got his maiden win over a mile two starts back before stepping up to this class and distance for the first time on January 26th and running a fair 5th. He has a strong finish on him and can challenge late here. (12) SWORD WING’s maiden win had been coming and it eventually arrived at a mile on January 24th, coming from well off the pace. He is up in class and in trip here but down in weight and can measure up. (4) ASTIN MARINE and (6) RICH TREE others to consider.
| Selections | (5) Boryeonglightqueen (7) Fat Boy (12) Sword Wing (4) Astin Marine |
| Next Best | 6, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 10 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
It took (1) HWANGJE nine races to break through, but he did so in fine style at this class and distance on January 24th. He comes up a full 3.5kg in weight, but that’s balanced by a good draw, and he is favoured to go back-to-back in what is a more modest race. Veteran (9) TOP FRIEND ran 5th in that race and two starts back beat Hwangje when 2nd at this class and distance. He doesn’t win out of turn, but this is the kind of race in which he regularly finds the money. (3) OASIS WINNER has hinted at ability across his four starts so far and from a good draw and under a light weight can play a role. (5) STELL LUNA and (10) QUEEN’S ROAD are others who can challenge for the minors.
| Selections | (1) Hwangje (9) Top Friend (3) Oasis Winner (5) Stell Luna |
| Next Best | 10, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 5, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(9) BLUE POINT finally got his maiden win at the thirteenth time of asking over this distance on January 26th. It had been coming following a series of near misses and while up in class, he is down in weight and in this company, he can repeat. (7) DAESEUNGNIJA has also won just the once but has no fewer than twelve top five finishes from fifteen starts. That includes last time out when a solid 3rd at this class and distance and while he does tend to get a long way back, he can be challenging late here. (11) CHRYSOL SIERRA is up in class having scored at this trip on January 27th and with a big weight drop can be competitive. (6) SEONGSIL SIHWA and (3) BROWN FALCON among others in the frame.
| Selections | (9) Blue Point (7) Daeseungnija (11) Chrysol Sierra (6) Seongsil Sihwa |
| Next Best | 3, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Competitive finale. (6) YOUR TURN won four of her first six and while she seems to have found her level in her latest couple with back-to-back 4th places over 1800M. She has a win and a 2nd from two tries at a mile and fairly weighted and nicely drawn, she has as much chance as any. (3) DESPITE WIN returned from nine months out to run a close 2nd over 1200M on January 17th. He has four top two finishes from five outings and should strip fitter for that run when he was slowly away but ran on very well. The step up to a mile can suit. (9) FLYING KHAN and (10) GLORY CROWN came home 1st and 2nd with little between them at this class and distance on January 19th. Both are up in weight with a swing in favour of Glory Crown, and both can be competitive again. (2) VOLCANO GRIT among plenty of other chances.
| Selections | (6) Your Turn (3) Despite Win (9) Flying Khan (10) Glory Crown |
| Next Best | 2, 12 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 8, 9 |
Horse Racing in Korea 