There is a 9-race Boxing Day card at Busan from 11:15 to 18:00. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens with five of the twelve racing for the first time. The experience gets the verdict though with (11) YOUNGYOUNG BRAVO on top. After running 4th on debut, he came back out on November 30th and was a very close 2nd over this distance, showing handy throughout. He draws a touch wider than ideal but should go one better today. (9) BAMTORI BAMBAM has a 4th and a 3rd from two starts so far, most recently at this distance on December 12th. Third up he too can be peaking and can get closer. (1) YONGBI JJANG looks the pick of the debut makers having won a trial in November. From the inside gate he can be on the speed and in this a long way. (10) GOAT MAN too hinted at ability in his trial and can go well first up. Returning to the experience, (3) POWERFUL THUNDER can improve on a fair debut.
| Selections | (11) Youngyoung Bravo (9) Bamtori Bambam (1) Yongbi Jjang (10) Goat Man |
| Next Best | 3, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 9, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Fillies only in this maiden and it’s wide open. (7) DOKKI TIGER debuted over 1200M on November 16th settling back and running on well for 5th. She should have come on for that run, the step up in trip can suit, and she has as good a chance as any here. (5) MOMENTUM has a fair 5th and 6th from two starts so far, both at 1200M and from a good draw is another who may appreciate that distance rise. (8) QUEEN THE GOLD is the most experienced in the race and while that’s not really a good thing in a maiden, she does come in off a 3rd place over 1200M on December 12th and she can aim to match that in this company. (4) BREEDO QUEEN STAR and (2) MYEONGPUM PLAY are others in the frame.
| Selections | (7) Dokki Tiger (5) Momentum (8) Queen The Gold (4) Breedo Queen Star |
| Next Best | 2, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(5) BEAT BOY has shown progress across three starts so far, most recently 4th when stepped up to a mile for the first time on November 21st and racing handy throughout. He should have derived benefit from that experience and won’t need to improve much on that effort to win here. (3) FLYING SHOOTER was a much-improved 3rd over 1300M on December 5th, coming from midfield. He tackles 1600M for the first time and with an apprentice keeping his weight very light, he can be a danger. (7) TAMNA BRAVO comes in having run 4th at 1300M on November 30th. He has been doing his best work late and is another who can take to the extended distance. (6) FINAL ATTACK and (10) FLYING ICE among others in the frame.
| Selections | (5) Beat Boy (3) Flying Shooter (7) Tamna Bravo (6) Final Attack |
| Next Best | 10, 1 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 5, 7 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(6) DAESEONG GOLD was an all the way winner over 1000M on debut and was then 4th on his first try at this class on November 16th when on pace again. Seo Seung-un climbs on for the first time, he draws well in the centre to lead again, and he should go all the way. It took (2) SEOGWI CREST plenty of trials to make it to the track, but it was worth the weight as he scored on debut on November 14th at this distance racing handy. She is up in class but down in weight and she can measure up. (5) SONGJEONG TODAY and (7) ROAD TO CLEO have identical records of having won on their debuts before finishing 6th on their respective first tries at this class and both can be aiming to improve today. Veteran (11) DAEHOMA can sneak some minor money in this kind of race.
| Selections | (6) Daeseong Gold (2) Seogwi Crest (5) Songjeong Today (7) Road To Cleo |
| Next Best | 11, 8 |
| Fast Start | 5, 7, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(4) SEOBU DANCING returned from four months out to run a fair 5th over 1200M on December 12th. He has placed at this distance before and stripping fitter for that run, he has every chance here. The danger and probable betting favourite is (2) FANTASTIC EAGLE. He got his maiden win at start number two over 1200M in October and has since run 5th and 4th in two tries at this class, most recently at this distance on November 28th. He is up slightly in weight but Seo Seung-un stays on and he can win. (11) MAGIC SHOW is up in class following three consecutive 3rd place finishes. She comes down 3kg in weight, she evidently liked this distance last time, and she can make for some each-way appeal. (6) SING FOR ME and (5) DOCTOR MATTERS others in the hunt.
| Selections | (4) Seobu Dancing (2) Fantastic Eagle (11) Magic Show (6) Sing For Me |
| Next Best | 5, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(8) BREEDO SOL won back-to-back races at 1200M and a mile in September and October before finishing down the field in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie in November over 1400M. The two turns can suit, she returns to shallower waters today, and she is the one to beat. (1) TANTAN DAERO has placed in both his latest two, including on e at this distance. He likes to settle midfield and run on, and he can be in the finish again. (2) CAPTAIN DRAGON had a poor day at the office when drawn wide at this class and distance last time out. He comes into a much better gate today and can be given another chance. (6) ALL THE BEST and (5) MUHAN NAREUSHA are others who will be in the market.
| Selections | (8) Breedo Sol (1) Tantan Daero (2) Captain Dragon (6) All The Best |
| Next Best | 5, 12 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(3) UNION CHAMP comes out of the final two legs of the Queens’ Tour where she ran 7th of sixteen in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup at Seoul over 2000M and then 5th of eleven in the Breeders’ Cup Queen over 1800M here in November. She has seven top two finishes from ten starts in total and back in more amenable company today, she will be a short price favourite to return to winning ways. (4) RAON VIBE MAN enters off a 3rd and a 4th from his latest two, both at this class and distance and can be there or thereabouts again. (5) BRUG KINGMAN is a two time winner at this distance and hinted at a return to form when 5th last time out. (11) MAGARITA and (6) BLACK SPRING others to consider on a place line.
| Selections | (3) Union Champ (4) Raon Vibe Man (5) Brug Kingman (11) Magarita |
| Next Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) CLUTCH WINNER was a very impressive winner on debut over 1400M, leading all the way, but had a hard time at start number two when hindered at the start and getting caught in kickback. It was intended that he would run in a valuable race for imported juveniles this month, but it didn’t fill, so he comes here instead, the mile can suit, and if he can find a forward position, he can win. (11) FLYING CROWN was a winner at this class over 1400M on November 9th coming from well off the pace and while that means he carries his fair share of weight here, he can be a threat. (4) TUHON FIGHTER scored at this class and distance in a filly only affair last time out and nicely drawn, should be closer. (2) OASIS WINNER and (5) AIR CITY among others who can be considered.
| Selections | (8) Clutch Winner (11) Flying Crown (4) Tuhon Fighter (2) Oasis Winner |
| Next Best | 5, 3 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Competitive finale and we’ll take a chance on (8) WONDAEHAN KKUM. A winner of three form nine, including two at this distance and one at this class, he returns to action for the first time since July, but he looked well in a trial at the beginning of this month, and he can pick up from where he left off. (3) WORLD TOP TIER is up in class following two wins and a 2nd from her latest three. Two of those were over the mile and down considerably in weight, she can continue her good run of form. (7) ARION KING CAR enters off back-to-back 2nd places at this class over 1400M and can be in the mix again. (5) SEVEN DRAGON and (2) BLACK FALCON others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (8) Wondaehan Kkum (3) World Top Tier (7) Arion King Car (5) Seven Dragon |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 10, 12 |
Horse Racing in Korea 