The 2026 racing season gets underway on Friday at Busan with 9 races from 11:15 to 17:55. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Three-year-old maidens kick off the 2026 racing year with five of the twelve racing for the first time. After a decent trial, (8) OASIS STAR ran fairly enough for 5th on debut over 1300M on December 5th despite laying out from the 800M. He should have come on for that run and a little less green today, he can win. (6) SEONGSIL DREAM was a solid 4th on debut over this distance on November 23rd, sitting behind the speed and running on. He too should have come on for the run and is a contender here. After a good start. (4) POWERFUL RUBY knocked up very quickly on debut, finishing well down the field. She previously won a trial and gets another chance here. Of the debut makers. (7) TAESAN SHINHWA and (9) GRAND HERO perhaps look best.
| Selections | (8) Oasis Star (6) Seongsil Dream (4) Powerful Ruby (7) Taesan Shinhwa |
| Next Best | 9, 1 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(9) BULBIT GANGJA has made progress across three starts so far, with his latest his best when 2nd at 1200M on November 23rd racing much further forward than in his previous two starts. Expect similar tactics today, and he can go one better. (6) JEONGMUN SKIP raced once in July without distinction. He looked well when an on pace 4th in a quick trial two weeks ago, and he couldn’t have asked for a better race to reappear in. (5) YEOSU LOOK AT STAR was an improved 4th at start number eight on December 7th and that’s enough to have her in the numbers here. (4) HWARYEOHAN SUNGAN and (3) MY BEST perhaps the best of a limited rest.
| Selections | (9) Bulbit Gangja (6) Jeongmun Skip (5) Yeosu Look At Star (4) Hwaryeohan Sungan |
| Next Best | 3, 12 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 3: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(4) SO GOOD has placed at this distance and enters off a 4th and a 6th, the latter over 1800M, in two starts back since a couple of months off. Third-up he can be peaking fitness-wise and from a good draw and under a light weight, he can win. (5) QUEEN AND SERVE was a somewhat surprising winner two outings back at this class and distance. She couldn’t back up in her latest when laying out abruptly in the home straight but while she loses an apprentice claim here, she gets Tanaka’s experience, and she can be a danger. (1) GWANGYAEUIHAMSEONG mixes his form, but this is the kind of race he can pick up a cheque in under a 4kg claimer. (9) LEMON TREE and (6) DRAGON DEVIL are other chances.
| Selections | (4) So Good (5) Queen And Serve (1) Gwangyaeuihamsung (9) Lemon Tree |
| Next Best | 6, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(6) ACE SUN had a difficult day at the office when well supported over 1400M on December 5th, stumbling at the start before using up plenty of energy to get forward and then not seeing out the trip. Prior to that, he had registered a win and two 2nd places and back in trip today, he is worth another chance. (7) HANNAM QUEEN similarly needs a line through her latest when scarcely being involved over 1300M on December 7th. She was on a run of three consecutive placings at this class and distance before that and she too can be better today. (5) JJAK SARANG beat a couple of today’s rivals on his way to 5th place at class and distance two weeks ago and that’s enough to have him in the mix here. (4) WHITE STAR and (10) WONDER MOCCASIN other place chances.
| Selections | (6) Ace Sun (7) Hannam Queen (5) Jjak Sarang (4) White Star |
| Next Best | 10, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Competitive race. After finishing 3rd and 2nd in two runs in the summer, (11) BEOLMAUI GANGJA returned to action on December 5th and got his maiden win, racing on pace all the way. He comes up in class and does have the challenge of the widest gate, but he can strip fitter for that run and can win again. (8) AEGIS CROWN is up in class having scored his maiden win over this distance on November 30th. He is down in weight and can measure up in this company. (1) GWANGSOKMA is more experienced and while he has won just one of twenty-two starts, his recent form has been consistent, and he can be in the finish here. (2) TIGER MONSTER and (10) HOLY RUN the other main chances.
| Selections | (11) Beolmaui Gangja (8) Aegis Crown (1) Gwangsokma (2) Tiger Monster |
| Next Best | 10, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(12) FAST MAN was 4th in the Rookie Stakes and then 4th and 5th in Listed Juvenile company before finally getting his maiden win at the sixth time of asking over 1300M on December 5th when leading all the way over 1300M. He comes up in class and slightly in trip, but he can overcome that and the wide gate to win again. (2) SUCCESS COW came from well off the pace to run 4th at this class and distance on December 5th with a couple of today’s rivals behind him. He draws much better this time and can be in the finish. (8) BORYEONGUI SINYONG is up in class having come from off the pace to score in a filly only maiden at the end of November. She is down in weight, and the extended trip can suit. (5) SEOBU EAGLE and (7) ARION TAEYANG among other placing chances.
| Selections | (12) Fast Man (2) Success Cow (8) Boryeongui Sinyong (5) Seobu Eagle |
| Next Best | 7, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 8, 11, 12 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(3) BEOLGYO MASULSA was a winner over this distance two starts back at class 4 level and then ran 2nd to Young Skywalker on his first try at this class on November 28th, beating plenty of today’s rivals in the process. He is up 2.5kg in weight but should go one better here. (9) WONDERFUL JONES was a very close 2nd at this class over a mile on December 5th, coming from well off the pace. He tackles 1800M for the first time and it can suit. (5) STORM FIGHTER has a win and a 2nd place from his latest two, both at this class and distance. He carries his fair share of weight here, but he can be in the finish again. (12) DAEHO NARA and (11) SEOGWI FLASH others who can be in the mix.
| Selections | (3) Beolgyo Masulsa (9) Wonderful Jones (5) Storm Fighter (12) Daeho Nara |
| Next Best | 11, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(2) GEUMA ADEPT is a winner of two from three with his only defeat so far coming in Listed Juvenile company. He was a strong winner over 1200M last time out and while that brings him up in class and in trip, he draws nicely, Seo Seung-un stays on, and he looks to have plenty of potential. (3) SUCCESS POWER comes in off a very narrow defeat last time out at class and distance on November 28th when he led until late on. He can be on or close to the pace again and in this a long way. (9) SKY WIN WIN is an import so has begun his career at this level and hinted at ability when 3rd at start two over 1200M. The step up in trip can suit and he may make for some each-way appeal. The form drops off rapidly but (5) DOCTOR CASTLE and (1) TROUBLEMAKER are other place chances.
| Selections | (2) Geuma Adept (3) Success Power (9) Sky Win Win (5) Doctor Castle |
| Next Best | 1, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 9 |
Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(4) BEOLMA KING is a winner of six from eleven so far, including his latest at 1400M on December 5th when coming from off the pace. He is a two-time winner at this trip too and with his heavy weight countered by a good gate, if there is some pace to run at, he can win again. (6) EUNBIT DAERO comes in off back-to-back 3rd place finishes at this class and distance and is the likely pacesetter. Seo Seung-un is one for one on him and returns to the ride. He will need to overturn the form on (5) GOLDEN AIR, who has beaten Eunbit Daero in both his latest two, most notably when winning at class and distance on December 19th. He is up in weight but is not to be dismissed. There is a big drop off after those three with (1) B.K. ZENA and (3) QUEEN TYCHE perhaps the most likely to arrest recent disappointing form.
| Selections | (4) Beolma King (6) Eunbit Daero (5) Golden Air (1) B.K. Zena |
| Next Best | 3, 10 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 9 |
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