The weekend’s racing kicks off at Busan on Friday with a 9-race meeting from 11:15 to 17:55. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 5 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Three-year-old maiden fillies with five of the twelve racing for the first time. (12) VICTORIA CHUKJE was 2nd on debut over this distance on November 28th, settling midfield and finishing off well in what was a slow race. She has the challenge of the widest gate here but should have come on for the run and can go one better. (10) DUBAI CANDY was a fair 3rd on debut, running on. It was an even slower race than Victoria Chukje’s, but she too should have derived benefit. Turning to the first-timers, (2) NORTHERN QUEEN was a handy 4th in her heat and from a good draw can be on pace here. (4) YEOUN and (7) NINETEEN NINE WON others who hinted at ability in their heats.
| Selections | (12) Victoria Chukje (10) Dubai Candy (2) Northern Queen (4) Yeoun |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Small but useful field. (1) DOCTOR CHRIS has finished in the top three in all five starts so far and was an all the way winner over this distance at class 5 level in October before running 3rd on his first try at this class on November 28th. He can lead here and this time got home in front. (5) FLYING THE KHAN has a win and three placings at this distance, most recently 3rd on December 12th when racing three of today’s rivals. He is under a light weight, Seo Seung-un climbs on, and he has to rate as a chance. He will need to overturn the form on (8) BACKTOTHECHAMPION, who was 2nd in that December 12th race at big odds on his first start since September. He can strip fitter for that effort and warrants respect. (4) BLUE POINT and last start winner (7) TRIPLE DREAM others to consider.
| Selections | (1) Doctor Chris (5) Flying The Khan (8) Backtothechampion (4) Blue Point |
| Next Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 7 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(4) PISTOL CUT’s maiden win had been coming, and it arrived at start number three over this distance on December 12th when she led all the way. She is up in class here, but she draws well to lead again, she is down in weight, and she can go back-to-back. (3) APDOJEOK NUMBERONE beat three of today’s rivals on his way to 2nd place at this class and distance on December 12th, settling back and running on. Leaving himself a bit much to do has been a characteristic but he gets a 4kg claim and should be in the finish. (2) DAEHOMA runs every couple of weeks and while perhaps not a winning chance, can match his 3rd place on Boxing Day with a better gate to boot. (6) CRUELLA and (5) ILLUSION are perhaps the best of a limited rest.
| Selections | (4) Pistol Cut (3) Apdojeok Numberone (2) Daehoma (6) Cruella |
| Next Best | 5, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4 |
Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million
Imported three-year-old maidens with five of the eleven making their racing debuts. (4) EUNHASU is the only one who has raced twice, following up a 5th place on debut with a close 2nd at this distance on December 12th, coming from off the pace and almost getting up. He may have a fitness edge on his rivals here and he can go one better. (3) TRIBAL WAR led all the way to win his trial in a fair time. The Mineshaft colt draws nicely here and with Franco booked, can put in a bold showing. (2) ONE LAST MARGARITA went through two trials, winning the second of them (it was voluntary so may not be in all racecards – he came out of gate 10 to score in 63.5 seconds). He can be nice and fit for this and be a danger. Returning to the experience, (1) GYEONGBOK STREGA and (10) TYCANTHUNDER debuted together on November 28th, and both have potential.
| Selections | (4) Eunhasu (3) Tribal War (2) One Last Margarita (1) Gyeongbok Strega |
| Next Best | 10, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 5, 10 |
Busan Race 5: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) DOCTOR ACE has made progress across his six starts to date with his latest his best when 2nd to Pistol Cut (who we should have seen in race 3). He was beaten six-lengths, but in this company, he should be on or close to the pace, and he can win. (8) YONGBI SHARK hasn’t yet managed to match the 2nd he managed on debut, but he comes in off a decent 4th place on December 19th over this distance and can shape as a danger here. (4) FANTASTIC SANTA ran 5th on debut, also on December 19th, running on pleasingly enough and with some natural improvement, can get closer. (6) ROYAL CRYSTAL, and the solitary first time starter (1) WONDERFUL MUD, are other place chances.
| Selections | (7) Doctor Ace (8) Yongbi Shark (4) Fantastic Santa (6) Royal Crystal |
| Next Best | 1, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 6: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(8) BIG STAR has a 3rd, a 2nd, and a 4th from three starts so far, up to 1300M. He finishes off his races very well, and the slight step up in trip to 1400M can be what he needs to score his maiden win. (9) PORT MORE has a best of 3rd from four outings to date. Since his latest appearance when 5th at 1200M on December 5th, he has been back to trial, where he finished 2nd in a decent time. Seo Seung-un gets on for the first time, and he will have plenty of backers. (7) MYSTIK JIN was 2nd on debut over 1200M in November before finishing 5th behind Big Star on December 12th when on pace throughout He’ll be on pace again and can be in this a long way. (1) KING BLACK and (3) GLORY WIND are the other main chances.
| Selections | (8) Big Star (9) Port More (7) Mystik Jin (1) King Black |
| Next Best | 3, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 7: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) SUN LIGHT is yet to win in ten attempts but has three runner-up finishes from her last four, most recently a close reverse over a mile at this class on December 12th when coming from off the pace. She carries a light weight, the step up to two turns can suit, and she can make her breakthrough here. (8) YURIM SKY has two 3rd places, both at this class and distance in two outings since returning from a couple if months off. He likes to race on pace and can be a danger. (7) UNJU MAGIC was tried in Listed juvenile company in the autumn and while he finished down the field, he didn’t run badly/ He has a 4th and a 5th in tow outings back in more amenable company, most recently at a mile, and with Franco climbing up, he can be close. (6) ALICE MARINE and up in class last start winner (3) SKYLOR JIYOU others in the frame.
| Selections | (10) Sun Light (8) Yurim Sky (7) Unju Magic (6) Alice Marine |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) FLYING DANU raced for the first time since February on December 12th and led for much of the way over this class and distance before finishing 3rd, beating a few of today’s rivals. She has the challenge of a wider draw here but can win. (2) MR. PRIME was a winner on debut with a front-running effort over 1200M on November 28th. He is up in class here but draws very well to lead again and a repeat is possible. (5) FLY TO THE MOON returned from four months out to run a fair 5th of twelve over this distance on December 12th. While yet to win, she has also never finished outside of the top five and, stripping fitter for that run last month, she can get closer today. (7) BEOLGYO WANGCHO and (4) ROAD TO WIN among plenty of others with at least placing chances.
| Selections | (2) Mr. Prime (10) Flying Danu (5) Fly To The Moon (7) Beolgyo Wangcho |
| Next Best | 4, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(9) WORLD LIST CAT was a winner on his first try at this distance at class 4 in October before running 3rd behind Beolma King (who won again last week) when racing against plenty of today’s rivals at this class on December 5th, showing on pace throughout. An apprentice claim helps him come down a full 4.5kg in carried weight today and he can win. He needs to overturn the form on (10) BINNANEUNGIL, who ran 2nd in that December 5th race, settling midfield and running on. That continued a continued a consistent series of results and while he has his fair share of weight, he can be in the mix again. (5) DRAGON NINJA returns to action for the first time since April. He looked well in trials in both October and November and under a light weight, can go well first up. (7) MAENGNYONG and (3) RAON VIBE MAN others in the frame.
| Selections | (9) World List Cat (10) Binnaneungil (5) Dragon Ninja (7) Maengnyong |
| Next Best | 3, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 9, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 