Day: January 15, 2026

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 16)

The weekend’s racing gets underway with a 10-race program at Busan on Friday from 10:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Three-year-old maidens. (1) FAPPI BABE has raced twice before, finishing in 3rd place both times at this distance, settling behind the speed and running on. Third-up she can be peaking, and she won’t need to improve much to win this. There are three debut-makers and of them, (6) GYEONGBOK ATOS looks best equipped to make an immediate impact. He was an on-pace 3rd in his trial in a quick time and if he brings that form to the races, he will go close. (2) RED KING got a long way back on debut before running on for a fair 6th of ten and can have come on for that run. (8) SUCCESS QUEEN and (9) SWEET POWER are others who can improve.

Selections(1) Fappi Babe (6) Gyeongbok Atos (2) Red King (8) Success Queen
Next Best9, 7
Fast Start5, 6, 9, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) WORLD FIGHTER MAN has shown promise across three starts so far with a 3rd, a 4th and most recently at this distance on December 21st when coming from off the pace. Franco stays on and the slight step up in trip can be exactly what he needs to make his breakthrough. (10) TAEYANGUIYEOLJEONG has made steady progress across her three starts so far, culminating in a close 2nd at this distance on December 21st when coming from off the pace. In this company, where there isn’t much early speed, she may be further forward than before, and she can be in the finish. (5) GRAND CRU returned from a year out to run 4th over 1400M on December 21st. He can strip fitter for that run and be competitive here. (8) BIG SMILE and (9) FANTASTIC BOSS others in the frame.

Selections(6) World Fighter Man (10) Taeyangyeoljeong (5) Grand Cru (8) Big Smile
Next Best9, 4
Fast Start5, 6, 10, 11

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) FLASH TO ME was 4th on debut over 1200M and then a beaten favourite over this distance on December 5th when well positioned but a but one paced. Third-up she can be peaking, Seo Seung-un returns, and she can win. (3) FLARE UP enters off a 3rd place at this distance on December 21st when close to the pace throughput. From a good draw, he can lead here and can be in this a long way. (10) EUNSEONG JILJU and (9) BREEDO QUEEN STAR came home 2nd and 3rd when they raced one another at this distance on Boxing Day. They were both well-back behind a good winner, but can both be in the placing hunt again today. (7) KISS THE RAIN another in the hunt.

Selections(6) Flash To Me (3) Flare Up (10) Eunseong Jilju (9) Breedo Queen Star
Next Best7, 1
Fast Start3, 6, 7, 9

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) ISIMNYEON JIGI was a winner at start number two over 1200M in November when making all the running, before running 4th on his first try at this class on December 12th. He was the beaten favourite that day and while he didn’t settle, he should get an easy run to the lead here and is worth another chance. (8) AEGIS CROWN similarly failed to settle last time out when well fancied and finished well back. Instead, we’ll go on his maiden win at the end of November and extend him the courtesy too of another chance. (3) TAMNA FIRST returns to action for the first time since last August. He looked well when 3rd in a trial at the end of last month and with an apprentice claim can go well first-up. (7) D’LOVELY KING and (4) STUKA are other place chances.

Selections(5) Isimnyeon Jigi (8) Aegis Crown (3) Tamna First (7) D’Lovely King
Next Best4, 1
Fast Start3, 4, 5, 8

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(1) TANTAN DAERO is yet to win in ten starts but has five top three finishes, including his latest two when 2nd at this trip in November and then 3rd over a mile on November 30th. From the inside gate, Choi Si-dae can pick his spot behind the speed and today can be his day. He will need to overturn the form on (8) BREEDO SOL who beat him over a mile in October when Breedo Sol led all the way to pick up his second consecutive win. That led him to be given a chance in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie and while he finished down the field, he is back in shallower waters today and can be a danger. (4) ALL THE BEST stepped up to this trip for the first time on December 7th and led almost the entire way around, ultimately finishing in 2nd. He is up 2kh in weight but draws well to lead again. (5) MUHAN NAREUSHA and (6) ILNYEOM SINHWA are the other minor money chances.

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