The weekend’s racing kicks off at Busan on Friday 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 with six of the twelve racing for the first time. (7) OASIS STAR is the only one in the field who has raced twice already, following up a 5th place on debut with a 3rd over this distance on January 2nd when slow away but running on. His times haven’t been quick, but he should have a fitness edge on his rivals. (8) DELTA FORCE wasn’t ready when trialed last summer but having been put away for a few months, he came through in fine order on December 13th, winning his heat in a quick time with a front-running effort. If he brings that to races, he has every chance first-up (3) VELOCI QUEEN was a fair 4th at big odds on debut having drawn the widest gate. She should have come on for that run. (9) TAESAN SHINHWA was 5th behind Oasis Star on debut and he too can improve. (12) VALUE PLAY looked well enough in his trial.
| Selections | (7) Oasis Star (8) Delta Force (3) Veloci Queen (9) Taesan Shinhwa |
| Next Best | 12, 2 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 8, 12 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Fillies only in this maiden. (7) ZITA was an improved 3rd at start number two over 1300M on December 21st, racing handy and beating three of today’s rivals. Seo Seung-un climbs on and today can be the day. (11) WORLD EAGLE CAT comes in off a best to date 2nd at this distance on December 28th. It was a slow race, but she finished off well and the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem here. There are two debut makers and of them, (4) BEST VALUE looks the more likely to make an immediate impact. She was an on pace 2nd in her trial in a fair time and she draws well to lead here. (1) THEMIS and (8) YURIM CHANGA are among others who have hinted at ability and may improve.
| Selections | (7) Zita (11) World Eagle Cat (4) Best Value (1) Themis |
| Next Best | 8, 12 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 12 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(9) SMART YULIM enters off an improved 3rd at start number three over 1200M on December 21st, overcoming a slow start to run on well. The step up in trip can suit, and he has every chance here at what could be an each way price. (4) ONE PLUS ONE was only 6th from a wide draw last time out but going on his 2nd place in November at this distance, he must be taken seriously here and with Seo Seung-un getting on, he will probably start as the favourite. (11) TAMNA BRAVO didn’t do much in his first two but has a 4th and a 3rd from his latest pair, most recently when stepped up to a mile on Boxing Day and leading for part of the way around. He beat a couple of today’s rivals in the process and while he draws a touch wider than ideal, he can be on pace and in this a long way. (2) JEONGMUN SKIP didn’t do much on debut in July but returned on January 2nd to run a solid 4th and should have come on for the run. (10) FINAL ATTACK a minor money chance.
| Selections | (9) Smart Yulim (11) Tamna Bravo (4) One Plus One (2) Jeongmun Skip |
| Next Best | 10, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Competitive race. (7) GANGSEO TREND was a winner on debut over 1200M in October and followed it up with an on-pace 3rd on his first try at this class over 1300M on December 14th, beating two of today’s rivals. He will be on the speed again here and could go all the way. (5) SHINING ONE got his maiden win two starts back at 1300M before running 4th on the same race as Gangseo Trend on what for him too was his first try at this class. There was less than a length between them and he can be a danger here. (3) GEUMSEONG was 2nd to Shining World at class 6 level in November and then 3rd on his first try at this class and distance on December 19th. In this company, he should be on pace and can be in the finish. (4) CHAMPUI SIDAE and (8) ARION TAEYANG among plenty of others with chances.
| Selections | (7) Gangseo Trend (5) Shining One (3) Geumseong (4) Champui Sidae |
| Next Best | 8, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 7 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) BEOLMAUI GANGJA returned from four months out to get his maiden win at start three in December and then was a beaten favourite when 4th at this class and distance on January 2nd when slow away from the widest gate. The draw is scarcely better today but with a more fluent start, he is worth another chance. (7) COME ON GLORY is yet to win in sixteen attempts but her recent form reads well with a 2nd and two 4th place finishes from her latest three and she can be there or thereabouts again. (12) SEOGWI CREST was a winner on debut in November but was slightly slow away on her first try at this class on Boxing Day, rallying up for 5th. She carries a light weight and can be a danger here. (5) DOLPHIN KICK and (8) GRAND DREAM are the other placing chances.
| Selections | (10) Beolmaui Gangja (7) Come On Glory (12) Seogwi Crest (5) Dolphin Kick |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 8, 12 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(8) LAMPYOJEONGGEENIE steadily worked towards her maiden win, and it came at the fourth time of asking over this distance in a filly maiden on December 21st when she led all the way. She is up in class here but down in weight, Seo Seung-un stays on, and she can win again. (1) GOLDEN EMPIRE was sent off as favourite at this class and distance on December 28th but after a good start, was quickly and soundly beaten. We’ll draw a line through that and instead go on his maiden win at 1200M in November and give her another chance here. (2) WHITE STAR was a winner on debut over 1000M and while she had a tough time at start two in early December, she bounced back with a 4th place at 1200M on January 2nd and can be close here. (5) FLEX TAP and (6) MAGIC SHOW others in the frame.
| Selections | (8) Lampyojeonggeenie (1) Golden Empite (2) White Star (5) Flex Tap |
| Next Best | 6, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 5, 8 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1800) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
A great race for a Friday. (10) SUPEX WINNER was 2nd in his first two outings, including beaten a neck by Wild Park in Listed juvenile company in September, he then got his maiden win in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie, defeating Super Aero in a photo finish. That was enough to make him Champion Juvenile. He tackles two turns for the first time and can measure up. Already proven at 1800M is (2) AMAZING ONE. His trainer regularly sends his juveniles up in trip early and Amazing One registered back-to-back victories at this distance in November and then at this class on December 28th when beating plenty of today’s rivals. He comes up 2kg in weight, but draws well, Seo Seung-un is three for three on him, and he can repeat. (1) ARONDIGHT was 2nd to Amazing One in that December 28th race and can get close again. (4) GASOK JEIL and (11) TUHON FIGHTER the best of the rest.
| Selections | (10) Supex Winner (2) Amazing One (1) Arondight (4) Gasok Jeil |
| Next Best | 11, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 10, 12 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(8) VICE ROYAL was a winner at this class over a mile on December 26th when coming from well off the pace to score well. He comes up 2.5kg in weight, but his other previous win came over this trip, and he has as good a chance as any here. (4) WONDAEHAN KKUM returned from five months out to run 6th behind Vice Royal in that Boxing Day test. He should strip fitter for the run and is one for one over 1800M. (10) EOHWADUNGDUNG has won his latest two, both times over this distance and both times leading all the way from wide draws. He is up in class but down in weight and he can be competitive. The modestly named (6) THE BEST EVER, along with (3) TAMNA SUPER are among plenty of others with placing chances.
| Selections | (8) Vice Royal (4) Wondahan Kkum (10) Eohwadungdung (6) The Best Ever |
| Next Best | 3, 12 |
| Fast Start | 7, 9, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 9: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(5) AIR CITY hasn’t been the best mannered so far, getting two warnings before being ordered back to trial after jumping outward and putting in an abject effort on Boxing Day. He does also have two wins and a 2nd from four starts, and he looked well in his trial last week. Franco gets on for the first time and if Air City behaves, he is a winning chance. (6) RONALD DUCK was a winner at this class on December 12th over 1200M, racing handy throughout. He is up 2.5kg in weight but third=up this preparation, there may be more to come. (3) RUNNERS HIGH was a winner on debut before two spins in Listed juvenile company. He returned to shallower waters and to the winner’s circle on December 19th at 1200M and while up in class and in trip without a weight break, he can measure up. (12) DOCTOR LOUIS and (2) SKY WIN WIN other place chances.
| Selections | (5) Air City (6) Ronald Duck (3) Runners High (12) Doctor Louis |
| Next Best | 2, 11 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 10, 11 |