The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with a 9-race card from 11:15 to 17:55. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Three-year-old maidens only and despite the small field, it’s very competitive. (1) DUBAI SEONMUL ran 2nd on debut over 1200M) on December 28th having been slowly away before running on well. Seo Seung-un is on today, the additional half furlong can suit, and with a better start, she is the one to beat. (3) FAST WIND was a close 2nd on debut in a fair time over 1200M on December 19th, settling midfield and running on. He should have come on for that run and is a danger. (6) BUNKER BUSTER was a beaten favourite on debut in that December 28th race behind Dubai Seonmul and he can match or better that here. (2) QUEEN MAKER and (8) SUNRISE both finished in 2nd place in their respective debuts and are not to be dismissed.
| Selections | (1) Dubai Seonmul (3) Fast Wind (6) Bunker Buster (2) Queen Maker |
| Next Best | 8, 7 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Pretty wretched from all of these so far but that does at least make it interesting from a puzzle perspective. (2) DOCTOR CHAMP has a best of 6th in three starts but has looked ok in trials. He has had ample opportunity for them and if he brings the form he showed in a heat last week to the races, he has as good a chance as any from a good draw. (12) POWERFUL THUNDER has a 5th and a 7th in two starts so far. The times were slow, but he seems to at least know which direction he is supposed to run in and that puts him in contention here. Of two debut-makers, (10) MAN OF THE DAY is perhaps the best. He was adequate in his trial and Franco’s booking catches the eye. (5) POWERFUL BATTLE and (7) CHOEGANG CHEETAH, the latter beating Man Of The Day in their trial before debuting without distinction although was at least on pace early, others who can improve.
| Selections | (2) Doctor Champ (12) Powerful Thunder (10) Man Of The Day (5) Powerful Battle |
| Next Best | 7, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 11, 12 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(4) LIKE DRAGON is an eleven-start maiden but has been close in his recent efforts, most recently beating three of today’s rivals on his way to 3rd at this distance on January 4th when handy throughout. The same apprentice keeps him under a light weight, and a similar effort can see him win this. (3) TOP OF THE RANK has weakened in both his latest two at a mile and from a good draw and back in trip he can lead and stay on a bit better this time. (2) DOKKI TIGER didn’t do much at start number two at this trip on Boxing Day but previously hinted at ability when 5th on debut and can be given another chance here. (11) BREEDO ARENA and (9) WONDERFUL WIND are others to consider.
| Selections | (4) Like Dragon (3) Top Of The Rank (2) Dokki Tiger (11) Breedo Arena |
| Next Best | 9, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(6) BORYEONGUI SINYONG debuted in 4th place last August and then won over 1200M on November 28th, coming from off the pace. She was much further forward when beating three of today’s rivals when 3rd on her first try at this class and distance on January 2nd. She remains under a light weight and can win here. (3) MOMENTUM got her maiden win at start number three over this distance in a filly maiden won Boxing Day, racing on the pace throughout. She is up in class but down in weight and from a good draw she can be at the front again and can measure up. (10) YOUNGYOUNG BRAVO is similarly up in class having overcome a wide gate to race handy and win over 1300M, also on Boxing Day. He gets a 3kg weight break and the slight step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem. (8) GLOBAL HIGH gets a line through his latest and along with (9) SUCCESS COW, is another place chance.
| Selections | (6) Boryeongui Sinyong (3) Momentum (10) Youngyoung Bravo (8) Global High |
| Next Best | 9, 11 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(12) JANGGO MAN was a winner on debut, scoring comfortably with an on-pace effort over 1200M. He only gets a 1kg drop and he has the challenge of the widest gate, but he has every chance of going back-to-back. He will have to beat the probable market elect though in the shape of (5) CRYSTAL MULGYEOL. She got her maiden win at the end of October over 1200M and has a 5th and a most recently a 3rd in two tries at this class. In this company she should be on the speed and Franco rode her when she won. (8) PISTOL CUT was an all the way maiden winner two starts back before being the beaten favourite on her first try at this class over 1200M on January 9th when Apdojeok Numberone blitzed away to win. Another who should be on pace, she is well worth another chance. (1) GWANGSOKMA and (3) BLUEORCHID others in the hunt.
| Selections | (12) Janggo Man (5) Crystal Mulgyeol (8) Pistol Cut (1) Gwangsokma |
| Next Best | 3, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 8, 9, 12 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Competitive race. (1) ENCORE was a winner at start two and has been very consistent at this level with a 2nd and three 3rd place finishes form his latest four with his two most recent being over this distance. He has his fair share of weight to deal with but coming into the inside gate may be key for him here. (4) FANTASTIC EAGLE similarly won on his second appearance and has proven competitive in three tries at this class with a 5th and a pair of 4th place finishes. He stretches out to a mile for the first time, and it can suit. (2) THIS WAY enters off back-to-back 3rd place finishes at this class over 1300M. She swept home at speed both times so coming back up to a mile can be in her favour. (9) FLYING CHAMPION and (12) GOLDEN SPOT among plenty of other place chances.
| Selections | (1) Encore (4) Fantastic Eagle (2) This Way (9) Flying Champion |
| Next Best | 12, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 8, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) FANTASTIC FORCE ran 3rd in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie over 1400M in November, coming from well off the pace, and then closed out his juvenile campaign with 2nd place behind Funny Wild on his first try at this distance on December 28th. He is up in class but down in weight and should be far too good here. (8) FLYING CROWN scored a maiden win at 1400M in November before running 4th at this distance on Boxing Day. He likes to settle back and run on, and he can be doing his best work late again here. (5) AMAZING WORLD returned from three months off to run a close 2nd over 1400M on January 2nd at this class and can strip fitter today. (2) BLACK VOLT and (10) BLAZING MAN are others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (6) Fantastic Force (8) Flying Crown (5) Amazing World (2) Black Volt |
| Next Best | 10, 12 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(4) BEOLGYO MASULSA is a winner of five from eleven including his latest at this class and distance on January 2nd when leading all the way around. He has the steadier of 57.5kg on his back today, but he can repeat from a great draw. (7) TRIPLE SINHWA won back-to-back races at a mile and at this distance in October and November before finishing 2nd when favourite, racing against plenty of these, on December 19th. He can sit handy here and can be in the finish again. He will need to overturn the form on (9) YEOSU SUPER STAR, who won that December 19th race, stalking the leader before proving too strong. She remains under a light weight and should be there or thereabouts again. (12) WORLD WINNERS MAN and (10) DANGDAE STAR others to consider on a place line.
| Selections | (4) Beolgyo Masulsa (7) Triple SInhwa (9) Yeosu Superstar (12) World Winners Man |
| Next Best | 10, 2 |
| Fast Start | 2, 9, 11, 12 |
Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
Tough finale but two standouts. (1) HEUIMANG GARAM came from midfield to run 2nd at this class and distance on January 2nd, well beaten by Beolma King. An apprentice takes his weight down today and he looks to have solid claims. The danger is (7) EUNBIT DAERO. He was 3rd in that January 2nd race, his third consecutive time finishing in that position. He comes up a bit in weight but can be in the mix again. The rest will have to pick up a bit on their respective latest efforts. (11) ARION KING CAR struggled at a mile last time but comes back to a trip over which both his wins along with three placings have arrived at and he can be in this. (8) OPEN SKY and (10) GEUMA EMINENT others how could place.
| Selections | (1) Heuimang Garam (7) Eunbit Daero (11) Arion King Car (8) Open Sky |
| Next Best | 10, 2 |
| Fast Start | 7, 8, 10, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 