The weekend’s racing gets underway 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 nine of the twelve racing for the first time. (2) NICE MYEONGGA went through two trials, showing decent pace in both and a bit more maturity in the second when she overcame a wide gate to beat a couple of today’s rivals. From a great draw she can be on pace and she can win. Of the experience, (4) BULBIT YEONGMA was longest shot but one on the board on debut over 1200M on January 9th but he outperformed expectations to settle behind the speed and run on for 4th. With some natural improvement, he can be closer here. (5) DONNAEKO and (1) WILD JUMP hinted at ability in their respective trials and can be competitive first-up. (8) HELLO GOOD was well back in a painfully slow race on debut but can improve.
| Selections | (2) Nice Myeongga (4) Bulbit Yeongma (5) Donnaeko (1) Wild Jump |
| Next Best | 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 5 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(9) KING BLACK didn’t do much on debut in October but has since run 4th in two starts at 1200M and 1400M. The times haven’t been quick, but he has been competitive and in this company he can settle just behind the speed and has as good a chance as any. (8) FLYING SHOOTER ran 2nd over this trip in December and comes in off a 4th place when drawn widest on January 25th. He makes a quick return here and with a 4kg claim can be close. (2) BREEDO QUEEN STAR has a pair of 5th places and a 3rd from her latest three and with Franco on for the first time can be in the mix from a good draw. (12) DOCTOR CARRY and (10) HIGH LEVEL other place chances.
| Selections | (9) King Black (8) Flying Shooter (2) Breedo Queen Star (12) Doctor Carry |
| Next Best | 10, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 11, 12 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(10) BAMTORI BAMBAM has made progress across three starts so far with a 4th, 3rd and most recently a 2nd place at this distance on Boxing Day. Despite the wide draw expect to see him on pace and he can win here. (11) FANTASTIC SANTA was 5th in debut and then 2nd at start number two over this distance on January 9th when racing on pace. He has the challenge of the widest gate here, but he can get forward early and has every chance. (9) SEONGSIL WORLD beat a couple of today’s rivals on his way to a much-improved 2nd place on January 2nd and he can build on that here. (3) BIROE SERVE and (5) GAMDONGUI BAKSU others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (10) Bamtori Bambam (11) Fantastic Santa (9) Seongsil World (3) Biroe Serve |
| Next Best | 5, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 7, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(1) OASIS WICKY was a winner back on debut and has been close to following up with two 3rd places and a 2nd from his latest three, all at 1300M and last time beating a couple of today’s rivals when not far away at all from the same gate he has here. He can settle behind the speed and will be favourite here. (5) FLASH RUN was 5th in last year’s Korean Oaks but hasn’t raced since August. She looked well when a close 2nd in a January trial, showing on pace throughout, and Seo Seung-un being booked suggests confidence first-up (7) BULBIT GANGJA got his maiden win at start number four over 1200M on January 2nd, racing on pace throughout. The win had been coming and while he is up in class today, he can measure up. (11) GAMDONGUI DOLPA and the veteran (12) DAEHOMA others who can compete for the minors.
| Selections | (1) Oasis Wicky (5) Flash Run (7) Bulbit Gangja (11) Gamdongui Dolpa |
| Next Best | 12, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 6, 7 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only. (3) SHACKLE TOWN was an emphatic winner on debut over 1200M in December before running a close 2nd on her first try at this class at 1300M on January 11th when she led for much of the way around. She stretches out in trip and comes up in weight but in filly and mare company, she can win. (8) BIG STAR was an on-pace maiden winner over this trip on January 9th. She is up in class but down slightly in weight, Franco stays on, and she can be in this a long way. (5) BREEDO KELLY is yet to win in seven starts but has never been any worse than 5th and she should be there or thereabouts again. (11) WANNABE WITH YOU and (1) STAR FORCE others in the frame.
| Selections | (3) Shackle Town (8) Big Star (5) Breedo Kelly (11) Wannabe With You |
| Next Best | 1, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 7, 8, 12 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) JEONGMUN FAPPIANO won back-to-back races in November and December to get rapidly promoted to this class and then ran 4th when favourite for his first go at this class and distance on January 11th. He should have come on for that, Franco returns, and he can win here. He will need to overturn the form on (3) QUEEN OF DRAGON, who ran 2nd in that race on January 11th, settling midfield and running on. That was an uptick on recent efforts, but she only comes up 1kg in weight and she can challenge again. (9) BEST BOY was a class 5 winner over 1400M two starts back before running 3rd on his first try at this class on January 25th and with a quick turnaround, he can be competitive. (1) PLUTO and (2) ARION TAEYANG are other contenders.
| Selections | (7) Jeongmun Fappiano (3) Queen Of Dragon (9) Best Boy (1) Pluto |
| Next Best | 2, 10 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(5) NICE BUDDY has never finished any worse than 4th from eight starts and won three on the spin between August and October before running 4th on her first try ay this class at a mile on November 21st. She hasn’t raced since but has been back in work since January 12th and back at a trip she is two for two over, she can return to winning ways. (8) DRAGON NINJA is the danger. He returned from four months out to register his 3rd win from seven starts at this class and distance on January 9th and while he is up 4kg in weight, he can be a danger. (1) WIND BULLET and (2) MAENGNYONG both come in off 3rd places at this class and distance, the latter behind Dragon Ninja, and both can be in the mix again. Up in class last start winner (12) SPEED TOP another in the hunt.
| Selections | (5) Nice Buddy (8) Dragon Ninja (1) Wind Bullet (2) Maengnyong |
| Next Best | 12, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 11 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
The one to beat here is (7) GEUDAEMANUI BLUE. He got his maiden win two starts back at class 4 level before running 2nd at this class and distance on January 16th when coming from well off the pace. He makes a quick return here and he can win. He will need to overturn the form on (3) SORI TAEPUNG. The 8-year-old veteran was given far too much leeway up front in that January 16th race and never stopped finding, scoring at 25/1. A different apprentice takes the same weight off his back, and he will be on pace and will stay. (10) WONDERFUL JONES enters off a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two and should be in the mix again. (8) SKY JILJU and (4) BARAMBARAM the best of the rest.
| Selections | (7) Geudaemanui Blue (3) Sori Taepung (10) Wonderful Jones (8) Sky Jilju |
| Next Best | 4, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 8 |
Busan Race 9: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Competitive finale and we’re going with (2) RONALD DUCK. And not just for the name. He got his maiden win tow starts back at class and distance before running 3rd over 1400M on January 23rd. He makes a quick return here and he can win. (3) GEUMA ADEPT is a winner of two from four and was a beaten favourite over 1400M last time out on January 2nd. He was on pace that day and coming back in trip can suit from a good gate. The experienced (1) HANEUL SINHWA draws nicely and can be in the mix here. (7) ARCHER HEART was ordinary on debut behind Ronald Duck but previously trialed well and can improve for the experience. (4) WIN WIN another in line for the minors.
| Selections | (2) Ronald Duck (3) Geuma Adept (1) Haneul Sinhwa (7) Archer Heart |
| Next Best | 4, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 9, 11 |
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