The last weekend before the brief Lunar New Year break kicks off at Busan on Friday with a 9-race card from 11:15 to 17L55. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(11) DOCTOR CHAMP returned from over three months out to run a close 2nd over this distance on January 30th, racing on pace. He has the challenge of a wide draw here but should strip fitter for that run and has solid claims. (1) MAGIC OF ART enters off an improved 3rd at start three over 1200M on January 23rd when she tracked the leaders and ran on well. She draws well to do similar today and this time, he can win. (5) THE POINT was similarly an improved 2nd at start four on December 28th when on pace throughout. He was found to have bled after that, but he came through his mandatory trial in fine fashion at the end of January and is a chance here. (12) CHOEGANG HAPPY and (10) HUIMANG LOGI others in the frame.
| Selections | (11) Doctor Champ (1) Magic Of Art (5) The Point (12) Choegang Happy |
| Next Best | 10, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 11 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(9) SUCCESS DAY has a 3rd and a 4th from his latest two, beating a couple of today’s rivals last time out on January 16th when on pace throughout. He can be on pace here and in this a long way again. (11) KISS THE RAIN has made steady progress across four starts so far with his latest his best when 2nd on his first try at 1400M on November 16th when leading for much of the way. He has to contend with the widest gate, but he won’t need to improve much to win this. (2) DIA X has been consistent in recent efforts, and this is the kind of race he can go close in. (4) FANTASTIC BOSS and (3) OASIS RUBY are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (9) Success Day (11) Kiss The Rain (2) Dia X (4) Fantastic Boss |
| Next Best | 3, 5 |
| Fast Start | 4, 9, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (2) DOLPHIN KICK is yet to win in ten, but she has nine top five finishes including her latest when a close 2nd at this class and distance on January 23rd when racing handy throughout. She draws well here to be on or close to the pace and today can be her day. (9) FLEX TAP has a 4th and a 3rd from her latest two at 1200M and 1300M and she can continue her positive run of form here, probably from on the pace in this company. (12) GRAND TREE knocked up very quickly last time out in a slow race at this class and distance at the end of December but was later found slightly lame. He’s been back in work since January 24th and can be given another chance here. (7) JOY OF QUEEN along with (11) TWO TWO FLYING are other place chances.
| Selections | (2) Dolphin Kick (9) Flex Tap (12) Grand Tree (7) Joy Of Queen |
| Next Best | 11, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
The second division of the fillies and mares at class 5 level. (8) YEOUN was an all the way winner on debut in a filly maiden over 1200M on January 9th. She comes up in class but is down in weight and has every chance of measuring up in this company. (11) ARI DRAGON was a winner on debut last summer and followed it up with a 2nd place at this class over 1400M before being out for the next almost six-months. She returned with a runner-up finish at this class and distance on January 11th and she can strip fitter today and will probably start as favourite. (3) STAY COOL was a maiden winner over 1400M two starts back and then ran a fair 5th on her first try at this class on January 18th and can get closer today. (2) BLACK TREE and (7) WONDER MOCCASIN others in the hunt.
| Selections | (8) Yeoun (11) Ari Dragon (3) Stay Cool (2) Black Tree |
| Next Best | 7, 12 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 8, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) NINETY PLUS returned in December following almost a year out and has since run 5th twice, most recently his first try at this distance on January 25th when beating a couple of today’s rivals. He can have benefited from that experience, Franco knows him well, and third-up this preparation, he can be peaking fitness wise. (4) SOMANGUIGIL is a non-winner of eight but has been getting progressively closer with a 3rd and most recently his first 2nd place, scored at a mile on January 4th. He comes up to 1800M for the first time, and it can suit. (8) VORTEX comes up in class and in trip following a maiden win over 1600M on January 18th and down 3kg in weight can measure up, (2) DORAON SAMSON and (10) WORLD TAEYANG are the next bests.
| Selections | (9) Ninety Plus (4) Somanguigil (8) Vortex (2) Doraon Samson |
| Next Best | 10, 5 |
| Fast Start | 4, 8, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(3) SENSATIONAL WIN is yet to record a win of any type, let along a sensational one, but after an inauspicious debut last August, he returned in November and has finished 2nd in three consecutive starts at 1200M. He steps up significantly in trip today and it can be what he needs to get over the line, sensationally or otherwise, in front. (5) TUHON FIGHTER needs a pass on his latest when from a wide draw he failed to land a blow over 1800M. He comes back to a trip at which he has a win and three placings from four attempts and is a serious danger here. (11) WORLD HIT comes in off a class and distance 3rd place on January 11th and can target a repeat. Up in class off the back of two wins, (2) SUN JAE can be competitive, while (8) KING’S KING is another in the frame in a competitive race.
| Selections | (3) Sensational Win (5) Tuhon Fighter (11) World Hit (2) Sun Jae |
| Next Best | 8, 10 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Fillies and mares only. (3) WORLD LIST CAT is a winner of four from eleven in total including once at this distance and was 3rd two outings back on her first try at this class. She showed don pace last time when favourite on January 9th but weakened and was later found lame in the off-fore. She has been back in work since January 25th and can geta another chance as favourite here. (4) MAX THE DRAGON has a 3rd and a 4th from her latest two, both at this class over a mile. She can get a bit far back in her races bis she has a light weight and can be a danger. (6) TOHAMSAN TAEYANG comes up in class after a win over 1800M on January 4th. She has placed at this distance and can measure up in this company. (1) CRAZY ARMY and (10) LEMON PIE are the other main chances.
| Selections | (3) World List Cat (4) Max The Dragon (6) Tohamsan Taeyang (1) Crazy Army |
| Next Best | 10, 8 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(4) YOUNG SKYWALKER enters having won his last two, most recently at this class over 2000M on January 18th when on pace throughout. He is up 5kg in weight but has won three times at this trip, including under a similar impost two starts back, and he could be bound for big things this year. Young Skywalker’s task on January 18th was made easier by the scratching of (2) OASIS RED, who had exhibited some colic-like symptoms. Ultimately, he didn’t miss any work. 5th in last year’s Korean Derby, he is a winner of three of his last four, including at this class and distance on December 14th when beating four of today’s rivals. He too has the steadier of 58kg and he is a threat. (6) INDY GHOST has come up somewhat under the radar with wins in his latest two over 1800M. Up in class but under a very light weight, he can measure up. (7) UNJU GUY and (1) GEUMA GUTTY others in the hunt in a strong race for the level.
| Selections | (4) Young Skywalker (2) Oasis Red (6) Indy Ghost (7) Unju Guy |
| Next Best | 1, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 11 |
Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
We’re pretty much running back a class and distance race from January 17th here and under almost the same weight and from the exact same gate, there is no reason to oppose (1) PACHAMAMA repeating her win. She was favourite that day and she duly obliged by leading from gate to wire. That made it four from seven at this distance and she can win again. (9) NONSTOP DUTY was 2nd in that race and like with Pachamama, there is no reason why he can’t repeat. (10) YULIM SESANG was 3rd in that race and at the risk of repeating ourselves, he too, can repeat. If that race doesn’t impress, then veteran (8) GOLDEN along with (4) HANEUL BOSS may be placing alternatives.
| Selections | (1) Pachamama (9) Nonstop Duty (10) Yulim Sesang (8) Golden |
| Next Best | 4, 3 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 8, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 