The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 11:15 to 17: 55. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Maidens with five of the twelve racing for the first time and a couple of the newcomers catch the eye. (7) POWER TIGER was very quick in trials, posting 61.8 seconds when 3rd behind two experienced horses, showing handy throughout. That form on race day can be winning. (6) BYEOLBIT SONATA won his trial, racing close to the speed throughout and stopping the clock in a decent time. Seo Seung-un’s booking will tempt plenty. Of the experienced ones, (9) BEST VALUE was an improved 3rd at start two over 1200M on March 1st when leading for much of the way. She should be on pace again and in this a long way. (10) BREEDO SHOOTER and (8) POWER HIT are others who can get better.
| Selections | (7) Power Tiger (6) Byeolbit Sonata (9) Best Value (10) Breedo Shooter |
| Next Best | 8, 12 |
| Fast Start | 6, 7, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Very ordinary maiden, although that means from a punting perspective, there are plenty of chances. (6) LIKE DRAGON has a 3rd place as recently as three starts back at this distance and enters off a fair 5th in a stronger event than this. Seo Seung-un is on for the first time and today could finally be the day. (3) BIG SMILE beat a couple of today’s rivals on her way to 4th place on March 6th coming from well off the pace. That was her best so far and with only four starts under her belt, she may more to offer. (11) DALBITWIE ran 2nd at 33/1 over 1300M two weeks ago. That was his first race since last August and it’s not impossible that he can strip fitter with a quick turnaround. (12) JEONGMUN SKIP and (7) PILSEUNG WINNER are others who could compete for the minors.
| Selections | (6) Like Dragon (3) Big Smile (11) Dalbitwie (12) Jeongmun Skip |
| Next Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 6, 7 |
Busan Race 3: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(9) MAENGNYONG was a class and distance winner on February 6th, leading all the way to score narrowly over Nice Buddy. Since then, he has been through a trial, in which he continued to look well, and while he comes up 3kg in weight and draws the widest gate, he can win again. (8) HUIMANG RANI is generally slow away but was even slower than usual when brushing the gate on exit on her return from over three months out on March 13th. She can strip fitter and has proven competitive at this level. (5) LEMON PIE hasn’t done much in two starts back from a lengthy absence but has won at this distance and in this company and third-up, she can be given a chance. (1) TTANBONG QUEEN and (2) JEOLDAE BOSS other place chances.
| Selections | (9) Maengnyong (8) Huimang Rani (5) Lemon Pie (1) Ttanbong Queen |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only. (2) ROAD TO NUMBER ONE won a trial in January and then scored on her debut over 1200M on February 27th, leading all the way. She is up in class here and slightly in trip, but she comes into a much better gate, and she can lead again and win again. (1) MOMENTUM struggled when tried over a mile on March 13th, settling handy but knocking up fast and only beating two. We’ll draw a line through that and instead go on her 2nd place two starts back at this trip and give her another chance today. (4) DOLPHIN KICK is yet to win but has placed twice at this class and distance this year already and can be in the mix again. (8) ARE YOU READY and (9) QUEEN WIND both broke through on their respective fourth starts and can be competitive at this level.
| Selections | (2) Road To Number One (1) Momentum (4) Dolphin Kick (8) Are You Ready |
| Next Best | 9, 3 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
After running 3rd on debut, (2) LIGHTNING FORCE was a winner at start number two on March 13th over this distance, showing on pace throughout. He comes up in class here but is down slightly in weight, he is well drawn, and he can go back-to-back. (8) DAEROUI BIT got his maiden win at start two over this distance and has held his form in two outings at this level, showing on pace both times and beating a couple of today’s rivals on his way to 2nd and 3rd place finishes. He stays under a fair weight, he should be on the speed again, and he can be in this a long way. (1) DOCTOR SOLAR has a habit of getting a bit far back in his races, but he drops back to 1200M for the first time in a while and from the inside gate can be ridden closer today with placing chances. (3) DOCTOR CHAMP and (4) BUGYEONG TRIPLE are perhaps the best of the rest in a race where the form falls off quite fast.
| Selections | (2) Lightning Force (8) Daeroui Bit (1) Doctor Solar (3) Doctor Champ |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(10) REGINA VINCIT didn’t do much in her first two outings but a step up to this distance on March 8th did the trick when she came from well off the pace to score by seven-lengths. She is up in class but down in weight and the manner of that victory suggests that there is more to come. He will probably be an each-way price because this is a tough race. (3) PORT MORE ran 6th of twelve over 1800M a month ago, weakening late, but he is one for one at a mile having scored on February 1st at class 6, leading all the way. He has a great draw and can repeat. (8) CAPTAIN DRAGON has won over this distance too and enters off solid 4th and 5th places at this level and can be there or thereabouts again. The up-in-class pair of (1) SUCCESS QUEEN and (7) OASIS RUBY should also be in the frame.
| Selections | (10) Regina Vincit (3) Port More (8) Captain Dragon (1) Success Queen |
| Next Best | 7, 5 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 5 |
Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 600 Million
After running 4th on debut, (11) SEONGSIL DREAM has won two in a row in quick times over 1200M and 1400M to get rapidly promoted to this class. He comes up to the mile for the first time, but his running style suggests that it can suit and he can complete his hat-trick. (2) OASIS WINNER is a sixteen-start maiden but enters off his two best finishes to date in back-to-back 2nd places. He doesn’t get an apprentice claim today which contributes to a 6kg weight rise but he does get Seo Seung-un and a good draw. (4) AMAZING WORLD has a 2nd and a 3rd in two starts since returning from four months out, most recently over this distance on January 30th. He comes in relatively fresh again after nine weeks off, and he can be in this. (6) JEONGMUN FAPPIANO and (7) KING’S KING the best of the rest.
| Selections | (11) Seongsil Dream (2) Oasis Winner (4) Amazing World (6) Jeongmun Fappiano |
| Next Best | 7, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 8: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(4) PRIME SECRET is yet to finish outside of the top four in eight starts, with two 2nd places and a 4th in three tires at class 2. He comes up to 1800M for the first time and while he has his fair share of weight again, it can suit. When (2) POSTMAN can get to the lead he generally goes very close and he shouldn’t have too many excuses for not delivering from gate two. He can be in this a long way. (5) GOODY beat Postman when the pair ran 2nd and 3rd at this class and distance on March 15th. He likes to come form off the pace and can be a danger late on again. (1) CATALINA MARINE and (3) FLYING THE CHAMP are others who could be involved in the finish.
| Selections | (4) Prime Secret (2) Postman (5) Goody (1) Catalina Marine |
| Next Best | 3, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 10 |
Horse Racing in Korea 