Friday’s racing is at Busan with 8 races from 11.35 to 17.55. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
Maidens with five of the eleven racing for the first time. (1) CHAMPUI SARANG went through two trials racing fairly in the first and improving significantly in the second of them (which was voluntary so may not be in all racecards – be aware) when from the widest gate she crossed the line 2nd in a time of 62.6 seconds. If he brings that form to the races, he can win. (5) YEONGGWANGUIROOKIE went through two trials, showing plenty of speed in both. She should be nice and fit for this and can be a danger. Among those with experience, (7) NAGAN CHUEOK is the best. After an inauspicious debut, he was a much-improved 3rd at start two over this distance on April 19th when close to the speed throughout. (4) I’M THE ONE and (8) I AM QUEEN others who have hinted at ability.
| Selections | (1) Champui Sarang (5) Yeonggwanguirookie (7) Nagan Chueok (4) I’m The One |
| Next Best | 8, 10 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(5) DOCTOR HUNTER got his maiden win at start two over 1200M at the end of March before running 4th at 1300M on his first try at this class on April 26th when close to the pace throughout. He can be on the speed again here and can go one better. (6) WIND SWORD has placed three times in four starts at this class, all at this distance, since getting his maiden win back in January. His most recent was his second consecutive 3rd place on April 17th when he settled a bit handier than in recent outings. Expect similar tactics today and he should be in the finish again. (3) ONE WAY ROAD was the 20/1 winner of that April 17th race and warrants more respect today. The veteran (4) TAEYANG EUTTEUM, along with (8) CALM FAST are other place chances.
| Selections | (5) Doctor Hunter (6) Wind Sword (3) One Way Road (4) Taeyang Eutteum |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 6, 7 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(1) INDIE TIGER won a trial and was then a smart winner on debut over 1200M on April 19th, racing on pace and stopping the clock in a quick time and scoring to the tune of six-lengths. He comes up in both class and in distance but has every chance of measuring up. So too does (6) BROWN CHOCO, who is also one for one. He settled midfield on debut over 1300M on April 12th before running on well for a three-quarter-length victory over Oasis Gijeok with the 3rd placegetter five-lengths back. The slight step up in trip can suit. After a bit of a wobble in January, (7) SUCCESS COW has come back into form with a 2nd and a 4th from his latest two and he is a sild place chance in this company. (9) BURUI SINJEON and (4) HIGH GOLD BAR others who are better than their respective latest efforts suggest.
| Selections | (1) Indie Tiger (6) Brown Choco (7) Success Cow (9) Burui Sinjeon |
| Next Best | 4, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 6 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(4) POWERFUL THUNDER had been working towards a maiden win, and it arrived over 1300M on April 17th when he led all the way around, getting the better of Powerful Battle by a head with the pair eight-lengths clear of 3rd. He is up in class and slightly in trip, but he is down in weight and can win again. (1) OASIS HAPPY stepped up to a mile on April 26th and registered his maiden win at start four with three-length victory. He is up in class but is down 3kg in weight and can be on pace and in this a long way. (6) CARAT KING is yet to win in eleven, but he was promoted to this class after a few too many near-misses and proved that he can measure up with 3rd place over 1300M on April 10th when settling midfield and running on. He stays under a light weight and should be in the finish again. (7) HEUIMANG GUNJU and (2) VICTORY STORY others firmly in the placing frame.
| Selections | (4) Powerful Thunder (1) Oasis Happy (6) Carat King (7) Heuimang Gunju |
| Next Best | 2, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 7 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
It’s been a while since (9) HANEUL GOLD got his maiden win but with the occasional exception, he has held his form well and enters off a 4th and a 3rd from his latest two at 1200M and 1300M. He tackles the mile for the first time but on his recent racing style it can suit, and he has as good a chance as any here. (4) SEOGWI CREST was a winner on debut and has since finished 5th on no fewer than four consecutive occasions at this class, most recently on her first try at a mile on April 17th. She stays under a very light weight and really should be getting closer today. (8) PORT MORE has underwhelmed in three goes at this level and missed the break last time. He comes back to the distance at which he got his sole win and if he can be on pace early, he can be in the finish. (2) NEVERSTOP HEEMANG and (5) FLYING THE LUCKY are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (9) Haneul Gold (4) Seogwi Crest (8) Port More (2) Neverstop Heemang |
| Next Best | 5, 6 |
| Fast Start | 4, 7, 8, 9 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(8) KYUNGNAM DRAGON has been the beaten favourite in both his two starts back since a ten-month layoff, running a close 5th at 1200M on April 5th and then 7th – again not too far back – over 1400M on April 17th. Under a light weight, back in trip, and third-up, he warrants another chance. (6) BREEDO MIRACLE was an on-pace winner at this class and distance three starts back and has since run 4th and 3rd, showing close to the speed both times. He is up in weight today but will be well backed again here.. (7) WIN WIN enters off four consecutive 3rd place finishes and there is every chance that record continues here. (3) TAMNA FIRST and with a class drop (1) ROAD TO PARTY, are others who can be in the mix for the minors.
| Selections | (8) Kyungnam Dragon (6) Breedo Miracle (7) Win Win (3) Tamna First |
| Next Best | 1, 9 |
| Fast Start | 3, 5, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 7: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (2) VICTORIA CHUKJE has won her latest two, most recently a very similar race to this one over 1400M on April 12th when settling behind the speed and proving too strong. With an apprentice claiming 3kg she actually comes down in weight, and from a great draw, she can complete her hat-trick. (10) SKY WHITE returns to action for the first time since getting her maiden win over 1400M in December. She returns up in class, but she looked well when 3rd in a trial in late April and she can put in a solid effort first-up at an each-way price. (8) SEOGWI LADY has a 4th and a 3rd from her latest two, most recently beating a few of today’s rivals at this class and distance on March 13th. She ahs an apprentice claim and can be dangerous. (7) BULBIT YEONGMA and (5) ONES HEYDAY others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (2) Victoria Chukje (10) Sky White (8) Seogwi Lady (7) Bulbit Yeongma |
| Next Best | 5, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(2) AIR CITY was a winner at this class over 1400M in January and has since run 3rd twice, most recently in the TJK Trophy at a mile on April 12th when settling back and finishing strongly. He has his fair share of weight here but has a good gate, Franco knows him well, and he can win. (10) VORTEX got rapidly promoted to this class with back-to-back wins at a mile and 1800M in January and February. He tends to mess up the start which has caused him big problems in his last two but if he gets away cleanly, he is a chance under a light weight. (7) SENSATIONAL WIN was a winner at class and distance in February and while he has ben only ordinary in his latest two behind good horses, he gets an apprentice claim and a better draw today. (4) BLAZING MAN and up in class last start winner (6) RACE MARINE others in the hunt.
| Selections | (2) Air City (10) Vortex (7) Sensational Win (4) Blazing Man |
| Next Best | 6, 8 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 7, 8 |
Horse Racing in Korea 