Day: May 20, 2026

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (May 22)

Friday’s racing is at Busan with 8 races from 11:35 to 17:55. Here are the previews:

Tuhonui Banseok, two-time winner of the Busan Mayor’s Cup, will retire after this Sunday’s race (Pic: KRA)

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(5) P.D SPECIAL ran 5th twice last autumn and then returned on April 26th to run a close 2nd at 1200M, showing on pace throughout. She should strip fitter for that run, she gets the same apprentice claim, and she can go one better. (2) POWERFUL RUBY has been knocking on the door with a 4th and a 5th among her finishes to date. In this company she too should be on the speed and with Seo Seung-un staying on, she must rate as a chance. (10) WONDERFUL LALA was an improved 4th at start three over 1200M on April 19th and she can build on that here. (1) RIVER RUN and (7) CHAMPUI HYANGGI are others who can be in the mix.

Selections(5) P.D Special (2) Powerful Ruby (10) Wonderful Lala (1) River Run
Next Best7, 3
Fast Start2, 4, 5, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(6) DOLGYEOK SPECIAL has a 5th, three 4th places, and then two 3rd places from her six starts so far, with her latest three all having been over a mile. She likes to settle back and run on and while in the absence of an apprentice claim, she is up in weight today, she has as good a chance as any. If she does find one (or two) too quick again, it could be (2) FLASH TO ME. Her best is a 3rd place at 1400M three outings back and while she has disappointed compared to her odds in her latest two, she is drawn well and worth another chance here. (9) WORLD GOAT was 5th behind Dolgyeok Special on April 26th, and he can potentially get closer today. (8) NICE POWER and (11) THANKYOUFORTHETIME others in the hunt.

Selections(6) Dolgyeok Special (2) Flash To Me (9) World Goat (8) Nice Power
Next Best11, 3
Fast Start2, 8, 9, 10

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only here. (1) GOLD POCKET ran 2nd on debut over 1300M in March before getting her maiden win at start number two on April 17th, running on strongly from a handy position. She comes up in class here as well as slightly in trip, but neither should be a problem and she can win again. (11) YEOUN got her maiden win back in debut and has run fairly for 4th, 2nd and 5th in three subsequent outings at this class. The latter was her latest when she was a beaten favourite on April 17th when she used up a lot of energy early. She can be given another chance here. (6) GLOBAL HEROINE has a 2nd and a 4th from her latest two at this class and while a non-winner of twenty, this is the kind of race she can place in. Up in class pair of (8) SEUNGNI YEYAK and (4) THEMIS other chances.

Selections(1) Gold Pocket (11) Yeoun (6) Global Heroine (8) Seungni Yeyak
Next Best4, 2
Fast Start1, 2, 7, 11

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(8) HEY BRO got an easy lead from a wide draw over a mile last time out on April 17th and was able to convert it into his second win from five starts. He comes up in trip as well as 2.5kg in weight, but he can lead again and he can win again. (10) TAMNA BRAVO is winless in eight but ran a fair 4th when stepped up to this class and distance on April 26th and under the same light weight, he can be competitive again. (4) CAPTAIN DRAGON was 4th at this class over a mile on May 5th and could be ready for another crack at the extended trip here. (3) BREEDO QUEEN STAR is yet to win but her racing style suggests that the step up in trip can suit, while the veteran (5) THEIA comes in off a last start 3rd at class and distance and can aim for a repeat.

Selections(8) Hey Bro (10) Tamna Bravo (4) Captain Dragon (3) Breedo Queen Star
Next Best5, 1
Fast Start6, 8, 9, 10

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(more…)

Born Dia Denies Vincero Cavallo Double Sprint Series Sweep

Vincero Cavallo was denied a second consecutive clean sweep of the Korean Sprint Series and ultimately had to settle for 3rd as Born Dia led all the way to win the SROA Chairman’s Sprint (1200M KOR-G2) at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Born DIa holds off Winner Clear (Pic: KRA)

After sending him off as the second favourite in both the first two legs of the series, punters this time finally had full faith in Vincero Cavallo, making him the 1.4 marker elect. Born Dia meanwhile was the joint second-longest shot on the board at 82.7.

From gate ten, Seo Gang-ju had a surprisingly easy time taking Born Dia across to the lead where they settled and made steady progress. Vincero Cavallo meanwhile settled midfield among a crowd of jostling horses and was quickly hemmed in on the fence.

With plenty of energy left in the home straight, Born Dia was able to keep lifting and held off the fast finishing Winner Clear by half a length, with Vincero Cavallo, who at no point in the race looked a winning chance, two lengths back in 3rd.  

“I’ve worked hard since debuting, and it is nice to get the chance in a major race and to win” jockey Seo Gang-ju told KRBC after claiming his first Graded winner.

“I couldn’t be sure of the win until the very end, I knew that Vincero Cavallo and Winner Clear would be coming and that we had to stand our ground.  Born Dia did that very well.”

(Pic: KRA)

Winning trainer Kwon Sung-ju told KRBC that the win made amends for a disappointing showing in the SBS Sports. “There is probably no faster starter (than Born Dia) at Seoul or Busan, but when she’s challenged, she has problems as happened in the previous race….Seo Gang-ju had his instructions and he carried them out perfectly and I’m really grateful to him.”

Winner Clear couldn’t quite get there although trainer Baik Kwang-yeol thought for a moment that he might. “I thought we’d won” he conceded to KRBC. “We finished strongly but the finish line came just too early. No regrets, we did our best”  

As for Jo Jae-ro, beaten on Vincero Cavallo, he said his opposition’s game plan worked very well: “They broke away well, secured the lead as planned and then they managed their energy very effectively. There were a few collisions in there, a lot of bumping and I think ultimately (Vincero Cavallo) didn’t have enough left after that to show his usual sprinting performance. There were no other problems but sometimes the race doesn’t go as planned.”

Born Dia is a five-year-old mare by With Distinction and out of T P Mc G (by Flatter). T P Mc G was unraced but has also foaled multiple Korean winners such as Seungbusa and Black Mamba. The five-year-old is owned by Son Byeong-hyeon and moves on to seven wins from twenty-four starts.