Day: June 4, 2026

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (June 5)

June’s racing kicks off with an 8-race Friday card at Busan running from 11.35 to 17.55. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

We’ll take a chance in one of the three debut-makers. (10) LOGIST QUEEN raced handy in her trial, crossing the line in 3rd place in a decent time. The draw shouldn’t be a problem and if she brings the trial form to the races, she can win. (9) BREEDO SHOOTER has made progress across four starts so far with his latest being his best when an on pace 3rd over 1300M on May 3rd. In the absence of an apprentice claim, he carries 3kg extra, but he also has Seo Seung-un aboard and that means he will almost certainly start as the betting favourite. (2) SO POWERFULL beat a couple of these on her way to an improved 5th on May 10th and can continue to make progress here. Debut-maker (1) CHAMPUI JEONSEOL along with (4) WORLD THUNDER CAT are others who can have an impact.

Selections(10) Logist Queen (9) Breedo Shooter (2) So Powerfull (1) Champui Jeonseol
Next Best4, 3
Fast Start2, 3, 9, 10

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

After an ordinary trial, (8) CORE TIGER came from off the pace over 1200M on debut on May 10th and ran a good 3rd. He should have come on for the run, the step up in trip can suit, and he can be the one to beat here. (10) SWEET MAN has made progress over three starts so far, culminating in 4th place over this distance on April 24th. He had the widest gate that day too and in a race with very little early speed, he can make his way to a prominent position early and can be a danger. (7) HUIMANG SPEED was a much-improved 2nd at 1300M on May 8th, showing on pace, and he can build on that here. (3) DUBAI CANDY and (6) GYEONGBOK PORTUS are the others who will be in the market.

Selections(8) Core Tiger (10) Sweet Man (7) Huimang Speed (3) Dubai Candy
Next Best6, 2
Fast Start3, 7, 8, 10

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(2) POWERFUL MENIFEE debuted last August without distinction and then didn’t race again until this May 1st. It was a winning return over 1200M and while he is up in class without a weight drop, he draws well, and against limited opposition, he can win again. (4) BEOLGYOUI HIM will be the second favourite. It took him a while to get to grips with this level following his maiden win but going on his very close 3rd over this distance on May 10th, he has to be given a chance here. Next in the market will be (3) BUGYEONG TRIPLE. He enters off back-to-back 4th places, most recently beating a couple of today’s rivals on May 1st when handy throughout. In this company, he can be on pace and in this a long way. The form falls off rapidly after those three. (5) BAEDARI BOSEOK and (7) SOMETHING ELSE may compete for the minors.

Selections(2) Powerful Menifee (4) Beolgyoui Him (3) Bugyeong Triple (5) Baedari Boseok
Next Best7, 1
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 7

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Since returning from a six-month layoff, (4) CHAMP SONNY has won two of three, most recently at this class and distance on May 8th when close to the pace throughout. He comes up 2.5kg in weight, but he can win again for the in-form Gillespie stable. (7) TIGER MONSTER ran 2nd in that May 8th race, beaten just a length on what was his first try at a mile. He gets a weight swing, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he reversed the form. (9) SEOBU CAPTAIN had a poor day at the office when favourite over 1400M two weeks ago, showing on pace early but quickly beaten. He has won at this distance in the past and is worth another chance under a lighter weight. (6) FLYING CROWN and (5) RACE MARINE others to consider on a place line.

Selections(4) Champ Sonny (7) Tiger Monster (9) Seobu Captain (6) Flying Crown
Next Best5, 2
Fast Start3, 4, 7, 9

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

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NICE BUDDY DISRUPTS THE ELITE WITH ALL THE WAY KNN CUP VICTORY

Nice Buddy made light work of the widest gate to cruise to the front and stay on to win the KNN Cup (1600M KOR-G3), the final leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer for fillies and mares at Busan Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Nice Buddy (Pic: KRA)

Having finished as runner-up in both prior legs of the series, Boryeonglightqueen was sent off as the favourite, with defending champion and Donga Ilbo winner Raon Forest and Ttukseom Cup winner Fantastic Value the only other two in single digits in the market. Nice Buddy wasn’t exactly missed by punters, but having drawn the widest gate, she started as the sixth choice.

Just as with Born Dia in the SROA Chairman’s Sprint two weeks ago, the wide draw proved to problem for Nice Buddy as she followed Oneuldo Smile across and into a remarkably easy lead. From then on, jockey Lee Hyo-sik was able to control the tempo and still have plenty left for the home straight, where they saw off the late challenge of Gladius, with Yeosu Super Star coming home in 3rd.

Boryeonglightqueen launched her usual late run but could only manage 4th. Fantastic Value was 6th while with no pace to run at, Raon Forest was back in 8th. In terms of the overall Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer series, Boryeonglightqueen and Fantastic Value topped the table with 600 points apiece.

“I thought Oneuldo Smile would be quick away so I wanted to go with her and then the pace was a bit slower than expected so I decided it would be ok to take over the lead” winning jockey Lee Hyo-sik told KRBC.

“Even though she’s a filly, she has the strength of the colts but while I was happy to be with her for the KNN Cup, I didn’t put our winning chnaces at higher than twenty or thirty percent as there were so many other contenders and this was (Nice Buddy’s) first time in a Graded race.”

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Korea Racing Report: May 29-31

AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY THE 2300M START WAS IN USE FOR THE FIRST OF THREE TIMES ANNUALLY AND THE PRINCIPAL RACE ON THE CARD WAS WON BY THE HORSE THAT WAS BY FAR THE BEST STAYER ON THE DAY IN SATANG SONYEO for Jeong Jeong-hee and Luigi Riccardi (writes Luke Humphreys).

Satang Sonyeo (Girvin) has always looked a long-distance type and as per usual she showed little to no early speed but under encouragement from Jeong Jeong-hee eventually took a role closer than normal just behind the pacesetters, who did too much down the straight on the first occasion. Satang Sonyeo struck the front at the top of the straight the second time around, and the 3.2 favourite held off the challenge of the 4.8 third choice Pepper X who was a game 2nd with East West eleven-lengths away in 3rd.

The victory of Satang Sonyeo completed an outstanding weekend for trainer Luigi Riccardi after multiple successes twenty-four hours earlier.

Kim Tae-hun had a riding treble on the card beginning with TRIPLE S (Revolutionary) who got up late on to win Race 3 (1400M Class 6) by a head as the 9.3 third pick, over the 5.7 second choice Jechuk Sanjiro with the 1.4 popular pick Saenae Rania only 5th. POWERFUL PRADO (Colors Flying) the got the better of her co-favourites to land Race 5 (1300M Class 5) by a neck as the 6.2 third choice with Nuni Olkkayo, 2.7 popular pick, beaten a neck into 2nd and Brown Mamma, 2.8, a head away in 3rd. DONGGANGUI STAR (Old Fashioned) was the last of the trio in Race 6 (1700M Class 5) getting up in the concluding stages to win by a half-length.

The victory of Powerful Prado was the beginning of a double for trainer Lee Joon-chel as in Race 9 (1800M Class 3) KEIDRAGON (Goldencents) was an eye-catching winner from the top by eleven-lengths under Kim Yong-geun. The four-year-old Canadian bred gelding was having his third run this time in and ran his rivals off their feet. The two favourites in Airforceone, 3.0, and Major Crown, 2.6, were disappointments in 6th and 8th places respectively with the former losing his chance after a slow start whilst the latter didn’t stay.

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