Day: June 11, 2026

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (June 12)

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

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Small field in the opener. (7) GWANGSEON DAERO has run 4th in both starts so far, both at 1400M, and both times coming from well off the pace. She can be peaking fitness, wise here, Seo Seung-un stays on, and she has as good a chance as any. (6) DOLGYEOK SPECIAL has raced seven times, finishing between 3rd and 5th on every occasion with two 3rd places at a mile her joint best. She can settle behind the speed and be a danger late here. (5) SKYNEX ran 2nd on debut over 1200M in March and has run fairly for 7th and 5th in two starts since. Last time out she raced on pace and will probably do the same here with every chance of being in the finish. (1) QUEEN PERFECT and (2) TAESAN SHINHWA other place chances.

Selections(7) Gwangseon Daero (6) Dolgyeok Special (5) Skynex (1) Queen Perfect
Next Best2, 8
Fast Start1, 3, 5, 8

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(4) NOBLE WIND has run 4th in both starts so far, at this distance and over 1300M, showing close to the speed both times. Seo Seung-un climbs on for the first time, he can be on pace again, and he can make it third time lucky. (1) CHAMPAGNE WINNER didn’t do much in two outings last year but returned from over six months out to run 4th over this distance on May 10th, showing handy throughout. She should strip fitter for that run and can challenge here. (3) SEOGWI GREAT only beat one home on debut in February and was so slow, she got sent back to trial. She was much better on her return on May 15th when 3rd over this distance and she too can be fitter here. (8) OASIS KINGDOM and debut-maker (7) AFLEET CAPTAIN others who can be involved.

Selections(4) Noble Wind (1) Champagne Winner (3) Seogwi Great (8) Oasis Kingdom
Next Best7, 2
Fast Start1, 3, 6, 9

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(5) JOY OF QUEEN has raced five times for two 2nd places and most recently a 3rd place at this class and distance on May 10th when leading for much of the way. She can lead again and this time can come out on top. (4) ROAD TO NUMBER ONE was a winner on debut over this distance at the end of February and while she was only ordinary on her first try at this class in April, she was an improved 5th on May 10th. Both times were over 1300M and both times she led so the slight drop back in trip can suit. (1) AEGIS CROWN won at start two last November and returns to action for the first time since January. He looked well when winning a trial at the end of May and can go well first up. (6) GLORY GANGSEO and (7) WORLD FIGHTER MAN have similarly trialed since their latest appearances and can be considered on a place line.

Selections(5) Joy Of Queen (4) Road To Number One (1) Aegis Crown (6) Glory Gangseo
Next Best7, 8
Fast Start1, 4, 5, 8

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(9) D’LOVELY KING is yet to win in nine attempts, but he has been getting closer, most recently with a very close 2nd place at this class over 1400M on May 1st when closing strongly from off the pace. The step up to a mile can be what he needs to finally make the breakthrough. (5) GEUMA PANTHER enters off consecutive 4th place finishes at a mile, most recently on April 17th. He laid out ungenerously in the home straight to the extent that he was sent back to trial but if his manners are better today, then he can be in the mix. Veteran (6) ALICE MARINE enters off a 5th place at class and distance on May 17th, and this is the kind of race she can hit the placings in. (8) STRIKE ZONE and (4) UNIJOA others in the hunt.

Selections(9) D’Lovely King (5) Geuma Panther (6) Alice Marine (8) Strike Zone
Next Best4, 3
Fast Start5, 6, 8, 9

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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FUNNY WILD SECURES “DOUBLE CROWN” WITH MINISTER’S CUP WIN

There may not have been a Triple Crown at stake, but a “Double Crown” was secured on Sunday afternoon as KRA Cup winner and Korean Derby 3rd placegetter Funny Wild added the final jewel of the series, the Minister’s Cup (2000M KOR-G2), to his collection at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon. But there was controversy behind with the second and third placings reversed in the Stewards’ room.

Funny Wild held on in the Minister’s Cup (Pic: KRA)

Sent off  among a full field of sixteen as the 2.5 market favourite, despite doubts over his staying ability after a lackluster final furlong in the Korean Derby, jockey Seo Seung-un was able to ease Funny Wild from an excellent draw in gate six to sit behind early pacesetter Clutch Magic. Funny Wild took the lead as Clutch Magic faded in the early home straight and he stayed on to grind out a half-length victory.

“I wasn’t confident about this one” winning jockey Seo Seung-un admitted to KRBC. “It was a very competitive race, and I thought there were any number of possible winners, so I had to ride hard, and the horse was able to keep going all the way. As expected, the horse on the inside (Clutch Magic) led and I was able to settle in 2nd, and it was smooth from there.”

“I still have some regrets about the Korean Derby, we got a bad draw and then some bad luck between the first and second corners, but we were able to avoid all that today.” As for the future, Seo was circumspect. “He is good, but he was against other three-year-olds here. It will be challenging when he faces older horses.”

The drama was behind though. Breedo Sol got the closest to Funny Wild, just half a length in arrears on the line, however, in his drive for the finish, jockey Jung Do-yun had allowed his charge to veer across and into the path of Mr. Taeyang, who was finishing the fastest of any in the field. An Inquiry was called and with the margin between the pair only a neck, the placings were reversed. A blameless DOCTOR CHRIS, the disappointment of the Derby a month ago, was a close 4th.

Funny Wild was perhaps fortunate. Even with the interference from Breedo Sol, Mr. Taeyang, completed the final furlong more than half a second faster than the winner and jockey Choi Bum-hyun was of the opinion that he could have won:  “Ultimately it is a part of racing, a loss is a loss, and this is one of many ways to lose a race. But of course, I wonder what could have been if not for the interference.”

Jung Do-yun, who was adjudged to have caused the interference on Breedo Sol accepted responsibility and the resulting five-day ban. “I didn’t mean to do it, but I was only focused on winning and I lost my line.” Jung was also keen to talk up his mount. “(Breedo Sol) is talented. He is light on his feet, has good balance and he stayed really well. We have to settle for 3rd this time, but I am excited about his future.”

Funny Wild is by Bayern and out of Funny Sunny (by Sharp Humor). He was bred by his owner Choi Sang-il, who stands Bayern at Great Hill Farm on Jeju Island. He is trained at Busan by Choi Ki-hong, of Winner’s Man fame.

Next weekend the filly Triple Crown reaches its conclusion with the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Seoul. Only ten remain in the field but they do include the Korean Oaks winner Catch Race.

Korea Racing Report: June 5-7

AT SEOUL ON SUNDAY THE 26TH RUNNING OF THE MINISTER’S CUP PRODUCED A DRAMATIC FINISH WITH FUNNY WILD PRODUCING A VERY GAME PERFORMANCE TO SCORE BUT, ON THE UNDERCARD, THE MAIN HANDICAP WAS THE CONCLUDING CLASS 2 AND REMEMBER AGAIN ran out an easy five-length winner under CC Wong (writes Luke Humphreys).

Remember Again (Chrysolite) had failed at his first run at Class 2 level in April when using too much petrol in the run, but under a conservative ride by CC Wong, who was aboard for the first time, he pulled away to score. King Honor continued his recent good form with a 2nd place finish for him whilst The Player was a neck behind him in 3rd. The 1.9 favourite More Than Joke could only managed 6th.

Whilst Funny Wild was the star of the day the most well-known horse running on the day was LALA K (Hansen) and he recorded his first victory since his famous juvenile days when holding on to win Race 9 (1200M Class 3) by a head as the 2.6 favourite.

Lala K went viral on the internet when winning the 2023 Rookie Stakes coming from an incredibly long last and had only won once since in the NACF Chairman’s Trophy later that year. That changed on Sunday as he raced on pace and fell in to score, the total opposite of his famous Rookie Stakes victory. Haksan Dark Horse, attempting to replicate his course, distance, and grade victory from April, was narrowly denied whilst the Japanese bred Gwanaksan Rickey, 4.2 second choice, did his chances no good with a horrible start and was a never nearer 5th.

CHEONGSAN DOLPUNG (Shackleford) had been knocking on the door for a victory after chasing home some decent types in recent starts and he got his elusive first win in Race 3 (1200M Class 5) with a comfortable four-length score as the 2.0 favourite. Fifty minutes later in Race 4 (1300M Class 5) LOVERMAN (To Honor And Serve) took advantage of the leaders going too fast too soon with a last to first victory at much bigger odds of 22.0 completing a race-to-race double for jockey Jang Chu-youl and trainer Lee Gwan-ho. That race saw the 3.0 favourite Stepping Stone miss the start before being rousted up to take a forward role and was one of the first beaten finishing 9th of the eleven runners.

Jang Chu-youl completed a treble in Race 6 (1600M Class 4) on SLING STAR (To Honor And Serve) who was excellent in completing four victories in a row with a one-and-three quarter length score under the topweight of 58kg. Yongbi Hero was 2nd and is surely close to a win whilst the 3.2 favourite Mighty Choice was 3rd.

The victory of Sling Star completed a double on the day for trainer Kim Dong-kyun as STUNNING BOLT (Cowboy Cal) scored for him and Furkan Yuksel in Race 2 (1300M Class 6).

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