Day: June 24, 2026

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (June 26)

The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with an 8-race meeting from 11/35 to 17.55. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens with all but two racing for the first time and while we tend to side with experience in these races, there are a couple of newcomers worth taking a chance on. (2) VICTORY TIME was very quick in his trial, showing on pace and finishing a close 2nd. From a good draw, if he brings that form to the races, he can win. (3) HERO HIT won her trial leading all the way. Her time wasn’t as quick as Victory Time’s but the track has been racing very fast in June so it was just as good an effort. If you prefer experience, then (4) RUBY GONGJU is the one. She ran a fair 5th of nine over this distance on debut on May 29th and should have come on for it. (7) OASIS ANGEL and (6) SERAPH are other first-timers who will attract some interest.

Selections(2) Victory Time (3) Hero Hit (4) Ruby Gongju (7) Oasis Angel
Next Best6, 9
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 7

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

(8) CHAMPUI HEUIMANG has made progress across four starts so far, culminating in 2nd place over 1400M on May 29th when he settled midfield and ran on. He was further forward than he was on his previous try at a mile in April when 4th and with similar tactics, he can win this. (6) OASIS TIME debuted over this trip on June 7th and ran a fair 4th of eleven, doing his best work late. He should have come on for that run and the sole juvenile in the field can be closer today. (5) DOLGYEOK SPECIAL has finished between 3rd and 5th in all eight starts so far with his two 3rd places coming over this trip, including beating Champui Heuimang and he should be in the mix again. (2) SO FAST and (3) RICH SKY others in the hunt.

Selections(8) Champui Heuimang (6) Oasis Time (5) Dolgyeok Special (2) So Fast
Next Best3, 7
Fast Start3, 5, 7, 8

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(9) FLEX KHAN ran once last year for 4th place and then didn’t reappear until April. He has a 3rd and most recently a 2nd place from his two starts back with the latter coming on his first try at this distance on May 29th when beating a few of today’s rivals. Third up he can be peaking, and he can go one better. (7) BEST TIGER didn’t do much on debut but was an improved 4th at start number two over 1300M on May 31st when ridden further forward. Expect similar tactics here and under an apprentice claim, he can be a threat. (8) STRONG WINNER has hinted at ability with three finishes in 4th or 5th place from five starts. He tends to get too far back but if he can be a bit handier earlier today, he should at least place. (2) I AM HAPPY and (6) HAENGBOK TREE others in the frame.

Selections(9) Flex Khan (7) Best Tiger (8) Strong Winner (2) I Am Happy
Next Best6, 4
Fast Start1, 2, 7, 11

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

Competitive race. (1) SHIN STAR ONE broke through at each-way odds at start number three on May 29th when coming from off the pace over 1400M. He is up in class and up in trip, but while he doesn’t get much of a weight break, there can be more to come. Probable favourite though is (4) YEOUN. Her sole win came on debut, but she has held her form in four tries at this class including two runner-up finishes over 1400M, most recently on May 22nd. She comes up to the mile for the first time, but it can suit, and Seo Seung-un climbing on for the first time suggests that today can be the day. (9) KING BLACK is up in class following his maiden win at this distance on May 10th and can measure up. (6) WORLD GOAT and (7) CARAT KING among plenty of other place chances.

Selections(1) Shin Star One (4) Yeoun (9) King Black (6) World Goat
Next Best7, 2
Fast Start1, 4, 9, 11

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

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KOREA RACING REPORT: JUNE 19-21

IT WAS A STAKELESS SUNDAY IN KOREA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR MONTHS BUT THERE WAS A NAMED FEATURE ON THE CARD IN SEOUL AND THE 15TH SPORTS DONG-A CUP WAS WON BY ROYAL SOCKS under apprentice Kwon Jung-seok (writes Luke Humphreys).

However, the main talking point of the race was the late scratching of Di Ne, one of the country’s top three-year-old’s, his subsequent stand down from racing for twelve months. He did not look right on the way down to the start and was eventually withdrawn and a post-race physical examination found him to have a bowed tendon.

Whilst this year’s Korean three-year-old crop has produced some fine performances from the likes of Roshe, Hwang Geum Eo Jang, Funny Wild and Clearly Winner it has lost plenty of spark. Supex Winner sadly had to be put down after suffering a ligament and sesamoid injury in the week leading up to the KRA Cup Mile, whilst Geudaemaniddamyeon fractured a cannon bone whilst preparing for the YTN Cup. Di Ne, like Geudaemaniddamyeon, will no longer be seen in his three-year-old campaign.

This left Royal Socks (Hansen) to run the 2.0 favourite and he led for most of the way to score by four-lengths. He recorded his sixth career victory at start eleven and will now be up to Class 2 grade. Baro Danaeun was the other favourite, 2.7, but just like she did when last seen in the G2 Ttukseom Cup she finished 7th.

Royal Socks completed a riding double for Kwon Jung-seok after landing Race 2 (1700M Class 6) on the 3.8 favourite THE SUN COMING (Cowboy Cal) which after racing on pace won by four-lengths and was breaking through at the eighth time of asking. It also was part of a treble for trainer Kang Sung-o after success with BLACK SIDAE (Chrysolite) who won Race 6 (1800M Class 4) by an extending eight-lengths as the 5.2 second favourite before FEDAYKIN (Audible) proved too strong in Race 10 (1200M Class 4) running away late to score by one-and-a-half lengths as the 3.5 favourite.

Black Sidae was beating the 1.8 odds-on chance Ghost Chrysol into 2nd place in what was a slowly run race. Jockey Jo Jae-ro and Black Sidae put some pace into the race when taking off at the end of the back straight and they were never caught. Fedaykin broke through at the third time of asking after a 6th on debut in April before a 3rd in May.

Race 9 (1600M Class 2) was the highest graded race on the day, and SUPREME SOCKS (Flameaway) got the prize by a neck for Johan Victoire and Luigi Riccardi. The race was primarily dominated by the favourites with Tap Tier, 3.1, coming from a long last to run 2nd over Jeongsang Ace, 8.7, in 3rd with Useung Concord, 4.2, in 4th. Ace K, 5.8, was disappointing for the third consecutive time at Class 2 grade as he ran a long last of the nine runners.

Race 8 (1400M Class 3) was one of the more competitive races on the card and it saw TOHOMARKET (Revolutionary) get up late on to score by a half-length at odds of 29.6 over 15.5 chance Nano Masin with 7.1 fourth choice Cheonmahoryeong at her second 1400M attempt once again just getting caught in the closing stages finishing 3rd after leading. The other favourites were Magic Strong, 7.7, who was 6th, Navy Captain, 6.2, who finished 7th whilst the main two in the market Teukgeup Party, 4.1, and Free The One, 5.2, were 8th and 10th in the eleven strong field. The consistent Teukgeup Party produced the worst run of her career whilst Free The One, whose best form has seen him place behind Roshe at black type level, was disappointing for the second straight start.

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