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 Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 2, 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 Best | 3, 7 |
| Fast Start | 3, 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 Best | 6, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 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 Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(3) WIND MIREU debuted back in 2024 winning at start number two but then only appeared once as a three-year-old, winning in August. He raced a little greenly for 5th on his return on May 31st but should have derived benefit from that run and Franco getting on is a plus. (1) MOST WANTED broke through at start three over 1200M and then recorded back-to-back runner-up finishes at this class before being a well-beaten 6th when favourite last time out on May 31st. He was slightly lame in the near hind leg after that, but he barely missed any work, and he will have plenty of backers again. (8) O.K. BABY is up in class having broken through at start three on May 24th and down 2.5kg in weight, he can be competitive again. (6) POWER TIGER and (4) BEOLGYO VILLAIN among other chances.
| Selections | (3) Wind Mireu (1) Most Wanted (8) O.K. Baby (6) Power Tiger |
| Next Best | 4, 2 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 6: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
It’s been a while since (2) RAON THE MASKE saluted, but he comes in off three consecutive runner-up finishes, two of them at a mile and one at 1800M. He draws well to be on the pace and an apprentice taking 3kg off his back could be enough to get him over the line in front here. (4) BLACK VOLT won over this distance at class 4 level in March Nd while he didn’t do much on his first try at this level in April, he beat a couple of today’s rivals when coming from the widest gate and running 4th on May 17th and he can get closer today. (10) TWIN RAINBOW finished midfield in the Luna Stakes on her only previous try at a mile and won at this class over 1200M on May. She can be in the mix under a light weight. (6) CAPTAIN DIA and, at an each-way price, (1) STAR FURY, others to take a chance on.
| Selections | (2) Raon The Maske (4) Black Volt (10) Twin Rainbow (6) Captain Dia |
| Next Best | 1, 3 |
| Fast Start | 4, 6, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 7: Class 2 (2000M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(4) ARI DRAGON has five wins and two 2nd places from seven starts and as prevailed in each of her four most recent starts, up to 1800M and class 3. She comes up into very much unknown territory here at class 2 and 2000M, but she carries a very light weight, she draws very well, and she can continue on her merry way. (2) BIG MUSICAL STAR was an all the way winner over the marathon (by local standards) 2200M on May 3rd with plenty of today’s rivals behind him. He laid out, as he does tend to do, to the extent he got sent back to trial, which he duly won a couple of weeks ago He comes up in weight today but can be in the mix. (5) YEOSU SUPERSTAR comes out of the KNN Cup where she ran an excellent 3rd and with a light weight, she can be very much in this. (9) B.J. CHIEF is the only one in the field who has won over the distance and along with (3) FLYING THE CHAMP, is at least a place chance.
| Selections | (4) Ari Dragon (2) Big Musical Star (5) Yeosu Super Star (9) B.J. Chief |
| Next Best | 3, 1 |
| Fast Start | 2, 5, 6, 11 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
Not the strongest class 4 so this could be a chance for (7) NAEPYEON to return to the winner’s circle for the first time in eighteen outings. He is rarely far away and was a smart 4th at this class and distance on May 29th. Tanaka gets on and third-up after a spell, he can be peaking fitness-wise. (11) SEOBU CAPTAIN has a win and two placings from three tries at this distance. The wide draw shouldn’t be a problem, and Seo Seung-un for the first time catches the eye. (1) HOLY RUN beat Seobu Captain as the pair finished 1st and 2nd respectively at this class and distance on May 3rd. With no apprentice claim and a rating hike, he comes up a full 6kg in weight, but he can still be competitive. (2) TTANBONG QUEEN and (5) GEUMSEONG are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (7) Naepyeon (11) Seobu Captain (1) Holy Run (2) Ttanbong Queen |
| Next Best | 5, 3 |
| Fast Start | 3, 8, 9, 10 |
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