The monsoon season has started but the weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 11.15 to 17.55. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maiden fillies with all but one racing for the first time. The experience is good though as (10) DUBAI HEART led for much of the way over this distance on June 19th, before ultimately going down by a head to Tipping Point. That experience can give her the edge here. (6) GOLDEN CODE went through two trials showing on pace in both and running 2nd in both in decent times. She should be nice and fit for this and can be a danger. (5) RACE NINE similarly led in her trial before finishing three-lengths 2nd behind the experienced Doctor Louis. Seo Seung-un rode and while he gets on Golden Code, Race Nine should be in this a long way. (7) SUPER WEEK and (9) DOCTOR ATLANTIC others who hinted at ability in their respective trials.
| Selections | (10) Dubai Heart (6) Golden Code (5) Race Nine (7) Super Week |
| Next Best | 9, 4 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(6) YEONGGWANGUI GREEN seems to be figuring things out having run 3rd in both his latest two at this distance and most recently over 1400M on June 14th when he beat a couple of today’s rivals. In this company, he can settle behind the speed and run on and with Seo Seung-un up for the first time, today could be the day. (3) GIROL SIDAE did nothing in her first three starts but was much better when stepped up to this distance for the first time on June 6th when she led for the first time and ran 2nd. She can build on that here. (7) MORE QUICKLY also led for the first time on June 19th over this distance and finished a best to date 3rd. She can aim to match that here. (4) FANTASTIC GREEN and (8) WORLD HANI other place chances.
| Selections | (6) Yeonggwangui Green (3) Girol Sidae (7) More Quickly (4) Fantastic Green |
| Next Best | 8, 2 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(11) ROAD TO NUMBER ONE was a winner on debut 1200M in February, making all and has been getting closer in three subsequent starts at this level, most recently on June 12th when having led again, she beat a couple of today’s rivals when finishing 3rd. Her win came from gate ten so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she can win. It’s been a long time since (3) BLACK JILJU’s solitary salute but her recent form reads well with two 3rd places and a 4th from her latest three and she should be around the mark again. (8) SONGJEONG TODAY beat Black Jilju when winning at this class and distance on June 7th. She is up 4.5kg in weight and she has been a bit of an all or nothing horse so far but she clearly has some talent. (7) AEGIS CROWN should strip fitter second up, while (9) WHITE OIL is another in the frame.
| Selections | (11) Road To Number One (3) Black Jilju (8) Songjeong Today (7) Aegis Crown |
| Next Best | 9, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 8, 11 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(5) POWERFUL MENIFEE debuted in last year’s Rookie Stakes, finishing last, and then didn’t reappear until May 1st. He was a winner on return before running 3rd on his first try at this class and distance on June 5th showing on pace throughout. He can be on pace again today and this time can win. (4) BULBIT YEONGMA won at start two over 1200M and after a pair of 5th places to start life at class 5 has a 2nd and a 3rd from her latest two coming from well off the pace and she should be close again here. (3) DOCTOR CHAMP is yet to win in eight attempts but has three runner-up finishes including one at this class two starts back. He was a bit one paced last time out when 5th but is worth another chance in this company. (11) WORLD FIGHTER MAN and (6) DORAON SAMSON others in line for the minors.
| Selections | (5) Powerful Menifee (4) Bulbit Yeongma (3) Doctor Champ (11) World Fighter Man |
| Next Best | 6, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(6) SKYLOR JIYOU was a winner at this class and distance on June 14th when settling midfield and running on well. He only comes up 1.5kg in weight and among this field looks to have the most chance for further development. (4) POWER TIME was a class and distance winner back in February and while he then went cold for three runs, he returned to form with a 2nd place on June 7th when settling midfield and finishing well. He comes in under the same weight and can be a danger. (11) GEUMA PANTHER is up in class following 3rd place over a mile on June 12th. He comes down 4kg in weight and while he is also up to the 1800M for the first time, he may well have some more improvement in him. (1) SINCHON DOKSURI and (8) FLYING CROWN others in the hunt.
| Selections | (6) Skylor Jiyou (4) Power Time (11) Geuma Panther (1) Sinchon Doksuri |
| Next Best | 8, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 9 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(1) QUEEN MAKER had a hard time in the Luna Stakes, the opening leg of the Triple Tiara, but she returned to shallower waters with a win over 1400M at this class in filly only company on May 17th. Taking on the boys here, she stays at the same weight, and she can be on pace and have every chance of repeating. (4) MYSTIK JIN has five top three finishes from eight starts. He was a well-beaten favourite when stepped up to 1800M for his first try at this class on June 7th with his jockey that day attributing it to “moderate resistance to kickback” but he remains tempting under a light weight and back down in trip. (5) POCKET MILLION has a 3rd and a 5th from her latest two, both times racing on pace and she can be in this a long way again. (10) DOCTOR CASTLE and (7) SEOGWI OREUM other place chances.
| Selections | (1) Queen Maker (4) Mystik Jin (5) Pocket Million (10) Doctor Castle |
| Next Best | 7, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 5, 6, 11 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
(3) DAESEONG GOLD won three in a row between February and April up to class 4 and 1400M before suffering a reverse at the hands of outsider Yeonggwanguiprince on his first try at this class and distance on May 29th. He led until close to home and is well worth another chance to get it right here. (10) THE NOMINATE has plenty of experience over the mile and was a winner over it two starts back at class 4 level. A 2nd place finish on June 14th brings her up in class and with a 4kg drop in weight, she can be competitive. (11) WONDERFUL JONES comes in off back-to-back 3rd place finishes at this class over 1600M and 1400M and with Seo Seung-un, who is two for two aboard the colt, returning to the ride, he can be in the frame again. (7) MATONGNYEONG and (2) CRAZY ARMY others firmly in the hunt.
| Selections | (3) Daeseong Gold (10) The Nominate (11) Wonderful Jones (7) Matongnyeong |
| Next Best | 2, 4 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(9) GOLD POCKET ran 2nd on debut but has since won three on the spin, most recently in filly only company over this class and distance on June 12th. She comes up 3kg today and takes on the boys, but she has won under similar before and she can continue on her merry way. (6) CHARMING BOSS won a May trial and then debuted over 1200M on June 21st when coming from midfield to run 5th of eleven. He should have come on for that run, he stays under a light weight, and the additional furlong could well suit. (1) RUNNERS HIGH went around in the KRA Cup Mile (first leg of the Triple Crown) finishing last but then had a couple of months off before returning to more amenable company at the end of May and running 4th over 1200M. He was 2nd on his only previous try over this distance, and he can be close here. (8) STRAWBERRY QUEEN and (11) TTANBONG QUEEN, both last start class and distance winners, others who can be considered on a place line.
| Selections | (9) Gold Pocket (6) Charming Boss (1) Runners High (8) Strawberry Queen |
| Next Best | 11, 4 |
| Fast Start | 3, 6, 8, 9 |
Horse Racing in Korea 