The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with an 8-race card from 12:50 to 19:25. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens with nine of the eleven racing for the first time. (2) ACE CROW was a solid 2nd in her trial, stopping the clock in a good time. She draws well to get forward early here and she has every chance first-up. (6) WILD D’ORO recorded the quickest trial time among the newcomers. She was helped in that by being in the same heat as champion mare Jeulgeounyeojeong, who she finished six-lengths in arrears of, but it was a good showing, nonetheless. In terms of the experienced pair, (11) DOCTOR ATLANTIC was a fair 4th on debut over this distance on July 10th and with some natural improvement, she can get close. (9) GOLDEN CODE was only 6th on her debut but previously ran well in trials and Seo Seung-un staying on will tempt plenty. (8) BREEDO GREEN is another debut-maker who hinted at ability in trials.
| Selections | (2) Ace Crow (6) Wild D’Oro (11) Doctor Atlantic (9) Golden Code |
| Next Best | 8, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(2) PILSEUNG WINNER took a few goes to figure things out but has finished inside the top four in each of her latest four with her best a close 2nd two starts back over 1300M when racing on pace. She came from off the pace to run 4th at that same trip on June 28th and the step up to a mile can suit. (3) SO FAST was disappointing when 6th having been well-backed over this distance on July 26th. She got a bit far back that day and didn’t make ground (her jockey that day described her as one-paced and doesn’t ride today) but was going well prior to that and is worth another chance in this company where there is nothing in the way of speed. (9) MORE QUICKLY needs to take his own name’s advice a bit more literally when it comes to finishing off his races but enters off 3rd last time and should be there or thereabouts again. (11) NICE POWER and (4) MACH DASH others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (2) Pilseung Winner (3) So Fast (9) More Quickly (11) Nice Power |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 6, 8 |
Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(9) JOY OF QUEEN is still a maiden but was 2nd two starts back over this class and distance before running 4th having led in a race of upsets on July 19th. In this field, she should be on pace again and can win. The favourite will be (6) ROAD TO NUMBER ONE. Having scored on debut, she took a couple of goes to get used to this class but has run 3rd in her latest two, both at this distance and both times having led. She’ll be on pace again and can be in this a long way and will be favoured market wise despite being beaten by Joy Of Queen two starts back. (7) THE POINT hinted at a return to form with a 4th place at this class and distance on July 24th. He is yet another who should be close to the speed. (11) BORYEONG ONE ROAD and (2) GLOBAL ONE PICK may offer some each-way interest.
| Selections | (9) Joy Of Queen (6) Road To Number One (7) The Point (11) Boryeong One Road |
| Next Best | 2, 10 |
| Fast Start | 5, 6, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies (and one mare) only here. (3) YEOUN weakened when stepped up to a mile at the end of June, but she previously ran 2nd at this class over 1400M in May. She has her fair share of weight to carry, but she draws well to be on pace, and this time she should stay on. (11) GLOBAL HEROINE is yet to win in twenty-five appearances but has no fewer than sixteen top five finishes including her latest two and this is the kind of race she can find the money in. (7) BACK TO THE DREAM was a maiden winner over 1400M two starts back but struggled with the pace when beaten by two of these on her hirst try at this class on July 19th. Nevertheless, with only four runs to her name, she is worth another chance here. (10) NICE MYEONGGA and (8) NORTHERN QUEEN are others in the hunt.
| Selections | (3) Yeoun (11) Global Heroine (7) Back To The Dream (10) Nice Myeongga |
| Next Best | 8, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) JADE PALACE ran three times last autumn, getting his maiden win in the last of them over 1200M before suffering a setback that kept him off the track until this July 5th when e was 3rd at 1300M. He clearly has some echoes of his early talent and stripping fitter; he can add another win to his bow here. (6) WINNING TREE returned from a similarly lengthy absence on July 19th and made all to score over 1200M. He is only up 2kg in weight and he has every chance of a repeat. (1) SUCCESS GOLD was 2nd in an all-filly race at this class and distance on July 12th and under the same apprentice claim, she can go very close again. (3) NOBLE WIND and (8) WORLD FIGHTER MAN are the other main ones in the market.
| Selections | (2) Jade Palace (6) Winning Tree (1) Success Gold (3) Noble Wind |
| Next Best | 8, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 8 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(9) GYEONGBOK STREGA is yet to win in six attempts but has never finished outside of the top five and he comes in having run 2nd over a mile at this class on June 19th. He comes in here fresh after eight weeks off and under a light weight, he is the one to beat. (5) OASIS HWANHUI had a long time between his second and third starts, but he didn’t forget his ability as he has a 2nd place and a win since returning. That victory was an all the way score over a mile on July 5th and while he is up in class and in trip here, he can measure up. (11) TOHAMSAN SONIC struggled on his first try at this class a month ago, but he did get is maiden win at this distance in June and he can offer some each-way appeal. (3) TAMARKUZ KING and (4) FLYING CROWN are other place chances.
| Selections | (9) Gyeongbok Strega (5) Oasis Hwanhui (11) Tohamsan Sonic (3) Tamarkuz King |
| Next Best | 4, 7 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 5, 9 |
Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (2) GOLD POCKET won three in a row between April and June and was then 2nd over 1400M on July 10th. She comes up in class today as well as up to the mile for the first time, but she gets a 3.5kg weight drop and she can be competitive. (6) SUNRISE ran 4th in the Korean Oaks and then won the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, the final leg of the Triple Tiara in June. The form of that series was franked by Catch Race winning at Seoul last week and while the mile may be a bit sharp, at this level, she has every chance. (8) TUHON FIGHTER was a winner at this distance on July 10th and while she doesn’t get much of a weight break for the class rise, she can be competitive. (10) THE NOMINATE and (1) MAX THE DRAGON other chances.
| Selections | (2) Gold Pocket (6) Sunrise (8) Tuhon Fighter (10) The Nominate |
| Next Best | 1, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(9) GOLDEN EMPIRE was an also-ran in the first leg of the Triple Tiara before switching back to the shorter trips and she has registered two 3rd places and a 2nd in three starts since, most recently at this class and distance on July 12th. She’ll be on pace here and she can go one better. (6) QUEEN SPICY has won just once in twenty starts but she loves coming 2nd, something she has done in each of her last four appearances, all at this trip. She’ll be close to the speed and while she may find one too quick again, she will be in the mix. (7) MUJEOKYI beat Queen Spicy and a couple more of today’s rivals when winning at this class and distance on July 5th, leading all the way. He comes up 2kg but can be a danger again. (4) DOCTOR CITY and the interesting Japan-bred debut-maker (10) SWEET BULLDOG are others to keep an eye on if not necessarily as winning chances.
| Selections | (9) Golden Empire (6) Queen Spicy (7) Mujeokyi (4) Doctor City |
| Next Best | 10, 1 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 3, 6 |
Horse Racing in Korea 