It’s Korea Cup weekend! The action though gets underway at Busan on Friday where there are 8 races from 12:50 to 19:25. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juveniles with six of the eleven racing for the first time. (9) POWERFUL WARRIOR debuted with a solid 4th place over 1000M on July 3rd, settling midfield and running on. He should have come on for that, and he can win here. (3) MAX LEVEL didn’t do much on debut on July 24th, to the extent that he was sent back to trial. He won that heat in fine style, leading all the way, and stopping the clock in a quick time, and from a good gate, he can be on pace, and he will probably start as the favourite. (7) OASIS SONG finished in 6th place on debut in the same race as July 24th. He should have come on for that run and can go closer today. Among the debut makers, (5) HEUIMANG GYEOUL and (6) SEONGSIL JILJU looked the best in trials.
| Selections | (9) Powerful Warrior (3) Max Level (7) Oasis Song (5) Heuimang Gyeoul |
| Next Best | 6, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 6, 7 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
It’s hard to go past (2) OASIS ANGEL here. He was 3rd behind Seraph on debut over 1000M in June and then ran 4th having been ridden up to be handy from the widest gate at start number two over 1200M on August 7th. He comes into a better gate today, and third-up he can be peaking. (7) LOGIST QUEEN was a very close 2nd at start number two on July 5th when she led for most of the way. She could only manage 6th at 1300M on her reappearance, but she should be able to lead again here and back to 1200M, she can be in this a long way. (4) TWOTWO SPACE was an encouraging 4th on debut over 1000M on August 9th. She finished off very well and the step up in trip can suit. (1) GLORYS DAY and (6) COWBOY LOOK, the latter returning for the first time since last November, but who looked very well in a July trial, are others to consider.
| Selections | (2) Oasis Angel (7) Logist Queen (4) Twotwo Space (1) Glorys Day |
| Next Best | 6, 5 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 7, 10 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(7) ART TREE debuted last October with a quick 3rd place over 1000M but then didn’t reappear until this July 17th when he came from well off the pace to run 5th over 1200M. He was then handy from a wide gate and a close 2nd at 1300M on August 7th. Third-up he can be peaking and is the one to beat. He will be a very short price though. For anyone seeking an alternative, (3) GEORGE PRINCE has finished 5th in both starts so far at 1000M and 1200M. Both times he has been doing his best work late, and the slight step up in trip can see him get closer today. (4) OASIS TIME was 4th on debut and 6th at start number two, both of them over a mile. He drops back in trip for the first time and in this company, he should see off plenty. (10) FOR THE VICTORY and first-time starter (9) UNION FLASH others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (7) Art Tree (3) George Prince (4) Oasis Time (10) For The Victory |
| Next Best | 9, 2 |
| Fast Start | 6, 8, 9, 10 |
Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
Fillies and mares only here. (2) NORTHERN QUEEN is yet to win in ten attempts, but she has seven top five finishes, including her latest on August 14th when she was 3rd in a very similar class and distance race to this, having raced handy throughout. She beat a couple of today’s rivals that day and can beat plenty today. (3) RUSH WILD won on debut over 1300M before good efforts at a mile and 1800M gave her a spin around in the Korean Oaks. She finished well back in that and again when sent off as favourite on June 19th at this class and distance when she was fractious in the barrier and appeared to give up in the home straight. She as passed a starting test since then and with Seo Seung-un giving her another chance, so can we. (5) ONLY FOR ME was a winner on debut over 1000M on July 24th and while up in class and in trip, she can measure up. (8) BULBIT YEONGMA and (9) NICE MYEONGGA others in the hunt.
| Selections | (2) Northern Queen (3) Rush Wild (5) Only For Me (8) Bulbit Yeongma |
| Next Best | 9, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 3, 5, 11 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) WILD REAL won his first two races in fine order, leading from gate to wire at 1200M and 1400M before fading over the latter trip last time out which his jockey attributed to a gear change and unfavorable race pattern. Blinkers come on today, he draws well to lead, and while he is up to the mile for the first time, he looks worth another chance. (3) YEONGGWANGUI GREEN broke through at start number ten on August 8th, settling back and running on. It was over this distance, so while he is up in class, he is down in weight, and he can be competitive. (9) YONGBI SHARK beat a couple of today’s rivals when winning at this class and distance on August 9th, racing close to the pace throughout. He comes up 3kg in weight but can be close again. The still winless but up in class and down in weight (6) GOLD ROGER, along with (5) YONGBI JJANG, are among others to look out for.
| Selections | (2) Wild Real (3) Yeonggwangui Green (9) Yongbi Shark (6) Gold Roger |
| Next Best | 5, 8 |
| Fast Start | 2, 6, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(7) OASIS HWANHUI raced twice as a juvenile, recording a 2nd place in the second of them. He then didn’t return until this June 14th when he was a close 2nd over 1400M, having led for most of the way. He was a strong winner when sent up to a mile on July 5th, this time leading all the way, and then ran 3rd on his first try at this class and distance on August 14th. He can win this. He will need to overturn the form on (4) KOHINOOR. The veteran mare came from well off the pace that day to run a strong 2nd and under the same light weight, she warrants more respect today. (11) ONE LAST MARGARITA scored his maiden win at this class over 1400M on May 24th. This is his first start since and he is up in weight and in trip, but he does look to have potential. (1) CHARMING STELLAR and (6) SOMANGUIGIL other place chances.
| Selections | (7) Oasis Hwanhui (4) Kohinoor (11) One Last Margarita (1) Charming Stellar |
| Next Best | 6, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 6, 7, 11 |
Busan Race 7: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(4) BREEDO SOL finished midfield in the KRA Cup Mile and crossed the line 2nd in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup, over 2000M at Seoul in June before being demoted to 3rd. He was a beaten favourite over this distance on July 24th, and while he comes up in class today, he is down a full 4.5kg in weight and that should make him more than competitive here. (10) DOCTOR CHRIS was 4th in that Minister’s Cup and returned to winning ways over 2000M at this class on August 16th. He has the steadier of 58kg on his back, but his quality can see hum close. He will need to overturn the form on (3) EOHWADUNGDUNG, who was an all the way class and distance winner on July 17th, a race in which Doctor Chris was 3rd All four of his wins have come over this trip and while up 4kg in weight, that’s still in his favour against Doctor Chris and a repeat isn’t impossible. (9) UNJU CHALLENGE and (2) GEUMA GUTTY were ordinary in their respective latest outings, but both can be better today.
| Selections | (4) Breedo Sol (10) Doctor Chris (3) Eohwadungdung (9) Unju Challenge |
| Next Best | 2, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 4, 7, 9 |
Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million
(10) PORT MORE won back-to-back races over the mile in June and July, racing on pace both times, before running 2nd on his first try at this class, again over today’s distance, on August 16th when slower away than usual. He has a wide gate again, but he can go one better. He will need to overturn the form on (3) SUCCESS COW, who won that August 16th race with just under two-lengths between them. The weight swing favours Port More and he may have a bit more potential form more improvement, but Success Cow should be right in this again. (9) RICH ONE was a winner over this distance three starts back and has run 3rd in both tries at this class so far, at 1800M. He comes back to the trip at which he is one for one over and under a very light weight, he can be competitive. (4) CHAMPUI SARANG and the up in class but down significantly in weight (6) BUGYEONG TRIPLE, are among others to keep safe.
| Selections | (10) Port More (3) Success Cow (9) Rich One (4) Champui Sarang |
| Next Best | 6, 7 |
| Fast Start | 4, 5, 7, 11 |
Horse Racing in Korea 