The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday and it’s a bug one with the Kookje Shinmun Cup (1400M KOR-G3) the feature with the unbeaten Roshe seeking to go seven-from-seven. That’s race 6 on the 9-race card which runs from 11:10 to 17:55. Here are the previews:
Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maiden fillies with eight of the eleven racing for the first time. (4) OASIS CELEB came from off the pace on debut over 1000M at the end of August. Nine weeks down the line, she can strip fitter, and the step up in trip can suit. Of the debut-makers, (1) POWERFUL BRIDGE was the best in trials. She went through two of them, first in September and then on October 8th when she improved to 3rd in a quick time having led. With a good start today, she should be in this a long way. (8) SECRET FOG was 3rd on debut over 1000M on September 18th when settling midfield and running on. Like Oasis Celeb, she too should appreciate the step up in distance and can match or better that today. (2) GOSOK QUEEN and (6) QUEEN CLEAVER are the other first-timers who will be supported.
| Selections | (4) Oasis Celeb (1) Powerful Bridge (8) Secret Fog (2) Gosok Queen |
| Next Best | 6, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 7, 8 |
Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million
Juvenile maidens with four of the eleven racing for the first time. There are three standouts and they all finished 4th on their respective debuts. (4) TO WIN came out of gate ten on debut over 1000M before settling handy and running on for a solid 4th place. She finished off very well, the big step up in trip can suit, and she has as good a chance as any. (9) FLEX TEUKGEUP beat To Win in their trial and then came from off the pace to run 4th on debut on October 2nd. He too should have come on for that run and is a danger here. (7) SUPEX MAGIC debuted over 1200M on September 18th, beating two of today’s rivals on his way to 4th. He was doing his best work late and he is another who can benefit from the additional distance. By virtue of the jockey booking, (1) MILLION TREE will be the best backed of the debut-makers. (3) BULPAEJILJU was a fair 5th on debut and can improve.
| Selections | (4) To Win (9) Flex Teukgeup (7) Supex Magic (1) Million Tree |
| Next Best | 3, 6 |
| Fast Start | 1, 4, 6, 11 |
Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
A regular maiden but there are four debut-makers. (6) MAX LEVEL will be a strong favourite. He didn’t do much on debut in July, but subsequently went back to trial, which he won, and he was a very close 2nd on his return to racing on September 4th when he led for much of the way, ultimately only going down by a nose. He can lead again here and this time he shouldn’t be denied. (11) GOING TO WIN probably isn’t, at least not just yet, but he was the best of the newcomers in trials and while he has the challenge of the widest gate, if he can bring that form to the races, he can be close. (2) OASIS WANGJA has been through several trials and while none were especially quick, he did lead his latest and that’s enough to give him a chance of going well first-up against this very modest opposition. (1) FOR THE VICTORY and (3) BRAVO QUEEN look the most likely of the experienced ones to improve.
| Selections | (6) Max Level (11) Going To Win (2) Oasis Wangja (1) For The Victory |
| Next Best | 3, 4 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 6 |
Busan Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million
(8) BLUE TREE was 2nd on debut over 1300M at the end of August before running 3rd at start number two on October 9th, both times racing close to the speed. He should be on pace again here, Seo Seung-un climbs on for the first time, and today can be the day. (3) SKY WON was a fair 5th of eleven on debut over 1200M on September 6th, coming from off the pace. She should have come on for that run, she comes into a better gate, and the slight step up in trip can suit. (4) GREY WIND was 5th behind Blue Tree in that October 9th race. She also has a 2nd place to her name over 1000M, and she can be in the mix again here. (11) SIERRA GOLD and (5) OASIS SHACKLE among plenty of others in the placing frame.
| Selections | (8) Blue Tree (3) Sky Won (4) Grey Wind (11) Sierra Gold |
| Next Best | 5, 10 |
| Fast Start | 2, 4, 5, 8 |
Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) POWERFUL DEVIL comes in having run 3rd over 1800M on the first race run at Yeongcheon on September 13th. She returns to Busan and to a distance over which she registered her sole win to date in June and well-drawn, she can win again here. (3) SEOGWI GREAT beat Powerful Devil when winning at this class and distance on August 23rd, racing on pace throughout. She didn’t go se well when sent to Yeongcheon at the start of this month, but she is worth another chance today. (8) DELTA FORCE is the wildcard. He races for the first time since May but looked well when winning a trial on October 15th. He didn’t miss the top five in any of his first five starts and he can be competitive first-up today. (10) BULBIT YEONGMA and (4) MAGIC SHOW are among plenty of others in the hunt for at least a place.
| Selections | (2) Powerful Devil (3) Seogwi Great (8) Delta Force (10) Bulbit Yeongma |
| Next Best | 4, 6 |
| Fast Start | 3, 8, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 6: Class Open (1400M) Weight for Age / Kookje Shinmun Cup (KOR G3) / KRW 500 Million
The Korea Premier Series resumes. (15) ROSHE is a perfect six for six, and he made his Group race breakthrough at Busan in June with an effortless 10-length score over a mile in the Owners’ Cup. He hasn’t raced since, although he won at the start of this month and while he does have the challenge of a wide draw, there isn’t a position he necessarily needs to get to, and he should be far too good again. (6) WINNER CLEAR has mixed his form this year with a pair of runner-up finishes in the Sprint Series. He was most recently a fair 6th in in the International Korea Sprint in September and he shapes as the most likely if Rose has an off day. (10) MUNHAK BOY is the defending champion and while he lost his form badly afterwards, a very strong 4th in the Korea Sprint could suggest he is coming back. (4) MAENGNYONG and (1) SUPER FINISH are among plenty of others who could fill the minors.
| Selections | (15) Roshe (6) Winner Clear (10) Munhak Boy (4) Maengnyong |
| Next Best | 1, 11 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 8, 10, 14, 15 |
Busan Race 7: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million
(2) FANTASTIC ROYAL as made progress across all four starts so far, culminating in a win over a mile on September 18th when close to the pace throughout. He comes up in class and in trip here, but carries a light weight, draws well, and he can continue to improve. (10) ONE PLUS ONE was a maiden winner over a mile two starts back before finishing a very close 2nd, beaten just a head on his first try at this class and distance on October 2nd, beating some of today’s rivals in the process. He is only up 1.5kg in weight and he will almost certainly be the betting favourite. (4) DOCTOR ATE was 2nd to One Plus One on August 28t before picking up a win of his own over 1400M on October 2nd. He is up in class and distance but is down in weight and can measure up. (6) WIN NOW and (11) DORAON SAMSON are others to consider on a wider place line.
| Selections | (2) Fantastic Royal (10) One Plus One (4) Doctor Ate (6) Win Now |
| Next Best | 11, 9 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 8, 10 |
Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million
After taking a couple of goes to figure things out, (6) SHIN STAR ONE has won four in a row with his latest being back-to-back wins over 1800M at class 4 level, racing on pace all the way. He is up in class today and this is his toughest assignment yet, but he is down 2kg in the weights, and he can make it five in a row. (3) YOUNGYOUNG BRAVO is a winner of five from eight, including his latest in July when he beat three of these on his way to scoring well at this class and distance. He races for the first time in sixteen weeks, and he hasn’t trialed, so match fitness will need to be taken on trust, but he can be a big danger. (9) TANTAN DAERO has a 4t and a 3rd in two tries at this class, both over this distance, and he can be around that mark again. (1) SKY WIN WIN and (5) GWANGBOKUI BANSEOK are the other main chances.
| Selections | (6) Shin Star One (3) Youngyoung Bravo (9) Tantan Daero (1) Sky Win Win |
| Next Best | 5, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 3, 4, 5 |
Busan Race 9: Class 2 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
(1) KNICKS GO WON is a winner of five from eight to date with the latest of those coming at tis class over 1400M in July when she beat three of today’s rivals. She had a spin around in the international Korea Sprint at Seoul last month and finished an in no way disgraced 9th. Back in shallower waters today, she carries her fair share of weight, and she is up to a mile for the first time, but she should be too good. (4) TWIN RAINBOW is a winner of five from thirteen and has a 4th and a 3rd from her two tries at this class, beating plenty of today’s rivals in the proves. She has won over a mile too and can be a danger here. (5) WIND WINNER beat Twin Rainbow when winning two outings back, and while Twin Rainbow finished ahead when they reopposed on September 20th, he can be close again despite the big weight. (2) LEMON TREE and (11) MOMENTUM among others in the frame.
| Selections | (1) Knicks Go Won (4) Twin Rainbow (5) Wind Winner (2) Lemon Tree |
| Next Best | 11, 8 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 8 |
