While Triple Nine’s bid for a fourth consecutive President’s Cup on Sunday is the undoubted headline of the week, there’s plenty to keep us ocupised while we wait. The weekend’s action gets underwat at Busan on Friday where there are 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00:

You Hyun Myung already leads the Busan jockey standings and with a number of his rivals in Seoul for the President’s Cup, can make further gains on Friday (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(5) TROPHY COLLECTOR has run 3^rd in his latest two outings, both at this distance and he looks set fair to get his maiden win here. He hasn’t been the fastest of starters so far but is well drawn here to get a good early position and should be too strong. (3) BUGYEONG DANDY was a much-improved 2^nd – and only beaten a neck – at this distance three weeks ago and is the expected main danger while (4) BAENGNICHONG and (8) HWANGGEUMIBITMASAENG have both shown signs of figuring things out in their respective latest outings with the latter stepping up to this trip for the first time today. (1) HANEOLUI BIT is the wildcard. He races for the first time since April but looked very competent in a trial two weeks ago and could go well first-up.

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Small field but it’s restricted to juvenile maidens so there’s a big prize on offer. Four of the eight are racing for the first time but it looks to be between two of the ones who have prior experience. (7) TOHAM ACE was a solid 4^th on debut at 1000M on September 28^th, finishing off very nicely in a manner which suggests the additional trip today can only be beneficial for him. He has solid claims here. (8) TRUE KING also ran 4^th on debut and then followed up with a 3^rd on his second start. Both those were at 1000M and he too looks the type who can appreciate further. It’s a toss-up between the two and which one to go for may come down to how they look pre-race but for now we’ll side with Toham Ace. The other two with experience haven’t offered much so for next bests we’ll go with debut-makers. (1) TITLE CODE looked good in a trial earlier this month while (4) DONGBANG WARRIOR actually finished ahead of Toham Ace when they qualified together at the beginning of September. As ever, watch the market for clues.

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

The second heat of the juvenile maiden sees another set of four first-timers taking on four with experience. (5) RAON ARES ran 4^th on debut in a decent time on October 5^th. He was close to the pace throughout and today is nicely drawn to lead from the gate and all the way. Of the others with experience, only (4) B.K. VICTOR offered much on debut although (8) THUNDER RAIN looked much better when trialing up again earlier this month after finishing last on debut, so we’ll turn to the first-timers to find some competition. (2) FLYING DANCER has looked good across a number of trials, acquitting himself well in amongst experienced racehorses a couple of weeks ago in the same heat as Thunder Rain. It’s a top trainer and jockey combination and he can begin his career in a positive manner here.

Race 4: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Yet more juvenile maidens this time with just two making their racecourse debuts. However, it’s fair to say that none of the ones with experience have been especially impressive so (1) POWER TOUCH, from the track’s top stable and with a bang in-form jockey aboard, has to be taken very seriously indeed. True, he was no better than average in trials but his stable rarely leaves their best in the mornings and he’ll be well-backed here. There’s a fresh start for (8) GEUMGANG CHILBO. She was favourite on debut in August having won a trial but was slowly away and scarcely involved. She comes back over two months later and should be a different prospect here. (3) DOCTOR WEEK didn’t do too much wrong when 7^th of 12 on his debut at the end of last month and the prognosis is for improvement today, while (7) DAMYANG CHOEGANG is another who could potentially go better than he did first-up.

Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(2) MORNING BRAVO debuted all the way back in October of 2017 in very indifferent fashion. He didn’t reappear until August of this way, by which time he had been gelded, and he has been much better, running up consecutive 2^nd place finishes., both at this distance. That does mean that he is up in class for the first time here but he looks to have scope for more improvement in him and he could win today. (7) BUGYEONG STORY is also still a maiden having been promoted to this level with back to back runner-up finishes in August and September. She ran a solid 3^rd on her first try at this level on October 7^th and should be close again here. (3) MUCHO and (5) GOLDEN KNIGHT have both proven competitive at this class already and have claims on going close. (9) HOPEFUL SIMON, a stablemate of Golden Knight, is yet another who has been promoted while still a maiden but shouldn’t be out of his depth at this level.

Race 6: Class 4 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million

Maiden juvenile imports compete for a big prize here and four of them are racing for the first time. They’ll have a hard time beating (1) CURLIN TIME though. The colt was 2^nd on his debut in a fast race at this distance and it would be a surprise if he didn’t have far too much here. He doesn’t look particularly vulnerable but he did of course get beaten as favourite on his debut and on the off-chance he does come up short again, first-timers, (more…)

The final weekend of racing in October gets underway on Friday at Busan with an 11-race card from 11:30 to 18:00. Plenty of action to get stuck into with foreign trainers Bart Rice and Peter Wolsley both having a few in contention:

Trainer Bart Rice has some good chances on Friday (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(9) LUCKY ADELE has a 3^rd and a 2^nd from among his three starts so far in what has been an interrupted career. He returned from more than a year out to record that 2^nd place at the end of September and he’s the one they need to beat here. (5) DAY STAR comes in off the back of her best finish to date, finishing 2^nd at this distance and beating a couple of these in the process. He’ll be the main danger along with (1) SUNDAY GLORY, who has shown some potential across three outings. (3) RINGING FLYING and (11) MAKGANG YEOGEOL are others who could step up.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens here with seven of the twelve making their racecourse debut. A few of the five with experience have shown some ability though, principally, (3) TANGENT, who ran a close 2^nd on debut on October 5^th, having briefly led close to home. It was a wet track that day but with a bit of improvement, he can win this. (6) DOCTOR CHIC gets dropped back in trip after a solid effort over 1300M on his first start in September, when he ran 3^rd having led until the closing stages. He’ll be on pace here and could lead all the way this time. (11) JEONSAUI JILJU has raced twice, improving on his latest and is another who can go well. As for the debut-makers, (1) GABO DAY won his trial in fine fashion last month and will be well-backed first-up, but the pick of them could be (5) SECRET LEGACY, who has looked competent across two trials, recording a fast time in decent company on her latest two weeks ago.

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

More maidens here, this time it’s restricted to fillies. Plenty are in the hunt but the slight top pick is (3) KEEP GOING, who looks to be figuring things out having run 2^nd at this distance on her latest start a month ago. She can sit close to the early speed and finish strongly. That speed is likely to be set by (5) GEUMA GHOST, who ran 2^nd on debut over 1000M last month. She steps up in trip today and will be a big danger. (6) ECTON SPEED came very close on her debut, just missing out in a tight three-way finish at this distance on a very wet track on October 5^th. Two of the others here were back down the track and she can be taken seriously. (2) TOUGH GREEN weakened a little late on when tried at this trip for the first time last month but can get close here while (9) YEONGWON CHAMP has hinted at some ability across two starts so far at 1000M and having begun both rather sluggishly, may appreciate a bit of extra distance today.

Race 4: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

Another competitive maiden with eight of the twelve tackling a mile for the first time. (9) JANGSAN JOY has offered few clues across two starts so far, both at 1300M. He ran on reasonably well for 4^th last time and given the stable, he’s going to be well-backed here. Expect him to be on-pace early with the potential to lead all the way. (7) P.K. NINE looked on the verge of getting his breakthrough win in the summer but has seemingly lost his way a bit in a couple of starts since. The step up in trip could well suit and he looks set to go close. That applies to (12) MARU JJANG too, who actually beat Jangsan Joy on the latter’s debut and can give him a good race again. (2) TORNADO KING returns for the first time since February. He didn’t do a lot in three outings before his layoff but looked sharp in a trial last month. (11) CHEONDUNGBARAMSORI is one of those who has race at this distance before, beating two of the others who go here on his way to 4^th place – albeit a long way behind the winner – at the end of September.

Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

With the exception of his first two starts, (1) FELICE has been sent off at single-digit odds every time. He’s yet to win but has a number of near-misses and today could be his day. The concern is his rather lackluster showing last time when he was beaten by, among others, (9) SHARP BELL. That was a big uptick in form for the latter, who remains a maiden after twenty-four attempts and has to be respected in this company today. (3) EURO SHINHWA and (4) EURO CAPTAIN both do have experience of winning already and both have claims here. Neither are especially quick starters but as long as they don’t leave themselves with too much to do, both are capable. (2) BAEKDU BAEKHO is the wildcard, returning after a twenty-week layoff. He’s been through a number of trials since and looked sharp enough in the latest of those two weeks ago.

Race 6: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(4) MAGIC STREET comes in off the back of consecutive runner-up finishes at this class, the latter of which was at this distance. His solitary win to date was also at 1200M and he looks ready to win again, most likely leading from the start. (6) SPOT returned from almost six months off with hoof issues to run a solid 4^th over 1300M two weeks ago. The (more…)

The main even this weekend is the Jeju Governor’s Cup at Seoul on Sunday where Busan mare Indian Star will bid to complete a hat-trick of victories in the Group 3 test. Before that though there is Friday action on the South-Coast with 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00: 

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(10) FASHION WANG hasn’t been far away in recent efforts and led for much of the way around three weeks ago at this distance before ultimately finishing 3^rd. Despite the wide draw she should lead again and can provide jockey Kim Hye Sun a first winner since her return form a lengthy injury absence. (7) BAENGNICHONG was 6^th that day and can improve here. The other contenders all have something of the unknown about them. (2) GOLDEN REX has struggled for fitness in his latest two but has been working consistently in the lead up to this and should go better. (3) GIPPEUM DAY returns from seven months out and is under the care of a new trainer. There are no clues from any recent trials but a top jockey is booked and she may go well. (5) TAEYANGUI CHUKJE was a good 2^nd on debut behind the excellent Sun Day all the way back in March. He disappointed in his return three months later and comes in here after a further four months off.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens here with just four of the twelve having raced before. (1) CHEONNYEONUIJILJU has raced twice, finishing a much-improved 2^nd at this distance on September 28^th, beating a length and a half by a good-looking winner in a fast time. He started slowly that day but ran on very well and should have too much here. Of the others with experience, (2) GOLDEN SHARP and (6) KARIN both finished 5^th on their respective debuts and both will be expected to improve today. Of the first-time starters, the pick in trials was (7) GOOD DANCER. The Bart Rice-trained colt went through a couple of heats the latest of which was alongside some very experienced racehorses and he didn’t look out of place. A watching brief is advised with the rest of them although (4) DOCTOR THUNDER seemed to know what she was doing and could go well first-up. Watch the market for any clues.

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

(9) YEONGSEONG ACE ran 2^nd on debut over this distance on September 7^th and while he was seven-lengths back behind a good winner, he showed enough to suggest that he has potential and can win here. (4) GIDAEHAE also ran 2^nd on debut back in August. She was stepped up to 1300M for her second start five weeks ago when she finished 6^th, just under a length behind (5) GOLD TICKET who was himself making his second career start. Both should be in the hunt here with Gidaehae slightly favoured back at this trip. (3) RACING GALLOPER was 3^rd behind Gidaehae in that race back in August. He returns following nine weeks off and the trainer/jockey combination will attract plenty. There are two debut-makers and of the pair, (7) JOY OF LUCK looks to have the most chance of making an immediate impact.

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

She’s yet to score in eight but (3) ROCK HARD QUEEN ran 4^th in a significantly better race than this over this distance three weeks ago and she looks very much the one to beat here, probably looking to lead from gate to wire. She faces a very modest set of rivals, the best of which looks to be (10) GOLD TREE who ran a creditable 5^th aa month ago on what was just his second career start and first at this distance. (4) WANBONG is the only one of the ten who has a top three finish to his name so far and he is third best here. Among the others we are looking for ones with the potential to improve. (1) HOT GIRL and (5) CAPTAIN COOK come closest to fitting the bill.

Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Both (2) YEOWANGUI GWIHWAN and (9) ARCADIA step up in class following their respective maiden wins over this distance. Both look well-equipped to cope at this level with Arcadia slightly favoured among the pair at this stage. However, they will both need to improve if they are to beat the likely favourite. That’s (4) USEUNG TICKET, who got his own maiden win in July before running a distant 2^nd to Fashion Of Marine on his first try at this level in August at 1200M. He stepped down to this trip fir his latest start three weeks ago and while he only managed 6^th, it was a stronger race than this and he is well worth another chance. (3) NOPIGOM NAREUSYA is another who it might be worth taking another look at, as she drops back in trip for the first time in a long time. (7) REALLY ONE was longest shot on the board when running a 4^th of 12 at this distance last month (more…)