The 2018 Korean Racing season kicks off at Busan on Friday with a big 13-race card (there’s no ponies from Jeju this weekend). The first race is at 11:30 am and the last is at 6pm. Slightly smaller fields than usual due to there having been so many races at the track last week too. Here are the previews:

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

Small field to kick off 2018 with and (1) JANGHAN JILJU can get favourite backers off to a good start. It’s her tenth start today but she’s been close lately in tougher contests than this and she should be getting it right. (6) HAEDONG YEOGEOL’s latest two give hope and she should go well under jockey Kim Hye Sun who has her first full-time ride at Busan having relocated from Seoul for this year – she’s no stranger to the winner’s circle here though, having ridden the Oaks winner last year. (2) GOLDEN AGE and (4) SAENURI CHOEGANG are likely to be on the early speed and that could count for something while (7) SHARP BELL had shown promise prior to a lengthy layoff and returns here.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(5) SILVER LINE has been getting closer and closer across four starts so far, narrowly missing out last time. She isn’t a fast starter and has left herself just a little too much to do but should have too much for this lot. The rest really don’t look to offer much so (6) SAEROUN BOMUL, who at least does at least have a 3^rd place to her name is the main danger. Other than that we’re looking for ones to show something that they haven’t done so far. (1) EUTTEUM CHAMP and (7) IHYEN look the best candidates.

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Small field here with only three-year-olds. (1) B.K. GOLD overcame a bit of bumping at the start to run a decent 5^th of 12 over the distance two weeks ago and id she can get away just a little better here, she’ll be hard to beat. Only two of the others have raced before and of them, (5) HWANGGEUM BEOLMA looks most likely to improve. That leaves us with the debut-makers and Thomas Gillespie’s (7) HANEOLUI BIT looks the pick of those with (6) BAEDARI SINHWA another who showed a bit of promise in her latest trial and can be involved.

Race 4: Class 6 (1300) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Eight maiden fillies here and (4) ARAM NARAE ran on pleasingly enough on debut for 2^nd place a month ago over 1000M. The additional distance may well suit today and she has every chance here. (1) JOYFUL MEMORY was even-money favourite over 1600M last time out but stood in the gates and lost a lot of ground, blowing her chances. Her best results to date have come when being on the early speed and if she gets away better here then she’ll be a factor. She’ll probably be favourite. (3) GRAY STORM’s 3^rd place on latest start suggests she is getting better while (7) SECHAGE and (8) EDGE OF WINNER have also shown some glimpses of ability.

Race 5: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-olds only. (6) CHOEGANG THUNDER was an improved 3^rd on his second career start two weeks ago. He raced greenly once more in the opening part of the race but finished off pleasingly enough. He steps up in trip for the first time and with a bit more progress and experience here, could well be winning. (9) TORNADO KING put in a useful effort on debut, finishing 4^th over 1000M and can be expected to develop too. (8) JOEUN HAE was 6^th that day, a full six months after his debut but he too may come on (more…)

Seoul takes the final weekend of the year off so there is a rare Saturday card at Busan. 10 races from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Doraonpogyeongseon won the SBS Sprint this summer – can he return to the winner’s circle at Busan on Saturday? (Pic: KRA)

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million

Juveniles to kick things off with and a likely strong favourite with (10) DAMYANG GONGJU having run 3^rd and 2^nd on her two starts to date, beating a couple of these along the way. She’s come from wide gates both times and should make the breakthrough here. (8) NEW JACK SWING was 5^th behind Damyang Gongju on what was his debut on November 24^th and can get closer today while (6) SAKISAKI overcame an awkward start to put in a decent performance on what was her second outing last time and looks to have a strong placing chance too.  Among the debut-makers, (7) PARK MINISTER is the only one that stands out so expect the other two experienced ones, (3) SWEET MEMORY and (9) RAON JEONSEOL to also have some backers for improvement.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million

Juveniles once more and once more another strong favourite is likely. This time it’s (4) UJU DAEWANG with a 2^nd and 3^rd from two prior efforts who’ll be heavily backed. She led for much of her last race only to get overhauled in the closing stages but should have come on for that and can lead all the way this time. (9) BAEKDU JEONGGI began in an over-leisurely manner on debut three weeks ago but still ran on nicely enough and looks a clear second choice here with (2) STAR WOMAN the pick of the other three who have raced before. There are four first-time starters. (3) YUSEONG SPEED won her trial and could be interesting first-up while jockey/trainer combination for (5) ADELEUI SIN may tempt some too.

Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Tougher one to call this but (5) ADELE HERO and (7) GOLDEN TROPHY both come in having shown some ability at the distance and in a race with no obvious early pace, they may be tempted to take it on and one of them could go all the way. Adele Hero perhaps more likely to still be there at the business end of the race. (8) B.K MASTER has shown signs of improving – he started badly and lost a shoe last time but still managed 4^th – while (1) NEUTRON is slow but should plod his way past plenty in the closing stages here.  (4) HWANNGEUMBITYEONGU was a much improved 3^rd last start and goes at the distance for the first time. (3) GOLDEN JOY got a very unfortunate trip on debut and could be the wildcard.

Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(7) HWARANGUI HUYE comes in off three consecutive 4^th place finishes and wasn’t too far away from 2^nd place in a decent contest over this distance last time. He’s got a good chance of going better here. (10) ORYONG raced a bit greenly on debut over 1000M on December 1^st but still did enough to win quite comfortably. He’s up in class and in distance and will need to find a bit more but he should be competitive if his manners have improved. Also up in distance is (9) SUPER TRAIN and that may well suit having run on well for 5^th over 1000M on his first try at this class three weeks ago. (3) BLESS YOU ran well for 3^rd at the distance last start and should be in the hunt as should (5) JILJU DAEJANG.

Race 5: Class 5 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(7) SUPER STEAL didn’t get the best of trips last time but still managed to finish a strong 2^nd over 1300M. He surely has a win in him at this level and has beaten several of these in recent outings and looks to be the one to beat today, possibly getting an easy lead (more…)

It’s the eve of the Eve and Seoul Racecourse runs its final cards of 2017 on Saturday and Sunday. Djordje Perovic is set to become champion jockey, leading closest rival Kim Yong Geun by six wins heading into the final two days of racing. Seoul runs 12 races on Saturday from 10:45 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Going to be champion – Djordje Perovic (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(2) CAPTAIN POWER got off to a poor start when well-backed over 1000M last start but he’s performed well at this distance already and looks to have every chance of a maiden win here. (7) NAEGA JAL NAGA didn’t appreciate being asked to go round 1700M three weeks ago but has a 2^nd place to his name at this distance and should be involved here. Similarly dropping back in distance and into contention is (9) ONE TWO THREE. (10) JIGONG JEIL had a bad day at the office last start but has shown promise and gets another chance here while (4) SEONGUNG put in a creditable enough debut a full twelve weeks ago and returns as the wildcard here. Worth noting that none of the likely favourites are expected to be on the early speed.

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

Not much experience here and it looks wide open. Newly crowned “Jockey Of The Year” will have the chance to add to his winners with (9) GUREUM SONJITHAE, 2^nd at the distance o November 11^th having led almost the whole way around. He’ll be on speed again and this time could well hang on for a stable that’s bang in form at the moment. (5) PALDO GANGTA has shown promise in two starts so far with a 3rd place in a stiffer contest than this three weeks ago. He takes on further than the minimum distance for the first time here. Among the other experienced ones, (12) MASYA was a decent 4^th on debut at the end of last month and can be considered for improvement. Turning to the debut-makers, (1) MIR PARK and (10) MIRACLE HANSEN both looked sharp in winning trials and may be backed first-up.

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

Twelve previously unraced 2-year-olds make a late season debut here and we’re going to be a touch lazy and go on their performances in trials. The only one to win a heat was (4) BOEUNUI KKUM, who did so in decent enough fashion a month ago. She’ll be well-backed here. (10) SEUNGRI NARAE was arguably a little more impressive in finishing 2^nd in his heat earlier this month and looks set to get a fast start here and could go all the way. Those two look to be the standouts but expect support too for (1) ROAD WOMAN and (3) BEST CHAPEL, both of whom get top jockey bookings. French jockey David Breux gets his first taste of Korean racing on (5) DAEHO CHEONHA, however, given the colt’s trial showings, we’ll take a watching brief with that particular one. As ever in these kind of races, keep an eye on the Korean pools.

Race 4: Class 6 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(6) BULSA BULPAE was relatively unfancied but still managed to beat five of these on her way to 3^rd place over the distance on November 25^th. She is perhaps a bit one-paced but has shown she can grind out decent finishes and has as much chance as any of them here. (10) NANGMAN STAR was much better fancied that day and only finished a nose behind Bulsa Bulpae in 4^th so will have plenty of backers to overturn things this time while (11) SPECIAL DREAM was further back that day but could improve here on what (more…)

The Christmas weekend of racing gets underway at Busan on Friday where there are 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Hard to look too far beyond (2) CHANG GONG in the opener. Across his three starts to date, he’s shown far more than any of the others here and should really lead from gate to wire. (4) YEONGCHEON STAR has shown glimpses of ability with a 4^th and a pair of 5^th place finishes and should be looking to improve on those here while (12) EVER GOOD TIME and (9) GIPPEUM SARANG came home 4^th and 5^th at the distance on November 10^th and can be in the placing frame. It’s a fresh start for (3) DANCING VICAR today and she re-qualified in decent fashion at the end of November while in such a race we have to give a chance too to the solitary debut-maker. That’s (8) FIRE POINT, who also trialled up well.

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(10) NINA has shown progress across three starts so far culminating in being beaten by just a Head last time at this distance and she should get her maiden win today. (7) HEUGSEOL GONGJU was a couple of lengths back in 3^rd that day and can be in the placing frame again although the primary dangers could turn out to be (3) THUNDER STRUCK, a touch unlucky when running 6^th of 9 last time. (6) FAST AWAY was a much-improved 3^rd last month having previously shown absolutely nothing and is to be watched carefully while first-time starter (4) MAJOR ANGEL trialled up well. Watch the betting market with that one.

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million

Six first time starters take on six who have raced once before and unusually for this kind of race, it is one of the newcomers who will be favourite. (1) LUCKY KOREA is from the track’s top stable and looked good when winning a trial earlier this month. She’ll be expected to lead all the way. Among the other debut-makers, (6) SINBIHAN BYEOL looks the best while of those who have raced before, the logical pick is (12) TANGY BITE. He was a solid 2^nd on debut on December 1^st and should be able to at least repeat that today. (5) YUHWI and (7) ICE LEG are others who can improve on their initial efforts.

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(9) GAMUNUI YEONGGWANG has beaten a fair few of these across his latest two starts in which he’s come home 3^rd and 4^th. He’s never been sent off at anything shorter than 12/1 but looks the one to beat in this very modest contest. (4) JANGHAN JILJU beat (5) DAEHO MYEONGGA as the pair raced 3^rd and 6^th over this distance on November 17^th. That was disappointing from the well-supported Daeho Myeongga, who had shown ability (more…)