After a one-week hiatus, racing returns this weekend with 4-day program beginning on Friday and concluding with a rare Monday meeting at Seoul for the Hangeul Day holiday. The action starts at Busan on Friday with 9 races from 11:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Racing returns with twelve juveniles all racing for the first time so we must head to the trial videos. (8) UNJU TOP posted the fastest time, finishing 2^nd in his heat when on pace and asked for an effort before being allowed to coast in the final stages. A similar effort will see him in the mix. (5) OUR DESTINY is the only trial winner. He was ridden hard to get to the lead and he remained there throughout, stopping the clock in a good time. Expect him to be on the speed here and he has every chance of going all the way. (12) SEKWANG CHOEGANG came from off the pace to finish 2^nd in her hear in a fair time. That run suggests the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and she can challenge here. (11) I AM LEGEND and (2) GOOD KING MAN others who caught the eye in their respective heats and who can be considered for bold showings.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only in this maiden. Having won her trial, (9) TEAM PERFECT was sent off as favourite over 1000M on debut on September 1^st. She raced close to the pace throughout but had to settle for 3^rd place behind a good winner. She should have derived benefit from the experience and with some natural improvement, can win here. (11) ACE GOOD JOB was a much-improved 2^nd at start number six on September 8^th when coming off the pace and running a close 2^nd in a good time. A similar performance here can see her in the finish. (1) MAGIC ELEVEN has the fastest time among those who have tackled the distance before. She draws nicely to sit on or close to the speed and can go close again. The presence of Seo Seung-un aboard (6) RED JASPER will tempt plenty and she has shown improvement over a stop start career to date. (4) B. K. WARRIOR another in the frame to get better.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

A very modest maiden so it’s probably worth giving another chance to (3) KING FIGHTER. He’s been on pace in each of his three starts to date and was sent off as favourite last time out, leading again before ultimately ending in 5^th. An apprentice brings his weight down and well-drawn to lead again, he has as good a chance as any here. (6) GLORY CROWN was overmatched in the Rookie Stakes last time out but comes into much shallower waters here and can go close. His debut 3^rd place over 1000M in a decent time suggests he has some ability.  (4) YEONGGWANGUITOUCH comes in off back-to-back 4^th places at 1300M. He’s the only one in the field to have a runner-up finish to his name and he should be there or thereabouts again. (8) DREAM BIGGER and (5) WONDERFUL ONE are others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(8) HANEUL BULPAE enters off a 2^nd place over this distance on September 3^rd when he led until the middle of the home straight, beating three of today’s rivals in the process. He comes in under the same weight, Seo Seung-un remains aboard, and he will be favoured to go one better here. (9) HAEUNDAE STAR similarly comes in with form in his favour having beaten three of these when 3^rd at 1300M on September 1^st. That was his first start in ten-months; he should strip fitter for the run, and he is the main danger here. (3) PINHOLE EYE ran a solid 3^rd over a mile last time out. He has had just over three months off since then so comes in fresh and can be a place chance. (5) DOCTOR LEO and (7) WIN STING others who can compete for the minors.

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(7) MOTHER ROAD was a smart winner over the minimum distance on debut in July despite racing wide an ungenerously before showing a real turn of foot late on. She than ran 5^th in the Rookie Stakes at the end of August. She skips the first leg of the Juvenile Series on Sunday in order to go here and she should be favourite. (2) GLOBAL TAEYANG ran 2^nd to Mother Road on debut, beaten five-lengths, but then got a maiden win of her own at start number two on August 27^th when sweeping home from a wide draw and from off the pace over 1200M. She comes up in class here, but the additional furlong can suit, and she comes into a better gate. The additional trip may also be a good for (1) FOR THE GOODTIME. A winner on debut, he came from well back to run 4^th on his first try at this class over 1200M in July. He races for the first time since but warrants consideration. (9) PEGACORN and (8) CORNER ONE the other logical placing chances.

Next week will see the annual Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) break so that means this week there are a lot of races. The action begins at Busan on Friday with a 10-race card from 11:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener with nine of the twelve racing for the first time. The three that have raced once before all showed ability though and they’re going on top. (3) GEUMA DISTINCTION is the pick having showed well in trials and then finished 3^rd on debut over 1000M on August 13^th, settling midfield and stopping the clock in a quick time despite being a long way behind a good winner. The additional furlong can suit, and he’ll take some beating. (11) STRIKE ZONE similarly came from off the pace and ran 4^th on debut in a quick time over 1000M. He too should appreciate the step up in trip and while he has the challenge of a wide draw, can be a danger. (6) NONSTOP DUTY debuted at this trip and warrants consideration after a solid 4^th place in a decent time. Of he debut-makers, (10) RUNNING TREE is the pick having led for much of the way in his trial and finishing 2^nd in a fast time. (7) GUKDAE HERO another who caught the eye in his heat.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

A regular maiden with three of the twelve racing for the first time. (1) RISE THE THRONE has raced twice, improving to 2^nd at his latest on August 27^th when handy throughout over this trip. He draws nicely to be on pace again and he could go all the way. (11) HWANGGEUMSEONG won a trial and then finished an on-pace 2^nd on debut over 1000M on August 13^th (beating Geuma Distinction from race 1). The only concern is the wide draw, but he shapes as a possible favourite here. (2) PURE DANCE has a 5^th and a 4^th from two starts so far and can continue on the right trajectory here from a better gate. (8) STORMING MAGIC and (6) DIA GRIT look potentially the best of the rest.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Another standard maiden and while they may need some luck at the start, the two drawn widest could be disputing it. (12) FANTASTIC DREAM was a much-improved 2^nd at start number two on September 1^st over 1200M. The wide daw shouldn’t be an issue, and the additional half furlong can be in his favour. (11) SUCCESS FLYING debuted in January, finishing midfield but didn’t race again until August 20^th. Newly gelded, he showed on pace over 1400M only weakening to 5^th late on. He should strip fitter for the run and can go close here. (6) BATTLE CRY ran a fair 6^th of twelve on debut with the margins not huge and he can be considered for improvement. (8) DOCTOR LICA and (2) YONGBI STAR among plenty of others with minor money chances.

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

Fillies (and one mare) only here. (6) CHARON TODAY did nothing on debut last year but returned nine months later to make all at class 6 level in July over 1200M. She stayed at that distance for her first go at this level and ran 2^nd to Jeongmun Specter on September 1^st. She doesn’t face anything like that calibre of opposition today and she should win. (11) DAMOA was a gutsy winner at start two on August 20^th coming from behind the speed to score in a good time at 1200M. She is up in class here and has the challenge of the widest gate, but she has a nice light weight, and she can measure up at what will probably be an each-way price. (9) WAITING FOR YOU has just the one win in fourteen starts but it was at this class, and she rarely runs a bad race. She should be in the mix again. (4) ROAD TO THUNDER and (1) SAMBA STEP others in the placing hunt.

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

It’s hard to go past (5) HANGANG CLASS here. So, we won’t. The favourite was a winner on debut over 1000M in July before running a good 4^th on his first try at this class and distance on August 27^th when close to the pace throughout. That day’s time was significantly quicker than anything else here has recorded for the distance and from a good draw, he will take some beating. (11) NUMBERONEPICK was a good winner at start number two over this distance on September 1^st. He overcame the same gate eleven that day and he should measure up at this class. (4) BEOMHAN GOLD is yet to win in three attempts but comes up in class after back-to-back runner-up finishes, both behind decent winners. He’ll be on or close to the speed here and isn’t to be dismissed. (6) AMUR and (2) MAGIC SWEETIE others to keep safe.

It’s Korea Cup and Korea Sprint weekend! The biggest races of the Korean season will be run at Seoul on Sunday and we will have a full preview over the next couple of days. In the meantime, the weekend’s action kicks off at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 11:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens with five of the nine racing for the first time. We’ll side with experience though and after two very good trials, (1) SEVEN DRAGON was sent off as hot favourite on debut over 1000M on August 11^th. After being slightly slowly away, he was ridden up to rejoin the field before running on for a solid 3^rd. He should have come on for that run, the additional furlong can suit, and with a better start this time, he is the one to beat. That will mean overturning the form on (6) HWANG YO, who was 2^nd in that race. That was his second outing having been 3^rd on debut, also in a good time, and the way he ran through the lines suggests he can be a big danger again. (2) BINNANEUNGIL came from a long way back to run 4^th on debut at this distance on June 25^th and with some natural improvement, can go closer here. Among the debut makers, (4) LEMON PIE is the pick while (7) THE BIG SHOT did nothing on debut but has subsequently been back to trial and looked much better.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

An extremely modest maiden with none of the eleven having finished better than 7^th in their respective latest starts. (8) WONDERFUL SMARTY goes around for the thirty-eighth time. She does have fifteen top-five finishes and two starts back registered a career best 2^nd. It’s not impossible she could break through here. (3) SAVAGE GIRL hasn’t done much in six starts but she comes in fresh having last raced in April and she looked well when positing a quick time on an August trial. If she can bring that form to the races, she can go well first-up. (9) WORLD ROYAL CAT has been ordinary in her latest two, but she has a 3^rd place to her name as recently as June and in this limited company, that’s enough to put her in the frame. (11) DAEJI MULGYEOL and (6) GREEN LEGEND other potential improvers.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Another modest maiden, this one involving nine fillies and one colt. (3) VELOCIRAPTOR shapes as the one to beat. Yet to finish in the top two, she has run between 3^rd and 5^th on no fewer than eight occasions and has the fastest time among these for the distance by almost a full second. She likes to settle back and run on but in this company should be a little further forward than usual, and she should prove too strong. The solitary colt is (1) EVERY KING IJI. He has a 2^nd and a 3^rd among his eight appearances so far and has run fair times. He draws well and should be in this a long way. (5) RED JASPER hasn’t done much in three starts so far although she did post a good time at 1200M at the end of July. She has since been back to trial where she raced on pace and stopped the clock in a good time. That brings her into contention here. (9) SSING GA and (4) ILCHUL GOLD others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (6) OK DREAM was an all the way winner over this distance on debut in April before running 2^nd, having raced handy throughout, on her first try at this class over 1300M on May 25^th. She has had over three months off since then, so she comes in fresh, and she is the one to beat here. (5) BURNING PASSION comes in off back-to-back 3^rd places, both at this class, over 1200M and 1300M. She likes to race on pace and should be challenging for the early lead again and can be in this a long way. (2) HWARANG SHINHWA got her maiden win three starts back and then proved she can compete at this level with a smart 2^nd over this distance on July 30^th when she led for much of the way around. She comes up 2kg in the weights but draws well and should be competitive again. (3) FIRST STAR and (8) TWO TWO LIME others in the hunt.

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

(10) FUSAICHI returned from over six months out to run a good 2^nd at class and distance on August 20^th when he settled a long way back before running on very strongly, beating three of today’s rivals in the process. He comes up 2kg in the weights, but he should strip fitter second-up, the wide draw won’t be an issue, and he can win. The big danger is (2) DOCTOR WICKY He comes up in class having got his maiden win when stepped up to this trip for the first time on August 25^th and making all. He comes down slightly in the weights, he draws well, and he can measure up. (3) TOP FRIEND was 5^th behind Fusaichi in that August 20^th race and while he is yet to win, he has been consistent over this distance and can place again. (5) NALA and (6) NAMDO ILDEUNG among plenty of others with placing chances.  

September’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 8 races from 11:50 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener with ten of the twelve racing for the first time. The two that have raced already didn’t exactly pull up trees on their respective debuts, so we’ll go for the first timers. (4) TEAM PERFECT is the pick having run an on-pace 2^nd in her trial, stopping the clock in a good time. If she brings that form to the races, she has every chance first-up here. (5) DAESUNG FLY won her trial in fine fashion running on pace and finishing well in a good time. Just like Team Perfect, if she brings that to the races, she won’t be far away. (12) GEUMA REJOICE ran 2^nd in her trial in a fair time. The way she came from off the pace suggests the wide draw won’t be a problem and she is from a top stable. (10) CHRYSOL HERO has raced once and can improve while the amusingly named (11) WORLD THUNDER MAN is another debut maker who can put in a bold showing.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

A competitive maiden. (2) BRAVE CAPTAIN has progressed across five starts so far, and enters off back-to-back 2^nd places, most recently over this distance on July 30^th when settling midfield before improving to sit behind the speed and run on well. She draws well here, and today can be her day. (5) SPRIT FIGHTER races for just the second time. He raced handy throughout his debut over 1000M on August 11^th, ultimately finishing in 4^th place. He should have derived benefit from that run, the additional trip can suit, and he should be showing some improvement here. (1) HAERANG ISEUL has finished no worse than 4^th in three starts so far, most recently in 3^rd over this distance on July 2^nd. She draws very nicely to be on pace here and should be close once more. (6) THE ONE and (8) HAEUNDAE STAR are others in the frame.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Tricky maiden. Jockey Lee Sung-jae has been in good form of late and he could pick up another win here in the shape of (5) WONDERFUL ONE. He has a 3^rd and a 4^th from his latest two, racing handy both times and stopping the clock in good fashion. He won’t need to improve much to win here. The boldly named (11) NUMBERONEPICK did precisely nothing on debut being slowly away and continuing to be slow throughout. He has though been back to trial since then (it may not appear in all race cards, so beware), and looked much better, overcoming gate twelve to get on pace and ran very close in a good time. If he can translate that form to the races, then he is right in this. (3) MACH TURBO showed significant improvement when 3^rd at start number three over this distance on July 29^th and can maintain that momentum here. (7) JEONGMUN LEGEND needs a line drawn though his latest and along with (5) GREAT BOY, is another in the hunt.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Two standouts here. The Bart Rice and Seo Seung-un connection is enough to make us side with (3) JEONGMUN SPECTER. He remains a maiden after five starts but has four top-four finishes and while he last raced in April, he looked very well when winning a trial in a quick time on a good-rated track on August 19^th. So long as he didn’t leave his race there – and he has had almost two weeks to recover – he looks a big chance here. The main danger is (4) CHARON TODAY. She comes up in class following a maiden win at start number two over this distance on July 29^th. That was her first run since her nondescript debut last October and she should strip fitter for it. Expect her to be on pace and in this a long way. (9) HWARANG SKY has outperformed her odds in her latest two and under a light weight, warrants respect here. (8) DONGNAM WINNER and (7) DALEHOLRINGWANGDAE others in the minor money hunt.