Busan

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 25)

Just two weeks until the Korea Cup! The final list of accepted nominations will be published shortly but in the meantime, we have racing business to get on with and 10 Friday races at Busan from 14:30 to 21:00. Notes on simulcast races below:

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

1. LUCKY ADELE – Faded to 6th of 10 on debut on July 14th. Can improve today.
2. CHEONHA MANSE – Debut-maker. Average in trials.
3. GOLDEN KNIGHT – Last of 12 on debut in July and sent back to trial. Looked better on re-qualifying but too early to back.
4. SUPER WINGS – Best of 3rd place was just over a year ago. Only beat one home on latest start.
5. B.K. MASTER – Raced twice last autumn. Trialed up ok a couple of weeks ago.
6. MIO – Beaten into 3rd when odds-on favourite two weeks ago. Another chance here.
7. EURO GONGJU – Much improved 2nd of 8 on August 6th. Big chance again

Verdict: Seems a bit of a two-horse race as (6) MIO and (7) EURO GONGJU look streets ahead of the rest at this stage. Euro Gongju was slightly more impressive in defeat last start so we’ll go with that one to get the maiden win as both likely bid farewell to class 6. (more…)

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (August 20)

The Autumn Carnival was officially launched this weekend – see the press release below – but we’ve still got plenty of racing to go before we get to the Korea Cup & Sprint on the second Sunday in September. It’s a wet Sunday morning in Seoul but there are 11 races from 11:45 to 19:00 while at Busan there are 6 from 13:25 to 17:35. See below for form comments on all races for overseas simulcast:

https://twitter.com/KRAOfficial/status/898823464659832832

Simulcast Form Comments:

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

1. YAHO STRONG CAT – First-time starter. Didn’t catch the eye in trials.
2. DALLYEORA PACHYAI – Much improved 2nd on second outing at this distance July 23rd. Big chance here. Could well lead all the way.
3. WHITE ERICA – First time starter. Watching brief first up.
4. WONDERFUL LUCKY – 10th of 12 on debut on July 28th. Not yet.
5. FANTASTIC QUEEN – Best of 5th from six starts so far. Could improve on that here.
6. SEMYEONG KHAN – 2nd on debut in June but could only manage 8th when stepped up to 1300M last time. Should go much better back at 1000M today.
7. PENETRO – Debut-maker from Japanese owner Kadono Shigeo. Looked ok in trials and will be backed first up.
8. SHUMA – Managed a 2nd place over 1300M back in March. First start since April and makes for an interesting outsider.
9. SAEROUN GUNHWANG – Offered little in two efforts so far.
10. GOLD MONT – Well off the pace in two outings so far. Top jockey on today though.
11. STORMY PASSION – Career best 4th over 1000M on muddy track on July 29th ahead of Fapp Cat. Not impossible.
12. FAPP CAT – Only beat a couple home on debut behind Stormy Passion on July 29th. Not ready yet.

Verdict: Two standouts here. (2) DALLYEORA PACHYAI improved a lot on his second start, running a close 2nd. If he can get the early lead here, he could be tough to beat. The other is (6) SEMYOUNG KHAN who put in a solid shift on debut but found it harder when asked to travel further on reappearance. He should be better today. (11) STORMY PASSION looks to be figuring things out while debut-maker (7) PENETRO looks potentially intriguing.

 

Selections (2) Dallyeora Pachyai (6) Semyoung Khan (11) Stormy Passion (7) Penetro
Next Best 5, 8
Fast Start 2, 5, 6, 7

 

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

1. CRYSTALGACHI – Yet to trouble the judges in five outings.
2. ENJOY MY SHOW – Has had an extremely luckless time but on the rare occasions she’s got to the track, she has shown promise. First start since December, trialed ok and not impossible.
3. KHENDUM POWER – Well backed on debut after promising trial but only beat one home on July 29. Worth another chance here.
4. ONE TWO THREE – Best of 5th from four goes so far. Can at least match that in this company.
5. BLACK TRIGGER – Debut-maker who didn’t catch the eye in trials. Watching brief here.
6. UPDATE – Been showing signs of figuring things out. 5th, ahead of Best Mission on latest and looks among the favourites.
7. SUPER COBRA – Debut-maker. Less than impressive in trials. All half-siblings have won though.
8. BEST MISSION – Managed a 4th place back in January but offered little since.
9. BIG MASTER – Improved 5th last time. Still a bit to find.
10. GIJEOGUI JEWANG – Debuted almost a year ago with a 2nd place but only raced twice since. First start since Christmas Day. Trialed up well.
11. CAPTAIN POWER – 9th of 12 on debut on July 22nd. Lots to find.
12. MR. KING – The most experienced in the race. 6th of 11 last time but has managed a 3rd. Not impossible.

Verdict: Not a strong race and that means a lot could be in the hunt. We’ll go with (6) UPDATE, who looked hopeless in his first few but has shown clear signs of figuring things out. Likewise it’s a fresh start for (2) ENJOY MY SHOW trialed well and has plenty of talent. (3) KHENDUM POWER disappointed on debut but we’ll not give up just yet while (4) ONE TWO THREE could also improve.

 

Selections (2) Enjoy My Show (6) Update (3) Khendum Power (4) One Two Three
Next Best 10, 12
Fast Start 2, 1, 3, 6

 

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million (more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 18)

The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday afternoon with a 10-race card from 14:30 to 21:00. Notes on all races (1-6)  for overseas simulcast below:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

1. SPECIAL POWER – Three slow efforts so far. 9th of 11 on latest at 1300M. Outsider.
2. BEAUTIFUL ACT – Was 200/1 on debut on May 19th but came 4th. Not seen since but could match that.
3. VICTORY ROAD – Only beat one home on debut at 1000M on July 7th. Lots to find.
4. ATOMIJI – Best result a 2nd over 1300M in June. 3rd of 12 last time ahead of Busan Bolt and favourite to score here.
5. SILVER LINE – Took a while to qualify going through a lot of trials. Can’t be backed first-up.
6. EDGE OF WINNER – First-time starter. Trialed up ahead of Silver Line in July. Watching brief here.
7. FULL HOUSE – Beat Atomiji in trials way back in March but only beat one home on actual debut in May. First start since.
8. BLESS YOU – Best a 3rd place ahead of Beautiful Act Atomiji in May and then 5th last start behind a few decent ones. Two months off since and should be looking for career-best here.
9. SEONHO – First-time who trialed up ok. Half sister to some modest ones who were capable of winning at low levels.
10. BOLD RULES – Looks the best of the first-times. Competent in trials.
11. BUSAN BOLT – Best from nine starts so far is 5th but she was less than length behind Atomiji last time on August 6th and can seek a career best here.
12. GOLDEN AGE – Much improved 2nd on return from three months off on July 14th. Can go well again.

Verdict: (8) BLESS YOU, (2) BEAUTIFUL ACT and (4) ATOMIJI raced each other all the way back in May, finishing 3rd, 4th and 9th respectively. However, it’s Atomiji who has appeared to come on the most since then and Thomas Gillespie’s filly gets the nod here. She beat (11) BUSAN BOLT last time and that one can challenge again as can (12) (more…)

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (August 13)

Sunday is a huge day of racing in Korea with potential Korea Cup & Sprint implications too. Stablemates Triple Nine and Power Blade renew hostilities in the graded Owners’ Cup at Busan while Derby winner Final Boss will seek to get back to winning ways at Seoul. There are 12 races at Seoul from 11:45 to 19:00 and 5 at Busan from 14:15 to 17:40. Notes on every race below:

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

1. BLACK MUSIC – Two 4ths among latest three. Can repeat.
2. BEST SIDAE – 5th of 11 in similar race last month.
3. BULHUUI SEUNGJA – First try at this distance. Likely front-runner.
4. C.K.QUEEN – Best of 2nd, comes in off 4th of 12 in similar race last time and can go better here.
5. DAEHAN GANGSAN – Improved 2nd on first try at this distance last time. Big chance.
6. HERO KING – Managed three 4th places among seven starts. Would be a good result today.
7. ONLY BARAM – 9th of 11 on debut last month. Not backable yet,
8. JEGUKUI HUYE – Interrupted career so far with four starts spread over almost a year. Did improve last time.

Verdict: Small field to start with and (5) DAEHAN GANGSAN is top choice having showed a liking for this distance on his first attempt at it last time out. He can sit behind the early speed and finish strongly. That speed can be set by (3) BULHUUI SEUNGJA, who along with (4) C.K. QUEEN, look to be the main dangers.

 

Selections (5) Daehan Gangsan (3) Bulhuui Seungja (4) C.K. Queen (1) Black Music
Next Best 2, 8
Fast Start 1, 3

(more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 11)

Friday is nominations day for the 2017 Korea Cup & Sprint which will be run at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday September 10th. Horses from almost all corners of the globe are likely to be among the accepted entries. In the meantime though, we have racing to attent to, principally in the form of a 14-race Friday card at Busan which will run from 14:30 to 21:00. Busan Mayor’s Cup winner I’m Your Father is in action in the feature race:

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

1. TRUMPET MAJOR – Improved 6th last time. Still more to find.
2. GIPPEUM SARANG – 6th behind Haneolui Gisang last start. Can improve here.
3. MAKGANG BOLT – Best of 4th in six outings so far. Not shown much in the way of speed. Might not need to place here.
4. HANEOLUI GISANG – Encouraging 5th on debut albeit in slow race. big chance here.
5. SILLAUI SIDAE – Exceptionally slow in all five outings so far. Steer clear.
6. HWARYEOHAN TAEYANG – Ha a couple of 3rd places among 13 prior efforts. Steps back in trip for first time in a long time and is a contender in this company.
7. YUKWAEHAN JILJU – Not beaten many in three starts so far.
8. CHOEGANG SEONBONG – Last of seven on debut.

Verdict: Not a strong race but something’s got to win and purely on the grounds of having done the least amount wrong so far, we arrive at (4) HANEOLUI GISANG, 5th on debut last month and ready to push on here. He finished just a head in front of (2) (more…)

Busan Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 6)

Big day at Busan tomorrow. Not only are there 15 races from 11:45 to 19:00, the first 11 of those will be distributed through Sky Racing World for wagering in the USA for the very first time. English racecards can be found here and notes on all races for simulcast are below:

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

1. MAY STAR – half brother has won four of eleven so far. Adequate in trials but others favoured first up.
2. QUEEN’S ROYAL – Came through a good trial with experienced racehorses last month. Placing chances.
3. EURO GONGJU – 6th in both starts today and hasn’t shown much in the way of speed. Won’t be favoured.
4. KING’S POWER – Half brother to a lot of very average horses. Trial was average too. Top jockey booking.
5. YEONGHUI SIDAE – Odds-on favourite on debut but just fell short. This Hansen colt should get it right this time.
6. BEOLMA HAMSEONG – Top trainer/jockey combination, especially with 2-year-olds. Nothing special in trials but looked competent enough.
7. ACE DOLPUNG – Cowboy Cal colt who was 5th of 8 on debut on June 30th. Just weakened a bit late on and should improve on that today.
8. YEONGCHEON STAR – 4th on debut on June 30th, ahead of Ace Dolpung. Has to be in the placing frame here.

Verdict: Hansen’s first Korean crop looks very promising and (5) YEONGHUI SIDAE should be the latest of them to make the breakthrough and get his maiden win here. He fell short when a prohibitive favourite on debut in June but a month on and Thomas Gillespie should have him just right for this. He’s hard to bet against but if we do take (more…)

Busan Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (August 5)

The weekend’s thoroughbred racing gets underway at Busan on Saturday with a short 8-race card from 16:30 to 21:00. Seoul takes a weekend off but is open for simulcasting from Busan and from the pony racing on Jeju Island.  English racecards are here. Notes on all Busan races are below:

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

1. GOP DDA – The only one of these who has raced before. She was 2nd and although the race wasn’t quick, she has to be the pick to prevail here.
2. SHE JUST WIN – Great name even though he’s a colt. 4th in his trial and a bit faster than most here. Top jockey booking and a chance.
3. EXPRESSIVE – Decent trial, from the track’s top stable and will be backed.
4. HAWK KING – Went ok in trials. Others favoured but can be competitive.
5. JAESAENGMYEONGNI – Dam holds the track record at 1300M. Few clues from the trial.
6. NURI ACHIM – Dam was precocious, if fragile. 2nd in trial and could be interesting.
7. CLOVER QUEEN – Dam a stalwart of the early days of Busan Racecourse winning 6 from 55. First foal made little impression. Good stable/jockey combo and will have backers.
8. DYNAMIC RUN – Slowest time in trials. May take watching brief first up.

 

Verdict: We have to go with the only one who has already run here and (1) GOP DDA’s 2nd place on debut showed she’s competent enough. It wasn’t quick though so depending (more…)

KNN Cup Sunday: Seoul & Busan Race-By-Race Preview (July 23)

The second leg of the Queens’ Tour Champion Filly & Mare series is the highlight of a busy Sunday of racing in Korea. The KNN Cup will be run over a mile at Busan. There are 6 races at Busan from 13:25 to 17:40 and 11 at Seoul from 11:45 to 19:00. English racecards are here.

SilverWolfHaeyaTtukseomCup

Silver Wolf defeated Haeya in the Ttukseom Cup. They race again in the KNN Cup at Busan (Pic: KRA)

Silver Wolf defeated Haeya to win the first leg of the Tour, the Ttukseom Cup at Seoul on June 4th. However, that day Haeya went off a little too fast trying to chase down an early leader and paid for it in the closing stages. She could overturn that form today. Silver Wold will be dangerous but there are concerns over the fitness of another contender, last year’s Oaks winner Ottug Ottugi, about whom a final decision will be made in the morning. If she doesn’t run, it could change the complexion of the contest given her front running style.

Other contenders include Black Sapphire although it is perhaps a furlong shorter than she would like and Seoul raider Areumdaundonghaeng. Last year’s winner Supreme Magic won’t be among the favourites but can’t be completely ruled out. Form comments on all 13 Sunday races fro overseas simulcast are below:

Seoul Race 3: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

1. SINUI MYEONGRYEONG – Hansen 2yo made all to win very easily on debut a month ago. Up in class but should have few problems with this lot.
2. JUGEUKSEONG – Well back in recent outings.
3. USEUNG DESIGN – Maiden winner over 1200M in May but only beat one home on first try at this class.
4. PARTY TIME – Not too far away from minor placings most times and could sneak some here.
5. FIRSTIGE – Up in class following maiden win at 1200M last month. This is harder but he should be competitive.
6. SIMON MISSILE – Up in class after maiden win at 1300M all the way back in April. Not favoured to repeat but can get some minor money.
7. JINGYEOGUI RACE – Yet to win but has come close on plenty of occasions. First try at class 5 and should go well.

Verdict: Four of the seven are racing at this class for the first time and the three that aren’t look to be the outsiders. (1) SINUI MYEONGRYEONG should win and win well at (more…)

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 22)

French jockey Johan Victoire will make his Korean debut in the saddle at Seoul on Saturday and it’s a good weekend for him to do so. A number of jockeys are absent from Seoul in order to ride in the KNN Cup at Busan on Sunday and Victoire is among those who could take advantage in the 11 race Saturday card which runs from 14:00 to 21:00. English cards are here. Notes on races for overseas simulcast are below:

Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million 
1. WONDERFUL LUCKY – 4th in trial behind Jungdong Jijon
2. MENI TURBO – 2nd on debut on June 24th and strong favourite here.
3. BABY STAR – 5th in trial behind Special Light. Wasn’t quick.
4. CUPID STORM – Well back behind Jungdong Jijon and Wonderful Lucky in trial.
5. MASK – 2nd in trials and looks set to go well.
6. CAPTAIN POWER – Trialled a couple of times and worked ok but probably best to watch first up.
7. FIORE – Looks competent enough and can go well.
8. HESEDEU – 3rd on debut at the end of May but considerably slower than Meni Turbo. Should lead here.
9. OPI WINTER – Trialled up behind Icheon Seal – looks to have plenty to make up on that one. (more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (July 21)

It’s Friday! It’s Busan! 10 races on the South Coast from 14:30 to 21:00. English racecards are here, notes on races for overseas simulcast are below:

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

1. GAMUNUI YEOWANG – 10th on debut behind Black Fine.2. BOUND TODAY – Solitary star was in November last year. Trialled up averagely.
3. S PARIS – Offered little in three goes last year. First start in nine months. Looked ok in trials.
4. CHEONJI RHYTHM – Slow in both outings to date.
5. HANEOLUI GISANG – First timer. Not quick in trial but knew what to do. Top stable.
6. ROYAL RIVER – Debut-maker. Trial wasn’t quick but did enough.
7. NEULPUREUN DRAGON – Only beat a couple home on debut.
8. MIO – Faded on debut over 1300M. Should much better at the minimum today.
9. SEOGANG JILJU – First start today. Trialled up behind Pocket Rocket.
10. POCKET ROCKET – Debut-maker who looked competent in trial.
11. BLACK FINE – 7th and 5th in two stars to date. Drops to 1000M for the first time and surely has a good chance. (more…)