Busan

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 3)

After a week off for the Lunar New Year, racing returns to the peninsula on Friday with 11 races at Busan from 11:30 to 18:00.

English race cards are here. Notes on races to be simulcast overseas are below:

Race 4: Class 6 / 1600M / Allowance / KRW 22 Million / 13:40

(4) WILD COP beat three of these when running 3rd over 1300M on New Year’s Eve and could be the one to beat up at a mile for the first time. We’ll go with (9) I’M ADELE though. He was a much improved 2nd at that same distance the same day and can also benefit from this lengthier task. (5) TIMELESS and (11) MEISTER GO both look to be improvers too while (8) DIVINE KING is likely to set the early pace and could stay on.

Selections: (9) I’m Adele (4) Wild Cop (5) Timeless (11) Meister Go
Next Best: 1, 8
Rating: –
Fast Starters: 8
Start-200M: 1, 8, 11, 5, 6
200M-Finish: 3, 11, 8, 4, 5 (more…)

Seoul & Busan Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 22)

Sunday sees the first Listed race of the season in the shape of the Segye Ilbo Cup at Seoul. It’s attracted a full field and headlines an 11-race card in the capital from 10:40 to 18:00. There’s action too at Busan with 6 races from 12:35 to 17:05.

English race cards can be found here. Notes on all races to be simulcast overseas below:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 10:40

(4) PERFECT SOCKS was totally unfancied on debut in November but came a good 2nd. She’s had two months off since and has to be favourite for this. As he’s run already and didn’t disgrace himself, (5) YES YOU CAN will be 2nd favourite. Of the eight the debut-makers. (6) SILVER LION and (12) HERO KING look the most promising.

Selections (4) Perfect Socks (5) Yes You Can (6) Silver Lion (12) Hero King
Next Best 2, 7, 11
Rating –
Fast Starters  
Start-200M 4, 7, 5, 2
200M-Finish 4, 5, 2, 7

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 11:05

(6) TOUR ROSE was much improved second-time out Christmas Day over this distance and she’s the pick to score here. The other contenders are all stepping up to this distance for the first time. (7) LEAD QUEEN was 2nd in a weaker than average class 6 but did little wrong so can be considered although (3) AMAZONAS looks a little easier to recommend. (11) NEW HIGH TIME also looked promising while (2) DANSEONG RUBY has run on well in her past two and may appreciate the step up.

Selections (6) Tour Rose (3) Amazonas (7) Lead Queen (11) New High Time
Next Best 2, 8, 4
Rating –
Fast Starters 3, 5, 6
Start-200M 7, 3, 11, 12, 9
200M-Finish 3, 11, 9, 10, 6

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 20 Million / 11:30 (more…)

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (January 15)

It’s turned very cold over the peninsula the past few days. No better way to warm up though than getting on the punt! 11 races at Seoul from 10:50 to 18:00 including last year’s champion juvenile Final Boss making his first appearance as a 3-year-old. At Busan there are 6 races from 12:35 to 17:00.

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Last year’s champion juvenile Final Boss races at Seoul on Sunday

English race cards are here. Notes on all Seoul races (which will be shown on Sky Racing in Australia) are below:

Key
Fast Starters: Expected fastest starters today
Start-200M: Fastest average time for Start-200M (most recent 6 starts)
200M-Finish: Fastest average time for 200M-Finish (most recent 6 starts)

Race 1: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 10:40

Nine of the twelve are first-time starters but it’s going to be hard to oppose (10) ARGO MELODY, one of the three with prior experience, who was 2nd on debut a month ago. (3) SUN PLAZA actually beat Argo Melody in trials and joins (2) LITTLE SOCIE and (7) JIBONG BULPAE as looking the best of the debut-makers. Aussie trainer Brian Dean saddles (4) UNKISS ME but a watching brief may be best for that one first-up.

Selections: (10) Argo Melody (3) Sun Plaza (2) Little Socie (7) Jibong Bulpae
Next Best: 12, 1
Rating: –
Start-200M: 1, 6, 10
200M-Finish: 10, 1, 6

Race 2: Class 5 / 1000M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 11:05

(2) MONEY TRACK was a seven-length winner on debut on November 26th and while up in class today, he’ll be odds-on to make it two out of two and should lead from gate to wire. If we must oppose him then (1) RAON KINGDOM looks most likely having been 2nd on his first try at this class last month and seems to have potential. (12) ROYAL ESSENCE is up in class following a smart maiden win at the distance on the same day as Money Track’s but has a bit more to find while (11) JEOMIPGASOK is more experienced and can comes in following back to back 3rd places in similar assignments to this.

Selections: (2) Money Track (1) Raon Kingdom (12) Royal Essence (11) Jeomipgasok
Next Best: 8, 6
Rating: 1, 2, 8, 7=12
Start-200M: 2, 12, 1, 4, 7
200M-Finish: 2, 3, 10, 6, 11

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Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 13)

Power Blade and Diferent Dimension ran overnight in the Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting at Meydan with the pair running 3rd and 7th respectively among 15 runners in the 1600M Handicap. Their home track is Busan and it’s on the South Coast where Korea’s weekend racing gets underway on Friday with 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00.

English Race Cards can be found here. Notes on overseas simulcast races are below:

Key
Fast Starters: Expected fastest starters today
Start-200M: Fastest average time for Start-200M (most recent 6 starts)
200M-Finish: Fastest average time for 200M-Finish (most recent 6 starts)

Race 4: Class 6 / 1600M / Allowance / KRW 20 Million / 13:40 

Really rare opportunity for class 6 horses to have a go at a mile so needless to say it’s a full field and none of them have had a chance at the distance before. Were ten months between (5) THE BEE GOLD’s debut and second start. He looked much improved on his return two weeks ago and can continue to improve here. (7) YONGWANGDAM showed ability at 1300M and is one of a number who should appreciate the trip while Kim Young Kwan’s (8) FOUR NINES comes in following back to back 2nd places and looks the likely pace-setter here. Those are the three standouts but in such a race there are plenty of possibilities among which (9) STYLISH and (3) DONGNAM DAEBAK look to be the most likely of the rest.

Selections: (7) Yongwandam (8) Four Nines (5) The Bee Gold’s (9) Stylish
Next Best: 3, 10
Rating: –
Fast Starters: 3, 8
Start-200M: 3, 8, 12, 9, 1
200M-Finish: 8, 10, 11, 5, 7 (more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 6)

The 2017 racing season gets underway at Busan on Friday (full fixture list to follow shortly) and with the Jeju ponies taking a rest this weekend, there is a busy day in store with 13 races from 11:40 to 18:00. 

Italian jockey Mirko Sanna makes his Korean debut and has plenty of rides. English race cards are here. Races 4-13 will be simulcast overseas, notes on those races are below:

Key
Fast Starters: Expected fastest starters today
Start-200M: Fastest average time for Start-200M (most recent 6 starts)
200M-Finish: Fastest average time for 200M-Finish (most recent 6 starts)

Race 4: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 20 Million / 13:30 

Three starts to date and (1) GOLDEN TROPHY is surely not far away from getting a first win. He beat (3) JIBONG YEONGUNG three weeks ago as the pair raced 4th and 6th over this distance. Golden Trophy was favourite that day and this time can justify it. Inside gate may be to his advantage. Jibong Yeongung can get close to him again but (9) CAPI RUN looks the most interesting rival. Mirko Sanna has a decent book of rides on his first day in Korea and this colt keeps coming home in 4th place. If Sanna can get him to the front early, it could be better today. He was beaten last time by (11) SEONGGONG PLAN and that one can’t be ignored either.

Selections: (1) Golden Trophy (9) Capi Run (11) Seonggong Plan (3) Jibong Yeongung
Next Best: 2, 4, 8
Rating: –
Fast Starters: 1, 9, 11
Start-200M: 11, 8, 9, 1, 10
200M-Finish: 4, 11, 1, 7, 5 (more…)

Busan New Year’s Eve Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (December 31)

2016 concludes with a bumper New Year’s Eve Saturday card at Busan. There are 15 races from 10:50 to 18:00. They include two big races, one for 2-year-olds and one for 3-year-olds to see the year out with. No live racing at Seoul or Jeju but the racecourses are open for the Busan simulcast. There is no racing in Korea on New Year’s Day.

English race cards are available here. Notes on races which will be simulcast overseas are below:

Race 6: Class 5 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 13:25

(4) FREE CARE is up in class following her maiden victory, achieved by making all to score by four lengths over 1000M a month ago. She’s also up in distance for the first time but has every chance of winning again. (10) DINAH is yet to win in four outings but has never finished worse than 3rd and should keep that record going here while (12) TAEYANGUI SINHWA was 3rd on his first try at this level two weeks ago and can continue to develop here. Darryll Holland taking the mount makes (8) MADEIN MYEONGSEONG attractive to continue his recent run of placings while (3) VICAR SARANG and (5) ONLY BLUE are others to consider.

Selections: (4) Free Care (10) Dinah (8) Madein Myeongseong (12) Taeyangui Sinhwa
Next Best: 3, 5
Rating: 8, 5=12, 4, 6
Fast Starters: 6, 4
Start-200M: 8, 12, 4, 6, 7
200M-Finish: 4, 1, 10, 8, 6

Race 7: Class 5 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 13:50

Thomas Gillespie’s (4) PARTY AGAIN comes in following 4th place in the Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo Cup in November and will be strongly favoured to return to winning ways on what will be his first try at 1300M. (1) ADELE ACE is yet to win in three outings but finds himself up in class and distance following two 3rd place finishes and a 2nd and can continue to place here – he should get an easy lead early – while (5) SONATILLED stepped up to a mile for his first attempt at this class three weeks ago and can improve on the 5th he managed that day. (2) MANGANG and (7) BEONGGEULBEONGGEUL others to look out for.

Selections: (4) Party Again (1) Adele Ace (5) Sonatilled (7) Beonggeulbeonggeul
Next Best: 2, 3
Rating: 4, 5, 7=9, 1
Fast Starters: 1
Start-200M: 1, 6, 11, 4, 8
200M-Finish: 4, 1, 7, 9, 5 (more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (December 30)

Seoul takes a weekend off and all tracks take Sunday off so it’s to Busan for Friday and Saturday racing to round out the 2016 season in Korea. There are 8 races at Busan on Friday from 11:55 to 18:00 (and plenty of pony races from Jeju).

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Darryll Holland returns to Busan (Pic: Ross Holburt)

UK jockey Darryll Holland, who had a successful year at the track in 2013-2014 returns to Busan this week. He has three rides on Friday with a further eight on Saturday. English race cards are here. Notes on races to be simulcast overseas are below:

Race 3: Class 5 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 14:05 

Competitive race but while (9) PARTY TONIGHT is yet to win in four outings and up in class, he’s favoured to score here. He was just beaten a head on his first start at this distance a month ago having started poorly. If he can get away better here, he should be tough to beat. (6) MR. SPENDING beat (7) BAEKDUBONG as the pair raced 2nd and 4th over this distance on December 2nd and the former especially should be a danger again today while (1) DANCING STAR comes in following back to back 3rd place finishes, the first of them at class 1, and will be backed. (4) WINNING GILI and (5) YOUARE THE CAPTAIN look best of the rest.

Selections: (9) Party Tonight (1) Dancing Star (6) Mr. Spending (5) Youare The Captain
Next Best: 5, 7, 2, 12, 11
Rating: 1, 5, 2=11, 7
Fast Starters: 1, 7, 9
Start-200M: 9, 3, 1, 7, 8
200M-Finish: 7, 9, 10, 8, 1 (more…)

Grand Prix Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (December 18)

It’s The Grand Prix Stakes 2016. Full runner by runner guide to the big race is here. There are plenty of other races going on as well. English race cards are here. Notes on every overseas simulcast race are below:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 / 1200M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 10:40

(10) GOLDEN STEP was a much improved 2nd on his second start and can make the breakthrough here under Djordje Perovic. Gate 10 isn’t idea though so many punters may look to (1) DEO MIREO BUCHEO, another one who has shown improvement across three prior starts. Among the others with experience, (8) GEOCHIN OREUM and (9) RAON ROCKY both have 3rd places to their name while of the two debut-makers, (5) HUNTER HAWK looks the best.

Selections: (10) Golden Step (1) Deo Mireo Bucheo (9) Raon Rocky (8) Geochin Oreum
Next Best: 5, 3
Rating: –
Fast Starters: 9, 10, 1, 8, 6
Start-200M: 9, 10, 1, 8, 6
200M-Finish: 2, 12, 10, 9, 8

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 20 Million / 11:05

(10) DANBI comes in having been 4th in both her last two starts and despite the outside gate, really should be getting a career best finish here. She can win against underwhelming opposition. Main danger could come from the other side of the gate as (1) ENDLESS LOVE also finds herself in against weaker opposition than she’s used to and she too should be getting her best finish to date. (2) FIRE BALL has been one-paced but reliable so far and can find the money while other factors may be (5) UNAK HABIO and (9) LITTLE WING.

Selections: (10) Danbi (1) Endless Love (2) Fire Ball (5) Unak Habio
Next Best: 9, 6
Rating: –
Fast Starters: 2, 3, 5, 10
Start-200M: 10, 2, 3, 5, 8
200M-Finish: 4, 10, 2, 1, 5 (more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (December 16)

It’s Grand Prix Stakes weekend. Full coverage of Sunday’s big race to follow but in the meantime, the weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with a ten–race card.

English race cards are here. Notes on races 4-7 below:

Race 4: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 20 Million / 13:35 

Thomas Gillespie’s (7) GOLDEN TROPHY has shown good promise in two starts so far, most recently just beaten a head into 3rd over 1200M on November 18th and he is favoured to break through here. (10) JIBONG YEONGUNG Is yet to score in ten starts but has improved of late, registering his best finish so far of 2nd three weeks ago at this distance and can come close here as can (8) NAVARRA who narrowly beat him the time before. (2) WINNING ALL and (12) STYLISH are among others with claims.

Selection: (7) Golden Trophy (10) Jibong Yeongung (8) Navarra (2) Winning All
Next Best: 12, 4
Rating: –
Fast Starters: 2, 4
Start-200M: 4, 7, 2, 8, 12
200M-Finish: 5, 7, 6, 9, 8 (more…)

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview (December 11)

It might be international day in Hong Kong but there’s plenty going on in Korea too. Some of the nations’s best sprinters are in action at Busan while at Seoul, there are several big handicaps throughout the afternoon.

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Macheon Bolt, seen here at the Korea Sprint, goes at Busan on Sunday (Pic: Ross Holburt)

English race cards are here. Notes on all overseas simulcast races are below (all of Seoul and races 2-6 at Busan):

Key
Rating: Top five official rated
Fast Starters: Expected to lead the race early
Start-200M: Fastest average time for the first 200M (up to 6 most recent races)
200M-Finish: Fastest average time for the final 200M (up to 6 most recent races)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 60 Million / 10:40

There are nine debut-makers among the field but we’ll go with one of the three with prior-racing experience to score here. That one is (6) WELLBEING JOY, 5th on debut in October behind a couple of decent ones and is difficult to oppose here. Among the debut-makers none looked quick in trials although (2) GLOBAL DREAM won his and so therefore makes it into second pick. (1) BOMBI’S KING, (5) JAKE and (12) NEON GAMDONGIYA looks next best of the first-timers while (11) TOKTOK YEOJANGGUN, also 5th on debut but considerably slower than Wellbeing Joy, can improve.

Selections: (6) Wellbeing Joy (2) Global Dream (1) Bombi’s King (11) Toktok Yeojanggun
Next Best: 12, 5, 3
Rating: –
Fast Starters: 2, 3, 5, 7
Start-200M: 3, 6, 11
200M-Finish: 6, 11, 3

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 11:05

With a 2nd and a 3rd from among three starts so far, (6) LIVE POWER looks set to be strong favourite to get it right at the fourth time of asking. He’s shown decent speed and good potential and should have too much for these. He beat (2) EORIN WANGJA last time out, the latter disappointing after back to back 3rd places but he gets another chance here and can go close. (9) BEST CAMP put in a positive performance on debut last month and can build on the 5th he achieved. (3) LOVELY DAY and (7) SAEROUN SEGYE look to have the most scope for improvement among the rest.

Selections: (6) Live Power (2) Eorin Wangja (9) Best Camp (3) Lovely Day
Next Best: 7, 1
Rating: –
Fast Starters: 2, 7, 9
Start-200M: 9, 2, 7, 6, 3
200M-Finish: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9

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