Busan

Busan On Sky Racing – A Basic Introduction

Korea will debut on Sky Racing in Australia on Friday with nine of the ten races on the card at Busan the card being shown on Sky Racing 1 (race 10 is available for betting only) as Australian racing takes its customary Good Friday holiday. We’ll have a full race-by-race rundown here on Thursday but in the meantime, here are some very basic things to be aware of about racing at Busan.

The grandstand at Seoul - three more races will be shown in Australia from the capital on Sunday

The grandstand at Seoul – three more races will be shown in Australia from the capital on Sunday

The Track: The track surface is sand. There is often a lot of kickback and as such horses tend to wear pacifiers and give one another plenty of room. Due to the nature of the surface, it usually runs quicker when it is wet.

BusanTrack

Races: 90% of regular races are handicaps. There are six classes in total with class 6 being for new or unrated horses. Horses then progress up (or down) the classes according to rating.

Most horses are Korean bred although there are imports too. Imported horses all begin at class 4. Tab number and gate number are the same and jockeys wear a cap coloured according to their gate number (number 1 always wears a white cap, number 2 a yellow cap, etc.).

Starts tend to be quick and most horses need to be on the pace early. Jockeys are not permitted to shift ground within 100M of the start and there can be quite a battle to find a forward position.

Jockeys: It’s by no means unique to Korea but there is a big gap in jockey ability. As of today, the top of the Premiership at Busan looks like this (RSLW=Rides Since Last Win):

BusanJocks

Trainers: Kim Young Kwan has been the dominant trainer at Busan for some time with Australian Peter Wolsley generally the runner-up. There are two other foreign trainers at Busan; South African Bart Rice and Ireland’s Thomas Gillespie, who previously trained in Malaysia. Here is the 2016 Premiership so far (RSLW=Runners Since Last Win).

BusanTrainers

Favourites: One plus of Korean racing is that favourites do oblige on a regular basis. In Korea, punters overwhelmingly favour exotic bets with the quinella and trio being the two most popular. The win and place pools are comparatively tiny and while they will generally be accurate in terms of who is faovurite, they may not tell the whole story the further down the board you go.

General: Prize money is high and integrity is good. Betting pools in Korea close 30 seconds ahead of the advertised start so races usually jump exactly on time.

Tomorrow (Thursday) we will run through all ten races on Friday’s card. On Saturday we will focus on Seoul in advance of Sunday’s races.

Busan Friday Review

You Hyun Myung ride a true four-timer while Approach continued his march towards Class 1 on a wet Friday afternoon on the South Coast.

With champion jockey Jo Sung Gon having, at least for the time being, relocated to Seoul, You Hyun Myung was always likely to be one of the main beneficiaries. However, the scale of his dominance at Busan this term has nonetheless been a little surprising. On Saturday he rode four consecutive winners – all favourites – in races 4 to 7 to take his total for 2016 to 34 with nearest rival Kim Yong Geun a full 16 behind.

Those four included filly Mad Power (Sharp Humor), who moved onto 2 for 2 in race 5 and US import Super Cheolin (Pure Prize), who took race 7.

You would not have things all his own way though. The well backed Main Stay (Tale Of The Cat), looking for his 6th win in his last 7 starts, got taken down by a nose on the line by Rising Bravo (Discreet Cat) under Choi Si Dae in race 9. And it would be jockey Choi who would claim the day’s feature race too as he guided odds-on favourite Approach (Pico Central) to win the class 2 finale over 1800M. Approach, who missed almost all of his three-year-old campaign, moves on to 6 wins from 10 starts and looks class 1 bound.

In other races three-year-old colt Tohamsan (Kwaedo Nanma) looked good making all for a 5-length win in race 8 and moves on to 3 wins from 4 starts.

Saturday March 19
Seoul Racecourse: 12 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 12:20 to 17:00

Sunday March 20
Seoul Racecourse: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Racecourse: 6 races from 13:00 to 17:00

Busan Friday Race Notes

The weekend’s racing in Korea gets underway on Friday with a ten-race card at Busan. Busan will also hold a card on Sunday while Seoul runs Saturday and Sunday.

Click here for English racecards

See below for notes on simulcast races 4-10:

Race 4: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 20 Million / 13:40 

Top trainer and jockey combination on (1) CHALLANHAN ACE, who has come close on both his last two starts and is favoured to make all and score here. (5) GORYEOUI KKUM was 2nd on his debut, well beaten by a good winner but ahead of three of these rivals and can be competitive. One of those beaten ones was (3) SMART KING, who has finished 4th of 5th in each of his five starts to date and can look to improve. (7) TAMNA CHEONHA and (10) RAON BENTREE are the others to look out for. (6) NOBLE WARRIOR makes just his second start after a fill six months out but will obviously need this race.

Favourites: (1) Challanhan Ace (5) Goryeoui Kkum (3) Smart King (7) Tamna Cheonha

Race 5: Class 5 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 14:25 

(6) MAD POWER was a good winner on debut last month and while up in both class and distance today, will be among the front-runners here. (9) GOLD SUN and (7) HUIMANG QUEEN were both 4th on their first tries at this level on February 14th and may also be considered; the former was beaten by (14) BYEOLMURI and that one too can overcome the outside gate to be involved. More experienced is (5) SUNDAY ROYAL, who was only beaten a nose having almost made all over 1300M on February 19th and must be respected today.

Favourites: (6) Mad Power (7) Huimang Queen (5) Sunday Royal (9) Gold Sun

Race 6: Class 5 / 1400M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 15:15 

A small field but a number have chances. They’re headed by (4) BLACK TETRA, a two-length winner on debut at the end of February and who is up in class here. Going forward out of the gate will be (2) MAGIC LINE and that one is the main danger; he was just beaten a neck over this distance last start and will be strong once more. (6) MAYA COUNTRY has looked much improved since returning from six months out and can go well. (3) DAMYANG CHEONSA and (8) KKEUTPAN JILJU are also ones likely to attract backers.

Favourites: (4) Black Tetra (2) Magic Line (6) Maya Country (3) Damyang Cheonsa

Race 7: Class 4 / 1600M / Handicap / KRW 55 Million / 16:05 

Another open contest with (7) BRAVO MARINE looking ready to win after a 2nd and three 3rd place finishes in his four starts to date. Main danger (10) SUPER CHEOLIN is already a winner and while he was beaten by (2) MAERYEOK DEONGEORI on January 31st, he can overturn that form today. (9) IRON TRAIN finished behind both of them that day but back up at a mile here, a distance he won over on Christmas Day, improvement is expected. (5) ACE SINHWA, 5th in that Christmas race and a creditable 6th at 1800M last start, may also be involved.

Favourites: (7) Bravo Marine (10) Super Cheolin (2) Maeryeok Deongeori (9) Iron Train

Race 8: Class 4 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 55 Million / 17:00 

(5) TOHAMSAN steps up in class following his second win in three starts; a five-length triumph over this distance a month ago. He led almost the whole way that day and has every chance of being successful with similar tactics today. (6) WONIL ROOKIE, half-brother of a winner of some of Korea’s biggest races, returned from eight months out on February 12 to beat (3) GUMPO MIREU by a neck. That was a well-run race and they both step up in class too. Both are likely to also go forward early. If we are looking for something to beat those likely pace-setters, (1) NURI BULPAE is the best contender. He was a class and distance winner a month ago. (4) POKPUNG SINHWA, disappointing last start, can be given another chance here.

Favourites: (5) Tohamsan (6) Wonil Rookie (3) Gumpo Mireu (1) Nuri Bulpae

Race 9: Class 3 / 1800M / Handicap / KRW 72 Million / 17:30 

Two standouts here but (4) MAIN STAY is the pick on his first try at this distance. He beat three of these over a mile on February 19th and should have little difficulty with the extra furlong. The main danger is (7) SAEMSONNEEUNENERGY, who comes in following back to back 2ndplaces at this distance. He will go right back early but has a strong finish. (2) RISING BRAVO was 2nd to Main Stay last month and can push him again while (8) USEUNGIJI, who didn’t go well in that race, can improve today. Wildcard is (1) PILKKOT, down in class after being out of his depth at class 2 but a proven winner at this level.

Favourites: (4) Main Stay (7) Saemsonneeunenergy (2) Rising Bravo (8) Useungiji

Race 10: Class 2 / 1800M / Handicap / KRW 88 Million / 18:00 (SIN)

Good race this but (2) APPROACH should have too much. (9) CHEONJI PARK was 4th behind Approach last time and while the weights are further in his favour this time, he will have to improve to overturn that form. A danger is (8) DIFERENT DIMENSION, who looked lively running 2nd when back from a lengthy spell and tries this distance for the first time. (4) SAEROUN BEOPCHIK won a weak class 3 in January and followed it up with a 2nd place to get bumped up in class here but needs to find plenty. (1) WILD BURNING and (7) NOT ANYMORE are the others with hopes of placing.

Favourites: (2) Approach (8) Diferent Dimension (9) Cheonji Park (4) Saeroun Beopchik

Busan Friday Review

A pair of US imports, Tongil Sidae and Dongbang Daero provided the stand-out performances at a chilly but sunny Busan on Friday.

Tongil Sidae (Munnings), racing at a mile for the first time, continued his impressive start to his career recording a strong two-length victory in the class 2 race 10. Always prominent under jockey You Hyun Myung, the three-year-old gelding ran on to record his third victory in five starts.

One race earlier, Dongbang Daero (Curlin), who got his maiden win at the ninth attempt at the end of January, quickly followed up with another, once more at 1800M. Carrying top weight, the four-year-old comfortably held off the challenging of the promising Sinhang (who had previously been narrowly beaten by Tongil Sidae), to claim race 9 by just over a length.

Despite getting beaten on hot favourite Smart Gentleman in race 8, You Hyun Myung was jockey of the day with three winners while it was a mixed day for Ikuyasu Kurakane. The Japanese rider claimed race 1 on 5/1 shot Golden Leo but then got left in the gate in race 7 after the well fancied Raon Santos reared up and ran off without him. Makoto Okabe was also among the winners, partnering perennial placer Seorabeol Gongju to victory over Smart Gentleman in the aforementioned race 8.

Saturday March 12
Seoul Racecourse: 12 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 12:20 to 17:20

Sunday March 13
Seoul Racecourse: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Raecourse: 6 races from 13:00 to 17:05

Busan Friday: Race By Race Preview

This Sunday sees the first Korean Graded Race of 2016 in the shape of the Seoul Owners’ Association Trophy. Sixteen runners will come under orders for the six-furlong sprint and we’ll have a full preview on Saturday. The weekend’s racing, however, gets underway on Friday with a ten-race card at Busan.

Busan Racecourse

Dynamic Busan!

English racecards can be found here

The first race is at 11:40 and the last is at 18:00. Races 4-10 will be simulcast and below are brief notes on each of those races (times local Korean time):

Race 4: Class 5 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 13:40 

(9) YUSEONG STAR was 3rd over class and distance a month ago and is one of a number of contenders for this very competitive race. (7) BIGBANG BIG was beaten into 2nd by (6) MEGA HEART in January but overturned that form last time and should be involved once again. Another danger is (3) PENTA HEELS, up in class following a maiden win over 1000M on February 19th. That was a much improved performance and she has potential for more. (1) UNFLAGGING HEART and (12) MOMENT are the others to consider.

Favourites: (9) Yuseong Star (3) Penta Heels (7) Bigbang Bid (1) Unflagging Heart

Race 5: Class 4 / 1000M / Handicap / KRW 55 Million / 14:25 

(5) THE QUEEN has two wins from four outings. She made all to win over this distance in a very quick time last start and despite bbeing up in class here, will be hard to beat. (2) DAEHOYEOJANGGUN comes in following a strong of 2nd and 3rd place finishes, generally behind decent horses and can place again while (12) ARION METAL showed some promise in two 4th place finishes in his first two starts last autumn and returns from a spell here. (3) GREEN MIREU, 2nd at the distance last time, can also go well.

Favourites: (5) The Queen (2) Daehoyeojanggun (12) Arion Metal (3) Green Mireu

Race 6: Class 4 / 1200M Handicap / KRW 55 Million / 15:15 

Each week at this time of the year, we mention that we must pay close attention to Korean bred horses running in races open to foreign bred horses as they will usually be stronger. With that in mind, (2) SUPER STORM and (9) JIBONG STAR are the ones to watch. The former gets the verdict although the latter did beat four of these over 1000M last month. Another pair of Korean breds, (4) KKEUTPAN DAEJANG and (8) JAYU DAERO are next best. Among the debut-makers, (12) GUMALLI, from the track’s top stable was quick in trials and looks the best although (10) PHILIP AND GIRAFFE, encouraging on debut, can be given another chance despite a disappointing second start.

Favourites: (2) Super Storm (9) Jibong Star (12) Gumalli (8) Jayu Daero

Race 7: Class 5 / 1300M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 16:05 

Three come in here off a win last start. (3) RAON SANTOS and (4) MINE are both up in class after maiden wins but both were emphatic enough to suggest they will be  competitive at this level. The former is favoured at this stage. The third is (1) WONIL ROSE. She was a class and distance winner on February 19th by a nose and while she does carry an extra 3kg today, she can be competitive once more. Back in 4th behind Wonil Rose that day was (6) DANCING CAT; she has a weight advantage today which will see her with plenty of support to overturn that form. (9) SEONGHO JEONGSANG is yet to win in ten but has been 2nd on three occasions including last time out over this distance.

Favourites: (3) Raon Santos (1) Wonil Rose (6) Dancing Cat (4) Mine

Race 8: Class 3 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 72 Million / 17:00 

(11) SMART GENTLEMAN is up in class following three consecutive wins but there is little to fear here and he could very well make if four in a row today. (2) SEORABEOL GONGJU narrowly dodged the winner’s circle in four short-priced outings but nevertheless finds herself up at class 3 today and will probably conspire to be narrowly defeated once again. (12) YESURI MYEONGUN was disappointing last time at 1400M but has beaten plenty of these at this distance already this year and will beat plenty today too. (8) TANK POWER can go better dropped back to 1200M today while (6) SMILE QUEEN could only manage 6th on her first try at this class at the end of January and can go better here. She finished ahead of (13) GRACE who was a winner at class and distance in January.

Favourites: (11) Smart Gentleman (2) Seorabeol Gongju (12) Yesuri Myeongun (6) Smile Queen

Race 9: Class 3 / 1800M / Handicap / KRW 72 Million / 17:30 

A class and distance winner, beating four who go here, on his last start, (6) DONGBANG DAERO does carry an extra 4kg today but is still capable of making it two in a row. (10) BADA DOSI was 2nd that day and given the shift in weights, may well be favourite. Another danger is (2) SINHANG. He’s won two from five before today and tries two turns for the first time. He will go forward from the gate and if he stays, he has solid claims. (4) NAGASINDA was 4th behind Sinhang last time and should be looking to at least match that here. The very experienced (11) STAR WARP is unlikely to be winning this but could sneak into a place.

Selections: (6) Dongbang Daero (10) Bada Dosi (2) Sinhang (4) Nagasinda

Race 10: Class 2 / 1600M / Handicap / KRW 88 Million / 18:00 

An up-and-comer, (13) TONGIL SIDAE is up in class following his second win in four starts on February 14th and can take full advantage of joint-bottom weight on his first try at this distance today. He should be too good for these. The rest are all going to need to find improvement in recent starts (4) HEUKGANGJA, likely to join Tongil Sidae in an early lead, looks the best of them with (2) POKPUNG CHOEGANG, (8) SINHEUNG GOSU and (11) PUREUN ACE others who can go well.

Favourites: (13) Tongil Sidae (4) Heukgangja (8) Sinheung Gosu (11) Pureun Ace

Busan Friday Round-Up

Banjiui Jewang was the star of the show on the south coast on Friday as the three-year-old continued his development with an easy class 3 win over 1400M

The Peter Wolsley trainee was 2nd to Power Blade in the Breeders’ Cup race at Seoul last November and that remains his sole defeat. While favourite on Friday, Banjiui Jewang was thought by no means a certainty in a competitive event featuring proven older winners Korean Tank, Wire To and Yesuri Myeongun.

All three of those would fail to fire and even if they had, it is questionable as to whether they would have got anywhere near Banjiui Jewang. The colt raced away to an eight-length win with jockey Choi Si Dae (gleefully stepping in for the ill Lee Hee Cheon) able to spend the final furlong watching himself on the big screen such was his mount’s superiority.

Banjiui Jewang (Ecton Park), whose name means “Lord Of The Rings”, now has four wins from five and looks set to head to the Triple Crown races beginning with the KRA Cup Mile at Busan on April 3.

In other races, you need to be sure your horse is good if you are going to name him World Champion even if he is the half-brother of last year’s Korean Oaks winner Jangpung Parang. On Friday though World Champion (Didyme) made short work of a class 5 field to record his third victory in five starts. Pasquale Borelli rode.

It was a decent day for the foreign contingent at Busan. Aside from Borelli and Wolsley’s victories, Makoto Okabe guided Useung Chance (Any Given Saturday) to a narrow victory in race 10 while trainers Thomas Gillespie and Bart Rice also saddled winners. For Gillespie, filly Sergeant Cecil (Officer) claimed race 4 while the promising Buhwarui Banseok (Tizway) took race 11 for Rice.

Racing returns to Busan on Sunday. Seoul holds cards on both Saturday and Sunday.

Fujii Returns With A Winner While Wolsley Trains A Four-Timer

Joe Fujii marked his return to the saddle with a winner but it was Peter Wolsley who stole the show among the foreign ranks at Busan on Friday, sending out four winners on the day.

Joe Fujii was back with a winner today (KRA)

Joe Fujii was back with a winner today (KRA)

Fujii, returning after a five-month layoff, started well when guiding Wonderful Star to a creditable 3rd place in race 1 and was then 2nd on Sky Sun in race 4.

He had to wait until race 8 to find the winner’s circle though, riding favourite Vicar Gold to a comfortable 5-length victory.

By that time, Australian trainer Wolsley had already saddled two winners. Debutant Cheonji Park was impressive, making all to claim race 2 before Choedae Gangja triumphed with a similarly front-running victory in race 7.

Next up for Wolsley was Baksuchyeo, who in landing his 5th win in 8 starts, handed the highly-rated filly Top Admiral her first ever defeat in race 9. Cinderella Man completed the four-timer in race 10.

Feature race of the afternoon went to 8/1 chance Grand Teukgeup. This afternoon’s winners essentially assure Wolsley of 2nd place in the Trainers’ Championship behind the Kim Young Kwan stable. As for Fujii, despite missing almost half the season, he still lies in 7th in the Jockeys’ Championship.

Both Fujii and Wolsley will be back at Busan for more on Sunday.

K-Triple Crown 2014: KRA Cup Mile First Preview

We’re just 12 days away from the first leg of the 2014 Korean Triple Crown. Currently 19 horses remain in the KRA Cup Mile – the “Korean 2000 Guineas” – which will be run at Busan Racecourse on Sunday April 6.

Who will follow Sting Ray as the winner of the KRA Cup Mile? (KRA)

Who will follow Sting Ray as the winner of the KRA Cup Mile? (KRA)

OF those 19 – which will be cut to a maximum of 16 by final declarations next Wednesday, Busan supplies 11 while 8 are planning to make the trip down the Gyeongbu Expressway from Seoul. Only one horse from the capital, Money Car in 2010, has triumphed in the race to date.

Busan’s foreign trainers Peter Wolsley and Bart Rice are represented respectively by Heukgangja and Gangchi while last year’s Champion Juveniles Jungang Gongju (Busan) Raon Morris (Seoul) and Cheongyong Bisang (Overall) are all expected to be present.

Jungang Gongju is among 7 fillies still in the race. Another, Winner’s Marine, is the only entrant who heads to the race unbeaten, having won all of her 5 starts to date.

We’ll have a full preview and run-down of the final field next week but in the meantime, here is the full list of those 19 who remain in (Name [Pedigree] (Starts/1st/2nd/3rd)

KRA Cup Mile (KOR G2) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Sunday April 6, 2014

Busan

Heukgangja [Creek Cat – Rosa Gulch (Thunder Gulch)] (5/3/1/0)
Hwanggeumbitjijung [Menifee – Firstclasscat (Catienus)] Filly (6/4/0/1)
Jungang Gongju [Menifee – Command And Hope (Commands)] Filly (7/2/2/0)
Winner’s Marine [Volponi – Graceful Ballerina (Posse)] Filly (5/5/0/0)
Namdo Trio [Didyme – Tapas (Sky Classic)] (9/2/4/0)
Gangchi [Volponi – Regal Heir (Regal Intention)] (9/3/1/1)
Royal Impact [Cielo Gold – Skeemo (Meadowlake)] (7/2/0/3)
Gilbert [Yankee Victor – Wonderful Wanda (Fusaichi Pegasus)] (5/3/1/0)
Queen’s Blade [Menifee – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] Filly (7/4/3/0)
Yeonggwanguichampion [Menifee – Manwang (Road Of War)] (7/4/1/1)
Wild Rush [Forest Camp – Wisconsin Girl (Smart Strike)] (6/1/3/2)

Seoul

Power Champion [Perfect Champion – Perfect Vision (Psychobabble)] (8/4/1/0)
Nubi Queen [Menifee – Dream Runner (Our Poetic Prince)] Filly (9/3/1/2)
Classic Cat [One Cool Cat – Deoksugung (Cherokee Run)] (6/3/1/0)
Cupid Girl [Vicar – Sheza Hot Dish (Rubiano)] Filly (8/4/0/1)
Cheongnyong Bisang [Volponi – Miss Alwuhush (Alwuhush)] (7/4/0/0)
Jangsan Horangi [Forest Camp – Steal The Show (Cat Thief)] (5/2/2/1)
Pureun Geotap [Menifee – Charmin Strike (Smart Strike)] Filly (9/2/2/3)
Raon Morris [Yankee Victor – Thunder By Night (Thunder Gulch)] (6/3/1/1)

Weekend Preview: Busan Takes Centre-Stage

Seoul Racecourse takes a weekend off so Busan switches to Saturday and Sunday for the final racedays of 2013.

Busan is the place to be this weekend

Busan is the place to be this weekend

Both days see class 1 action and while Saturday’s feature isn’t exactly one to set pulses beating too fast, Sunday’s sees the Kim Young Kwan trained duo of Road To Prince and Magic Dancer face off over 1900 metres. The 3-year-old Magic Dancer missed the Classics but has amassed 7 wins and 2 second places from his 9 starts to date and is quite a talent.

Meanwhile, the similarly prolific winner Road To Prince will be looking to get back into form after souring a fantastic year with a couple of lacklustre runs of late. Minister’s Cup victor Major King and Peter Wolsley’s Cheongchun Bulpae also go in what should be a decent contest.

In addition to the thoroughbreds at Busan, there are pony racing cards on Jeju Island on Friday and Saturday. Despite there being no live racing in the capital, Seoul Race Park will be open for simulcasting from Friday to Sunday.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday December 27
Jeju Race Park: 13 races from 11:50 to 18:00

Saturday December 28
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 7 races from 11:25 to 16:35

Sunday December 29
Busan Race Park: 14 races from 11:00 to 18:00

South African Trainer Bart Rice Set For Busan

The newest addition to the training ranks at Busan Race Park is Korea’s 3rd foreign trainer. South African Bart Rice was officially granted a license this week.

South African Bart Rice is Busan's latest foreign trainer (KRA)

South African Bart Rice is Busan’s latest foreign trainer (KRA)

37-year-old Rice grew up in Zimbabwe and began working as an assistant trainer in South Africa as soon as he left school and worked for a number of trainers before striking out on his own in 2002.

Since then, Rice has trained at a number of tracks across South Africa and also in Zimbabwe, amassing a decent number of winners.

An all-rounder, the trainer has also moonlighted in show-jumping and as a driver in harness racing.

The arrival of Rice and his wife Pam, who will be his assistant, has taken longer than expected due to the lengthy process required to secure a visa. Now that they are here, the task of getting horses into their barn begins.

Isidore Farm, always great supporters of the foreign trainers here, have sent Rice his first two with Ecton Lass and North Sky moving across from Peter Wolsley.

Wolsley is the role-model for any frougn trainer coming here although it took the Australian two years to get established. However, two years was all that American Joe Murphy, the only other overseas trainer to try his luck here, was given.

Rice has been assigned stable 31 at Busan.