The sprinters get their final shot at Group race glory for 2024 on Sunday with the Kookje Shinmun Cup (1400M KOR-G3) at Busan. There are 8 races at Busan from 11:00 to 17:30 while there are 9 races in Seoul from 10:35 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Juvenile maidens in the opener with seven of the twelve racing for the first time and it is a debut-maker who will be favourite. (4) FREE TIME qualified at the second attempt and he did it in style, running handy in his trial before crossing the line in front in a quick time. If he brings that form to the races then, from a good draw, he will be hard to hold out. (10) SAINT WINNER also took a couple of goes to qualify and was much improved in the second of them, when 3^rd in a fair time. This is a nice race to debut in and the 1200M first up can suit. Among the experienced ones, neither (5) EAST GANGJEOK nor (1) BURUI SEGYE set the world alight on their respective debuts, but both showed enough to suggest they can improve second up. (6) CHEONJI LADY didn’t do much on debut but previously hinted at ability in a trial and in this company can do better.

Selections	(4) Free Time (10) Saint Winner (5) East Gangjeok (1) Burui Segye
Next Best	6, 3
Fast Start	1, 4, 6, 9

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Fillies only in this juvenile maiden with two of the eight racing for the first time. We’ll take a chance on (8) ASSEMBLE, who was slow away on debut before running on pleasingly enough for 6^th of eleven over 1200M. She’ll have to be taken on trust that she doesn’t get as far back this time, but the extra half furlong can see her home. (1) FAST MELODY could inpy manage 8^th on debut over 1000M on August 2^nd, but the time was good and from the inside gate she can be on pace and has every chance. (3) STAR FORCE was the best of the two debut-makers in trials and from a nice draw can race handy and make an impression. (6) ILLUSION has raced twice, both over 1000M and posting the same time in both when finishing midfield. She has finished off well and can appreciate the step up in trip. (7) B.K. MAGIC the best of the rest.

Selections	(8) Assemble (1) Fast Melody (3) Star Force (6) Illusion
Next Best	7, 4
Fast Start	1, 3, 6, 7

Seoul Race 2: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

Juvenile maidens with all but three racing for the first time and with the experience offering little appeal, we must head to the trial videos. (7) GOOD CHOEGANG went through three heats, qualifying in the first but then doing two more in which he got progressively better, most recently 2^nd place in 62.2 seconds when on pace on October 4^th. If he gets on pace here, he may go all the way. (1) PALATINO similarly went through two heats, winning the first in a slow time but was then much quicker in a second on October 4^th when overcoming the widest gate and running on well for 3^rd. Drawn well, he can put in a bold showing. (11) STORM CROWN won his trial, settling handy and running on well in a quick time. He faces the challenge of a wide gate here can go well. (8) GWANAKSAN BLACK and (3) ART CATCHER trialed up together and both showed potential.

Selections	(7) Good Choegang (1) Palatino (11) Storm Crown (8) Gwanaksan Black
Next Best	3, 6
Fast Start	3, 7, 8, 12

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(10) TAMNA SUPER enters off his best finish to date when 2^nd at this distance on October 11^th, beating a couple of these in the process. He has the challenge of a wide draw here, but with a little luck at the start, he can find a forward position and he can go one better. (6) SHACKLE LAUD has made good progress across three starts so far, culminating in 3^rd place behind Tamna Super in that October 11^th race, coming from well off the pace. He shapes as the main danger to overturn that for. (5) BABEL COME ON was 5^th on debut over 1000M on October 11^th, running on after a slow start. She should have come on for the run, and the additional furlong can suit. (9) MORNING DEW and (4) SPEED BOY, the latter trailing well five months on from an inauspicious debut, are others to consider.  

Selections	(10) Tamna Super (6) Shackle Laud (5) Babel Come On (9) Morning Dew
Next Best	4, 7
Fast Start	1, 3, 9, 10

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(9) DRAGON K has two 4^th places from three starts so far, including his latest over 1200M on October 19^th when close to the pace throughout. His times haven’t been world beating but he should have enough about him to get on or close to the speed here and the slight step up in trip can suit. (4) HANURI has made progress across three outings so far, culminating in a 3^rd place on October 27^th at 1400M, when ridden at the front for the first time. Expect similar tactics today and he has every chance of going even closer. (3) B.K. BELLE came from well off the pace to run 4^th at this distance on October 5^th. She doesn’t benefit from an apprentice claim this time, but that’s balanced by Kim Yong-geun being up, and she should be close. (2) MERIT SUNSHINE and (1) BULGUKSIDAE others in at least the placing frame.

Selections	(9) Dragon K (4) Hanuri (3) B.K. Belle (2) Merit Sunshine
Next Best	1, 7
Fast Start	2, 4, 5, 9

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

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