3 minute read

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Maiden fillies in the opener. (7) CHEONHAJIYU came from off the pace to run a good 2nd on debut over 1200M on February 22nd. She should have come on for that run, the additional half furlong can suit, and jockey Franco Da Silva can notch his 400th Korean winner here. Speaking of jockeys, "The Moon" is working Busan Friday! Seoul's eight-time champion rider Moon Se-young is in town to ride in Sunday's Luna Stakes and climbs up on (2) SUPREME QUEEN here. She has a 2nd place to her name at this distance two starts back and from a great draw, she should be on pace and in this a long way. (12) B.K. DOMINER enters off two 3rd place finishes, both at this distance. She drew wide in both of those and ran in well and should be a danger late again. (4) DREAMMA and (5) HYPER FORCE are others on the right trajectory.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(2) ONEULISUNGAN ran 3rd on debut over 1200M on January 21st, settling midfield and running on. He should have derived benefit from that experience, the step up in trip can suit, and he has every chance here. (1) BRUG KINGMAN race twice at the turn of the year, putting in a creditable 2nd and 4th at 1200M and 1400M, the latter rime leading into the closing stages. He comes in fresh following twelve weeks off and from the inside gate, he can go close. (9) BARADEON BADA was an on-pace 3rd over 1300M on February 16h. With not a huge amount of obvious early speed in this race, she should get an easy run towards the front again and can be competitive. (11) STORMY DAY and (4) GOOD KING MAN others with very solid placing claims.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(7) LEMON DRAGON was an improved 4th when stepped up to this distance for the first time on February 23rd, having settled midfield and run on well. That was just his third start so there can still be some more improvement to come and against this limited opposition, he can make the breakthrough. (1) CLOUD LOVE looks as though he is finally figuring it out and comes in off a best finish of 3rd – at start number eighteen – on March 3rd. That was over this distance, as were his two prior outings which both resulted in 4th place finishes. He is clearly in the form of his modest career and Seo Seung-un remains aboard. It's not impossible. The form drops off after those two. Third favourite will be (2) NUNBUSINGIL. That's based on his last start when only 6th but it was at this distance, and he beat a couple of today's rivals. (10) CHEONGMAUI JILJU and (5) THE ONE may be potential improvers among an ordinary bunch.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

After running 3rd on debut, (5) RUBY STONE got her maiden win at the second time of asking on February 23rd, racing on pace throughout and winning comfortably in a good time over 1200M. She comes up in class here, but the manner of that win suggests that there can be more to come, and she will be a short-price favourite to win again. (8) GUKDAE HERO got his win in a quick race over 1300M back in December. He took a couple of goes to adjust to this class but ran a good 2nd over this distance on March 1st when settling midfield from a wide draw and running on. He comes up slightly in the weights but can aim for at least another runner-up finish here. (4) FLYING ACE got her maiden win over this trip in December and enters off a smart 3rd place over 1300M on March 3rd when she led for much of the way around. Moon Se-young climbs up and she draws nicely. (9) BRAVE CAPTAIN and (11) SANGIM STAR others in the hunt.

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

No fewer than six last start winners in this ultra-competitive affair. (4) MR.KEYMAN did it in style at start number two over 1200M on February 18th, taking things up at the top of the straight and running on to win by five-lengths. He comes up in class and marginally in trip, but he is down in the weights, nicely drawn, and the manner of that victory suggests more to come. (12) BIG MORE was a winner on debut last November and has since got a 2nd, a 4th and a 3rd in three tries at this level. He likes to be on pace so he may need a touch of luck at the start, but he should be close again. (6) GLOBAL WEEK overcame a slow start to only miss out by a narrow margin on January 19th.  In doing so he recorded the fastest time of any of these for the 1300M and with a better start, he has winning chances here. Last start winners (9) VELOCIRAPTOR – at this class – and (11) RAON VIBE MAN – at class 6 – are among plenty of others to consider.

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) GREAT WINNER returns to action for the first time since running 4th in the Listed Gimhae Mayor's Trophy for juveniles last November. He blitzed a trial at the end of February and while he comes up substantially in trip, he is certainly bred to handle it, and he can win first-up.    (8) SEOGWI PERFECT comes up in class having won two of his last three, most recently over this distance on February 23rd when racing handy. The time he recorded would be competitive here and he comes down 3kg in the weights giving him every opportunity to measure up in this company.  (12) BUGYEONG LION was a winner at this class over a mile on March 1st, when he settled right back before running on strong. He comes up 3kg in the weights as a result, but the wide draw shouldn't be an issue and he can go back-to-back. (1) CHAS PALPAL won at this distance at class 5 level in January and while he only ran a fair 5th on his first try at this class on February 23rd, he comes into a much better gate and warrants another chance. (9) SEVEN DRAGON another in the hunt.

Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) WITH SUN will start a warm favourite. He showed plenty of promise but missed most of his three-year-old season, only returning after nine-months out at the end of December. He has since run a 2nd over this distance and then a 4th at a mile. He looks very nicely in here and third-up this preparation, he can be peaking fitness-wise. (8) LAST DRAGON comes up in class having won over 1200M on February 16th when settling midfield before quickly improving and then finishing off well. He comes up to 1400M for the first time too but is down in the weights and can measure up in this company. (9) AUTUMN BREEZE came up rapidly to this class with back-to-back wins at the tail end of last year, but showed she belongs when 2nd over this distance on February 18th having led for much of the way around. She has a fast start and while drawn a touch wider than ideal, she can be on pace again and can be a danger. (12) LADY VADER and (10) POWER SOUND among others in the frame.

Busan Race 8: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(7) HANGANG SAVER can certainly mix his form, but he went up to Seoul to take his chance in the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy at Seoul last month. That didn't go especially well but he has two close 2nd places at this class among his last four starts and under a fair weight, he should be firmly in this. (8) CHOICE RUN was a winner at this distance in a quick time at class 3 level two starts back before running 2nd on his first try at this class on February 2nd. He carries his fair share of weight here, but he is top-rated for a reason, and he has solid claims. (4) JATNAMUGIL won that February 2nd race and while he had a poor day at the office over 1400M three weeks ago, an apprentice claim brings him back down in weight and he may offer some each-way – if not winning – appeal. (11) BEOLGYOUI KKUM and (1) CAPTAIN GOLD are among plenty of others in the hunt.