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It’s the race of the year so far at Busan Racecourse on Sunday as a field of 15 top class sprinters line up for the Busan Ilbo (Daily News) Cup.
It could be another big race success for Australian trainer Peter Wolsley as he saddles Macheon Bolt, last year’s Korea Sprint hero and one of several top line contenders for the Six-furlong Listed race.
Macheon Bolt ran 2nd to Hong Kong raider Super Jockey in the inaugural Korea Cup in Seoul last September and while he could only manage 4th when top weight in a handicap last time out, he looks set for a big run this time under British jockey Darryll Holland.
There are plenty of others in contention too. Recently returned from the Dubai Carnival where his participation was restricted to one 4th place due to lameness, Seoul Bullet can beat anyone on his day while last year’s Korean Dubai star Success Story is a dangerous front-runner who is firmly in the hunt.
Then there is the wildcard. US import King Of Ace has only raced three times but he has won all three with ease and looks a potential star. We’ll see the measure of him here. Then there is the likes of Triple Five, a smart class 1 winner over this distance a month ago, not to mention the Stakes winners Perdido Pomeroy and BeolmauiKkum. It’s set to be a fascinating contest.
Full Form comments on all Busan races for Sunday May 7:
Busan Race 1: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
1. SMART LADY – 5th behind Lady Chartered and Main Vicar last time and can look to match that today. Should be able to get on speed this time.
2. LADY CHARTERED – Occasionally pulls a big run out, something she’s done twice in her last four outings. Place not impossible once more.
3. LUCKY JILJU – 6th behind KeunMabeop last start and plenty to find today.
4. MAIN VICAR – Much improved 3rd behind Lady Chartered last time. Place the aim again.
5. GEUMTE – Close in recent outings including a 3rd place last time. Looks ready to match or better that this time.
6. KEUN MABEOP – Well back behind a couple of these in March, he managed 2nd in a weak affair three weeks ago.
7. HELO VENUS – Time for this one to win; she comes in following three consecutive 2nd places, including a decent race at this level over 1200M last time.
8. OHO DAEJANGGUN – Up in class following her maiden win over the distance a month ago. This will likely be harder.
9. VICTORY BROWN – Struggled a little at 1200M last start but steps back in trip today. Top trainer and jockey combination and in the frame here.
10. ENTER WAY QUEEN – Just lost her way a little in recent outings and has form to overturn on a few.
11. PARTY CONCEP – Three 2nd places among four starts so far. Needs to find a bit today to match those.
Verdict: (7) HELLO VENUS is yet to win in four outings but she’s managed three 2nd places beating better horses than she comes up against here so it is really her time to strike in this all filly & mare contest. However, should she come down with “second-it is” again, there are one or two who could take advantage. The Peter Wolsley trained (9) VICTORY BROWN looks chief among them but others such as (5) GEUMTE and (2) LADY CHARTERED may also be able to convert good recent form into victory.
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Selections |
(7) Hello Venus (9) Victory Brown (5) Geumte (2) Lady Chartered |
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Next Best |
1, 6 |
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Fast Start |
1, 6, 9, 11 |
Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
1. ACE JILJU – Beaten very few recently and big outsider.
2. MINNEUNDAERO – Yet to win any prize money in nine career starts.
3. BAROGA – Previous tries at this distance haven’t been successful but he’s come into consistent form of late and can be considered.
4. MEISTER GO – Up in class having come too close in recent class 6 efforts. Big ask here.
5. DAEJIUI HUIMANG – Much improved 4th at class and distance on April 7th. Repeat is not impossible.
6. HWANHAN SESANG – Not found it easy in three outings at this level.
7. RED SIREN – Up in class and distance following a five-length win over 1300M at the end of March. Looks to have good potential.
8. TIME CASTLE – Class 6 winner at this distance in February, he only beat two home on first try at this level.
9. HANEOL NURI – An eye-catching fourteen-length winner over 1300M just two weeks ago. Up in class and distance but he has to be favourite.
10. DARMA – Six-length winner at this distance on March 31st and is accordingly up in class today. A chance.
11. QUEEN’S QUEEN – 4th in a big fillies race in March and then 3rd at class and distance last start. Solid claims today.
Verdict: (9) HANEOL NURI is from Busan’s top stable and won so easily last time that even though it was at class 6, he has to be favourite here. Most likely to stop him are a pair who enter in solid if unspectacular form; (3) BAROGA and (11) QUEEN’S QUEEN are proven money winners at this level and could push the favourite. Another up in class pair, (7) RED SIREN and (10) DARMA are the others to take into account.
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Selections |
(9) Haneol Nuri (3) Baroga (10) Darma (11) Queen’s Queen |
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Next Best |
7 |
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Fast Start |
5, 9, 10, 11 |
Busan Race 3: Class 4 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 55 Million
1. SWICH – Yet to win in six outings but getting closer. 2nd last time and perhaps the one to beat here. Not usually a fast starter. Aussie-bred by Congrats.
2. SEUNGJEONPILSA – Managed an unexpected 2nd place over 1300M in February but gone cold in three subsequent outings.
3. FLYING RANGER – Offered few clues in three outings to date. Aussie-bred by Rothesay (A$26K from Magic Millions Gold Coast in 2015)
4. B.K. PARK – Solitary win was at this distance and he beat Flying Ranger last time on his way to 4th. Should be in at least the placing frame today.
5. COMING SOON – Three starts so far with little to show for it.
6. GYERIMUI JILJU – Yet to win in 23 but he has proven capable of picking up money at this level so while he’s unlikely to be winning, he can challenge for the places.
7. ONLY BLUE – Faded over 1400M last time but steps back just 100M into her comfort zone today and can go better. Not among the favourites though.
8. SUPER EAGLE – Down in class having been uncompetitive at class 3. We do often see those relegated bouncing back quickly but this still looks a stiff test.
9. MUJEOKUI SAMSON – A win and a 3rd from his latest two which were both at 1800M. Back in trip for the first time this year and he’s a contender.
10. TAEGWON CHAMP – Yet to win in 24 and recent form is uninspiring.
11. ADELEUI BOM – 3rd of 12 over class and distance last time and a repeat is possible.
12. YEONGGWANGUIHUNTER – Comes in following a 2nd and a 3rd from his latest two, albeit a long way behind the winners. Big chance here.
Verdict: (1) SWICH has been getting closer and closer and looks ready to get his maiden win here. He's not the quickest of starters but if he can find a decent spot out of the inside gate, he’ll be the one they need to beat. (11) ADELEUI BOM and (12) YEONGGWANGUIHUNTER both come in following solid 3rd places at this class and will be competitive with (4) B.K. PARK and (9) MUJEOKUI SAMSON others who could surprise.
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Selections |
(1) Swich (12) Yeonggwanguihunter (9) Mujeokui Samson (11) AdeleuiBom |
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Next Best |
4, 6 |
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Fast Start |
2, 7, 8, 9 |
Race 4: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 55 Million
1. EUNGBIBYEOSU – 7th of 10 last time and plenty to find today.
2. WONIL ACE – 6th behind both Powerful Force and Sharp Win last start. The time before he missed out on the win by a neck so he’s worth another chance here.
3. MORNING BARAMSE – Highly thought of filly who was 2nd in a Listed race in March. 3rd last time out and the probable favourite here.
4. CHEONGMA DAEJANGUN – Gone completely cold of late and would be a big surprise here.
5. VALKYRIE – Down in class but still plenty to find.
6. GARAK GONGWON – 53rd start today. Usually beats a few but usually gets beaten by a few more.
7. USEUNG CHOEGO – Comes in here in solid form, not missing by much in recent outings. Could be in the hunt for the places.
8. POWERFUL FORCE – Beat Sharp Win and Wonil Ace when racing 4th over class and distance on April 9th. Followed it with 6th two weeks later.
9. UJU STAR – Up in class having won both his last two. Up in distance as well but looks a good prospect, should be on speed here and could win again.
10. KWAEHAN MYEONGPUM – Proven money winner at this level. Others should be better but can place.
11. SHARP WIN – 5th behind Powerful Force last time, he could overturn that form but still has plenty to find.
Verdict:(3) MORNING BARAMSE was 2nd in the GyeongnamSinmun Cup – essentially an early Oaks trial – in March and followed up with a 3rd place over a mile last time out. She looks to still have scope for further improvement and can show that with a win here. Also with potential is (9) UJU STAR. She’s won two of her three races to date and steps up in both class and distance here with no reason why she can’t be competitive. (2) WONIL ACE was beaten by a couple of these last time but can overturn that form today while (7) USEUNG CHOEGO and (10) KWAEHAN MYEONGPUM are others who could find the money.
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Selections |
(3) Morning Baramse (9) Uju Star (2) Wonil Ace (7) UseungChoego |
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Next Best |
10, 1 |
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Fast Start |
3, 9 |
Race 5: Class Open (1200M) Weight For Age / KRW 350 Million
1. OREUSE – 4th behind Triple Five and Morning Daero last time and that would be a sensible target again.
2. PERDIDO POMEROY – 2nd last year. Began this year with a win over 1400M but was well back behind Macheon Bolt last start. Talented but needs more today.
3. SPECIAL SKY – Seoul-trained horse. Hard to imagine him being competitive in this company.
4. TRIPLE FIVE – Bart Rice-trainee who beat three of these when winning a handicap at this distance on April 2nd.
5. WONIL GANGJA – Stablemate of Triple Five and the second string but decent horse in his own right. 5th behind Macheon Bolt last time.
6. SUCCESS STORY – Steps back in trip for the first time since this race last year when he was 3rd. If he gets the lead – and it’s likely – he’s a big chance.
7. SMOKEN JOE – Seoul-trained horse. Out of his depth today.
8. BEOLMAUI KKUM – One of the top horses of the last few years, just ran out of steam of late. He’s been written off before though so handle with care.
9. BAEDARI BOBAE – Solid campaigner who always takes on the best – hence his rather light win column. Tough ask here.
10. MACHEON BOLT – 2nd in the Korea Sprint to Hong Kong’s Super Jockey, he was a decent 4th last start. Rare chance at level weights today. Could win.
11. KING OF ACE – Exciting talent who is unbeaten in three outings. This challenge is significantly greater than anything he’s faced so far but he looks very very good.
12. NAESARANG DAMYANG – Seoul-trained horse. Stablemate of Smoken Joe and here for the hay. No chance.
13. SEOUL BULLET – Beat Perdido Pomeroy and Macheon Bolt in December and then ran 4th to Main Stay at the Dubai Carnival despite coming back lame. Big chance here.
14. ACE CHEONBOK – Thomas Gillespie’s trainee was a class 2 winner in March but well back behind Triple Five on first class 1 start last month.
15. MORNING DAERO – 3rd to Triple Five last month, he has a bit to find here but should give a decent account of himself.
Verdict: Possibly the race of the year so far and it’s a chance for (10) MACHEON BOLT’s quality to show. He ran 2nd to Hong Kong’s Super Jockey at Seoul last September and looked to be coming back to form with a 4th place at the end of March. (11) KING OF ACE is three for three and takes on top class company for the first time. His three races so far have been won by a combined margin of eighteen-lengths without seeming to raise a full gallop. It’s not impossible for him here. Also of note is (13) SEOUL BULLET, who was only able to run once at the Dubai World Cup Carnival but did so creditably and should be very dangerous. There’s danger all through the field. (6) SUCCESS STORY is difficult to dislodge when he gets to the front and could relish a rare crack at a sprint. (2) PERDIDO POMEROY, (4) TRIPLE FIVE and (8) BEOLMAUI KKUM are also risky to rule out.
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Selections |
(10) Macheon Bolt (11) King Of Ace (6) Success Story (13) Seoul Bullet |
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Next Best |
8, 4, 2, 1 |
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Fast Start |
2, 6, 7, 8 |
Race 6: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
1. GLORIA ALPHA – Solid efforts lately see him up in class today. Tough ask but can be competitive.
2. ICE MARINE – Currently reckoned the top three-year-old filly in Korea. She was 6th in the first leg of the Triple Crown and won’t go to the Derby. She goes here instead and is favourite.
3. JUNGANG CHAMP – Disappointing run last time but had excuses and may improve.
4. MR. KAISER – Recent form not inspiring.
5. FIELD SCAMPER – Shown little in four outings since returning from a lengthy layoff.
6. NAGASINDA – He’s a decent finisher but tends to leave himself too much to do.
7. PRIVATE DANCER – Up in class having scored at 1800M three weeks ago. Looks nicely in here.
8. SINSEGYE GANGJA – Returned from six months out to be well beaten by a number of these at the end of March. Can improve under new trainer but still an outsider.
9. RISING BRAVO – 3rd on first start of 2017 at the end of March and firmly in the hunt here.
10. IRON TRAIN – Solid 4th at class and distance last time brings him into at least placing contention here.
11. GOLD MOON – A winner at this distance at class 3, he hasn’t found this level easy but did show improvement last time.
12. SEONGSAN PAECHONG – 65th start today but form has been cold of late.
Verdict: (2) ICE MARINE can confirm her status as favourite for the Korean Oaks with a win here. She could only manage 6th in the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Triple Crown, but should be looking to get on the early speed here and can go all the way. Plenty of talent here though. (7) PRIVATE DANCER is up in class after a useful win at the distance three weeks ago and should go well while (9) RISING BRAVO may well have come on for his first race of the season at the end of March when he defeated three of these on his way to 3rd place. (1) GLORIA ALPHA and (10) IRON TRAIN are others to be taken into account.
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Selections |
(2) Ice Marine (7) Private Dancer (9) Rising Bravo (1) Gloria Alpha |
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Next Best |
10, 3 |
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Fast Start |
1,2, 9 |
