3 minute read

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens begin the day with (5) GRAND SUN favoured to make the breakthrough. He beat three of today's rivals on debut on December 26th having settled midfield and run on well and is very much the one to beat here. (1) USURP was well backed on his own debut in the same race but lost his balance on the turn when colliding with the running rail. He was favourite for that race for good reason after an excellent trial and with better luck this time can go better. (11) BARBELL POSEIDON improved significantly at start number two. He comes up in trip here and has a less favourable draw but is not to be dismissed. (10) ART KELLY is a debut-maker who won his trial coming from off the pace in a fair time. The distance may suit first-up and a bold showing is possible. Watch the market for clues. (3) DOCTOR KONGSUNI ran on well for 4th on debut at 1000M. He has a better draw today and can be a danger.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Wide open maiden with many chances. We'll take a chance on (2) HAMAN YEOHANGSAN, who led at her latest start on January 9th before finishing 4th at this distance. This is her third start this preparation and she could be peaking for a top stable. (11) ARTIE'S GAL resumed after nine months out on December 19th having won a trial and ran 2nd, beating three of today's rivals in the process. She doesn't get the benefit of an apprentice claim today but nevertheless, looks a contender. (6) SAVE US resumed after four months off with 2nd this distance on Christmas Eve when handy throughout and has to be considered here while (14) BLUE CARSON beat four of these on his way to a 2nd place of his own at this distance on December 19th. He may need a touch of luck having been drawn in the car park but otherwise looks ready to win at some stage soon. (4) USEUNG HUNTER another in the placing frame.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

This is a really weak race so don't dismiss what would normally be some very poor looking form lines. (7) DAEJI SPECIAL led over 1400M last start before weakening to 6th. He comes up in trip today but can get a soft lead once more and should be in this a very long way. He will be the favourite. (5) ZERAGE hasn't really kicked on after a promising first couple of starts but in this company his form measures up well and he should be in the finish. (11) CHOEGANG MARINE's best finish to date came at 1000M but he ran on adequately enough for a midfield finish in a fair time over 1400M on Christmas Eve which suggests this may suit. (12) DOCTOR TANGO has led in most of his races before weakening to varying degrees. He is up in trip today and the wide draw may require him being ridden differently so improvement is possible. (8) DIA FORCE beat a couple of these when 5th at this distance on Boxing Day and that's enough to put him in this.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(6) DAEJI CHOICE was an all the way winner over 1400M at class 6 level two start back and then ran 3rd ahead of a couple of today's rivals on December 12th. He comes up in trip here but looks very much the one to beat and will probably start as hot favourite. (7) YEONSEUNG BRAVO comes up in class having won at this distance with an on pace all the way showing on December 26th. He gets a nice light weight again and should measure up in this company. (2) CATCH THE SKY came home in 2nd place that day and also comes up in class. He comes down in the weights and can settle back and run on here. (9) WONDERFUL WORLD was a class 6 winner at this distance and has performed well in 2nd and 5th in two starts at this class. He should be in the finish again here. (5) WAKANDA also comes into the calculations following an improved 3rd at his latest start just two weeks ago.

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

A very competitive race with plenty entering in good form. (2) JEONSEOLUI PUNCH finally got his maiden win at start number twenty-four when beating stablemate Light Story at class and distance on Christmas Eve. He came from well off the pace that day and actually looks very nicely in here to potentially repeat. (7) INDIAN PARTY finished in 3rd place in that Christmas Eve race, making up very good ground late on and should be competitive again. (8) GOLDEN POWER won over 1200M at class 6 level two starts back before running a competitive 3rd at class and distance on December 17th. She's never run worse than 5th and should be close again. (3) MONEY BAG, up in class after a last start win at this distance, and (13) WONDER BLADE, down in trip after a decent spin over a mile last start, are others in at least the placing frame.

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(8) GOLDEN BYEORAK is set to be hot favourite here. He returned from five months off on January 9th to run an excellent 2nd at class and distance in a very good time – faster than anything else in the race has achieved – and a similar run will make him very hard to beat here. (7) MUJEOK CHARLIE comes in off two solid showings at class and distance including a runner-up finish at his latest start on December 17th, beating a couple of these in the process. (10) JESSIEUI KKUM has raced just twice with sixteen months between those appearances. He raced well on his return on Christmas Eve and steps up in trip here with solid claims for another bold showing. (9) WONDERFUL FAGER won back-to-back races last November to get rapidly promoted to this level. He was tried at 1800M last start, leading but ultimately finishing in 5th and this looks a more appropriate assignment. (1) ACE KILLER perhaps the best of the rest.

Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

A small but competitive field. (8) MAN OF THE YEAR got his win at 1400M before running 2nd in the Gimhae Mayor's Cup at 1200M and then 5th in the Breeders' Cup champion juvenile race at 1400M in December. He does look the type who will appreciate a bit of distance and that's exactly what he gets here. (4) WINNER STAR also comes out of the Breeders' Cup race, in which he finished an excellent 3rd. He ran a close 5th in a previous try at this distance and will be a big danger again today and will vie for favourite status with Man Of The Year. (6) DUMUSAN has good experience at this distance and comes in having run 2nd on his latest outing on December 19th. He'll be in the hunt again. (5) BULMYEORUI GIL and (1) ADELE PUPIL, who needs a line drawn through her trip to Seoul last month, are others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Really good race to finish with. We'll go with (4) SKY MORE to return to winning ways. He won back-to-back races at this distance and 1800M last autumn and was then given his chance in the Korean Derby. That didn't go well, and he was beaten on his return to Busan as well in December. He draws well here though and back at a mile he looks a real chance. The main danger and probable favourite is (5) YEOKJEON MYEONGSU. He has only raced four times but set a very fast time when scoring over 1400M at class 4 level last October and then ran well for 3rd at 1800M in December. He comes up in class here but is significantly down in the weights and he has every chance. (14) MAN OF TOP comes back in trip after recent good work around 1800M including a win at this class. He has won over a mile too and while he gives weight away and draws badly, he can be a danger. (13) BABEL HIT and (9) SMART MOD are others to take into account.