3 minute read

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maiden fillies kick things off with all but one of the twelve racing for the very first time. We'll side with that one experienced runner, (12) EUNSEONG WINNER. She ran fairly for 3rd place on debut back in December and has since been back to trial performing fairly. The experience can see her in good stead here. The main concern is that while her times in trials and her race have been consistent, they have not been quick. (9) GOLD SWEET looks the best of the first timers. She won her trial having been handy throughout and can go well first-up today. (2) CHEONGHO LEGEND and (7) ALPHA SONGDANG posted decent times in their respective heats and may also be considered while (8) WONDERFUL FILE improved in the second of her trials and can be in the hunt too.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Small field but potentially quite a hot favourite in the shape of (8) UNJU BULPAE. He's improved across his four starts so far, culminating in a runner-up finish at this distance on January 7th having led for much of the way. The draw shouldn't matter much in this small field, and he can win. (7) JATNAMUGIL has shown similar progress across his four appearances so far, running 3rd in both his latest two. He should be given another chance here. The solitary debut-maker is interesting. Top trainer Kim Young-kwan puts an apprentice aboard (6) RADAR, who finally makes it to the track aged four. His dam won six times at Busan and while his only half-brother to make the track so far is a notorious non-winner (Indian Party), he trialed well and should be kept safe. (1) GAWONUI BIT and (9) BAEK GU among others in the hunt.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Tricky race with a number of potential winners. We'll go with (1) HAEUNDAE BLUE who comes in off a career-best 2nd when stepped up to this distance on January 7th. True, the pace that day was painfully slow, and she hasn't shown much in the way of speed, but she beat three of today's rivals and almost led the whole way around. (2) CARIBBEAN DAY has been consistent and comes in off a solid 4th at this distance on Boxing Day. He doesn't have the benefit of an apprentice claim today but that's softened by a much better draw, and he looks the main danger. (10) MAJOR FORCE didn't run that badly when 6th at the distance last time out. He is yet to finish in the top two but has consistently found the minor money and could be worth a chance at an each-way price here. (11) ORANGE GARAGE and (3) PICTURE JASPER others in the frame.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Another competitive race. (8) CENTUM THOR might be a non-winner, but he has nine top five finishes from twelve attempts so far. He has been consistent at this distance and an apprentice climbing aboard brings him down 3kg from his last appearance. At that last appearance on December 10th, Centum Thor was beaten by (9) LUKAS SUN. That was the latter's first go around 1800M and he handled it very well coming from well off the pace to fly home. He will be coming on strong again and should go close. (6) GEUMA GOOD POINT had a disappointing day at the office at his latest start on Boxing Day when he used up plenty to get to a forward position from a wide draw. Draw a line through that and instead go on the start before when he ran 3rd, ahead of Centum Thor, and he should be in this. (1) MENI GLORY comes up in trip and into the calculations while (3) ROCKET GO Is another in the hunt.

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

(3) WIND HIGH broke through at start number four on December 10th, making all at this distance and beating a couple of today's rivals in the process. He has been back to trial since then and won that too. He does come up in class but remains under a light weight and from a good draw has claims to win again. (8) BARAM GONGJU ran 2nd to Wind High in the December race and has since finished 4th on her first try at this class on January 7th. She has run consistent times at the distance, likes to come from off the pace, and should be working home well here. (4) DOCTOR TEXAS lead but weakened over a mile last time out and should be better for the drop back in trip today. (6) SUSO ENGINE can be given another chance too while (10) USEUNG GANGJA is another in the hunt.

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

(8) DONGTEUJA BOY is set to be hot favourite here and deservedly so. He won back-to-back races in September and October to get rapidly promoted to this class and while he was beaten on his first try at this level two weeks ago, he ran a fast time and should have too much for this lot. It's hard to see any of these running him down but (10) MILLION BANK has finished no worse than 2nd in four starts so far and can keep that run going here. (5) KING BROTHER won at this distance at class 5 level two starts back and enters here well weighted and well-drawn. (1) WINNER'S TIME can mix his form but is another who looks nicely in here on the inside and he can challenge for a place. (3) HANBIT YEONGGWANG another in the minor money hunt.

Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Good race this and (3) MISS INDIE may be ready to bounce back to winning ways. She won her first two starts and then went on a filly Triple Crown campaign. That didn't go to plan, but she ran a decent 4th at 1400M on Boxing Day and dropped back to 1200M for the first time, with a good draw and a light weight, she can win. (2) DOCTOR GIANTS took his chance in the KRA Cup Mile last October and while he finished in mid-division he posted a fast time, something he has consistently done at a variety of distances. He has won twice at this distance and will be a danger here. (1) KKOTGWA GUREUM won at big odds on Boxing Day and while up in class can challenge for some minor money from the inside gate. (13) SAGARMATHA and (9) DONGBANUI SIJAK others in the frame.

Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

It's hard to go too far past (7) SPEED MATCH here. He's won three of his last four including a super score over a mile at class 4 level on December 3rd. He comes up in class here but down in weight and will take some beating. He'll sit handy early and then run on. (4) SEUNGNI MAGICQUEEN also comes up in class, in her case following an excellent win at this distance on Boxing Day when making all the running. She seems to have plenty of potential and can challenge the favourite here. (6) WONDERFUL KING has won his latest two, most recently at class and distance on December 26th. He comes up significantly in the weights this time but can go close. (10) ILNYEOM TONGCHEON and (2) ECOPIA are the other leading contenders.