KOREA: Busan Racecourse – Friday January 10, 2020
Race 4: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Three-year-old maidens and we’re set to have a red-hot favourite here in the shape of (1) MASTER BELLA. She’s finished in 3rd place in both her starts so far beating a couple of these along the way and registering good times in the process. She won’t necessarily lead from the start here but can set up camp just behind the early speed and should be too strong in the later stages of the race. (10) QUEEN GRACE also beat a couple of these on debut – the same pair in fact that Master Bella took down – back in November when finishing a good 2nd. She’s not raced since but the Bart Rice trainee looks nicely in for a good return today. The two horses who both the two favourites have beaten are (3) NORTHERN DREAM and (6) JINJU SARANG. Expect both to be close once more and competing for the places. (8) KING BROTHER debuted over 1300M two weeks ago and while he took an age to get going, he showed a bit of speed late on and this looks the kind of race he can improve in.
Selections: (1) Master Bella (10) Queen Grace (3) Northern Dream (6) Jinju Sarang
Next Best: 8, 7
Fast Start: 3, 9, 10
Race 5: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million
Another field of three-year-old colts and fillies line up in the fifth. (11) GREAT GO looks one that can go close after a good performance on debut. The Chapel Royal filly finished fourth in a much stronger race taken out by Golden Winner who has gone on and won since. She lacked early speed in her first start but reeled off one of the faster sectionals in the race. Park Jae-I is likely to let her find her own feet once again with a wide draw. (3) MAN OF THE WORLD lines up for his fourth start coming off a last start second behind K.B. Boss. The colt has drawn ideally to sit on speed once again and take some running down. (5) VERRA DAY has been sent out fancied at his past two starts and hasn’t managed to place. The chestnut will be able to sit just off the speed in this event and run through the line strong. (7) GOOD THUNDER has been unwanted in the market at his two career starts to date. He needs to improve to be considered a winning chance but can collect a cheque.
Selections (11) Great Go (3) Man Of The World (5) Verra Day (7) Good Thunder
Next Best 6, 10
Fast Start 3, 5
Race 6: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
(1) AMORIS keeps managing to dodge the winner’s circle but enters off a very consistent run having finished 2nd or 3rd in each of her last five attempts. She’s beaten a few of these along the way as well and from the inside gate will be well positioned to run on strongly. She surely gets another top three finish but should she fall short once more, it could be another maiden who takes advantage. (11) BURNING FLY is up in class having finished as runner-up on both her two starts so far. She has been favourite both times after a very good trial, missing out be a neck on debut and then by half a length the next time. She’ll want to be on pace so needs to overcome the wide draw and if she can do that, she has solid claims. (4) BARAMEUI KKUM has been up and down across eight outings to date and comes in after a really good 3rd place at this distance last time. She’s well drawn to get to the front early and should go close. (6) DIVINE MUSIC and (10) NANSAN YEOJE both had poor days at the office on their respective last starts but both know how to win at this distance and are worth second-chances today.
Selections: (11) Burning Fly (1) Amoris (4) Barameui Kkum (10) Nansan Yeoje
Next Best: 6, 8
Fast Start: 4, 6, 11
Race 7: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million
The main chance engaged in the seventh have been dealt wide draws. (10) PERIDO ROCKET has put two encouraging runs together including a last start second behind Happy Fever. The form line reads well for the four-year-old who looks one that will settle off-speed and hit the line well. (9) MS. UP has had seven starts over the 1300m for five top five finished including a win. The filly has shown versatility in her races settling both forward and rear before running on well. Seo Seung-Un will be legged aboard for the first time which is a positive. (2) CHEONGDAM FIRE comes out of the same race as Perido Rocker where he finished midfield. His efforts prior were good and from an inside draw he can rebound. (5) GRAND JILJU was disappointing last time out when having to overcome a wide draw. The four-year-old should be considered and each-way chance based on successive placings prior to last start.
Selections (10) Perido Rocker (9) Ms. Up (2) Cheongdam Fire (5) Grand Jilju
Next Best 6, 1
Fast Start 4
Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
(1) HANSEN FLASHY took a couple of goes to figure things out but is developing into a really nice filly. She rounded out her juvenile campaign with a pair of victories over 1300M and a mile, making all both times and steps up in class today with little to fear. From the inside gate, she can make it to the front again and can win. She probably won’t be favourite though. (5) HAPPY FEVER was a super winner when breaking his maiden on December 15th, leading all the way to score in one of the fastest times seen at Busan for the 1300M on what wasn’t an especially fast running track. He’s up in class and distance today but will be challenging right from the off and will surely pose a big danger. (4) ALBERT KING loves to run home late and into some money and it’s pleasing to see him sent back up to a mile today. He runs well when settled well back and if he has a bit of pace to run at, he can go close. (9) INDIAN GANGJA has loads of experience at this level and while he probably can’t win this, he is capable of running into some money. (6) THE FACT is a consistent type who rarely wins but rarely runs a bad race either and can challenge for some minor money.
Selections: (1) Hansen Flashy (5) Happy Fever (9) Indian Gangja (4) Albert King
Next Best: 6, 12
Fast Start: 1, 3, 5
Race 9: Class 4 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million
Nine Korean-bred gallopers will line up in the ninth on the card. (5) TOUCH STAR MAN has won his past two starts in the easier Class 5 and Class 6 grades. He has run good times but this is his toughest assignment to date. His nine length victory last start over this distance cannot be ignored, if he brings his best he looks the winner. (8) ARAM NARAE brings a strong form line into the race after finishing second behind Yeonggwangui Party last time out. The mare has done her best racing over the middle distances. She lacks early speed but went well under the riding of Franco Da Silva last time out, she will have his services once again. (7) TIZ POWER is a last start Class 5 winner over this distance. The mare settled midfield before improving her position on the swing for home and returning massive odds. She is likely to settle off the speed once again. (9) RAPIDO MAN is hard to gauge as he hasn’t had a run since May. He began his career in brilliant fashion winning two from five with two minor placings. He was then off to the vet to have bone chips removed from his near-side knee and resumed work in mid-December. It is hard to imagine he will be a peak fitness in this race but he comes from a top stable.
Selections (5) Touch Star Man (8) Aram Narae (7) Tiz Power (9) Rapido Man
Next Best 1, 3
Fast Start 5, 6
Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million
(8) RAJPUTANA came from off the pace to run out a good winner at this class over a mile just two weeks ago. That was his fourth win in eight starts and he gets to have another crack at class 3 here albeit at what is for him a new distance of 1800M and carrying an additional 4kg. He looks a talent though and can overcome both to win again. (9) MAN OF THE MATCH won well at this distance in October to be promoted to this level. He ran poorly on his first try at it on December 1st though, getting a bad start and failing to respond when asked. He’s had six weeks off since then and is worth another chance in this company. (2) QUEEN OFFICER returned from seven months off to run 3rd at class and distance on December 13th. Along with Man Of The Match she looks the most likely to be setting the pace here and will surely stay on for the business end of the race. (4) SOCKS GO ran poorly when favourite over 1400M just two weeks ago, not recovering from a poor start. He was a smart winner over a mile two starts back though and tries the 1800M for the first time today. (7) TAGONAN JILJU enters with recent form reading positively and is another in the hunt for some minor money.
Selections: (8) Rajputana (9) Man Of The Match (2) Queen Offiver (4) Socks Go
Next Best: 7, 6
Fast Start: 2, 9
Race 11: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million
There looks plenty of chances engaged in the last with a field of twelve to face the starter over 1200m. (6) POWER TOUCH has been a model of consistency in his thirteen-start career to date. The Testa Matta four-year-old has finished third at his past three starts in this grade. He was beaten a neck last start behind the progressive Seobu Cat, a similar performance will see him go a long way in this. (9) HAWK KING comes out of the same race where he finished second. He is a class and distance winner and looks to have each way claims. Jeong Dong-Cheol retains the ride and will have to overcome a wide draw. (8) SEONGSAM SIMON finished fourth at his first attempt in Class 2 grade last start. The Simon Pure entire is one of few engaged that works forward in his races. He has 56kg to carry but he will be given every chance with a positive ride from Seo Seung-Un. (12) I’M YOUR LEMON cannot be discounted in this race. She has had three starts in this company for two second placed performances. She was slightly disappointing last start when finishing fifth after being elected an even money favourite.
Selections (6) Power Touch (9) Hawk King (8) Seongsam Simon (12) I’m Your Lemon
Next Best 3, 7
Fast Start 2, 6, 8, 9
