Korea Racing Busan Preview – 3 March

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 40 Million

(5) SUCCESSFUL ran a solid 3^rd on debut over 1000M back on December 23^rd racing on pace throughout. It’s taken him a while to line up again but he looks very nicely in here, the additional furlong can suit and he is the one to beat. (11) DOCTOR CUCKOO has hinted at ability with back-to-back 4^th place finishes from his latest two outings. With an apprentice claim he comes down in the weights here and should be aiming for an even better finish today. The solitary debut-maker is (10) LAND BANK. He put in a fair performance in his trial and couldn’t hope for a softer race to debut in. The jockey/trainer combination ensures that he will get plenty of backing. (9) UNJU MACH has mixed her form so far but has two 4^th places and along with (3) WONDERFUL DIGGER, can enter the calculations here.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies and mares only in this competitive race. We’ll side with (2) PAN STAR, who comes up in class following her maiden win over 1300M back in December when making all. That was a win had been coming as she had made progress across all her starts so far and while she has been away for twelve weeks, from a nice draw and under a light weight, she can potentially lead all the way again. (9) GOHEUNG CLASS remains a maiden but comes up in class following a pair of runner-up finishes as well as a 3^rd at class 5 level. She might have won last time were it not for a slow start and despite this ostensibly being harder, there isn’t much to fear here, and she can measure up at a distance that may suit. (6) SKY JEJUHYANG overcame the widest gate on February 10^th to run 4^th over 1300M. She draws better here, can be on pace, and can go close. (1) STATICE was an improbable winner of that February 10^th race. Lightning may not strike twice but she does warrant more respect today and along with (10) WONDERFUL ANDOVER, the latter better than her latest two suggest and who trialled up somewhat smartly in February, can enter the calculations.

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(7) FANTASTIC DAY was a smart winner on debut over 1000M in December before finishing down the field in a lightning quick race over this class and distance on January 13^th. The way the track was playing that day suggests not too much should be read into that and he’s favoured to return to winning ways here. (5) SPECIAL WIND enters off a good 3^rd place at class and distance on February 3^rd only narrowly going down. He remains a maiden after nine attempts but is third-up this preparation and could be peaking today. The form drops off precipitously after those two so they will make for a very short-priced quinella. Something has to finish 3^rd though. (9) GOOD STAR carries top weight and mixes his form but based on his 4^th place two starts back, he looks well in this. (4) HWARANG ACE and (11) STAR CLASS others who can potentially improve off disappointing latest outings.

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Intriguing race in that (1) MAN OF THE YEAR, the winner of last season’s Busan Classic trial, returns to action for the first time since finishing back in the field in the KRA Cup Classic, the first leg of the Triple Crown, last April. He has had a variety of setbacks since then but trialled very well in December and while he is going to have to be taken on trust first-up, he could well win. A safer bet may be (2) HANEUL JILJU. She comes in off a narrow win at this class over 1400M on February 5^th when making all and comes back to a distance at which she has run fast times. She draws well and will be a big player here. (10) GOLDEN ran out a class and distance winner in a comically fast time on February 10^th. It was the kind of time that wins Korea Sprints and should be taken with a pinch of the proverbial but while he comes up a full 5.5kg in the weights, he should be kept safe. (12) MAN OF THE MAN and (4) ACHIM BIT among others who can enter the placing calculations.

Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 60 Million

Good race. (9) ATLAS is a progressive three-year-old filly who ran 3^rd in the Listed Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo last November and began her three-year-old campaign with a smart win over 1400M on January 27^th when settling midfield and running on well. She steps up to the Oaks distance today and under a still light weight, she can win again. The main danger is in the adjoining gate. (8) I WILL BE FREE was a class and distance winner on January 29^th, settling handy and running on. He comes up in the weights although an apprentice claim once more mitigates that and he has every chance of scoring again. (7) DAEHO NURI was the longest shot on the board when winning at class and distance on February 5^th, settling right back and running on. He only comes up 1kg in the weights and warrants more respect here. (10) B.J. CHIEF was 2^nd in that race and along with (1) SORI TAEPUNG is another to keep safe.

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

(8) JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG ran out a winner at this class over 1400M on January 29^th, settling midfield and running on strongly. Her only finish outside of the top-three so far was in the Breeders’ Cup champion juvenile race and up in trip today, she can continue on her winning way. (3) YEONGCHEON SOLEMIO is a winner at this class over 1800M. His latest two efforts have been indifferent. But an apprentice jockey brings the weight down significantly here and he can be given a chance. (2) SPEED YOUNG won the Breeders’ Cup at the start of December coming from off the pace to become champion juvenile, but was somewhat lacklustre on his first try at this trip on January 27^th. That’s enough to not make him favourite here but he still warrants another chance. (6) GALLANT WARRIOR and (1) KING BROTHER are others in the placing frame.

Author: Melissa