Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 9 April

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(1) GOLDEN WAVE will be a hot favourite. She’s yet to finish worse than 3^rd in three starts to date, with her in coming over this distance on February 10^th at class 6 level when she made all. She almost repeated the trick on her first try at this class over the same distance on March 10^th only to be caught in the final furlong and finish 3^rd. She carries pretty much the same weight, she draws the same gate, and this time they shouldn’t catch her. The second favourite will be the similarly named (10) GOLDEN POINT. He comes back in trip following two disappointing spins around 1400M, and while he is yet to win, he is head and shoulders over most of these in that he still has scope for improvement. It’s very hard to find any form after those two. (3) ANASTASIA lost her way but is second up following a seven-month absence and could potentially improve. (4) NICE DAY and (2) GLOBAL YEOSIN others who could finish in the money.

Seoul Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

(6) CAMINO comes back in trip after a couple of spins around 1700M the most recent of which saw him run a good 2^nd having led almost the entire way around. He ran a good time over this distance on debut and in this company, he should be on pace and potentially leading the entire way. (7) THUNDER BRAVO is yet to finish in the top-two but has only missed out on the top five on one occasion from six starts. He is another who should be on the speed or handy and can aiming for a best finish to date here. (8) CLAIR POWER ran 3^rd to Camino’s 2^nd when they raced each other at 1700M on March 11^th. He has the fastest time of any of those who have tackled the distance before and should be aiming to at least match that here. (1) FOUR ACE and (10) AREUMDAIN SAI are among others in the placing hunt.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(11) GEUMA DEFT got demoted to 2^nd in the stewards’ room on debut before putting things right on his second start in January. He came up to this class and distance on March 12^th and was beaten into 2^nd as favourite having worked hard to lead. He comes up in the weights and doesn’t draw ideally again, but he looks well worth another chance here. The main danger is the only one drawn wider in the shape of (12) HWANGU DAEJANGGUN. That shouldn’t be too much of a problem for hm though as he closed strongly to win on debut over 1200M on March 24^th. He comes up in class but down in the weights and he should measure up.  The rest will need an uptick in form. (3) DOCTOR PENTAGON was slowly away last start before running on for 6^th. He has posted decent times and from a good draw, can sit behind the speed and run on. (1) FASHION FORCE ONE and (7) THUNDER FURY are others who perhaps have a bit more ability than their latest couple suggest.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only here. (3) URUS QUEEN got her maiden win in fine style over this distance on March 5^th when she staked the leader in the early stages before taking command in the final furlong. She comes up in class here and slightly in weight, but she comes into a good gate, and she can repeat. (2) ILDONG BAKSU has raced four times and finished 3^rd four times. The most recent of those was her first try at this class over 1300M on March 12^th when she led for must of the way around. She should lead again and will surely be in it a long way once more. (1) LADY TAEPUNG Is another who comes up in class following a maiden win on her latest appearance, in her case over this distance on March 11^th. Her times have been nothing special so far, but she won that one handily enough and she can be competitive here. (6) ARGO GONGJU and (5) SONGAM ARCHGIRL are others to keep safe.

Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 75 Million

(8) MAHAMERU’s third win had been coming and it duly arrived on February 24^th when he settled right back and flashed home from well off the pace to score comfortably over a mile at this class. He comes up a full 4kg in the weights, but he looks ready to tackle two-turns again and he is the one to beat. (10) WONDERFUL WORLD has won over this distance at the lower levels and comes in off a strong 2^nd at this class and distance on March 12^th when she beat three of these having settled midfield and run on. Given her style, the draw won’t be a problem and she can continue her consistent run of form here. (11) GALLANT WARRIOR returned from five months out to run 2^nd to three-year-old Triple Crown contender Speed Young at class and distance on March 3^rd. He comes up 2.5kg in the weights here and draws a touch wider than ideal as he likes to get forward, but he can go close. (4) K K WON and (5) CHEONNYEONUIYAKSO among others in the placing hunt.

Seoul Race 6: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Competitive race but we’ll go with (1) G MOTION to get back to winning ways. He has had to deal with wide gates in his latest two but comes into a much better one today, as well as coming back in trip. He can sit just off the pace – or even lead – and today could be his day. (9) KKANGDORI enters in good form with a 4^th and a 2^nd from her latest two, most recently over this distance on March 12^th. She barely comes up in weight and should be running on strong again. (10) MAGLE DAY got his maiden win at this distance two starts back before finishing 5^th of nine on his first try at this class a month ago. He may need a touch of luck at the start but if he can get forward, he can go better today. (8) HIDDEN BRAIN and (7) FUN CRAZY among others who shouldn’t be completely dismissed.

Busan Race 6: Class 1 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

It’s hard to go past (8) HAPPY FEVER here. Having got right back, he ran on swiftly for 4^th place over 1200M on March 12^th and under an even lighter weight today and with an extra furlong to play with, he’s going to be very difficult to hold out. (5) PRO CONSUL has been on pace in both of his latest appearances at a mile and 1800M before weaking. Under today’s conditions he comes back down in the weights and the drop in trip makes him an interesting prospect here at potentially an each-way price. (7) DOCTOR FASHION and (6) ONNURI JILJU came home 4^th and 5^th respectively when they raced one another at class and distance back in February. Both should be in the placing frame here. (11) BUSANHANG GALMAEGI is perhaps a bit better than his recent form suggests and can be given another chance, despite the wide draw.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) TES GO DAEBO was narrowly beaten in 2^nd when sent off as favourite at class and distance on March 11^th.  He was second up that day having returned from eleven months out in February and this time he can be peaking fitness wise. He is up 2kg in the weights, but he draws well and should have too much. (2) WONDERFUL INDY has won his latest two, most recently at class and distance on March 4^th when sitting handy and proving too strong. He comes up a full 4.5kg in the weights but should be equal to the task and from a good draw can go well again. (4) RAON AMERICAN was a class 5 winner over 1300M two starts back before running 2^nd on his first try at this class and distance on March 12^th when settling midfield and running on. He too comes up slightly in the weights but should be close again. (3) SEONGSIL MONEY doesn’t exactly win out of turn but has a lot of experience at this level and can place in this company. The up in class but down in weight (10) LONDON SKY is another to take note of.

Seoul Race 8: Class Open (1800M) Donga Ilbo Trophy (Listed

The first leg of the Spring and Summer component of the Queens’ Tour for fillies and mares. (10) RAON FIRST is the best filly or mare in the country having run 3^rd in the Korea Sprint and then won the G1 President’s Cup. Those races were at 1200M and 2000M respectively showing her versatility and at her best she should be untouchable here. She does have the tendency to throw in the odd howler though as when she missed the kick on her only start of 2023 so far in the Segye Ilbo Trophy, ultimately finishing 3^rd behind worse horses.  That opens the door to (3) FLAT BABE, a big improver of late, who comes in having beaten Winner’s Man among others when scoring at Busan at class 1 level over this trip in February. She was getting plenty of weight that day, which she doesn’t benefit from here, but she seems in peak form. (1) SURE WIN is the only one who doesn’t get lumbered with 58kg – by virtue of being the only three-year-old in the race, she just has 52kg on her back. She draws well and has won two of her last three and can step up here. (5) IRON MUSKET and (4) CALM STRONG among other possibles.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1700M) Special Weight B / KRW 60 Million

This is a tricky race. Without much confidence we’ll side with (7) FAST TRACK to back up his win at this class over 1800M on March 11^th when he made all. He doesn’t need to lead although he should be too far away from the pace, and he can win again. He does come up 3kg in the weights though and that could let in the main danger (4) SWEET JUICE BAR. He has posted fast times for the distance and comes in following a solid 3^rd place over 1800M on February 26^th. He draws well and surely goes close again. (11) MORNING PRINCE had a hard time in the Sports Seoul Classic Trial three weeks ago when slowly away and never making ground. At the start prior to that though he won over this distance at class 5 level and warrants another chance here. (8) NONSTOP GISANG and (6) GLOBAL LUCKY among other money hopes.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1700M) Special Weight B / KRW 60 Million

(11) GLOBAL BOBAE came from off the pace to score well at this class over 1200M on February 25^th. He has only raced once at this trip before, finishing 5^th in a decent time at class 4 level, but his running style suggests that he is ready for another go, and neither the additional 2kg on his back or the wide draw should inconvenience him. (3) MUNHAK STORM comes in off a win over this distance on March 4^th when close to the pace all the way. He comes up in class here but drops a full 4.5kg and draws well. He should be in the hunt. We can draw a line through the latest from (8) LAST PUNCH over 1800M. Back down in trip, he should be a very different prospect today. (7) GREAT THUNDER is another up in class but down in weight and may make for some each-way value. (5) GRACE QUEEN another in the frame.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(4) RAON TAP MAN is going to be a warm favourite here. He beat most of these when winning at class and distance back in December before running 3^rd over 1400M in February when leading until the closing stages. Today’s conditions enable him to carry a light weight and he draws very well to lead all the way again. (2) JANGSAN CLEAR returns to action for the first time in almost eleven months. He was a winner of five from nine before the layoff and looked very well when winning a March trial. This is his first class 1, and he will obviously need the race, but he is nicely weighted and well-drawn, so a bold showing is possible. The weight is a concern for (5) EAST JET but this is the kind of company the former Group winner can be competitive in. (9) CLEAN UP HAPPY and (3) IRON SOCKS others to look out for.