Korea Racing Busan Preview – 5 May

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(5) WONDERFUL APPEAL got her maiden win at start number six over this distance on April 9^th when sitting handy throughout and then finishing off well in a quick time. She comes up in class but carries a light weight and from a good gate, she can measure up in this company. (1) MONEY CASE comes back in trip following a couple of spins around a mile which included a runner-up finish two starts back. He can be on pace here and should benefit from the shorter distance. (2) GOHEUNG CLASS will need a line drawn through her latest when she was slowly away from a wide draw and finished well back over 1400M. She comes into a better gate today and with a better start, should be much closer. (7) DOCTOR KONGDOLI and (8) TAEWANG SINGI others who can enter the calculations.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(1) GOLDEN WAVE is yet to finish any worse than 3^rd in four career starts. Her win came at this distance in a quick time back in February at class 6 level when she led all the way, and she has more than held her own in two subsequent starts at this class. From a great draw, she should be on pace and can lead gate to wire once more. The main danger is in the adjoining gate. (2) HANEUL JEWANG overcame the widest draw to win at class and distance in March and then followed up with a decent 4^th, again drawn wide on April 2^nd. He carries 3kg more than when he won but that is balanced by coming into a batter barrier, and he can go close again. (6) SKY JEJUHYANG is yet to win in fourteen attempts but has plenty of near misses and Seo Seung-un climbing on will attract interest. (5) ROSE FIGHTER and (3) DAMYANGUISIN are others to keep safe.

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

(11) WORLD CLASS CAT remains a maiden after six attempts, but she has finished in the top-three in her latest five and looks to have as good a chance as any here. She has a strong finish on her so doesn’t need to lead and the step up to 1400M for the first time can be exactly what she needs. (1) ROAD TO GLORY got his maiden win with an all the way score over this distance on March 31^st. He comes up in class but draws very well and he can be competitive in this company. (2) PEGACORN is also up in class. He is still a maiden, but he has five top-four finishes to his name at the lower level including a runner-up at this distance. He comes down in weight, draws well, and should be in the mix again. (9) VEREUDA and (6) SKY MOUNTAIN others in the placing frame.

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

(3) HWANGU DAEJANGGUN is two for two having won both his outings to date in fine style at 1200M and 1300M. He comes rapidly up in class and slightly in distance too, but he should have too much for this field and can maintain his 100% record. The main danger is (7) GEUMA DEFT. He too comes up in class following a 2^nd and a 3^rd from his latest two, most recently behind Hwangu Daejanggun over 1300M on April 9^th. He has over five-lengths to make up, but he comes down a full 5kg in the weights and he can go close. (6) GLOBAL HIT only beat one home in Busan’s Classic Trial last month the margins weren’t huge and back in more amenable company and under a light weight, he comes into placing contention. (8) SAVAHA and (11) CHEONGHO BOSS are others who can be considered.

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

(5) YEOSU FIGHTER is a model of consistency and enters off the back of two runner-up finishes at this class over a mile and most recently this distance on April 7^th. Those were very narrow defeats – by half a length and a nose – and while he does come up 2kg in the weights, he looks ready to win again here. (3) INDIE BULPAE and (10) DEMON SPY finished 4^th and 5^th respectively behind Yeosu Fighter in that April 7^th race. The former led for much of the race and will be expected to again, while the latter can sit back and should finish well. Both should be aiming to improve on that last start. (8) DUBAI PYEONGJEONG comes up in class and distance but can be competitive while (6) LIGHT STORY is another to consider.

Busan Race 8: Class 1 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(5) DAEMANGUI GIL could only finish in the middle of the pack behind Raon The Fighter in last month’s Busan Ilbo Sprint, but he will be expected to return to form here. He has beaten plenty of these in recent appearances and the engagement of an apprentice jockey keeps his weight at a competitive level. He’ll be favourite. He does though have tree runner-up finishes on his recent record, all three times just leaving himself a little too much to do. If that happens again, (8) BUSANHANG GALMAEGI is one potential beneficiary. He returned to form last start with a smart 2^nd over 1200M and continuing under a light weight, can build on that here. (3) DOCTOR CAESAR comes up in class but is down significantly in the weights. He draws well to be on pace and can be in this a long way. (9) CHOEGANG SSONSAL and (6) GREAT BOSS among others in the hunt.

Author: Melissa