Korea Racing Busan Preview – 19 April

Friday April 19, 2024

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Maidens in the opener with five of the twelve racing for the first time. We’ll take a chance on one of those. (1) QUEEN OF DRAGON went through two trials in March and April, settling midfield in both and running on well to cross the line 4^th in both in good times. She draws nicely, the 1200M can suit first-up, and if she brings her trial form to the races, she’ll be close. Among the experience, (12) KING DRAGON. He ran an on-pace 5^th on debut over this distance on March 15^th and while he was a fair bit behind the first-three, he should have come on for that run and can be closer here. (9) SHINING MORNING enters off a 3^rd place over 1300M last time out, her bets in six attempts so far. That’s enough to put her in the frame here. (2) GOLDEN NICE and (3) THE GREY MAN other potential improvers.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only in this maiden. (2) SKY ARCH has shown improvement across eight starts so far, and she comes in off her best when 2^nd over this distance on April 5^th when settling midfield and running on. She is third-up this preparation and from a good draw, she can go one better here. (5) HYPER FORCE improved to 3^rd at start number two over this distance on March 1^st when racing handy. She looks to have scope for more development and has posted the fastest time of any of these for the 1400M. (7) UNJU LEGEND enters off back-to-back 3^rd place finishes at a mile. An apprentice keeps her weight low, and she should be in the mix again. (9) DIA GRIT and (4) HAERANG JINJU others in the hunt.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(7) BLUE POINT has quite the name to live up to, but he looks to be figuring things out following a much-improved 2^nd place when stepped up to this distance at start number three on March 17^th. There isn’t much speed in this race so he should get a nice run to the front, and he can win here. The danger is (6) GREAT BOY. He made his first four starts last year recording a best of 4^th but was then off from October until re-appearing on March 15^th. The break seemed to do him some good as he was an improved 2^nd on return at 1300M and can be expected to strip fitter here. (3) MY WAY leaves himself too much to do but may appreciate the step up to the mile for the first time, while (5) NANGMAN DAERO has finished 4^th on each of his last four starts and could well do so again. (9) NEVERSTOP HEEMANG another to consider for the minors.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(8) HUNTER DRAGON remains a maiden but comes up to this class following back-to-back runner-up finishes in his latest two, both over a mile and both times racing on pace. He comes down in the weights, the step up in trip can suit, and he has every chance of getting off the mark here at what is only his fourth career start.  (6) NALA beat three of these on her way to a close 2^nd at big odds over a mile on March 22^nd when overcoming the widest gate and flying home late. She’ll be at least an each-way price again and could provide some interest. (3) TOP FRIEND ran 5^th in that March 22^nd race having raced on pace. He is a twenty-start maiden but has five 2^nd place finishes and should be in the mix here. (9) STREET ROCK and (5) QUEEN OF JOY others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(7) CAPTAIN DIA came up to this class on March 15^th and got his maiden win over this distance when settling handy and taking things up turning for home. He comes up a full 4kg in the weights here, but the field isn’t intimidating, and he can go back-to-back. (1) GWANGYAEUIHAMSUNG and (2) CHEONHA SARANG both come up in class having finished 1^st and 2^nd when racing one another over 1400M on March 2^nd. They both come down in the weights and from good draws, both have claims to measure up in this company. (10) GRAY BOSS is also up in class off the back of his maiden win over 1400M on March 15^th. That win had been coming and he should be a danger late here. (9) SHINE FOREST among other placing chances.

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

Competitive race. (1) RAP VERSA beat a couple of these on his way to 3^rd place at this distance on March 22^nd when settling back before finishing off pleasingly. That followed a 2^nd place at his previous star and from a good draw and with Tanaka climbing on, he can win. (7) BORN DIA is a danger. She returned from four months off to lead every step of the way over this distance on March 22^nd to win in a quick time. She comes up in class here but is lightly weighted and she won’t need to improve much on that to go very close here. (8) CAPTAIN COMMAND was 5^th behind Rap Versa in that March 22^nd race. He has been very consistent, only missing the top-five on one occasion from ten starts, and he can be close again. (9) HAMPYEONG MAN and (2) TAEWANG SINGI are among plenty of other placing chances.

Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(10) DOCTOR BROWN enters having led all the way to win at this class over 1400M on March 31^st. He comes up a full 4kg in the weights and he draws a touch wider than ideal, but if he gets a bit of luck at the start and finds a forward position, he has every chance of backing up. (4) YEONGGWANGUI ACE is a bit of a wildcard. He is up in class on his return to action following almost a year out, but he looked an excellent prospect before the layoff. He trialled up very nicely in March and under a feather weight, he could well win first-up. But wait, there are more wildcards. (6) BLACK OLIVE won her first four races on the spin in 2022 and got entered in the Korea Sprint. She didn’t run in that, or in anything for that matter, since. She is now six, and eighty-nine weeks after her last start, she returns here. She trialled fairly in March, and anything could happen. (3) SPECIAL HERO and (8) HONOR CAL others to keep safe.

Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(10) ZETTA DREAM will be a warm favourite in the last. He comes in having beaten three of these on his way to 3^rd place at class and distance on March 22^nd having raced close to the pace throughout. A two-time winner over 1800M already, an apprentice jockey claiming 2kg means he doesn’t come up in the weights and he should win this. (9) SOUTHERN SUPERONE had his second consecutive poor day at the office last time out over a mile. He comes up even further in trip today, but there is talent there and he can go close. (1) ARCTURUS took a shy at the class 2 stumps last time out and showed on pace before weakening over 2000M. This looks a more suitable assignment, and he draws nicely. (12) RAON THE POWER and (7) GREAT ONE among others in the hunt.

Author: Melissa