Korea Racing Busan Previews – 6 January

Busan Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

It’s about time that (11) HWANGU FIGHTER broke through. He has raced five times finishing between 2^nd and 4^th on each occasion. His latest was his best when on November 25^th he ran out a very close 2^nd over 1200M having settled to the front of midfield and then run on. Any kind of top three finish will see him in class 5 next time and the step up to 1400M may be just what he needs to do it with a win. The main danger is probably (2) B. K. HUNTER.  He enters off a solid 3^rd place over 1300M in November when settling right at the back of the field and then running on well. The 1400M can suit and he should be close. (4) WISE BOY has mixed his form to date, but he comes into a good gate today, has Franco climbing aboard, and he is another who can appreciate the slight step it up to 1400M. (1) QUEEN ROMANCE and (10) ECTON POWER are among others who can enter the calculations.

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

Having finished up his juvenile season with 3^rd place in the Listed Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy before running a creditable 6^th of fourteen in the G2 Breeders’ Cup, it will be hard to go past (6) WORLD LEGEND here. His maiden win over 1200M was a dominant one and he has already proven he can compete at today’s distance. He’ll be going higher than this level. (1) BRAVO HAMYANG is yet to win but has five top-four finishes from seven starts. He was drawn wide over a mile in his latest outing and didn’t feature but back in trip, down in weight and into a better gate, he can be competitive here. (7) BUDDY BUDDY ran 5^th behind World Legend in the Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy. This is his first start since and just his fourth in total, and he can be in the mix today. (4) ADELE STELLA and the ultra-consistent but still yet to win (3) TITAN K are others to be considered.

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

Having won a trial, (5) GOLD CHEONSA was sent off as favourite on debut over 1000M on December 9^th. She duly obliged racing on pace throughout and scoring by a handy margin. She comes up in class and in distance here but should be able to overcome both and maintain her 100% record. (7) SSAEKSSAEGI is the logical second pick. He got his maiden win over 1200M two starts back settling handy and running on, before finishing 3^rd over that same trip on his first try at this level in November.  He comes in fresh off nine weeks rest, has an apprentice keeping the weight nice and low, and he should go close. (9) BAEK GU doesn’t exactly win out of turn – she wouldn’t be class 5 still if she did – but she is consistent. She was a beaten favourite at class and distance last time but Franco hops on today and she can be given another chance. (6) SAVAHA and the up in class (3) DAMYANGUISIN among others in the picture.

Busan Race 7: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (5) GOLDEN PLUS was an all the way winner on debut over 1000M on November 25^th fighting it out with Special Road a long way ahead of the rest. Special Road has since got her own maiden win and while Golden Plus is up in both class and distance today, she will be hot favourite to make it two in a row. Also one for one is (9) BREAD HIT. She too led all the way around on debut on November 4^th and while the time wasn’t quick, the margin was big. An apprentice meant she carried very little that day, but she isn’t overburdened today either and she can measure up. Several of these raced each other at class and distance on December 2^nd. (12) USEUNG YEOGEOL was the on-pace winner of that race and while she doesn’t draw favourably here, an apprentice keeps the weight light, and she warrants respect. That day’s pre-race favourite was (6) GAMDONG ENERGY. She too raced on the speed ultimately finishing 2^nd and also has an apprentice employed today. She can go close. (11) HONOR QUEEN among others in the hunt.

Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) CAPTAIN GOLD has just the one win to his name, but he is yet to finish outside the top-four in six starts. That 4^th was last time out on December 18^th over a mile when he led before being passed in the closing stages. He comes back in trip, is down in weight and he should take some beating. (1) HANSEN COD GIRL comes up in class having led all the way over 1300M on December 16^th.  Her only disappointing run so far came in the Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo Trophy and under a light weight and a good gate, she can measure up in this company. (2) KENDRICK had a dismal Christmas Day at the office when sent off as favourite at class and distance. He was going very nicely prior to that though and has posted fast times at the distance and is worth another chance today. (5) SANGIM YEOWANG and (6) B. K. NEW MOON among others in the hunt.

Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million

A winner on debut, (12) BETELGEUSE was 5^th of eight in the Rookie Stakes at start number two before proceeding to win his next three including, unusually for a two-year-old, twice over 1800M. He begins his three-year-old campaign as a Derby contender and while this should provide a stern test given the wide gate and short run to the turn, he can make it four in a row here. (6) STAR EYE was slowly away on his latest start and was then never a factor in a crowded field over this distance on December 18^th. He is better than that though and was a very good winner at this level over a mile in November. (7) TRIUMPH KING and (10) HANEUL JEONSA should both be going close while (5) GIJEOGUI JEOKTOMA rounded out 2022 by beating a couple of these on his way to a class and distance 2^nd on December 2^nd. Vastly experienced at this level, he can run a good race again.

Busan Race 10: Class 4 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

(2) I WILL THE STAR ran 2^nd on debut in September and has since won back-to-back races in quick times at 1000M and 1200M, making all on both occasions, to get rapidly promoted to this level. He also comes up significantly in trip but there is no reason to suggest that it can’t suit, and he can win again. Punters didn’t think that (6) JUMAL BOBAE would measure up after winning at class 5 in November, sending him off at big odds for his first try at this class over 1400M on December 16^th. He proved us thoroughly wrong though, winning well and while he comes up in the weights this time, can go close again. (12) WORLD FOUR A ran 2^nd in that race, handy throughout and briefly leading late on. He too comes up in weight and has the challenge of the wide gate but can still be competitive. (5) DIXIE BAND and (3) YONGGARI among others in the hunt.

Author: Melissa