Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 29 January

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Tricky race. We’ll take a chance on (9) WITH SUN, who was a strong winner on debut over 1200M in November when coming from off the pace before running 4^th in a slow race over this distance on his first try at this level. The wide draw shouldn’t be an issue and today there should be a bit more early speed to chase down. The probable favourite is (2) BACKTOTHELEGEND. He overcame the widest gate to get on pace over 1200M on Christmas Day and ultimately went on to win well. He is up in class and in distance here but draws much better and has solid claims. (3) BYEOLGYOUI KKUM was an all the way winner at start number two over 1200M on Christmas Day. He too comes up in class and distance but draws well to get on the speed again and should be in this a long way. (11) ALL OR NOTHING ran out an eye-catching winner on debut in December. It was at 1000M, but he can measure up here. (1) FASHION FORCE ONE another in the frame.

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

Fillies (and two mares) here. There is very little to choose between the top two, both up in class following maiden wins. The coin toss comes down on the side of (3) WONDERFUL SLEW, who came from off the pace on debut over 1200M on December 18^th to just get up to for the win. She comes up in trip here, but it can suit, and she can win. That’s true too for (5) JEOMSUNI GO. She was slowly away on debut over 1000M before rattling home late for a desperately near miss. She then took a very tight victory second-up at 1200M on Christmas Eve. She too comes up in class and distance and there is very little between them. If you fancy them both to get beat, then (11) GREENBACK maybe the place to turn. She has plenty of experience of this level and enters in consistent form. The draw isn’t ideal but with a touch of luck at the start, she can run on. (7) TOUR QUEEN and (6) DUSON CLASSIC, who was slowly away last time but should be on pace here, are others to consider.

Busan Race 4: Class 4 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

(10) EUNSEONG WINNER ran out a strong winner at class and distance on December 23^rd, settling just behind the early speed before taking things up at the top of the stretch and winning well. A word of caution in that she was found to have bled for the first time but she came through the mandatory trial earlier this month without issue. (8) ARCTURUS was 4^th in that same race having led for much of the way in what was his first try at two turns. He has won well at a mile and can be a danger today. (6) HORAENGI is yet to win in fifteen attempts but has no fewer than twelve top five finishes including on her last start on Christmas Day when she came from well off the pace to run a close 2^nd over a mile. She comes up in class here but is nicely weighted and has placed more than once at this distance already. (2) I WILL BE FREE and the rapidly up in class having won his latest two (1) MACH WONDER, are among plenty of others to consider.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1700M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(1) WONDERFUL JOY was a class and distance winner two starts back when handy throughout and running on well. He couldn’t repeat the trick when he struggled to find a position from the widest gate on his return on December 18^th but gets much better luck with the draw today and he is the one to beat. (3) BLACK CHARM beat Wonderful Joy on his way to his second consecutive 4^th place finish in that December 18^th race. The step back up to 1700M seemed to suit and he can build on that today. (2) FEDERAL KING was a disappointing 9^th in that same race but the start before was runner up to Wonderful Joy at class and distance. He draws well and so long as he doesn’t get too far back can be competitive here. (5) GEUMA FIERY and (4) REAL PACK, who beat plenty of these when 2^nd at class and distance last time out, are among others in at least the placing frame.

Busan Race 5: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

As a juvenile last term, (12) JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG ran 2^nd in the Listed Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy before finishing midfield in the G2 Breeders’ Cup. That was her only finish to date outside the top two and she has won well at this distance at class 4 level. The draw is not ideal, but she carries a light weight, and she can win. The primary danger is (7) YEONGGWANGUILEGEND is another ultra-consistent type, only missing the top three in one of nine outings. He comes in off back-to-back 3^rd places at class and distance but draws better than both of those today and he will be vying for favourite status here. (3) ONE PICK beat Yeonggwanguilegend on his way to 2^nd place at class and distance on December 16^th. He comes up a couple kilograms in the weights but can go close again. (6) KF ONE and the up in class (8) HWARANG BEST, a winner over a mile last time out, are others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 6: Class 4 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Competitive race. (6) FARCIARZ has been ultra-impressive in his latest two outings, racking up wins of eleven-lengths over 1200M at class 6 level and by six-lengths over 1300M at class 5 level, the latter when settling back and running on from a wide draw. He comes up in class and in trip, but a hat-trick of wins is a distinct possibility. The big danger – and possible betting favourite – is (8) NUT PLAY. He ran out a super winner when stepped up to this distance in a valuable race on December 18^th, going right back and then romping through the field in the home straight. He drew gate one that day but plenty of those inside him will be looking to get on the speed so another easy ground saving run is possible, and he can win again.  (1) TOHO SKY came from well off the pace to win at class 5 level on December 18^th over 1300M. He has been a bit all of nothing across five starts so far but can be taken seriously here. (9) GREEN SPARK, who is seeking a hat-trick of wins, and (5) ICE STAR among other contenders in which all will feel they have a shot at a place.

Busan Race 6: Class 1 (2200M) Allowance / KRW 110 Million

A rare use of Busan’s current longest distance with all but one trying the distance for the first time. The hot favourite has gone further though as (2) TUHONUI BANSEOK was a super 3^rd in the Grand Prix Stakes over 2300M at Seoul on December 11^th rapidly gaining ground on the two best horses in Korea, Winner’s Man and Raon The Fighter at level weights. Previously he was 3^rd in the KRA Cup Classic and he can get what could be a big year for him off to a successful start here. (1) FLAT BABE ran 2^nd to Raon The Spurt in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup over 2000M in November before winning over that same distance at class 2 level three weeks later. This is her first try at class 1 but she is very nicely weighted and the distance seems ideal for her. (4) MACH TITAN was last across the line in the Grand Prix but got it out of his system by making a quick return and running 2^nd at class 1 over 2000M on Christmas Day in a race featuring a lot of today’s rivals. He should go close gain. (7) BLUE POWER, the winner of that Christmas Day race, and Tuhonui Banseok’s stablemate (8) JESSIEUI KKUM, are others to consider.

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

Competitive race. (9) BEST TORCH returned from eight months out on Christmas Eve to run midfield at this class and distance, behind a couple of today’s rivals. Before her layoff she had run a super time at the distance and got a start in the Luna Stakes, the first leg of the Triple Tiara. She should strip fitter for her return last month and can be in the mix here. (8) ICE CREAM was n all the way winner at start number two over 1000M on December 11^th. She comes up in class and in distance here but can measure up. (7) LONDON SKY was 2^nd, ahead of Best Torch, in that race on Christmas Eve, coming from well off the pace. He can mix his form but with a similar run will be right in with a winning chance here. (10) STILL PLAY and (11) GLOBAL POWER are among others with serious chances.

Seoul Race 8: Class Open (1200M) Segye Ilbo Trophy (KOR-Listed) Allowance / KRW 300 Million

(4) RAON THE SPURT is an up and comer who while bested in the Triple Tiara, finished her three-year-old season strongly with a win in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup over 2000M. Of perhaps more relevance here is her performances over shorter distances including runner-up in the Jeju Governor’s Cup at 1400M and victory in the Singapore Turf Club Trophy at this distance in a very fast time. Still seemingly on an upward trajectory, she draws well and can win. To do that, she will need to beat her stablemate and Korea’s current best mare (1) RAON FIRST. She is the defending champion and sensationally ran 3^rd in the international Korea Sprint at this distance in September and then went up to 2000M to win the President’s Cup in November. She had a hard race when a creditable 6^th on the Grand Prix Stakes in December at 2300M but she generally copes with whatever task is assigned here and a repeat win is possible. Another mare, Jeju Governor’s Cup winner (2) WISH ME is next best.  She won the Jeju Governor’s Cup over 1400M in a track record time and was 2^nd to Raon The Spurt in the Singapore Turf Club Trophy at this distance. She usually has bad luck with the barrier draw but gets a great gate today and she could win. The filly and the two mares will be at the top of the market but don’t rule out good runs from (12) DAEHAN JILJU, 4^th in the Korea Sprint, as well as the venerable (8) EAST JET.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1800M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

A very open race with plenty of winning chances. We’ll go with (10) NAMSAN HORANGI, who beat three of these on his way to 2^nd place behind Tiz Barows on December 18^th when settling back and then running on. He comes up a couple of kilograms in the weight but won under the same impost two starts back at class 5 level. (5) NANOMETA is yet to win in four starts but as a juvenile last November, ran 3^rd in the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy before following up with 2^nd in the G2 Breeders’ Cup at Busan when he came from right off the pace. He steps up to two turns for the first time and can announce himself as a Classic contender here. He will probably be favourite. (3) NONSTOP GISANG overcame gate fourteen to run 3^rd behind Namsan Horangi in that December 18^th race. He draws much better today and can be a threat again. (8) GUKDAE CLASS, up in trip and up in the weights as seeks a furth consecutive win, and (1) WORLD RACER are among others in contention in a really good race.

Seoul Race 10: Class 2 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(11) MIGHTY POP was a good winner over this distance at class 3 level two starts back before running 2^nd, ahead of three of today’s rivals, on his first try at class 2 on December 17^th. The draw isn’t as kind this time but under today’s handicap conditions, he is nicely in and can win. (7) ASPEN TAEYANG has had setbacks but is a winner of four from eight and comes up in class to tackle two turns for the first tie. He comes down significantly in the weights, draws well and can be a danger. (9) SPRING KING was the narrow winner of a valuable race over this distance on December 18^th when on pace throughout. This is harder but he comes down 4kg in weight and can measure up. (3) LOVELY K was a somewhat unexpected class and distance winner at the end of November when leading all the way. She has a great draw again and can be in this a long way. (2) NORTHERN TIME another who can enter the calculations.

Seoul Race 11: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Another really open race to conclude with. (7) RAON THE ARIA comes in having been upset by longshot Geumjayu at class and distance in November, but she remains nicely weighted and is a three-time winner at the distance. She has every chance here. So too does (10) COSMO, who comes in looking for a third straight win. His latest was at this class and distance on December 10^th when he led throughout and while the draw isn’t quite as good today, the engagement of an apprentice jockey keeps hi carried weight nice and low and he is a big danger. (5) JILJU BORN comes up in class following a smart win at this distance when making all on Christmas Eve. He has the fastest time of any of these for the distance and is down in weight and nicely drawn. (9) SINUI ADEUL and (3) MAGIC JUNIOR are among others to consider in a race of many chances.

Author: Melissa