Korea Racing Busan Preview – 24 February

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

(3) HANGANG SAVER is the one to beat here. His win came at this distance three starts back when making all and he enters having run a good 4^th in a fast time at this class on January 13^th. From a nice draw he can get an early lead and he may take some getting past. (11) MY MANTRA was an all the way winner on January 29^th having previously run 2^nd. She comes up in class here and while she draws a touch wide for comfort, her early speed can see her to a good position and she has every chance of measuring up at this level. The wildcard is (2) CUTE GUY. He raced three times between March and June last year finishing no worse than 4^th and secured a class 6 win over 1400M. He has been out for seven months but looked well when trialling up at the end of January and a bold first-up showing is possible. (1) JEONGMUN COBIT needs a line drawn through his latest in December but has placed at class and distance and can be given another chance here. (5) CHEONHA NUMBER ONE another in the placing frame.

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Tricky race. (10) TAP STAR returned from almost six months out to run 3^rd in a fast race over 1200M on January 13^th. He should have derived benefit from that run and he doesn’t need to lead so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem. This is his first time tackling 1400M but Seo Seung-un remains aboard and he has every chance. (1) SPECIAL HERO enters off a very close 4^th place in what was a tight finish over 1300M at this class on February 3^rd. That was an uptick on her recent form but she draws the same good gate today and continues under a light weight. Speaking of light weights, an apprentice claim enables (2) RUBY STORM to come down a full 5kg from his latest effort, which was an unsuccessful tilt at 1800M on January 27^th when weakening in the straight. Prior to that he recorded back-to-back 3^rd places over this trip and today should be much more to his liking. (7) CHEONMA HASEO has won just once in thirty-eight starts but he knows how to pick up a cheque at this level and will be running on late. (8) DOCTOR PENTAGON among plenty of others capable of challenging for minor money.

Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1600M) Special Weight B / KRW 40 Million

Anything could win this. (4) ARTHUR KING IJI is actually yet to win, but comes up in class following some near misses, most recently over this distance when leading on February 3^rd. He draws nicely to be on pace again and despite the class rise, he looks a winning chance here. (12) BARAMBARAM was an also-ran in the Breeders’ Cup Champion Juvenile race last December and comes in having run 5^th of twelve on his latest start which was his first at a mile. The time was fair, and his racing style means the wide draw shouldn’t be an issue. The trainer/jockey combination may mean he starts as favourite. His stablemate (7) WONDERFUL FILE hinted at a return to form when 5^th over 1800M last time out. She looks nicely in here and could offer some value at a probable each-way price. (11) ADELE ALLIE’S and (9) ROCK AND ROLL among others in the frame.

Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Another very competitive race. (5) MAHAMERU comes up in class on the back of two consecutive runner-up finishes, both times behind decent winners and both times at this distance. He likes to settle back and run on and under a light weight once more, there is little to fear in this company. (12) CATCH THE SKY won’t mind the widest draw. He has a strong finish on him and comes back in trip after recent mixed performances over 1800M. He has a fast time on his record over the mile and he comes down in the weights today. (1) UNJU HERO comes back down in class following an unsuccessful shy at the class 2 stumps. While that means coming back up in weight, Seo Seung-un returns and he should be a big player here. (6) RAON THE FIGHTING and (9) SEONGSIL SIHWA among others to keep safe.

Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) STAR MATTA will be a warm favourite here. He was a class and distance winner two starts back in a very fast time when on pace throughout before showing his versatility by settling back from a wide draw on February 5^th and running 3^rd, again at class and distance. On both occasions he beat plenty of todays rivals and with an apprentice claiming 4kg, he is very much the one to beat here. (2) HORAENGI is becoming a notorious non-winner but he has finished in the top-four on no fewer than thirteen of his sixteen starts. That win may prove elusive once more but he has beaten a few of these in recent outings and another placing seems likely. (10) HAPPY JAZZ comes up in class after a good win over this distance on January 27^th . She is nicely weighted here and aside from the favourite two, there is little to fear here. Form drops off precipitously after those three with (7) ADELE BOSS and (12) ALL CROWN perhaps the next best.

Busan Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

Another competitive race to conclude the card. (7) GLORY KING hasn’t won since he was a three-year-old, missing the first half of last year and coming through class 4 without a win but with a number of near-misses. Those near misses continued on his first try at this class on January 13^th when overcoming a wide draw to race handy and only be very narrowly beaten into 2^nd. A similar run here may well see him home on top. It’s been a long time between drinks too for (1) ONE PICK. With an apprentice claim he is down 3kg on his last start 3^rd place over 1400M and while his style is to settle back and run on, from the inside gate he may be a little closer today and should a threat at the business end of the race. (8) YEONGGWANGUILEGEND had a poor day at the office last time out and is worth another chance here. (10) GOOD TANK impressed in a trial two weeks ago and if he brings that form to the races, can be considered. (5) HWARANG BEST, who beat both One Pick and Yeonggwanguilegend on January 29^th comes up 2kg in the weights but warrants respect.

Author: Melissa