Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 26 February

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

Fillies and mares only and (5) THUNDER FURY looks to be the one to beat here. She’s only finished outside the top-four on one occasion and enters off a close runner-up finish in a very similar race over class and distance on January 27^th when settling midfield and running on well. She draws nicely here to stalk the early leaders and can prove too strong. (1) GRAPHENE RAP WORLD had a poor day at the office in the same race when showing prominently early before weakening. Her form before that was good and she may have come on for what was her first try at tis distance and from the inside gate she can lead again and stay in it longer. (7) DOCTOR TIFFANY was a good winner over 1000M on debut in January before being stepped up to a mile for her first try at this class on February 5^th. She showed at the front but ultimately finished 6^th and may find today’s assignment more suitable. (6) WORLD CLASS CAT and (3) DOCTOR KONGSUNI other place chances.

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

A competitive race. (4) JILJU DAESE ran 2^nd on debut before getting her maiden win at start number two over this distance at the end of last October. She hasn’t raced since but looked well enough when not asked to do too much in a trial last week. She is up in class from since we last saw her but has every chance of making a big impact first up here. (7) LONDON SKY come sin off a 2^nd and a 4^th place both at this class and both at 1200M. He likes to settle back and run on and with Lim Gi-won climbing aboard today, he will have plenty of backers. (1) ROCK IMPACT comes up in class after a good win over this distance on January 28^th when coming from off the pace. He comes down 2kg in the weights, draws well, and can measure up in this company. (6) HUIMANG CHAMP and up in class (12) SAINT LUCCA among others to keep safe.

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

After a string of near-misses, (1) BLUE ICON got her maiden win at the sixth time of asking over 1300M on January 27^th when on pace throughout. She comes up in class here but this isn’t the most taxing of class 4 races, she comes down in the weights, draws well and can win again. (3) I LOVE HANSEN mixes his form but was an all the way winner over 1400M on December 4^th at class 5 level before weakening on his first try at this class, again over class 4 behind a couple of these on January 27^th. He is worth another chance here at a probable each-way price. (10) ILBEONJI comes in off a 4^th place from a wide over 1200M at this class on January 27^th when running 4^th. She comes down significantly in the weights with an apprentice aboard and third-up this preparation, she can be peaking fitness wise. (11) YOUNG BOSS and (6) SEOBU TEUKGEUP among others with solid placing chances

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

He needs a line drawn through his latest effort on January 15^th, but (2) LUCKY POWER is probably worth another chance in this company. He ran creditably in a Listed race for juveniles last October and has placed at this class over 1300M. He draws a much better gate today than he did last time out which should allow him to get a more forward position earlier and he looks the one to beat. (7) UCHEONGRYUNG got his maiden win two starts back over 1200M before running a solid 4^th at this class and distance on January 28^th when as is his style, he settled back and ran on. He has really been figuring things out in recent starts and should go close again today. (12) GORGEOUS SERVE is a class and distance winner and while her latest two have been disappointing, she warrants respect. (1) GOMANARU races for the first time since December and an indifferent spin around a mile. He is yet to win but has run times that should be competitive at this level, and he comes down in weight and draws well. Up in class (9) MISS WIN STAR can aim for minor money.

Busan Race 5: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) RUNNING POWER is rapidly up in class following a runner-up finish on debut and then back-to-back wins at 1000M and 1200M, when on pace in all three and most recently making all. He comes up in trip but is down in the weights, should be on pace, and can make it three in a row here. The main danger is (4) BURUICHUKJE. She is yet to finish any worse than 3^rd from four starts, which is where she finished on her latest appearance on January 27^th when after breaking right at the rear of the field, she ran on strongly. She too tackles the distance for the first time but her win came at 1300M and she will surely go close again here. (2) KENDRICK is better than his latest two efforts suggest. He draws well, is nicely weighted, and can return to form here. (6) ARCTURUS and (11) JATNAMUGIL the other logical place chances.

Seoul Race 6: Class 3 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(6) SKY MANGCHI is the one to beat here. He returned from five months out to run a close 4^th in a fast race over this distance on January 14^th despite being lowly away and sitting at the back for most of the race. He should strip fitter for that run and from a good draw can be on or close to the pace this time and return to winning ways. (5) ROYAL ELVIS is two starts into a comeback following seven months out. He hasn’t quickened in his latest two but in this company looks worth another chance. (2) PANORAMA KHAN won back-to-back races over this distance at class 4 level last April and May to get promoted to this class. He hasn’t raced since but performed solidly in a trial at the end of January, and while he will need this, he draws well and carries a light weight and could make an immediate impact. (3) SIMON QUEEN and (7) J. S. GUNJU others with at least minor money hopes.

Busan Race 6: Class 1 (1800M) Special Weight A / KRW 110 Million

(11) WINNER’S MAN won the Korea Cup and the Grand Prix Stakes and enters his five-year-old season as the highest rated horse in the country.  He carries 60kg here and he draws quite wide but he has proven that he can win from anywhere. He will take some beating. (4) TUHONUI BANSEOK was rapidly closing on Winner’s Man and Raon The Fighter at the end of the 2300M Grand Prix which led him to be sent off as favourite when many of these met back at Busan over 2200M on January 29^th. It didn’t quite happen for him that day as he finished 3^rd but he looks to be a talent with more to come and he can be a factor here. Of those who went in that January 29^th race, (2) FLAT BABE came out the best in 2^nd a finish she also achieved in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup at 2000M last November. She has a great finish on her and under a light weight can be finishing strongly. She gets 8kg from Winner’s Man. (7) CRAZY CONTI and (9) ALIVE CAPTAIN other placing contenders.

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

Small but competitive field here. (6) NAMSAN HORANGI came from off the pace to win at class and distance on January 29^th having settled back from a wide draw. It was a slow race but he has run faster and while he carries his fair share of weight here, a repeat is not impossible. (2) LUCKY SUN may start as the favourite. He finished in midfield in the Breeders’ Cup champion juvenile race over 1400M in December before returning to Seoul to run 2^nd over that same trip on January 14^th when settling midfield and running on. He comes up 3kg in the weights and stretches out to two turns for the first time but looks to have plenty of scope for further development. (7) HANGANG DOLPUNG took a while to get on the board but has won two of his last three including last start at this class over a mile. He too comes up to two turns for the first time and it may suit. (5) CUPID WARRIOR, rapidly up in class and significantly up in trip is the wild card, while (4) SWEET JUICE BAR is another to keep safe.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

If Park Tae-jong hasn’t reached 2,200 winners by this time of the weekend, he should do it here. (1) HANGANG BOSS enters off back-to-back 4^th place finishes over 1400M and 1800M, first coming from off the pace and then leading. They split the difference in terms of distance today and from the inside gate he can get the shortest run to the first corner and lead all the way. (9) THE REAPER beat Hangang Boss three starts back when they raced at 1400M. On his most recent appearance on February 4^th, he was a good 2^nd, again at 1400M having raced handy throughout and he can be a danger here. The wide draw should suit (10) YEONGUNG DAEMA who can take an early sit and finish strongly. He is up in class here along with (4) CUPID KOREA after the latter scored over 1400M on January 28^th. The distance and big weight swing may suit Yeongung Daema more. (3) FLYING ATHENA another in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 9: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Fillies (and one mare) only here and two standouts, both maidens. (2) DUSON CLASSIC comes in after her fourth 3^rd place finish in seven starts, achieved at this class over 1300M on January 29^th when settling handy and staying there. She comes back in trip, draws well, and has as good a chance as any. (3) GEUMA ALLURE led until part way down the straight over 1400M on February 4^th, ultimately finishing 5^th. She too has four 3^rd place finishes, has run consistent times, and should appreciate the drop back in trip today. If you prefer those who have eon already then (4) SEONGSILGONGJUPINK may be the one. After an all the way win at start number two, she has been racing in toucher company than this and down slightly in the weights she can go closer today. She has the fastest time of any here for the distance. (6) K N OLD QUEEN and (8) ARCH MEMORY others in the placing frame.

Seoul Race 10: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(1) GEOSEN DOLPUNG comes in off an on-pace 3^rd in a fast time at class and distance on January 14^th (granted, we have spent all weekend noting how fast the track was that day as many are resuming). A class and distance winner already, he carries his fair share of weight here but is the one to beat from a great draw. (12) MAGIC GRACE doesn’t get a great draw but she does get an apprentice claim and has been getting closer to another win in recent starts, culminating in a 2^nd place at class and distance on January 7^th. With a bit of luck at the start here, she can go close. (4) VYING BLADE didn’t play much of a role when resuming after five months off at the end of January . He had previously been competitive at class and distance and should strip fitter from a better gate. (10) CUPID JUMBO and (5) AMAZON KING among others with placing hopes.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

Korea Sprint winner (9) EOMA EOMA makes his seasonal debut here. In his one start since winning that international race at the beginning of September he won the Listed Kookje Shinmun Trophy at Busan on October 30^th but was made to work very hard to down Daehan Jilju. He trialled up at the beginning of this month and looked well but he is giving weight away under today’s handicap conditions and an apprentice is brought in to take a couple of kilograms off. His class should see him through, but he has been known to be beaten in these kinds of races before. (10) JANGSAN LASER is a new arrival on the sprinting scene. He ran 4^th over 2000M on the G1 President’s Cup in November but then dropped back to 1400M and won, making all before running 2^nd in the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy over this distance in January. Eoma Eoma’s regular rider Moon Se-young climbs aboard and he gets 6kg from the favourite. (2) EAST JET comes in under a weight and from a gate that should make him competitive, while the venerable galloper (6) MORFHIS can never be ruled out of a good run. (3) CLEAN UP HAPPY another in at least the placing hunt.

Author: Melissa