Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 5 March

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

It took (7) PHANTOM ACE twelve attempts to get his maiden win, which he finally achieved in January, but based on his first try at this class on February 10^th, he should be getting his second much quicker. He sat midfield that day before running on for 3^rd at this distance. He has the fastest time among these for the 1200M too (albeit recorded on a weekend the track was very fast), and he is the one to beat here. (5) GOOD MAGIC was 2^nd on debut before scoring at start number two over this distance on February 5^th when on pace throughout. She comes up in class here but carries a feather weight in his back and she can measure up in this company. (3) DOCTOR KONGDOLI comes back in trip after a fair enough spin over 1400M a month ago. She has a good finish on her and so long as she doesn’t too far back, can be a danger. Up in class following maiden wins, the pair of (6) FAST FURY and (1) JEONGSEONG DAERO will need to improve but can be considered.

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

(7) GLOBAL POWER has been knocking on the door of a second win in four starts since being promoted to this level in which he has finished no worse than 4^th. On his latest outing on January 29^th, he came from midfield to run 2^nd, well beaten by a good winner, but well clear of the favourite in 3^rd place. He comes up 1.5kg in the weights but he won’t need to improve much to win here. The main danger is (2) UNICORN KINGDOM. He has mixed his form across five starts so far but comes up in class following a smart front-running win over this distance on February 5^th. He comes down in the weights, draws well to be on pace again, and should be in this a long way. (5) CLOUTER is another who can mix good and bad runs but based on his latest when 2^nd at class and distance, settling back and running on, he can be considered. (6) JAKDUKONG and (8) TUHON GISANG others to keep safe.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Tricky race. (8) YEOSU TORNADO just about gets the verdict but it’s not with a huge amount of confidence. He comes in having got his maiden win at the thirteenth time of asking over this distance on February 3^rd when handy throughout. He comes up in class but down in the weights and the win had been coming with his running 2^nd at the start before. He won’t need to improve too much to be competitive. (3) O.K. THUNDER come sin after a smart 3^rd place over 1400M on February 10^th. The same apprentice jockey keeps the carried weight light and from a good draw he can be on pace and in this a long way. (6) MONEY CASE has a 3^rd place at class and distance to his name as recently as December. At his latest start over 1400M he was drawn wide and couldn’t get to his favoured forward position but still ran well for 4^th. From a much better draw and back up in trip, he will be a danger. (4) PATRIOT and (2) MILK DAY among others in the frame.

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) FALL IN LOVE ran out a dominant winner on debut in an all-filly race over 1200M on February 4^th. She comes up in class and in distance here but she comes down in the weights and the way she worked through the line suggests there is more to come from her. (6) CUPID BISANG doesn’t exactly win out of turn but enters with her recent form reading very consistent. At her latest she was an on-pace 2^nd at class and distance at the end of January and while she may once more find one or two too quick, she looks a solid place hope again. (8) ARGO SMILE did nothing on debut in November but came back out on February 5^th and ran out a seven-length winner over 1200M. He comes up in class today and while the absence of an apprentice means he actually comes up in weights, Moon Se-young climbing on balances that out. (2) BLOOMING STAR and (1) SUPREME STAR the other logical contenders for the money.

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

(1) YASAENGHWA overcame a wide draw and a slow start to run on strongly for 4^th place over 1200M at this class on February 10^th. She comes down slightly in the weights, comes into a much better gate, and she may be ready for another crack at this distance. To win she will have to overcome the probable favourite, (8) CHEONGHO BOSS. A class and distance winner two starts back, she ran 3^rd on her most recent start on January 27^th, coming from off the pace. Tactically versatile, she will surely be close again. (12) BAEK GU enters off back-to-back 3^rdplace finishes, most recently at this class over a mile. She has a smart finish on her so the wide draw shouldn’t be problematic and she can aim for the places again. (4) ALIVE STAR and (2) RAON THE FLASH others who can be kept safe.

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

(1) GOLDEN HONOR is the one to beat here. His only win came two starts back at class 5 level over 1300M but he ran fairly for 5^th on his first try around two turns over 1700M a month ago. He tackles the unique 1600M start for the first time but from the inside gate he can get a ground saving run to the first turn while those who want or need to be on speed duke it out up front. He carries a light weight and can finish strongly. (4) ICE STAR isn’t one of those who need to lead and he already has experience of the distance, having run 4^th at this level on January 29^th. He rarely runs a bad race and can sit behind the lead and run on here again. (8) K N UNDERKING enters off a runner-up finish at class and distance on February 12^th when handy and finishing well. He doesn’t draw so well today but he is another who has a good finish and should be involved at the business end. (2) ARFONS and (10) STAR BLADE others in the hunt.

Busan Race 6: Class 6 (2000M) Special Weight B / KRW 90 Million

(3) WARRIOR CLASS  enters looking to seal a hat-trick of wins having scored in back-to-back races in January and February, first at class 3 and then at this level. He comes up a full 5kg on his February 10^th victory when he overcame gate eleven to settle back and run on, but he has won under this impost before and with the weight balanced a little by a much better draw, he is the one to beat. (2) STAR EYE was an also-ran behind Warrior Class in that February 10^th race when he was sent off as favourite and briefly led in the straight before dropping out of the fame. At the start before he was a class 3 winner over this distance and warrants another chance today. (1) GALAXY ROAD has plenty of experience at this level and consistently picks up at least minor money. He likes to be on the speed so he comes into a much better gate today than he had when 2^nd over 200M on January 27^th and should be in at least the placing mix again. (7) BOLAVEN and (9) JANGSAN BOBBY, both up in class but both able to handle themselves at this distance, others who may attract each-way interest.

Seoul Race 7: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Competitive race. (8) BADEN BADEN ran 2^nd over 1000M on debut in November before winning at start number two over 1200M on Christmas Day. She has had a couple of months off since then and comes up in class here but her running style so far suggests the distance can suit and she carries a very light weight. She may be available at an each-way price. (2) NEW CHEONGPA looks to be working towards a second win having only gone down by the narrowest of margins over 1300M on February 5^th. In this company and from this gate, he should be on or close to the speed and has a big chance of going one better. (5) WONPYEONG KILLAR had a challenging day at the office when asked to tackle 1700M in early January. Although he is yet to win he has run some fast times and has a 2^nd place to his name at this class over 1300M. He’s had eight weeks to recover from that latest effort and this should prove a more suitable assignment. (10) GEUMSEONG SEGYE and (11) SINUI BANJEON others who can enter the calculations.

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

It’s hard to look past (7) JAY PHOENIX. In five starts so far, he is yet to finish any worse than the 3^rd he recorded on debut and has won at this distance at class 5 level. He returned from five months off to run 2^nd over 1200M on January 28^th, should strip fitter for that run, and is very much the one to beat here. Three of these raced one another over 1200M on February 5^th. (8) RAON FOREST was favourite that day but while she was running on, she only made it up to 4^th. Coming back up in trip may suit and with Munro aboard, she will be well supported again. That can give her the opportunity to overturn the form on both (5) B.J. STORM and (3) DIA KEY, who came home 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in that race, the latter swooping home from an unpromising position. Both should be in the hunt again today. (4) SERVE ACE another to keep an eye on.

Seoul Race 9: Class 3 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

Fillies and mares only here. (1) CHOEGANG QUEEN comes back in trip after recent work at 1400M including a 2^nd and a 3^rd in her latest two, both at this class. She comes up slightly in the weights but Moon Se-young climbs on, she draws well, and she is the one to beat. (6) MIRACLE DAUGHTER returns to action after six months out. Before the layoff, she won three in a row to get rapidly promoted to this class. It will be a tough ask for her to pick up from where she left off, but she looked well back in a November trial. She will need to be taken on trust, but she has the quality. (2) RACE WINNER lived up to her name in her first two starts, winning well. She suffered her first defeat last time out when up at this class and distance for the first time, when she had problems in the early stages and never played a role. She draws a much better gate today and can be given another chance. (7) MOST SPEED and (4) WHITE QUEEN others who can trouble the scorers on their day.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 75 Million

(4) YONGAM BOSS enters off three consecutive 2^nd place finishes, most recently at this class and distance on February 5^th when racing handy throughout. He comes up 3kg in the weights but has carried significantly more in the past and he should have too much here. With any luck, the saga of Park Tae-jong’s 2,200^th career winner will be over by this part of the weekend, and he will have sailed through that milestone at least. If not, then he has a fair chance on (9) JOEUN GWANGYE. He won a valuable race on December 18^th over 1700M which got him promoted to this class before running 4^th behind Yongam Boss at 1800M on February 5^th. He likes to come from off the pace so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem and he should go close. (7) A. P. PATEK mixes his form but comes in off a solid class and distance 4^th on February 4^th and a similar run will put him in the mix here. (3) WONDERFUL DEVIL and (2) YAHO GOLDEN CAT among others in the hunt.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 110 Million

(3) RAON THE SPURT was favourite for the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy over 1200M on January 29^th but while she led, she ultimately faded at the business end of the race on a day that was not kind to front-runners. She was runner up in the Jeju Governor’s Cup last term to Wish Me over this distance in a super-fast time. She carries a light weight, should be on pace again and this time can win. That will mean overturning the form on (11) WOW WOW, who powered through late and wide to win that Segye Ilbo at odds of nearly 50/1. He will be given much more respect today and another strong performance is possible. (7) BLACK MUSK and his big rating puts all but one of his rivals out of the handicap. Extremely versatile, he returned from five months out to lead all the way over 2000M on January 28^th, but he is a proficient sprinter as well – he has beaten Raon The Fighter over six-furlongs – and although he has plenty on his back, his class means he shouldn’t be ruled out. (5) COBRA BALL and (6) COMPLETE VALUE others to keep safe.

Author: Melissa