Korea Racing Busan & Seoul Previews – 2 April

Busan Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(10) HANEUL JEWANG ran out a class and distance winner on March 5^th when settling midfield from the widest gate and running on strongly. He comes up 3kg as a result, but Franco stays aboard, and we know the wide draw won’t be a problem. He can win again. (3) SPECIAL HERO was 4^th in a decent time at class and distance on March 10^th. She draws much better today and can match or better here under a light weight again. (7) SAVAHA comes up 2kg in the weights from his runner-up finish at class and distance on February 24^th when he led for much of the way around. Expect him to be on the speed again and to be in this a long way. (6) PLAY THE INDY is up in class despite being a maiden but that makes him well weighted and he has run times that can be competitive in this company. (2) OK STAR another to keep safe.

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

(5) KING DIA went through several trials before finally arriving at the races, but it was worth the wait as he ran out a six-length winner, having led all the way around over 1200M. He comes up in class and in distance, but neither should be an issue, and he can win again. It’s fair to say that (3) CUPID BISANG doesn’t win out of turn but he is ultra-consistent and has been in the top-four in each of his last five starts. He likes to be on pace or handy and he should be playing a role in the finish again. (7) HIGH GRAND is up in class having prevailed by three-lengths over this distance at start number six on February 25^th. That win had been coming and he’ll be competitive among this lot. (8) RIVER TAEYANG and (1) GEUMSEONG SIDAE among others who can enter the calculations.

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Tricky race where plenty have winning chances. (7) SPECIAL WIND remains a maiden after ten attempts but has seven top-five finishes and has run fast times and has two runner-up finishes over this distance. Tactically versatile, in this company he can be expected to be on the speed, and today can be his day. It’s a similar story with (10) GOHEUNG CLASS although in her case, she is a five-race maiden. Since an inauspicious debut, she’s been 2^nd or 3^rd in each outing since including her first go at class and distance on March 3^rd, when she was 3^rd. The wide draw isn’t ideal but there is next to no early speed here so with a touch of luck, she can get forward. (9) DUBAI PYEONGJEONG beat Goheung Class when the pair ran 1^st and 2^nd with very little between them at class 6 level over 1300M in February. She then ran a fair 4^th over a mile on her first attempt at this class on March 5^th and shouldn’t be ruled out here. (5) WONDERFUL BOBCAT and the up in class last start winner (8) DIA BOSS are others who it would be no surprise to see win.

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

Another very competitive race. It’s been a long time between drinks for (3) JEONGMUN CHOEGANG – fourteen runs, the be precise – but his recent form reads very well with both class and distance placings so far this year. He comes back to the 1400M over which he has the fastest time of any of these and from a good draw, he can return to the winner’s circle. (10) WONPYEONG TOWN is a maiden after ten attempts but has no fewer than six top-three finishes with back-to-back 3^rd places from his latest two at 1300M and 1400M, both at this class. He can run handy or midfield and should be in the mix again here. (11) GRAND POWER is another many-race maiden but whose recent form suggests he can go close. He enters off a strong runner-up finish at class and distance on March 5^th and can back that form up here. (5) HIDDEN BLADE and (4) EUNHYE RECORD are the other two in at least the minor money frame.

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

(4) HWARANG BEST shapes as a warm favourite. A winner ovr a mile at class 5 level two starts back he has since run 2^nd in back-to-back races at this class over 1400M and 1200M, settling back and coming from off the pace on both occasions. He does come up 2.5kg in the weights, but he may have too much here. If he does leave himself too much to do, then (11) JATNAMUGIL could be the one to take advantage. He comes up in class following an emphatic win in a fast time at this distance on February 26^th when he overcame the same wide draw as today to sit handy. He comes down a full 3kg in the weights and can be a danger here. (5) ILBEONJI is also up in class after a good win over 1200M on February 26^th. She doesn’t have the benefit of an apprentice claim today so comes up in the weights but there could still be more to come from her. (6) ROAD TO V and (1) RAON THE FIGHTING are others to who can enter the calculations.

Seoul Race 6: Class 3 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(6) TAP QUALITY was a winner in a fast time over 1400M at class 4 level in January, before almost making all on his first try at this class and distance on February 19^th, just being taken down in the final few strides. An apprentice claim takes him down a full 4kg today and that could make all the difference. (3) K N UNDERKING comes up in class having won from off the pace at this distance on March 5^th. He comes down significantly in the weights, David remains aboard, and he can measure up. (7) PANORAMA KHAN returned from seven months out to very nearly make all over 1400M on February 26^th. He comes up 2kg from that run but should strip fitter for the experience and can be a factor here. (9) WONPYEONG COD and (4) LUCKY HOON are among others in the hunt.

Busan Race 6: Class Open (1200M) Busan Ilbo Sprint (KOR-G3) Weight for Age / KRW 500 Million

The first Group race of the season. (15) RAON THE FIGHTER was runner-up in both the Korea Cup over 1800M and Grand Prix Stakes over 2300M lst year and drops back to a sprint distance to renew hostilities with (7) EOMA EOMA. They hold a win apiece over one another and while Eoma Eoma is the reigning Korea Sprint Champion – and the defending champion here, there is no doubting Raon The Fighter’s brilliance and despite the wide draw, he could get the better of his old foe here although he may need a touch of luck – or at least to avoid any bad luck or bumping – at the start. The rest are probably racing for 3^rd. (10) YES PERFECT enters the equation after a super class 1 win over this distance on March 12^th when running from off the pace. Whether he can catch the two favourites is another matter but he’s sure to be running on strong again. (14) SSONSAL and (1) DAEMANGUI GIL other placing chances.

Seoul Race 7: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Wildly competitive with any of the ten able to win. (2) SPO BLADE comes up in class following a runner-up finish over 1400M on February 12^th over this distance when settling midfield and running on well. The class rise is countered by a big drop in weight of 5kg, as well as a good gate and he can win here. It’s a very similar story with (1) GEONGONILCHEOK. He too went through class 5 winless and comes up after a strong 2^nd place at this distance on January 29^th when he overcame gate eleven to sit handy. He drops 4kg in the weights, draws much better and should get an easier run. (6) RULES CLASS has experience at this level including a 3^rd place at this distance. He consistently runs good times as he did on his latest on February 18^th when 4^th having come from well back. He should be there or thereabouts again. (5) DIRT SURFER was a winner at this class over 1600M on February 26^th and while he is up in weight, warrants consideration. (10) ARFONS another in the hunt.

Seoul Race 8: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(4) GOLD POWER ran out an all the way class and distance winner on February 18^th, scoring comfortably. She comes up a full 3kg in the weights but that’s balanced a little by a much better gate (she had gate ten last time) and a repeat isn’t out of the question. Also carrying his fair share of weight here is (9) SAENAE POWERFUL. He beat three of these on his way to a close 2^nd at class and distance on March 4^th when handy and running on and while this is perhaps a stiffer task given impost and barrier, he should be in the picture at the business end. (8) DAEWANGU was 4^th in that March 4^th race continuing a consistent run of recent form and he should be close at hand again (5) RAON THE WEEKEND and (2) DIA KEY others who should be kept safe.

Seoul Race 9: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(3) PURGE DAY got his maiden win at the sixth time of asking over 1200M on February 11^th, having raced midfield and closed strongly. He comes up in class and in trip today but he is down in weight, draws well and he can win again.  (10) GYEONGBU DORYEONG comes in off a 2^nd place at class and distance on March 5^th when settling midfield and finishing well, albeit a long way behind a good winner. He has the fastest time among any of these for the distance and he can be considered here. (2) KING ACE will need his latest forgiven when on pace but weakening to last in what was a very quick race of small margins. Two starts ago he was a class and distance winner, and he can be given another chance here. (9) HUIMANG CHAMP and (11) HYPER CAR are among the other possibles.

Seoul Race 10: Class 3 (1700M) Special Weight B / KRW 75 Million

(3) QUICKLY RUN has proved that she can do exactly that having finished in the top-three in all of her eight starts to date. She made all to win on her first try at this class and distance on February 18^th and while she comes up 3kg in the weights, she has won carrying more in the past, and she can win again today. (7) JOEUN GWANGYE is one of very few horses who has beaten Quickly Run, something he did over a mile at class 4 level last November when the pair ran 2^nd and 3^rd. He is a winner over this distance and enters off a strong 2^nd over 1800M on March 5^th. He likes to come from off the pace and he will be running on strong. (8) BEOLMAL DAEJANG mixes his form, but he has placed at this class as recently as February and he may appreciate the step back up to two turns. (1) COWBOY KING’s previous attempt at two turns didn’t go well but he may be ready for another crack after running on well for 2^nd over 1400M on February 18^th. He is up in class but significantly down in weight. (2) RAPIDO ARES is the other logical place chance.

Seoul Race 11: Class 1 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 110 Million

A very tricky class 1 to conclude the card. (9) LIL’ PATRON has been racing in tougher company than this of late, more often than not holding his own and beating plenty of today’s rivals along the way. He likes to sit back and run on, and he could well return to form here. (7) HEUK JEONSA returns to action for the first time since last summer’s Busan Mayor’s Cup when he was 6^th behind Winner’s Man. He came through a trial in good order in February and while he will obviously need this, his quality should see him close. That’s true too for (4) CARVING CROSS, who has been out for even longer following surgery. He looked very well in a March trial, and this looks a very nice race to come back in. If you are not so keen on the returnees, then (3) WINNER GOLD could be the safe choice. He is a class and distance winner, and his recent form has been solid. He draws well and rarely runs a bad race. (5) SUPER SOCKS is better than his recent efforts suggest and may improve here.

Author: Melissa