Korea Racing Busan Preview – 16 June

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight / KRW 25 Million

(1) LAND BANK has a 4^th a 3^rd and then a 2^nd from three prior outings, all at this distance at which he also has the fastest time of any of these. He has raced on pace on all three occasions so he draws very nicely here to get on pace, and he may take some beating. (3) HWANGWU JANGSA was a two-time trial winner and has carried that form into his races with a 3^rd and a 2^nd in two starts, both times racing on pace or handy, most recently over 1300M. He too is drawn nicely and should be close. The third standout is (6) GIJEOGUI GEUMBIT, who has finished between 3^rd and 5^th in five of her six appearances. She has run fair if unspectacular times and should be in the placing mix again. The veteran non-winner (8) WONDERFUL SMARTY also finds herself in the kind of race where she can pick up some minor money while with the two debut-makers very unconvincing in trials, (2) DAEJI MULGYEOL is probably the best of the rest.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Maiden fillies here. (1) NARAE made an undistinguished debut when slowly away but was a much-improved 2^nd on reappearance on May 12^th when ridden much further forward. She draws well again and third-up can be peaking fitness wise. (5) MAGIC ELEVEN similarly will be well backed on the strength of her second outing when 3^rd at this distance on May 5^th. The time was quick, but the track was wet and fast. She raced on pace that day and will do so again here and has every chance. (4) JUST BE HAPPY is another who improved significantly at the second time of asking, which came a full five months after her first. She should have come on for that run and can be in the mix here. (9) FIRST MENI and (3) ACE A MOCA others in the hunt.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Tricky maiden this. (3) JANGSAN LEMON ran like a lemon when favourite on debut in March but put in a much more mature performance at the second time of asking on May 7^th when settling midfield and running on. Third-up here, he can win. The main danger and possibly even the betting favourite is (6) VERLUC. After debuting inauspiciously last September he didn’t race again until this April, newly gelded, and putting in a solid 6^th of 11. He followed that up with a 2^nd place over this distance on May 21^st when he overcame gate eleven to get to the lead and with a much better barrier this time, as well as third-up looking set to be peaking fitness-wise, he has every chance of going one better. (5) HAMA was 4^th in that race behind Verluc on May 21^st. That continued a solid start to her career and with Seo Seung-un climbing aboard she can get closer. (7) YONG GUN and (8) KING ANYDAY others in the frame.

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

(2) PLAY THE INDY shapes as favourite here. He remains a maiden but comes in following a desperately close 2^nd on May 19^th when on pace throughout. He draws nicely again, and a similar run can see him come out on top here. The main danger is (7) GOLDEN CAMP. It took her a long time to get her act together, but she got her maiden win two starts back at class 6 level and then ran a solid 2^nd on her first try at this class over 1200M on June 2^nd when settling midfield before being ridden to the front before a good winner took command in the closing stages. In this company she can sit handy early and run on again. (6) MARKAB ran 3^rd behind Golden Camp in that June 2^nd race having led early. He should be on pace again and can be a threat. (4) FASHION FORCE ONE and (9) HAMPYEONG MAN others in the minor money frame.

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

This is a good race for the level with plenty entering with recent form reading well. (1) PURPLE LINE went down narrowly last time out over this distance on May 19^th when settling a long way back and running on. He was a winner at this distance at class 6 level two starts back in a good time and can be ridden a bit further forward here. He has only raced five times and still has scope for more improvement. That can see him overturn the form on (8) WONDERFUL OCEAN, who won that May 19^th race, taking things up a long way out. He comes up 2kg in the weights but warrants respect here.  (5) WORLD CLASS CAT is yet to win in seven attempts but has six top-three finishes and should be close again. The up in class (4) MASARANGGIL along with (10) HWANGOO MONEY are others in the placing frame.

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(7) ROAD TO GLORY comes rapidly up in class having won his latest two, both over this distance at class 6 and class 5. He le every step of the way both times and posted fast times. He comes down in the weights here and can complete a hat-trick. (5) SAVAHA came up to this class following a pair of runner-up finishes in quick times over 1200M at class 5 level. He ran 4^th in a quick race on a wet track at this distance on his first try at this class on May 5^th and can build on that today. (3) ROCKET SORI was a winner at this class over 1200M on May 14^th when racing handy throughout. He has posted a good time at this distance too and while he comes up a full 4.5kg in the weights, he must come into the calculations here. (1) TEUKGEUP CAMP and (9) SHAKA others to consider.

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

A pretty wild finale with plenty having chances. We’ll take a chance on (3) BACKTOTHELEGEND. His latest two have been a 5^th in Busan’s Classic Trial before he was an also ran in the first leg of the Triple Crown. He returns to significantly shallower waters here and while he is up in trip, he was a smart winner at class 5 level over 1400M and this can suit. (8) COME ON FIRST was an all the way winner at this class over a mile on May 12^th. An apprentice is engaged here meaning that that he comes up only negligibly in the weights and he will be a big danger. (11) ADELE ALLIE’S has been a bit ordinary in his latest two but coming back up to two turns can suit. The up in class (9) WONDERFUL BOBCAT along with (5) YONGGARI are among others in the minor money hunt.

Author: Melissa