Korea Racing Busan Preview – 7 July

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Special Weight A / KRW 60 Million

Eleven previously unraced juveniles in the opener. (2) SINCHEON FIRST made all to win his trial on June 10^th stopping the clock in a fair time on a dry track. That’s enough to make him favourite here from a good gate. (11) CORNER ONE was 2^nd in that same June 10^th trial, just half a length in arrears having settled just behind the pace. He is done fewer favours by the draw, but a repeat of that effort should put him in the frame. (3) SKY JILJU is another trial winner, coming from midfield to cross the line in front back in May and he shapes as the clear third favourite here. Another heat-winner is (6) NUMBERONEPICK who was a little slowly away on June 3^rd but then went quickly to the lead and ran on. He may not be the number one pick, but he can put in a bold showing first up. (8) PERFECT ACTION among others who could go well.

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

(5) DOCTOR KINGDOM will be a warm favourite here having run 2^nd on debut on May 26^th when settling behind the speed and running on over 1000M. He should have come on for that run, the slight step up in trip can suit, and he may take some beating. (3) LEMON BULPAE offered little in two appearances in December and February. After a spell he returned to trial on June 17^th and blitzed his heat crossing the line six-lengths to the good in a quick time. He will be expected to be close here. (9) UNJU GLOBAL has mixed her form so far, but she does have a 2^nd and a 4^th to her name at this distance as well as the fastest time among these and she looks promising at a probable each-way price. (10) BORIS MARINE and (1) FIRST MENI others in the hunt.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 25 Million

Competitive race. (4) HAENGBOKHAN GIL enters with his recent form reading well with a 2^nd and a 3^rd from his latest two, both over today’s trip when he has been ridden much further forward than in previous starts. He draws well to do similar today and with an apprentice claiming 3kg, he comes down in he weights. Today can be his day. (1) POWER RIDE didn’t do much in three starts across the turn of the year but after almost four months off, he returned to action with a much-improved 2^nd over this distance on June 9^th when on pace throughout. He should have derived benefit from that run and can be a danger here. (2) SOLEDAD comes in off a best finish of 2^nd over this distance on June 2^nd and from a much better draw can go close again. (10) RUN TO KING and (6) WONDERFUL IMPACT are the other placing contenders.

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

(7) HONOR LORD got his maiden win over 1200M at class 6 level two starts back before leading on his first try at this class on June 16^th over 1400M, ultimately being passed in the closing stages and finishing 3^rd. He only comes up slightly in the weights but the drop back in trip can be in his favour and he can lead all the way this time. (11) BABEL HEART ran 4^th in that that June 16^th race, her best finish at this level. She has more than two lengths to make up on Honor Lord but comes in nicely weighted and she has a good finish on her so the wide draw shouldn’t be a problem. (3) FIRST STAR is very experienced, and this is the kind of race where she can pick up some prize money, as she did when 2^nd over 1200M last time out coming from off the pace. (8) PILGRIM and (1) SANGSANGGEUISANG others in the hunt.

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

Fillies (and one mare) only here and it is very competitive. She hasn’t raced for forty-nine weeks but we’ll take a chance on (8) BURNING PASSION. She had shown plenty of ability before her layoff and she certainly looked sharp enough when winning a trial from the front last Saturday. So long as she didn’t leave her race there, she has every chance. (2) STELL LUNA beat three of these on her way to 3^rd place in a similar class and distance race on June 18^th. She comes in at the same weight but from a slightly better gate and she can beat plenty again. (6) ROAD TO THUNDER made all to score by an eye-catching ten-lengths at start number three on June 9^th. She comes up in class here, but the manner of that victory will mean she has plenty of support to repeat. (3) LADY VADER and (11) SOUTHERN JOY are other up in class last start winners who can measure up.

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(9) MAGIC CLASS ran 3^rd in the Luna Stakes, the first leg of the Triple Tiara, and then led for much of the way around in the Korean Oaks a month ago before ultimately running 6^th of sixteen. She returns to shallower waters here and she may take some beating. The main danger is (1) GOLDEN WAVE. She made all to win over this distance at class 5 level two starts back and almost repeated the trick on her first try at this class on June 9^th. She comes into a much better gate today and with an apprentice taking her down in the weights, she surely goes close again. (6) GRAPHENE RAP WORLD was an also-ran in the Luna Stakes but is a class and distance winner and should be close here too. There is one debut-maker. (10) SOUTHERN SUPERONE trialled up fairly in May to qualify but went through another voluntary trial in June (which may not show up in all racecards). The Violence colt won that trial in a quick time and if he brings that form to the races, can put in a good showing. (5) BLUE CARSON another in the placing hunt.

Busan Race 7: Class 3 (1800M) Special Weight B / KRW 75 Million

(10) NICE CHOEGANG comes in having won his latest two in fine fashion, both at this distance and most recently at this class on June 9^th when beating some of today’s rivals. He only comes up 1kg in the weights, the wide draw shouldn’t be an issue, and he will be strongly favoured to complete his hat-trick here. (3) EUNSEONG WINNER was the beaten favourite in that June 9^th race, trailing home in 5^th. AT the start before she was only narrowly beaten in a valuable trophy race at this distance, and she warrants another chance here. (5) ALIVE STAR was a winner at this class over a mile on June 11^th. He comes up 4kg in the weights as a result but can be considered. (8) I WILL BE FREE is the first runner for new trainer (the former jockey) Lim Sung-sil. He comes up in class having won at this distance well in June and while the conditions mean he doesn’t get a break in the weights, he can be competitive. (4) B.J. CHIEF another in the frame.

Author: Melissa