Korea Racing Busan Preview – 24 January

Friday January 24, 2025

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 45 Million

Three-year-old maidens with all but one racing for the first time. We will side with experience as (7) MEGA PLAY ran well on debut, overcoming a wide draw to eventually race handy and run on for 3^rd place over this distance on December 22^nd. That experience, and its potentially associated fitness edge, makes him the one to beat. Of the first timers, (12) QUEENS DRAGON went through two trials, improving significantly in terms of time in the second of them (a voluntary trial on December 14^th behind Mother Road when clocking 62.8 seconds – beware, it may not appear on all racecards). She has the challenge of the widest gate but if she brings that form to the races, she is a chance. (8) STARTMAN raced handy in his trial, running on well for 2^nd in a fair time and he too can put in a bold showing first up. Sole trial winner (10) DOCTOR LOUIS, along with (1) SPEED THIEF are others who hinted at ability in their respective heats.

Busan Race 2: Class 4 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 75 Million

A maiden for imported three-year-olds. (3) AMAZING KHAN ran 4^th on debut on November 29^th, beating a couple of these in the process, before improving to 2^nd at start number two on December 27^th, racing handy throughout and briefly leading close to the line. Crucially he had no fewer than seven of today’s rivals behind them, and from a good draw, he can be on pace and go one better. (2) EL CAZADOR was 3^rd in that December 27^th race, a big improvement from his debut. Like Amazing Khan, he runs for the third time so can have a fitness edge on most here and he draws a much better gate than in his first two outings. (1) MEETING ST has been 5^th on both appearances to date, while (8) SELL LIKE was 4^th in the September 27^th race. The only one who didn’t race that day is the solitary debut maker. We will put (9) HIDDEN TIARA in the numbers because she looked well in two trials.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1600M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

(11) FLYING ICE enters off a 3^rd and a 2^nd from his latest two, most recently beating plenty of these over this distance on December 29^th when, as is his style, he settled right back and then ran on well. He does risk getting too far back, but he has to be favoured to go one better here. Should he leave himself too much to do, (5) SWORD WING can take advantage. After taking a few goes to figure things out, he has a 4^th and a 3^rd from his latest two, the latter being behind Flying Ice on December 29^th. He too comes from off the pace and with only six starts behind him, may have some improvement.  If you think neither will get up, (4) YEOSU GUARDIAN may be the one to go for. He ran 3^rd at this distance last time out and from a good draw can be on pace and force the favourites to try to come past. (7) DOCTOR CASTLE, who “lost interest” when favourite last time according to his jockey, and (9) SEOGWI PRINCESS are others in the frame.

Busan Race 4: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

One debut maker here, and (2) PLUTO did it very easily in his trial, cruising around on the bridle, leading all the way, and crossing the line plenty to the good. He draws beautifully, and if he brings that form to the races, he can win first up. (5) BEOLGYOUI HIM has mixed his form across four starts so far, with his best being his latest when 2^nd at this distance on January 3^rd, coming from off the pace. He makes a quick return here and he should be finishing strongly once more. (4) TOP OF THE TREE comes in off an improved 3^rd place at start number three over this distance on November 17^th. He comes in fresh after ten weeks out and from a good draw, can be on pace and in this a long way. (The form drops off significantly after those but Seo Seung-un climbing on (3) JEONGMUN FELIX will give him plenty of backers. (7) SUN JAE, who has been back to trial since debut, another minor money chance.

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

(10) MORNING DEW got his maiden win two starts back over this distance before running a close 3^rd on his first try at this class on December 29^th when settling midfield and running on. He draws a touch wider than ideal here, but he should have enough about him to get a forward position and if he does, he may take some beating. (3) SING FOR ME trialed up well and then ran out a winner on debut over this distance on December 27^th, when slightly slowly away before being ridden up handy halfway and then running on. He comes up in class but comes down in weight and into a much better gate, and he can measure up in this company. (5) GRAND CHASER had a hard time last time out when wilting under a strong pace over 1400M. She comes back to the distance at which she got her win, and she is worth another chance here. (8) GOLDEN AIR and (12) DAEHOMA are others to consider.

Busan Race 6: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million

Fillies and mares only here and it’s competitive.  (8) DIXIE WINNER got her maiden win at this class and distance two starts back and then ran 4^th when sent up to a mile on December 22^nd racing handy throughout. She comes up slightly in weight, but the drop down in trip can suit and she can maintain her consistent run of form here. (4) FLYING MENACE has run 2^nd in both her races so far at 1200M and 1300M. She has run on well both times so while she is up in class here, the step up in trip can suit, and she draws well under a light weight. (10) LIME TREE registered her maiden win two starts ago at 1300M and then ran an ordinary 6^th of twelve at a mile on her first try at this class on December 22^nd, behind Dixie Winner. Back in trip can suit and she can get closer. (3) AWESOME SUNRISE and (2) GOLDEN NICE others firmly in the hunt.

Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Super race with eight of the twelve having finished in the first four in their respective latest starts. (11) FANTASTIC VALUE was an also-ran in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie, the top juvenile race in the country, in November, but bounced back to run 2^nd on December 27^th at this class and distance when settling midfield and running on. Seo Seung-un stays on, and he can go one better here. (6) UNJU GUY is a big danger. A winner of three from seven, he scored at this class over 1800M in a gutsy and narrow win on December 29^th. He comes up a full 4kg in the weights, but he has two placings in two tries at this distance and he should be close here. (10) WIND BULLET has won three from four with his latest coming at this class over 1400M on December 27^th, ahead of a couple of today’s rivals. He comes up 3kg in the weights, and this is harder, but he is not to be dismissed. (5) LASER GRIT and (12) WORLD FIVE among plenty of other at least place chances.

Busan Race 8: Class 4 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(6) CHOGYEOKCHA has won his latest two to get rapidly promoted to this level, with scores at 1400M and 1600M, both times on pace. As well as coming up in class, he stretches out to the two-turns for the first time, but it shouldn’t be a problem and while he actually comes up slightly in weight, he looks more than a match for this lot. (10) BLACK FALCON got his sole win at this trip and enters with a 2^nd, a 3^rd and a 4^th at this class. He has the fastest time among these for the distance, and he can be a danger. (1) TOP FRIEND came from off the pace to beat plenty of these at class and distance on December 29^th and while he is up 2kg in the weights, that’s balanced out by a much better gate, and he can go close again. (2) HWANGJE and (7) OASIS RED are others to consider.

Busan Race 9: Class 2 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 90 Million

(10) CONTROLLER is the class horse here. He has won his latest two, both at 1200M and both at class 3 but in quick times. He is up in class, but he is down a full 4.5kg in weights, and he should be making it three in a row here. (7) YEONGGWANGUI TANK had a torrid time last start to the extent that he got sent back to trial, but he is a winner at this class and distance as recently as November and he looked well when trialing at the start of this month making him worth another chance today. (5) HONOR CAL beat a few of these on his way to 3^rd place at this class over 1400M on December 22^nd when slow away and running on. He will need to break better here but can be considered here. (6) KING ANYDAY and (2) YEONGGWANGUI ACE others in the placing frame.

Author: Melissa