Busan Friday: Race-by-Race Preview (January 16)

The race weekend starts with a program of ten races in Busan on Friday from 10:50 am to 6:00 pm. Here are the previews:

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

Three year old girls. (1) FAPPI BABE has run twice before and finished in third place^rd place both times at this distance, stay behind the speed and run further. She can peak at third, and she doesn’t need to improve much to win this. There are three debutants, and of them, GYEONGBOK ATOS seems best equipped to make an immediate impact. He was at pace 3^rd in his test in a fast time and if he brings that form to the races he will come close. (2) RED KING got way back on his debut before passing for a fair 6^e of ten and may have been used for that run. (8) SUCCESS QUEEN and (9) SWEET POWER are others that can improve.

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A/KRW 30 million

(6) WORLD FIGHTER MAN has shown promise in three starts so far with a 3^rda 4^e and most recently at this distance on December 21^st when you get off pace. Franco is staying on and the small step up in the trip could be just what he needs to make his breakthrough. (10) TAEYANGUIYEOLJEONG has made steady progress through her three starts so far, culminating in a close 2^i.e at this distance on December 21^st when you get off pace. In this company, where there isn’t much early speed, she can be further forward than before and get to the finish. (5) GRAND CRU returned from a year ago with run 4^e more than 1400 million as of December 21^st. He can get fitter for that run and be competitive here. (8) BIG SMILE and (9) GREAT BOSS others in the frame.

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A/KRW 30 million

(6) FLASH AT ME was 4^e on debut over 1200M and then a beaten favorite over this distance on December 5^e when well positioned, but only one pace. She can peak in third place, Seo Seung-un returns and she can win. (3) FLARE UP comes from a 3^rd place at this distance on December 21^st when it is close to the tempo transit. With a good draw he can take the lead here and he can go a long way. (10) EUNSEONG JILJU and (9) BREEDO QUEEN STAR came home 2^i.e and 3^rd when they played together at this distance on Boxing Day. They were both well behind a good winner, but both can participate in the placement hunt again today. (7) KISS THE RAIN, another hunting.

Busan Race 4: Handicap Class 5 (1200M) / KRW 45 million

(5) ISIMNYEON JIGI was winner at start number two over 1200M in November when he made all the runs, before running 4^e on his first attempt in this class on December 12^e. He was the beaten favorite that day and although he didn’t settle, he should easily move into the lead here and is worth another chance. (8) AEGIS CROWN also failed to settle down last time when he found his way and finished well back. Instead, we’ll get his first win at the end of November and also grant him the courtesy of another chance. (3) TAMNA FIRST returns to action for the first time since August last year. He looked good at 3^rd in a trial at the end of last month and with a student claim it can go well first. (7) D’LOVELY KING and (4) STUKA are other place chances.

Busan Race 5: Handicap Class 5 (1800M) / KRW 45 million

(1) TANTAN DAERO has yet to win in ten starts, but has five top three finishes, including his last two when he 2^i.e on this trip in November and beyond 3^rd more than a mile on November 30^e. From the inside gate, Choi Si-dae can choose his place behind the speed and today can be his day. He will need to reverse the form of (8) BREDO SOL, who beat him by over a mile in October when Breedo Sol went all the way in front to take his second consecutive win. That got him a shot in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie and although he finished in the field, he’s back in shallower water today and could be a danger. (4) ALL THE BEST was part of this trip for the first time on December 7^e and led almost the entire way, eventually finishing in 2nd place^i.e. He has gone up 2kh in weight, but pulls well and is back in the lead. (5) MUHAN NAREUSHA and (6) ILNYEOM SINHWA are the other small money odds.

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

(10) WHITE FLARE had worked towards its first victory, reaching the 1300 million mark on December 7^e if you are on pace everywhere. He’s both in the class and slightly in the trip here, but while he doesn’t get a weight cut, that shouldn’t matter, and he can win again (9) POWER TREE also comes up in the class after taking his first win, in his case on start three over this distance on December 19^e. He also won’t have to deal with much of a weight drop, but has every chance to measure up. (6) HANEUL GOLD also achieved his first victory at this distance at the age of only 5^e on his first attempt in this class a month ago he gets into a better gate today and can be closer. (3) SCYTHAI and (5) BURUI SINJEON are the other place odds.

Busan Race 7: Handicap Class 5 (1600M) / KRW 45 million

After performing 2^i.e in his debut over the 1200M, (9) GLOBAL PRINCE was a winner in the 1300M at start number two on December 12^econvenient racing anywhere. He’s moving up in the class and on the trip here, but neither should be a problem and with less weight he can win again. (5) HEUIMANG DANBI achieved her first win in this class over 1400M two races back before running 3^rd on her first attempt at this distance on December 14^e when she led much of the way. She can lead here again and will still have a long way to go. (11) ENCORE has two 3^rd places and a 2^i.e of his last three, all in this class and most recently at this distance, and he should be there or around there again despite not getting a student claim this time. (10) DEIMOS and (2) HWANHUI BANK other opportunities.

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

(10) FORCE BE WITH YOU won on its debut and, after a number of near misses, finally followed on December 21^st when he comes off the pace to score at this distance. The 1800M was his target, with three placings to go and that win from four attempts, and while he’s at the front of his class he could go back-to-back. (2) DOCTOR CURLIN first covered this distance on December 7th^e, and he agreed, lagging behind the speed and proving too strong. The victory was coming and although he is higher in the class, he remains under a light weight and can compete (5) SEOUL DRAGON has a 2^i.e and a 4^e form his last two, both in this class and at distance, coming from well off the pace and he should be back in the mix. (9) UNJU CHALLENGE and (7) GLOBAL WEEK others in the frame.

Busan Race 9: Handicap Class 4 (1400M) / KRW 60 million

Competitive breed. After completing 5^e out of eight in the listed youth company last September (5) KING’S KING has won twice at 1400M and 1300M, which quickly puts him in the class here. He has good speed and under a light weight he has every chance to complete his hat-trick. (11) CHEONGCHUNEUNJAYU is also in contention for a hat-trick, having won his last two at 1200M and 1400M. He too is top of his class, but last time he won from a wide gate and a repeat would not be a surprise. (1) PLUTO has a lot of experience in this class and comes in with a 2^i.e place over this distance on December 14^e. A student claiming 4kg is keeping his weight down and that should be enough to get him into contention. (8) FANTASTIC BLUE and (7) TWOTWO FLYING are other options to consider on a place line.

Busan Race 10: Handicap Class 3 (1600M) / KRW 75 million

(4) NEVER GIVE UP won three in a row between June and August and has run three since^rd and 5^e in two attempts in this class, both above 1800M. Today in the trip he falls back a little to a distance where he has won in the past, and he can win here. (7) GEUDAEMANUI BLUE finally got this first victory at the eleventh time of asking on December 7^e It came during this trip and while he is in the classroom, he can measure up. (3) WONDERFUL BIDDER had a bad day at the office when he finished a few of these in class and remotely in November. He was doing well before that and if he comes in fresh after an eight-week absence, he could get another chance. (11) STAR FURY and (5) MAX THE DRAGON among others in the frame.