While Triple Nine’s bid for a fourth consecutive President’s Cup on Sunday is the undoubted headline of the week, there’s plenty to keep us ocupised while we wait. The weekend’s action gets underwat at Busan on Friday where there are 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00:

 

 

Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(5) TROPHY COLLECTOR has run 3^rd in his latest two outings, both at this distance and he looks set fair to get his maiden win here. He hasn’t been the fastest of starters so far but is well drawn here to get a good early position and should be too strong. (3) BUGYEONG DANDY was a much-improved 2^nd – and only beaten a neck – at this distance three weeks ago and is the expected main danger while (4) BAENGNICHONG and (8) HWANGGEUMIBITMASAENG have both shown signs of figuring things out in their respective latest outings with the latter stepping up to this trip for the first time today. (1) HANEOLUI BIT is the wildcard. He races for the first time since April but looked very competent in a trial two weeks ago and could go well first-up.

Selections	(5) Trophy Collector (3) Bugyeong Dandy (1) Haneolui Bit (4) Baengnichong
Next Best	8, 6
Fast Start	5, 8

Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Small field but it’s restricted to juvenile maidens so there’s a big prize on offer. Four of the eight are racing for the first time but it looks to be between two of the ones who have prior experience. (7) TOHAM ACE was a solid 4^th on debut at 1000M on September 28^th, finishing off very nicely in a manner which suggests the additional trip today can only be beneficial for him. He has solid claims here. (8) TRUE KING also ran 4^th on debut and then followed up with a 3^rd on his second start. Both those were at 1000M and he too looks the type who can appreciate further. It’s a toss-up between the two and which one to go for may come down to how they look pre-race but for now we’ll side with Toham Ace. The other two with experience haven’t offered much so for next bests we’ll go with debut-makers. (1) TITLE CODE looked good in a trial earlier this month while (4) DONGBANG WARRIOR actually finished ahead of Toham Ace when they qualified together at the beginning of September. As ever, watch the market for clues.

Selections	(7) Toham Ace (8) True King (1) Title Code (4) Dongbang Warrior
Next Best	3, 5
Fast Start	1, 4, 7

Race 3: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

The second heat of the juvenile maiden sees another set of four first-timers taking on four with experience. (5) RAON ARES ran 4^th on debut in a decent time on October 5^th. He was close to the pace throughout and today is nicely drawn to lead from the gate and all the way. Of the others with experience, only (4) B.K. VICTOR offered much on debut although (8) THUNDER RAIN looked much better when trialing up again earlier this month after finishing last on debut, so we’ll turn to the first-timers to find some competition. (2) FLYING DANCER has looked good across a number of trials, acquitting himself well in amongst experienced racehorses a couple of weeks ago in the same heat as Thunder Rain. It’s a top trainer and jockey combination and he can begin his career in a positive manner here.

Selections	(5) Raon Ares (2) Flying Dancer (4) B.K. Victor (8) Thunder Rain
Next Best	6
Fast Start	2, 4, 5

Race 4: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Yet more juvenile maidens this time with just two making their racecourse debuts. However, it’s fair to say that none of the ones with experience have been especially impressive so (1) POWER TOUCH, from the track’s top stable and with a bang in-form jockey aboard, has to be taken very seriously indeed. True, he was no better than average in trials but his stable rarely leaves their best in the mornings and he’ll be well-backed here. There’s a fresh start for (8) GEUMGANG CHILBO. She was favourite on debut in August having won a trial but was slowly away and scarcely involved. She comes back over two months later and should be a different prospect here. (3) DOCTOR WEEK didn’t do too much wrong when 7^th of 12 on his debut at the end of last month and the prognosis is for improvement today, while (7) DAMYANG CHOEGANG is another who could potentially go better than he did first-up.

Selections	(1) Power Touch (8) Geumgang Chilbo (3) Doctor Week (7) Damyang Choegang
Next Best	2, 5
Fast Start	1, 7

Race 5: Class 5 (1000M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(2) MORNING BRAVO debuted all the way back in October of 2017 in very indifferent fashion. He didn’t reappear until August of this way, by which time he had been gelded, and he has been much better, running up consecutive 2^nd place finishes., both at this distance. That does mean that he is up in class for the first time here but he looks to have scope for more improvement in him and he could win today. (7) BUGYEONG STORY is also still a maiden having been promoted to this level with back to back runner-up finishes in August and September. She ran a solid 3^rd on her first try at this level on October 7^thand should be close again here. (3) MUCHO and (5) GOLDEN KNIGHT have both proven competitive at this class already and have claims on going close. (9) HOPEFUL SIMON, a stablemate of Golden Knight, is yet another who has been promoted while still a maiden but shouldn’t be out of his depth at this level.

Selections	(2) Morning Bravo (7) Bugyeong Story (5) Golden Knight (3) Mucho
Next Best	9, 1
Fast Start	1, 2, 7

Race 6: Class 4 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 75 Million

Maiden juvenile imports compete for a big prize here and four of them are racing for the first time. They’ll have a hard time beating (1) CURLIN TIME though. The colt was 2^nd on his debut in a fast race at this distance and it would be a surprise if he didn’t have far too much here. He doesn’t look particularly vulnerable but he did of course get beaten as favourite on his debut and on the off-chance he does come up short again, first-timers, Read more of this post.