KOREA : The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00. Here are the previews:

 

 

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Three-year-old maidens to kick things off with seven of the twelve having raced before. Of those, (3) FINAL RULES ran 2^nd on debut on January 18^th and the filly is the pick to go one better this time. A couple of the others have shown some ability too. (12) TWO TWO FIRE has a 3^rd and a 4^th from two starts so far and should be looking to place again while both (1) BROWN PIE and (9) TRUE SIGNATURE also put in useful performances when running 4^th in their respective latest outings. There is one stand-out among the first-timers. (2) TOHAM IMPACT is a half-sister to Jeongan Kingdom, a solid campaigner at Seoul, and he went well in a trial, albeit all the way back in November. Jockey booking a plus too.

Selections	(3) Final Rules (2) Toham Impact (12) Two Two Fire (1) Brown Pie
Next Best	9, 10
Fast Start	1, 3, 6, 9

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

More maidens although this time all but one have raced before. (8) NAEGA SAEGANGJA lines up for the third time and having run 2^nd and 3^rd in the prior two and should be the one to beat here. None of the others especially impressed although (1) B.K. LUNA didn’t do too much wrong when 4^th of eight on debut six weeks ago and can build on that here. Likewise, (4) ACE CRUSH has been inconsistent across seven outings so far but has registered a pair of 4^th place finishes and can be competitive here, while (7) QUEEN OF ADELE too has hinted at ability. One interesting entrant is (3) BONINARA. She offered little on debut in December but has since been back to trial and looked much better. She could go well.

Selections	(8) Naega Saegangja (3) Boninara (4) Ace Crush (1) B.K. Luna
Next Best	7, 10
Fast Start	1, 3, 6, 7

Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 24 Million

(8) VERYVERYTHANKYOU was beaten half a length into 2^nd by a nice-looking winner (Miss Fact) over this distance on February 1^st. The pair were eleven-lengths clear of the rest of the field, which included a couple of those who go here too, and he really should be winning today. (3) HWANGGEUMBITMASENG looks the most credible challenger having run a solid 2^nd last time out over 1000M and has previously gone well at this distance too. (5) HOT GIRL and (11) MAGIC FLYING are others who should be in the placing frame.

Selections	(8) Veryverythankyou (3) Hwanggeumbitmaseng (11) Magic Flying (5) Hot Girl
Next Best	7, 2
Fast Start	1, 7, 8, 10

Race 4: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Yet more three-year-old maidens. (8) RAON CAESERS didn’t do much on debut in November but was a much improved 2^nd at this trip five weeks ago. He’ll be on pace here and looks the one to beat. (10) HWARANGUICHAMPION ran a very solid 2^nd on debut on December 30^th and should have come on for it after eight weeks off while (11) HOLIDAY PARIS was 3^rd on her first start a month ago and should benefit from the additional distance today. (There are four debut makers among whom (4) CHOEGANG BOSS looks the pick, however, the most intriguing entry is one who has already raced once, albeit unimpressively and a full seven months ago. That’s (3) FRIDAY, the first foal out of 2013 Korean Derby and Oaks winner Speedy First. Last of seven on his only start last July, he’s not been seen since, but now returns, gelded, and having looked much more competent in a trial last month. He has a chance.

Selections	(8) Raon Caesers (3) Friday (10) Hwaranguichampion (11) Holiday Paris
Next Best	4, 5
Fast Start	3, 5, 7, 8

Race 5: Class 6 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

(6) FIGHT MAGIC has run 5^th and 3^rd from two outings to date and steps up to a mile for the first time with solid claims of making her breakthrough. She’ll be on pace early as will potential dangers (8) DAEDONG MANSE, a much-improved 2^nd when bumped up to this trip last time, and (9) GRAND JILJU, who has done all his work at shorter distances so far but may benefit from a step up in trip today. Another contender is (5) ROYAL TICKET, who has finished off well in both efforts over 1300M so far and is another who can appreciate the mile today. The other “royal”, (1) ROYAL BLUE, returned from six months off to run a decent 5^th over 1000M last month and should have come on for it. He too tries the distance for the first time.

Selections	(6) Fight Magic (5) Royal Ticket (9) Grand Jilju (1) Royal Blue
Next Best	8, 4
Fast Start	6, 8, 9

Race 6: Class 5 (1600M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

One of the trickier contests on the card but the recent form of (2) HAPPY DRAGON suggests he has a good chance of winning here. He comes in having run 3^rd in a similarly strong race at class and distance on January 25^th with a couple of his rivals here behind him. He’ll come from off the pace and with a bit of luck, can win. Plenty of others enter…  Read more of this post

 

GOLD CUP WINNER BIG ORANGE RETIRED

Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}BMiss Brown To You {Ire}, by Fasliyev), winner of the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2017, has been retired from racing at age eight after aggravating a suspensory ligament injury that left him on the sidelines most of last year. Racing as a homebred for Bill and Tim Gredley and trained by Michael Bell, Big Orange reeled off his first two pattern-race wins at four in the G2 Princess of Wales=s S. at Newmarket and the G2 Goodwood Cup.

He made his first overseas trip later that season when fifth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the G1 Melbourne Cup. He repeated in the Princess of Wales=s and Goodwood Cup the following summer but his career-best came the following June when he denied the defending Gold Cup winner Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a stirring front-running performance. Big Orange made just one start last year, finishing down the field in Meydan=s G2 Dubai Gold Cup before his injury was discovered, and the bay had been warming up for a return at Bell=s Newmarket yard. 

“He’d only been trotting and was due to be re-scanned on Monday, but we brought it forward before he started cantering and there’s a tiny bit of heat on the leg and the warning was there,” said Bell. “It was a no-brainer really, given it had flared up just through trotting. “He’s sound, he’s gone back to Stetchworth [Park Stud] and the Gredleys will make a decision on what he will do in retirement, but he’s got a home whatever happens. It just depends how active he is in retirement.

“He does like being involved and likes a routine, but Bill and Tim are horsemen through and through and will find something he is happy doing.” Paying tribute to Big Orange’s racecourse performances, Bell added, “The Gold Cup at Ascot is right up there with my favourite days, full stop–it was just a fantastic horse race. I’ve been very lucky to be the guy that trained him. He gave his all, the Gredleys loved him and we’ve loved training him. He’ll leave a big hole to fill, but you feel very lucky to have these horses.” (fonte : TDN)