With Seoul taking a week off there is a rare (as in twice a year rare) Saturday card at Busan! 10 races from 10:45 to 18:00 and big fields all round. It should be a very good day’s racing:

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

A field of twelve two-year-old debutants will face the starter in the first over the short course. There were two smart trials identified when looking over the replays. The on top selection is (8) MUJEOK YONGBYEONG who won his trial in the softest of fashions. The Mupae Gangja gelding raced in a professional manner when pouncing out of the gates and running through the line in cruise control. Lee Hyo-Sik didn’t pull the whip on him and he looks a nice type on debut. (5) SECRET ILLUSION is the other galloper engaged that impressed in her trial. The daughter of Thunder Moccasin was fast out of the gates before having the pressure applied by other runners for the length of the straight. She also was not struck with the whip once and looked to have plenty more to offer. She ran the fastest time when qualifying and should be considered a winning chance. (4) STRONG MIND trialed in good fashion when finishing third. He was urged along in the straight and responded duly. If he takes some improvement out of the trial, he can run into the money. (7) SEONGSIL SONYEO ran a fair trial when qualifying. She was beaten a big margin but did line up against some more experienced types.

Selections (8) Mujeok Yongbyeong (5) Secret Illusion (4) Strong Mind (7) Seongsil Sonyeo

Next Best 10, 12

Fast Start 5, 7

 

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

Juvenile maidens here with just four of the fourteen having previously appeared on the racecourse. And in fairness, all four of them acquitted themselves well. That, combined with the fact we have some promising first-timers as well, makes for a very competitive affair. (5) ONE PICK is the slight pick. He debuted at this distance on December 6^th and ran well for 3^rd place in a good time behind a couple of useful looking prospects. He can come from just off the pace here and run on well. (7) BANJIUI MAGIC debuted impressively back in September, running 2^nd at 1000M. He’s not been seen since but returned to trial two weeks ago and looked in fine order, running a controlled 2^nd. Among the first-timers. (13) TOP OF TOP looks most likely. By a Korean Derby winner and out of a multiple Korean Stakes winning mare, he led for much of the way in his trial, ultimately finishing 2^nd in a quick time and should go well first up today. (1) PERFECT JEWANG and (3) GEUMA KAIROS are others who caught the eye in the mornings and look in with a chance,

Selections: (5) One Pick (7) Banjiui Magic (13) Top Of Top (1) Perfect Jewang

Next Best: 3, 12

Fast Start: 1, 7, 9, 13

 

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

A capacity field of fourteen will line up in the third all looking for their first win. (8) DONGNIP YEOLGANG looks mighty hard to beat coming off a last start second behind Master King. The Any Given Saturday colt sat on speed in the 1300m event and went down less than a length. He clocked a good time for this class and should prove hard to beat. (7) SPACE POWER showed some improvement last start. The two-year-old Clear Attempt colt settled well back before running on fairly. He comes out of a tougher affair and will appreciated the drop in class. (2) SPEED KINGDOM comes out of the same event as Space Power where he finished midfield. Leading Busan rider You Hyun-Myung takes over which must be seen as a positive. He should take improvement out of his last start run and he is drawn well to sit in the first four in running. (9) WONDERFU EI placed last time out behind Queen Up. The chestnut showed early speed to overcome barrier eleven and sit on speed. He has drawn wide once again so expect Park Jae-I to work forward from the wide draw and position on speed.

Selections (8) Dongnip Yeolgang (7) Space Power (2) Speed Kingdom (9) Wonderfu Ei

Next Best 3, 4, 9

Fast Start 3, 8

 

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

He may be up in class but (9) YEONGSEONG VICTORY is the one to beat here. Having run 2^nd over 1000M on debut in October, he stepped up to this distance and saw off a strong group of rivals for a battling win on November 22^nd. It’s a stiffer ask again here but he looks o have plenty of improvement in him and he should prevail. Yeongseong Victory will be looking to cross and get on pace early and a couple of his main rivals have a tougher task as they try to do the same from wider draws. (11) CAPTAIN STEALTH led for much of the way around on his first try at this level last start, only to be denied late and has serious claims to go close again. Meanwhile (12) LISTEN TO ME and (13) YEONGGWANGUI TIME also come in off runner-up finishes in their respective latest outings and will aim to get across and on to the early speed. Of that pair, Yeonggwangui…  Read more of this post