21/01/2021. KOREA: Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (January 22) // (UK) Newbury in Talks With BHA to Keep Vaccination Centre Running While Racing // (USA) Gulfstream/NYRA Host Acacia Courtney, Talks Pegasus, Marketing Racing on TV , and More on the TDN Writers’ Room
The behind closed-doors Covid-Relief racing continues in Korea with Seoul, Busan and Jeju all hosting simultaneous cards on Friday. We’ll focus on the Busan card which is available on international simulcast with 10 races from 10:40 to 15:30. The feature is a heavyweight clash over 1400M as Today races for the first time since running 2nd in the Curlin Handicap at last year’s Dubai Carnival. He’s not going to find it easy either as he faces the up and coming Ssonsal.
Today races for the first time since running 2nd in the Curlin Handicap in Dubai last February. He runs straight into Ssonsal at Busan
Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
Tricky little filly maiden to begin with where just four of the twelve have raced before. (2) ARTIE’S GAL was well supported in November having won a trial in a fast time. She led for much of the way around over 1200M before running out of petrol and finishing 3rd. She can be given another chance today. (12) B.K. POWER similarly led in his latest two races only to end up 2nd and 3rd over 1000M and 1200M respectively. The draw is not ideal here but if he can overcome it, then he has a fair chance of finishing on top this time. (1) BARAM GONGJU didn’t really catch the eye in three appearances, the most recent of which was in February of last year. She did though look well when leading all the way in a December trial and we can expect improvement today. Among the first-timers there aren’t really any standouts. (3) DOCTOR FAPPIANO and (6) STARLIGHT registered the best trial times and can be expected to go well first-up here.
Selections
(2) Artie’s Gal (12) B.K. Power (1) Baram Gongju (3) Doctor Fappiano
Next Best
6, 10
Fast Start
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 12
Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
(7) MIRACLE SON won at start number three on December 6th, coming from just off the pace to prevail by four-lengths at this distance. He gets another crack at the same level today and while he is carrying an extra 1.5kg, he can win again. There are a couple of credible challengers though. (12) ECHO RUSH may not have win to his name but he recorded a faster time over this distance in similar conditions when 2nd on December 5th having briefly led in the home straight. He has the wide draw to contend with but if he can get up close relatively early then he has claims. So too does (8) LUCAS SUN. He was a little bit slow off the mark last start on his first try at today’s distance but rallied well for 3rd place and today’s jockey booking catches the eye. (5) DAMYANG JEWANG is another in contention having returned from five months out to run 2nd at this distance in December. He’s drawn well to get on the early speed and should be a factor at the business end too.
Selections
(7) Miracle Son (12) Echo Rush (8) Lucas Sun (5) Damyang Jewang
Next Best
2, 10
Fast Start
1, 5, 12
Race 3: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
This is a tricky one. The only previous winner is (10) BABY LINE who broke through at start number four on December 5th. That was over 1200M and he was ridden a touch more patiently than he had been in his opening three efforts. The additional trip may suit. (8) GOLDEN KAISER was a long way behind a good winner when 3rd on debut at the end of November. He should have come on for thee run and has claims to go closer today. (11) DIVINE QUEEN and (2) KING OF JOY came home 3rd and 5th when they raced each other over 1200M on December 5th. They are the only pair to have previous experience over this trip and both have at least placing chances today. (4) MIDNIGHT QUEEN ran 5th to Baby Line last start but in all three of her outings to date, she has run on well late and may appreciate the opportunity of more distance today. (1) THE FIRST FACTOR too has shown some ability and can’t be ruled out.
Selections
(10) Baby Line (8) Golden Kaiser (1) The First Factor (11) Divine Queen
Next Best
2, 4, 5
Fast Start
5, 10
Race 4: Class 6 (1400M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million
(2) TOP OF KOREA is a winner of two from three so far including his latest which came at this class and distance on December 12th. He’s drawn well to get close to the early speed and with less weight on his back than last time, he is favoured to score again. He faces a few useful ones though. (9) QUEEN UP was 6th behind Top Of Korea in that race but she was racing for the first time since January and evidently needed it. She can improve today. (7) BARAMEUI KKUM beat three of these on his way to class and distance 3rd on December 5th, running on strong and he too can have designs on at least a place again. (10) GOBLIN was well back in that race but he was first-up and today carries 4.5kg less and can improve. (1) WONDERFUL KING and (11) DOCTOR KHAN are also better than their respective latest appearances suggest.
Selections
(2) Top Of Korea (7) Barameui Kkum (10) Goblin (9) Queen Up
Next Best
1, 11, 6
Fast Start
1, 2, 12
Race 5: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 42 Million
Fillies and mares only here. Both (1) ILNYEOM TONGCHEON and (4) MY QUEEN have done their best work – and scored their victories – at 1400M. They both step back in trip today and find themselves amongst a competitive field. That said it would be no surprise were they to end up battling for top honours. Both are front runners and of the pair, My Queen is marginally favoured to prevail. (3) YEONGGWANGUI TIME has the speed to beat them both as she showed when winning at class and distance last October. She was slowly away from a dreadful gate in her only start since but still rallied for 5th. Much better drawn today, she should be a big factor. (2) QUEEN MARVEL IJI is also capable of running a competitive time and can be aiming for a place while (6) MY TIZ GEM and (12) HANBIT YEONGGWANG are among others in the frame for a money finish.
Selections
(4) My Queen (1) Ilnyeom Tongcheon (3) Yeonggwangui Time (2) Queen Marvel Iji
Newbury in Talks With BHA to Keep Vaccination Centre Running While Racing
A horse clears a fence at Newbury | Racingfotos.com
Newbury Racecourse is in talks with the British Horseracing Authority to continue its role as a vaccination centre while simultaneously holding racing. Located in Berkshire, the venue is a COVID-19 vaccination centre and has the capacity to vaccinate 1,500 people daily. However, that service was halted on Wednesday, as that date marked a National Hunt card. Vaccinations will resume on Thursday, Jan. 21. The next fixture at the course in on Feb. 13. Newbury is not providing vaccinations seven days a week at this time.
“The BHA supports the idea that the vaccination service is a national priority and therefore the aim is to make arrangements which allow racing events to take place alongside the vaccination rollout where possible,” said a spokesperson for the BHA. “We would consider any such proposal from Newbury and work with them on possible arrangements for future racedays.”
“When the NHS first approached Newbury Racecourse to use one of the grandstands as a local vaccination centre, they were made aware of our scheduled racing meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 20 and all future fixtures,” the course said in a statement. “It was also made clear that under the BHA and government guidance for elite sport with our current layout, the vaccination centre could not operate on live racedays.
“We understand the NHS considered this carefully and given the centre is not providing vaccinations to the public seven days per week, they have planned their vaccination programme accordingly to work around the two racedays we host in the next 42 days.
“Following the success of the first week of the vaccination centre with positive feedback from patients, we now have an established operational model that the NHS wish to use moving forward. As a result, we are now able to approach the BHA to see if an exception can be made to the regulations for future racedays, allowing the vaccination centre to operate alongside racing if required.”
“Newbury Racecourse is extremely proud to play a small part in the fight against COVID-19 capitalising on the abundance of space we have to offer and have played a role throughout the pandemic as a community hub, acting as a Primary Care Unit during the first lockdown and operating a Meals on Wheels service to some of the most vulnerable and elderly in the area.
“Together with West Berks NHS, the local GP surgeries and the host of volunteers, we remain completely committed to supporting the local community and surrounding area during this challenging time.” (by TDN)
Gulfstream/NYRA Host Acacia Courtney, Talks Pegasus, Marketing Racing on TV and More on the TDN Writers’ Room
With the fifth running of the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. on the horizon, Gulfstream television host Acacia Courtney joined the TDN Writers’ Room presented by Keeneland Wednesday morning. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Courtney talked about the significance of her and her colleagues’ work on the New York Racing Association’s “America’s Day at the Races” broadcast that shined while other sports were on hold due to the pandemic last spring, how she thinks racing can better market itself and more.
”We got so much positive feedback from [the NYRA show], which was really appreciated,” Courtney said of the fan reaction. “We love our jobs and we’re very lucky to have them, particularly this year. It was really special that we were able to continue bringing the excitement and love of horse racing to people who were longtime fans as well as people who were newer to the game. They were able watch and feel like they were there with us. It was a lot of work because we were kind of a skeleton crew so it was a little bit exhausting, but at the same time, it was so fulfilling. I’m so grateful to be a part of it. I just really hope we’re able to have fans back, particularly at a place like Saratoga, next year.”
Elsewhere on the podcast, the crew discussed their views on the future of the Pegasus and, in the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment, shared their surprises from the announcement of this year’s Eclipse Award finalists.
