Korea: Friday, 22nd March 2024

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Picture: Racing and Sports

Fillies only in this maiden with four racing for the first time but it's hard to look past (5) HAEUNDAE SUNSHINE. After a green debut last August, she didn't race again until December and has since posted a 3rd and a 4th in two starts at 1200M and 1300M. She'll be on pace in this company, and she should have too much. (10) DAESUNG DOLPUNG has made progress over three starts to date, most recently when 4th at this distance on March 1st when settling behind the speed and running on. Similar to Haeundae Sunshine, in this race she can be expected to be further forward and can go close. The form falls off after those two but (8) RUN TO QUEEN should have come on for her debut on February 25th when on the speed but weakening. She previously trialled well and can stick around a bit longer this time. Of the debut-makers, (11) JAZZ STAR looks comfortably the best while (2) GOLDEN NICE could be a long shot for improvement. 

Selections (5) Haeundae Sunshine (10) Daesung Dolpung (8) Run To Queen (11) Jazz Star
Next Best 2, 7
Fast Start 1, 5, 8, 10

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (1400M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Two standouts here. (8) CHEONHA SARANG scored a 3rd and a 2nd in his first two outings at 1200M and 1400M before running a fair 5th when stepped up to a mile on February 23rd. He likes to race on pace, the drop back in trip should suit, and while any top-three finish will see him in class 5 next time, he can exit the basement level with a win. The danger is (4) GWANGYAEUIHAMSUNG, and not just for tongue-tied race-callers. He has come close over his five starts, with his best being a 3rd place at 1300M in December. There isn't much early speed in this race so he can be on pace or handy and Choi Si-dae climbing up is a plus. It's hard to go past those two, but (2) DAESEUNGNIJA has a pair of 3rd places on her record so long as she is a bit better away than she was last time, can be a threat. (3) STAR PARK and (9) BLAZING MAN others to consider.

Selections (8) Cheonha Sarang (4) Gwangyaeuihamsung (2) Daeseungnija (3) Star Park
Next Best 9, 6
Fast Start 4, 8, 9, 12

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (1300M) Special Weight A / KRW 30 Million

Not a strong maiden here. (5) BLISS MARINE improved to 3rd place at start number two over 1400M on February 2nd when on pace throughout. She gets a much better draw here and third-up can be peaking fitness-wise. She will contest favourite status with (12) NONSTOP DUTY. She has no fewer than five top-four finishes from six starts so far and while she is yet to finish in the top two, she has posted solid times and should be a threat here. (4) POMPEII was a fair 5th on debut behind Bliss Marine on February 2nd, racing handy before running out of energy late on. He should have come on for that run and can get closer here. (10) GWANGSOKMA and (11) TODAY QUEEN among others with placing chances.

Selections (5) Bliss Marine (12) Nonstop Duty (4) Pompeii (10) Gwangsokma
Next Best 11, 1
Fast Start 3, 7, 10, 12

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (1600M) Handicap / KRW 45 Million 

(2) OVER THE TRIPLE got his maiden win at start number two over 1400M in January before running a close 2nd on his first try at this class on February 16th. He comes up to the mile for the first time but there is no reason why it can't suit, and he will be a warm favourite to score again. (11) WONDERFUL KAYLAN comes in off back-to-back runner-up finishes at 1400M – behind Over The Triple – and then at a mile. That brings her up in class here, but she comes down in the weights and she should be competitive. (6) SUPER CRACK and (4) TOP FRIEND come in having finished 4th and 5th respectively when racing one another over 1800M on March 1st and both can be competing here. (8) HAMA another in the frame.

Selections (2) Over The Triple (11) Wonderful Kaylan (6) Super Crack (4) Top Friend
Next Best 8, 9
Fast Start 2, 4, 11, 12

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

Anything could win this. We'll go with (10) ROAD STAR, who followed up a maiden win over this distance in November with a 3rd place in the Listed Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo for juvenile fillies in December. We'll need to draw a lie through her latest, but she comes in fresh following eleven weeks off and has as good a chance as any here. (6) SAENAE HIT remains a maiden but came up to this class after back-to-back runner-up finishes at the turn of the year. She ran a solid 4th place on her first try at this level on February 16th and should be firmly in the hunt here. (2) BORN DIA returns to action for the first time since November and having blitzed a trial at the start of this month, must warrant consideration from a good draw. (1) MASTER ROAD and (9) DOCTOR LICA others to consider.

Selections (10) Road Star (6) Saenae Hit (2) Born Dia (1) Master Road
Next Best 9, 8
Fast Start 1, 2, 10, 11

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(3) CHOEGOUI KKUM was an effortless winner on debut on February 23rd, leading every step of the way and winning by as many as he pleased in a quick time over 1200M. He comes up in class and distance, but the manner of that victory suggests there is more to come, and the Bucchero colt is the one to beat here. (10) FANTASTIC WORLD got his maiden win at start number two over 1200M in January, coming from off the pace, before running a solid 4th on February 25th when he led for much of the way around over a mile. The slight drop back in trip can suit and he will be a danger. (12) WINNABLE EDITION was a distant 2nd behind Choegoui Kkum in that February 23rd race. He doesn't seem likely to overturn that form, but he should beat plenty again. (4) ROUGH TRACER and (6) FIRE MAGIC among others in the minor money hunt.

Selections (3) Choegoui Kkum (10) Fantastic World (12) Winnable Edition (4) Rough Tracer
Next Best 6, 5
Fast Start 2, 3, 5, 7

Busan Race 7: Class 4 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

Wide open race so we'll take a chance with (2) NUMBERONEPICK. He finished back in the field over a mile last time out, but he comes back to a trip today at which he is a two-time winner and under a light weight and from a good gate, he can return to winning ways. (5) RAP VERSA returned to form with a solid 2nd place at class and distance on January 7th. He comes in fresh here following eleven weeks out and can go close again. (7) MIRACLE ONE was sent off as the favourite in that January 7th race but had a poor day at the office. His form prior to that was good though and he warrants another chance here. (10) SANGIM YEOWANG and (3) UNJU MACH among plenty of others in with a shout.

Selections (2) Numberonepick (5) Rap Versa (7) Miracle One (10) Sangim Yeowang
Next Best 3, 1
Fast Start 2, 8, 9, 11

Busan Race 8: Class 3 (1800M) Handicap / KRW 75 Million

(12) GRAND SUN has the challenge of the widest gate here but enters with recent form reading very nicely including a last start 2nd place at class and distance on February 18th when handy and running on. He was the beaten favourite that day but is worth another chance here. (11) FANTASTIC FIELD was 3rd in that same race having raced on pace throughout. He is a winner of three from six so far and should have benefitted from what was his first spin around two-turns. He remains nicely weighted and is a big danger. (8) HAPPY JAZZ enters off a class and distance runner-up finish on March 3rd when close to the pace throughout and she similarly looks nicely in here. (9) ZETTA DREAM and (6) RAON THE POWER among plenty of other placing chances.

Selections (12) Grand Sun (11) Fantastic Field (8) Happy Jazz (9) Zetta Dream
Next Best 6, 2
Fast Start 7, 8, 11, 12

Korean Racing Authority