Having already taken out the first two legs of the Stayer Series, the Herald Business Cup (2000M KOR-G3) and the YTN Cup (2000M KOR-G3), both at Seoul, Global Hit, who was crowned champion three-year-old last year having taken out two legs of the Triple Crown, will be the favourite to score again over a similar field.

By To Honor And Serve, Global Hit  is a winner of seven of his twelve races and was runner-up to Winner's Man in both the President's Cup and Grand Prix Stakes to round out his 2023 campaign. He is two for two this season with his wins in the opening two legs of the Stayer Series, both times overcoming a wide draw to settle back and prove too strong. He has a furlong less to play with this time and while he races at what is ostensibly his home track of Busan for the first time in more than a year, he can be too good again.

He has thirteen rivals to contend with. Tuhonui Banseok  won this race and the YTN Cup last year, both times defeating Winner's Man to be crowned the Series champion. Although his form tailed off slightly towards the end of 2023, the Bart Rice trainee was a fair 5th in the Grand Prix Stakes before returning to run 3rd in the Herald Business and then 2nd in the YTN, only going down by a nose to Global Hit in the latter. He draws very nicely to be on pace, and he can be a big danger. Seo Seung-un climbs back on.

NUT PLAY registered a 4th and two 3rd place finishes in the Triple Crown Series last year before scooping up a Listed prize in the autumn. A comfortable class 1 winner over this distance in February, he ran a close 2nd to Global Hit in the Herald Business, before running 4th in the YTN Cup. Both times he has a got a bit far back but with the drop back to 1800M as well as an excellent draw, he may be ridden closer this time and can have a say in the finish.

Former Champion Juvenile SPEED YOUNG was highly fancied in the first two legs of last year's Triple Crown but didn't live up to expectations. He redeemed himself somewhat with a close 2nd to Global Hit – his stablemate – in the final leg, the Minister's Cup and then a 3rd place behind Winner's Man and Global Hit in the President's Cup. With a 5th and a 3rd from the first two legs of the Stayer Series, he should be a contender again.

GALAXY ROAD and ALIVE STAR bookend the barrier in gates one and fourteen respectively. Both are in the best form of their careers at age six and may have a say. Veteran SIMJANGUI GODONG was well back in the first two races in the series but can't be ruled out of a return to form.

The Busan Mayor's Cup is race 3 on the 7-race program at Busan with a local post time of 13:35. Admission to the racecourse is free and the race will be shown live in Korea on the SBS N Sports Channel.

Selections (11) Global Hit (6) Tuhonui Banseok (5) Nut Play (1) Galaxy Road

Next Best 3, 14

Fast Start 3, 6, 7, 11