Alastair Middleton's race-by-race comments for the upcoming races in South Korea

 

 

Thursday, 7 March

BUSAN

Busan Race 1: Class 6 (7f) Special Weight A / $34,000

Just a small field in this maiden but it is a competitive one. Three race for the first time, and based upon his trial, we’re happy to take a chance on (6) GOTOTHEVALHALLA. The Adios Charlie three-year-old showed on pace in his heat before crossing the line in 2nd in a decent time and seemingly with more to spare. If he brings that performance to the races, he has every chance. (8) DAESUNG DREAM similarly showed well in a trial, coming home an on-pace 3rd in a good time on a dry track. He has the challenge of the widest gate but in this small field, that shouldn’t be a problem. Of those with previous racing experience, (4) GOAT KING IJI was a fair 5th on debut and should have derived some benefit from it. (2) SEOGWI OREUM and first-timer (5) GANGSEO PRIDE are others in the hunt. 

Selections    (6) Gotothevalhalla (8) Daesung Dream (4) Goat King Iji (2) Seogwi Oreum
Next Best     5, 3
Fast Start    1, 2, 6, 8

Busan Race 2: Class 6 (6f) Special Weight A / $22,000

Another maiden where we will side with the first timers of which there are just two. It took several trials for (11) FLYING DANU to convince anyone that she is a racehorse, but she was significantly improved in a heat on February 1st when for the first time, she jumped well and led all the way, stopping the clock in a quick time. If that version of her shows up to the races, she can win. (10) MARIA’S CALL trialled last September but never made it to the races. She then went through the same heat as Flying Danu at the beginning of last month, coming home 3rd in a fair time. She too can go well first-up in this company. As for the experience, (5) GOLDEN AIR improved last time out at star number three and can get closer today. (9) WONDERFUL ONE and (7) HANEULPYEONGJEONG others in the hunt. 

Selections    (11) Flying Danu (10) Maria’s Call (5) Golden Air (9) Wonderful One
Next Best     7, 4
Fast Start    1, 5, 10, 11

Busan Race 3: Class 6 (6 1/2f) Special Weight A / $22,000

(3) GREAT MAN gets the verdict here. After an indifferent debut, he has two 4th places and a 3rd from three subsequent outings and beat a couple of these on his latest over 6f on January 21st. He likes to race on pace so draws very well and today can be his day. (6) RED JASPER enters having been a beaten favourite when 5th over this distance in an all filly and mare race on February 16th. Based on her form prior to that, with a 2nd and a 3rd in decent times, she can be given another chance here. That will mean overturning the form on (10) SKY SEUNG, who defied big odds to run a much-improved 2nd over this distance in that February 16th race when settling midfield and running on. She will warrant more respect here. (4) WEST POINT and (5) LEMON DOKKI among others in the frame. 

Selections    (3) Great Man (6) Red Jasper (10) Sky Seung (4) West Point
Next Best     5, 7
Fast Start    3, 7, 11, 12

Busan Race 4: Class 5 (6 1/2f) Handicap / $34,000

Competitive race. (5) SAMAKUI KKOT was a beaten favourite for the second consecutive time when 4th at this class and distance on February 4th, having led for most of the way around. In this company, she should find herself on the speed again and this time she can go all the way. She may not even start as favourite. (3) WILD SERVE comes up in class following a 3rd and a 2nd in two class 6 efforts at 6f and 7f. She is down in the weights, draws nicely and she should have more than enough about her to measure up in this company. (7) I AM LEGEND is up in class after a maiden win at start number four on February 2nd. It came at this distance and under a light weight, she can be competitive. (10) LAND BANK and (11) BREEDO WIZARD among others to keep safe.

Selections    (5) Samakui Kkot (3) Wild Serve (7) I Am Legend (10) Land Bank
Next Best     11, 8
Fast Start    3, 5, 10, 11

Busan Race 5: Class 5 (7f) Handicap / $34,000

(3) META PRINCESS enters off back-to-back wins over 6f and 6 1/2f, the latter at this class and both times settling handy and running on strongly. She remains lightly weighted, she draws well, and she can make it three in a row here. (12) MORNING FLOW finally got his maiden win at the twelfth time of asking at this class and distance on January 21st when settling handy early before taking things up entering the straight and running on very well. It was a super quick time and while he comes up 3.5kg in the weights and has a similarly wide draw, a repeat can’t be ruled out. (4) RAON THE CHEONHA comes up in class have pretty much made all to win over this distancer on January 19th. He comes down in weights and with only three starts in the bank, there is plenty of scope for more improvement. (6) SEOBU VISION and (1) CORNER ONE are among others in the placing frame.

Selections    (3) Meta Princess (12) Morning Flow (4) Raon The Cheonha (6) Seobu Vision
Next Best     1, 9
Fast Start    3, 5, 6, 9

Busan Race 6: Class 4 (1 1/8M) Handicap / $46,000

Plenty enter here with recent form reading very well. (3) STAR CLASS returned to action on February 16th following six-months out and ran a strong 2nd at this class over a mile. He comes up 2kg in the weights but draws very nicely and he should strip fitter for that experience with every chance of going one better on his first try around two turns. (4) BEOLMAUI MONSTER was a winner at this class two starts back over a mile before running 3rd when stepped up to this distance on February 2nd. He has never finished any worse than 4th and should be a big danger here again. (8) MAN OF THE STAR ran 2nd in that February 2nd race, having come from well off the pace. That was his second start back since an eight-month layoff and third-up he can be peaking fitness wise. (2) HAMPYEONG IS BACK and (6) DOCTOR PHAROAH among others who can enter the calculations.

Selections    (3) Star Class (4) Beolmaui Monster (8) Man Of The Star (2) Hampyeong Is Back
Next Best     6, 1
Fast Start    1, 3, 4, 11

Busan Race 7: Class 3 (6f) Handicap / $57,000

(12) CATALINA MARINE got his maiden win in fine style over this distance on February 4th when he sped away from the field in the closing stages to score by as many as he pleased. He is up in class and has the challenge of the widest gate, but he looks to have plenty of potential for more development and he can win again. (9) DOCTOR BROWN can have his latest overlooked as it was in the G2 Breeders’ Cup for juveniles when he led over the 7f but weakened and went right back through the field. Going in his form leading up to that and following thirteen weeks off, he can be given another chance here. (8) GOLDEN WAVE enters off a class and distance 3rd place and should be a place chance again. (10) BREAD HIT and (3) FAST GUN among others in the minor money frame. 

Selections    (12) Catalina Marine (9) Doctor Brown (8) Golden Wave (10) Bread Hit
Next Best     3, 6
Fast Start    1, 8, 10, 11

Busan Race 8: Class 2 (7f) Handicap / $70,000

(11) SEOBU BIGSTEP made it two wins on the bounce when leading every step of the way over this distance on February 23rd. He makes a quick return here and while he is up in class and has the challenge of the widest gate, he comes down in the weights and could prove too good again. (6) JATNAMUGIL was a winner at this class over 6f on February 2nd racing handy throughout. He comes up a full 3.5kg in the weights but he has posted quick times at this distance, and he can measure up again. (7) ROAD TO V was 3rd in that February 2nd race, his second consecutive placing since coming bac from almost six-months off. Third-up he can be peaking and the step back up in trip can suit. (1) CATCH THE VICTORY and (2) GREAT CAPTAIN are others in the hunt.

Selections    (11) Seobu Bigstep (6) Jatnamugil (7) Road To V (1) Catch The Victory
Next Best     2, 5
Fast Start    1, 3, 6, 11