Lucky Mountain, Dream Runner & Best Fusion Land Exchange Trophies / Subsidy has to wait for the Billion
South African Greg Cheyne took the opening race of the 2008 International Jockey Challenge with a solid length and a half win on three year old colt Daesahyeong at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. It was Moon Se Young on Ever Rich who bounded out of the gate to open up an early lead in the 1700 metre race. They were joined in the back straight by Anthony Black on Goun Sesang and the two horses led round the final turn. At this stage, Cheyne was looking boxed in on the inside, but as the leaders tired, a gap began to open up at the two furlong pole. Others ran wide and Cheyne took Daesahyeong, the 8.1 third-favourite, down the rail to sprint clear, winning with plenty in hand. Favourite Janggun Bada partnered by Oh Kyoung Hoan, who is not part of the Challenge, finished second with Japanese rider Issei Murate in third on Meotjin Segye.
On a big day’s racing, there were three International Exchange Trophy races all of which went resonably to form. First up was the Singapore Turf Club Trophy Race and it was 6.5 third favourite Lucky Mountain who emerged the half lenth victor after long-time leader Happy Box with Malaysian jockey Ronald Woodworth on board weakened badly in the straight. Next up was the Australian Jockey Club Trophy which saw another big race win for Moon Se Young, this time on the 1.8 favourite Dream Runner. The filly came through the middle of the field in the final furlong to win in a more impressive fashion than the length and a quarter margin of victory would suggest. Finally there was the Horse Racing Ireland Trophy and again, it went to the favourite as Best Fusion went wire to wire for a comfortable four length win under Kim Hyo Seob.
In other races, Subsidy was aiming to take his career earnings to over KRW 1 Billion in the feature handicap. However, despite being backed into 2.2 favourite, the eight year old is going to have to wait a little longer as he could only manage third. Vicar Love, winner of the YTN Cup in August, bounced out the gate, extended his lead in the back straight and never looked back from then on, the the three year old running on for an eye-catching six length win with Owner’s Association Trophy winner Saerounbisul leading the well-beaten field in. Vicar Love goes on to six wins from nine outings, this his first in cat.1 company.
Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow with the first off at 11:20. The three remaining races of the International Jockey Challenge are races 5, 6 and 8. Greg Cheyne is going to have a tough time hanging on to his lead as his rides tomorrow are not well-fancied. Racegoers should, however, see both Robert Thompson and Anthony Black given the opportunity to show what they can do as both have winning chances, as indeed does Park Tae Jong for Korea. Highlight of the day, however, is perhaps the JRA Trophy Race which will see Playing Politics looking to get back in form by ending the unbeaten streak of Brilliant Knight when the two clash over six furlongs at 15:10 with the likes of K J Khan set to keep them good company. There is also a six race card at Busan Race Park, with the first going to post at 12:40.
Singapore Turf Club Trophy Race – Seoul Race Park – Oct 4, 2008 – 1300M
1. Lucky Mountain (KOR) [Silent Warrior – Myeonggahui (Revere)] – Cho Kyoung Ho
2. Magic Bouquet (AUS) [Telesto – Romance The Stone (Tolomeo)] – Ikuyasu Kurakane
3. Admiral Warstorm (USA) [Delineator – Butterbean (Buckaroo)] – Yoo Sang Wan
Distances: 0.5 lengths and 0.5 lengths
Australian Jockey Club Trophy Race – Seoul Race Park – Oct 4, 2008 – 1400M
1. Dream Runner (KOR) [Our Poetic Prince – Aubrey (Mustin Lake)] – Moon Se Young
2. Satya (KOR) [The Groom is Red – Fusaichi Suzuran (Thrill Show)] – Shin Hyoung Chul
3. Gayawangbi (KOR) [Duality – Silver Sonic Lady (Lot O’Gold)] – Yoo Seung Wan
Distances: 1.25 lengths and 4 lengths
Horse Racing Ireland Trophy Race – Seoul Race Park – Oct 4, 2008 – 1800M
1. Best Fusion (KOR) [Didyme – Morning Red Sky (Chisos)] – Kim Hyo Seob
2. First Flower (KOR) [Happy Jazz Band – Makemeanactress (Noactor)] – Yang Hee Jin
3. Gwacheonhwalbo (KOR) [Social Charter – Pyramid Sky (Mark In The Sky)] – Shin Hyoung Cheol
Distances: 4 lengths and 2.5 lengths
Horse Racing in Korea 