Outsider is Lim’s biggest win / Galsaem successful at last
Hardride proved to be the most successful ride of jockey Lim Sung Sil’s career as the outsider beat the odds to land the KRW 142Million first prize in the Busan Metropolitan City Cup at Busan Race Park this afternoon. However, it was heartbreak for Hardride’s regular rider Yoo Hyun Myoung who led from the start on Florida Native only to be overtaken in the final few strides. Florida Native was quickest away and with Dongbang Geona and Hardride following, the four-year old set the pace round the first turn and through the back straight.

As they turned for home, odds-on favourite Golding moved up menacingly on the outside under Toshio Uchida and Hardride dropped back to sixth, seemingly out of the hunt for places. There was much more to come, however, as Golding faltered in an ugly sprint. Florida Native increased his lead but Lim Sung Sil had found a run for Hardride and a final furlong dash saw the three-year old gelding overhaul the leader for a half-length win. Another outsider, Winter Invitation ran on for third. It was Hardride’s fifth career victory from fifteen starts and his first at the top level.

At Seoul Race Park, Galsaem finally landed her first victory of 2008. Having taken a pounding from the handicapper and suffering some near misses, the six year old mare took advantage of a weaker than usual cat.1 handicap field and went wire to wire over the 2000 metres for a length and a half win from Sinheung Gangho and Totoro. In the previous race, the scratching of Playing Politics had seen Yodongseong go off the 1.2 favourite and duly record a businesslike two and a half length victory in a 1900 metre handicap.

In other races, the highly thought of two-year old import Bulpae Gisang just managed to hold off the challenge of outsider Black Saint in race 3. The two of them were ten lengths clear of the rest of the field and Bulpae Gisang [Lightnin N Thunder – Neat Trick (Clever Trick)] is now two for two. In a similar race for domestic horses, another two-year old, Nice Choice romped home by ten lengths for his second win in three races and could be one for the Classics next year.

For jockeys it was very much Choi Beom Hyun’s day as he scored four winners to Moon Se young and Park Tae Jong’s two each. Willie Uys was scheduled to make his second appearance, but the South African had to sit out due to a “stomach bug”.

Busan Metro City Cup (G3) – Busan Race Park – 2000M – Nov 9, 2008 – 15:20

1. Hardride (USA) [Colony Light – Lametta (Lomond)] – Lim Sung Sil – 40.0
2. Florida Native (USA) [Kissin Kris – Binndiana (Jose Binn)] – Yoo Hyun Myoung – 12.9
3. Winter Invitation (USA) [Take Me Out – Winter Crown (Cox’s Ridge)] – Jo Chan Hoon – 32.9
Distances: 0.5 lengths/2.5 lengths – 13 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN