Ebony Storm finally wins / Iku bows out blank
Bally Brae emphatically proved that his return to the Winner’s Circle last month was no fluke as he powered to another big race win at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The seven year old had scarcely a single backer in the build-up to the race with the younger pair of Baekjeonmupae and Vicar Love heavily favoured.

Punters knew better, however, and be it out of sentimentality – and Korean racegoers are not, by and large, a sentimental lot – or a genuine belief that the 2006 Horse of the Year is still at the top of his game, by post time Bally Brae had been backed into favourite.

He didn’t disappoint. Vicar Love set the early pace until Cho Kyoung Ho brought the five year old Dankee’s Pal around the field in the back-straight, stretching out to a lead of over five lengths. He maintained the lead going into the home straight and for a while it looked as though he may hold on. Bally Brae, Baekjeonmupae and Vicar Love entered the home straight together but it was only Bally Brae who had the speed to run down Dankee’s Pal, passing him in sight of the line to enable Moon Se Young to perform his familiar victory celebration on this horse as they crossed it.

Some had pointed out that last time, Bally Brae had not had much to beat. Today the big boys were there and now, Dongbanui Gangja is the only horse to have the beating of Bally Brae on current form. Korean racing needs more horses like Bally Brae and another it needs more like is his great rival from 2006, Subsidy. Today the eight year old showed that while he may have slowed, he still belongs in top class races, running on for a creditable fifth, just a length behind Vicar Love, to record his thirty third money finish from thirty six races.

Earlier, Subsidy’s little sister Soseono was denied a second career victory by the narrowest of margins. The filly was leading in the final furlong of race 8, only to be pipped on the line by favourite New Destination.

Down at Busan Race Park, it was Ikuyasu Kurakane’s final day in the saddle in Korea. The Japanese jockey, who will be sorely missed by punters on the south coast, had an uncharacteristically quiet day troubling the placings just once – a third placed finish on Choedae Geoljakpum just behind Phasmes and Jilju Hara in a three way photo finish to race 5.

Nearly a year after his Derby triumph, Ebony Storm finally made his way back to the Winner’s Circle in Busan’s feature. The four year old has managed plenty of second placed finishes but today was finally able to go one better with a fast finish to come from behind to overhaul Gangjaui Beopchik and long time leader Wellbeing Sidae with just metres to spare.

Class 1 (Foreign bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Apr 26, 2009

1. Bally Brae (USA) [Yarrow Brae – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] – Moon Se Young – 2.3
2. Dankee’s Pal (USA) [Max’s Pal – Dankee (Regal Intention)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 10.0
3. Baekjeonmupae (NZ) [Traditionally – Star Sixty Seven (Phone Trick)] – Moon Jung Kyun – 2.9
Distances: 1.25 lengths/1 length – 12 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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Secret Weapon wins/Symphony Sonata beaten
Gangho sent out another warning to Seoul’s elite group of horses as he continued his rapid progress with a fourth straight win at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Once more, it was not so much that he won but the manner of it that suggests that this three year old colt has the potential to be the dominant force at the track for some time to come. For the fourth time running, Boo Min Ho took Gangho into an early lead, gave the reins a shake as they rounded the home turn and then allowed him stretch away from the field in the home straight, easing down this time for a nine length win.

This time last year, two three year old imports, Shaving Points and Playing Politics were the horses everyone was talking about. Shaving Points suffered some niggling injuries and hasn’t been able to live up to his early promise. Playing Politics meanwhile was just beginning to demonstrate that he was the real deal when he was struck down with a devastating knee injury in February this year. That he and Gangho will never meet on the track is regrettable. As it is, if Gangho continues to develop as he has so far, the showdown to look forward to will be with Dongbanui Gangja – possibly as early as the Owner’s Association Trophy in June.

While Gangho was the star-attraction of the day, his race wasn’t the feature. That went to Secret Weapon following the early scratching of likely favourite Good Day. For Secret Weapon it was his first win of what had been a disappointing 2009 so far.

Earlier on an eventful day, Ganghan Speed landed a useful fillies and mares race over seven furlongs. The three year old got the better of two year old upstart D Day, who was looking for her third straight win. There was also a second career defeat for Symphony Sonata. The four year old, by E. Dubai and out of First Violin is being watched closely by Korean racegoers due to his parentage. Today he stepped up to class 3 and ran smack into a fully loaded Triple Canon who got the better of him in a stretch battle for a three length win. Triple Canon is now on four wins from seven and is very much a possible Derby contender.

Down at Busan Race Park, there was also an eventful card. Dangdae Star landed the feature race and Sandeomi and Haste found themselves upset a race earlier by a late run from Glory Winner, the five year old gelding upsetting the three year old classic hopefuls.

Class 2 (Foreign bred) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – Apr 19, 2009

1. Gangho (USA) [Peace Rules – Honor Delilah (Honor Grades)] – Boo Min Ho – 1.5
2. Kahnui Jeonseol (NZ) [Howbaddouwantit – Flash (Jetball)] – Ham Was Sik – 7.9
3. Saerounachim (NZ) [Pyrus – Jouet (Langfuhr)] – Kim Dong Cheol – 36.5
Distances: 9 lengths/0.75 lengths – 12 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

It was easy once more for Dongbanui Gangja as the four year old again confirmed his status as Seoul’s top horse with a commanding victory at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Carrying at least seven kilos more than any of his eight rivals, last year’s Grand Prix winner was, as usual, tucked in towards the rear of the field by Choi Beom Hyun as they emerged from the gate at the start of the ten furlong race.

Improving in the back-straight, Choi brought Dongbanui Gangja towards the front as they turned for home and the race was won with nothing likely to live with him in the straight. At the line, the winning margin was seven lengths.

Dongbanui Gangja is now unbeaten in six and has lifetime figures of eleven wind from eighteen outings. The well beaten second was Seungyu Sinhwa with Brilliant Knight taking third.

In other races, after nearly a year without a win, jockey Lee Ae Li recorded her second in as many racing days by taking race 1 on Haedong Teukgeup. Moon Se Young was back in action today but the champion jockey may have been suffering exhaustion on his return from honeymoon as he unusually falied to register a winner.

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow with the first off at 11:20. Gangho, who could be giving Dongbanui Gangja a run for his moey later in the year, goes in race 9 at 17:00. Busan Race park gets underway at 12:40 and Jeju Race Park at 12:10.

Class 1 (Foreign bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Apr 18, 2009

1. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 1.3
2. Seungyu Sinhwa (USA) [Commendable – Backroom Blues (Dixieland Band)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 13.7
3. Brilliant Knight (USA) [Lion Hearted – Deputy Lady (French Deputy)] – Park Tae Jong – 7.0
Distances: 7 lengths/0.5 lengths

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Mighty Runner finally lived up to his potential as the five year old strode to victory in the Ttukseom Cup in front of a huge crowd at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Sixth in the betting, the horse who won only once in his first thirteen outings held off a field including Myeongmun Gamun and last year’s winner Namchonuijijon over seven furlongs.

Sent off slight favourite, the notoriously recalcitrant Myeongmun Gamun lapsed back into his bad habits at the gate. After thirty one starts, the 2008 Horse of the Year is still no fonder of the starting stalls than he ever has been and is wise to the attempts of the handlers to coax him in. With a leadin, a blindfold and brute force all failing, after a full five minutes, the eight year decided that actually he wouldn’t mind running today and lined up. His pre-race exertions may have taken their toll as he was slow to get away.

It was the mare Geumsuni, breaking from stall 12 who sprinted across the track to take the early lead with Seven Card right behind her as Kim Hyo Seob tucked Mighty Runner into third as they reached the end of the back-straight.

Geumsuni continued to lead as the field came together rounding the home turn and she led Taebaek Janggun into the home straight first. Taebaek Janggun quickly dropped out of contention as Mighty Runner started the sprint, hitting the front with a furlong to go. Meanwhile, Jung Ki Yong coaxed Namchonuijijon into top gear down the outside with Triple Seven and Choi Beom Hyun emerging from the pack to join the challenge.

They were too late, however, as Mighty Runner never looked in danger of being caught with the winning margin two and a half lengths on the line. Namchonuijijon just managed to hold off Triple Seven for third with Geumsuni staying on to a creditable fourth. Myeongmun Gamun’s traditional late run came too late with the favourite only maging fifth place, equally his worst ever finish in this race in 2006.

For Mighty Runner, it was a seventh career victory with six of these now coming in his last seven outings. He finished sixth behind J.S. Hold in the 2007 Derby but remained in the lower ranks until beginning his remarkable run last September which saw him improve from class 4 to class 1 in the space of four races.

Ttukseom Cup (G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – Apr 12, 2009

1. Mighty Runner (KOR) [Pacific Bounty – Roan All Over (Fight Over)] – Kim Hyo Seob – 16.1
2. Namchonuijijon (KOR) [Concept Win – Intriga (Lord At Law)] – Jung Ki Yong – 3.4
3. Triple Seven [The Groom Is Red – Impudence (Grand Lodge)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 5.0
Distances: 2.5 lengths/Head
Also Ran: 4. Geumsuni; 5. Myeongmun Gamun; 6. Seven Card; 7. Free Woody; 8. Saebyeok Dongja; 9. Seonju Jangsu; 10. Lucky Seven; 11. Highway Star; 12. Taebaek Janggun

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Torpedo Mast wins / First victory for Abigail
Punters brought the sun-block out for the first time this year as Seoul basked in the sunshine for the first day of the Ttukseom Cup meeting. And with the cherry blossoms in bloom in the infield and a big Saturday crowd in attendance, it was five year old mare Wig who landed the day’s feature race.

Sent off second in the betting, Wig made a late run under Choi Beom Hyun to overhaul Esteban, who had led from the gate, in the final furlong. Favourite Baram Queen, one of Seoul’s top fillies last season, ran into second with the tiring Esteban hanging on for third. Wig ran in a slew of big races last year but went through her entire four year old season without a win. Today’s victory takes her on to five in her career.

In the top race for foreign bred horses, Torpedo Mast took the honours, outsprinting odds-on favourite Free Hugs to win by a Head on the line. Earlier, on what was a generally low-key card, Australian-bred My Photo Map took his second consecutive win, overcoming another odds favourit in Badauibyeol.

In other races, after three consecutive second place finishes, promising three year old filly Abigail broke her maiden, taking a very competitive race 5 with victory over debut making Australian two year old Sumba.

With champion jockey Moon Se Young away on honeymoon, the old guard took the opportunity to make up some ground in the jockey’s championship. Park Tae Jong landed a treble with wins on Smart Khan, Saebyeokgisang and Galmasan while fellow veteran Kim Hyo Seob managed a double. It was also a good day for Stephan Swanepoel. Still to record his first winner in Korea, the South African managed consecutive thirds in races 3 and 4.

Tommorrow sees the main event of the weekend with the 21st running of the Ttukseom Cup with Namchonuijijon and Myeongmun Gamun heading the field. The big race isn’t until 5pm but the first race goes to post at 11:20. Busan gets its card underway at 12:40 and the ponies will be running on Jeju Island from 12:10.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL