Month: October 2009

Leading Sire Race Neck And Neck

With the Classics out of the way it seems a good time to check on the leading sires race. And with Sangseung Ilro taking two legs of the Triple Crown and finishing third in the final one, Concept Win’s offspring are locked in a tight battle with those of Didyme to reclaim the title he last won in 2006.

Concept Win [Manila – Conveniently (In Reality)] has been in Korea since 1997 and was leading sire in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Didyme has ruled since then, with sheer numbers of winners rather than big race stars, giving him a slight advantage as we head into the tail end of the season. With just over two months to go, Didyme leads by just 40 Million won ($35,000) with Revere a further 100 Million Won behind.

What remains remarkable about Didyme, however, is his win rate – with 63 wins from 438 starts he has a win percentage of nearly 15% compared to 8% for Concept Win (43 wins from 500 starts). While Sangseung Ilro has accounted for over 600 Million Won of Concept Win’s earnings, Didyme’s top earner, Areumdaun Jilju, has made just 150 Million won. With the talent spread around, it looks as though it’s going to be three years running for Didyme.

Leading Sires in Korea 2009 (As of October 19)
Name/Pedigree/Earnings (Korean Won)/Chief Earner/Win Rate

1. Didyme (USA) [Dixieland Band – Soundings (Mr. Prospector)] – 2,379,790,000 – Areumdaun Jilju – 14.4%
2. Concept Win (USA) [Manila – Conveniently (In Reality)] – 2,331,894,000 – Sangseung Ilro – 8.6%
3. Revere (IRE) [Dancing Brave – Bint Pasha (Affirmed)] – 2,243, 940,000 – Pangpang – 8.4%
4. Ft. Stockton (USA) [Cure The Blues – Tai The Devil (Tai)] – 1,897,778,000 – Namdo Jeap – 9.5%
5. Social Charter (USA) [Nureyev – Aunt Pearl (Seattle Slew)] – 1,739,596,000 – Natural Guy – 8.1%

Volponi has been the best performer so far out of eleven first crop sires (albeit with just two wins) and is sixth overall in the list of sires of two year olds.

Full details can be found at the Korean Studbook.

Hitomi At The Double

It hasn’t taken new girl Hitomi Miyashita long to settle into her new environment at Busan. Having landed three second place finishes on her debut weekend, today she followed it up with her first victory – and then immediately after with her second.

Having safely seen home hot favourite Seongsu Yeongung in race 3, she came out and did the same on the promising two year old Time To Fly in race 4. She wasn’t finished there as she took Max Is Cruisin to third place in the feature event of the afternoon.

That feature event was won by Crafty Louis, the six year old notching up his fifth win of 2009, holding off Phasmes by three lengths. While Hitomi landed two winners, Crafty Louis was the third win of the day for jockey Jo Chang Wook.

Earlier this year, Hitomi Miyashita was pictured next to Toshio Uchida at a ceremony in Japan where “Mr Pink” won an award for his performance in Korea and Hitomi picked up a Lady Jockey prize. That picture must have struck fear into the Busan Jockey colony with memories of Uchida’s dominance at the track last year still dominant. Hitomi may be no Uchida, but if she continues with the same kind of support she’s had from trainers so far and then doing the business in the saddle, she’s going to be a regular visitor to the winner’s circle.

Up at Seoul, Donga Ilbo winner Dangdaeteukgeup followed up with a smart win over 1900 metres. The filly is now just one win away from entering the top tier of Korean racing. That same top tier today put on a rather low key feature event where Obaek Yechan tasted victory for the fist time since November 2007.

The six year old came through late for a surprisingly convincing four length win over Model Student and Seungyu Sinhwa. For the second race running, favourite Dankee’s Pal vanished without trace entering the home straight.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Baekgwang Rolls Back The Years

The White Light Shines Again At Seoul
It’s almost three years to the day since Baekgwang roared up the Seoul Race Park home straight reeling in horse after horse to land the 2006 Minister’s Cup. That win completed a hat-trick of big race wins and was enough to see him crowned Champion Three Year Old of that year. Having started his 2007 campaign in much the same fashion, injury struck and has plagued him ever since.

Off the track for nearly a year, he returned in the 2008 Ttukseom Cup and ran a strong second only to return to his barn with severely damaged knee ligaments. His career looked over once and for all. However, a year of stem cell therapy and recuperation on Jeju Island saw Baekgwang make a second comeback fifteen months later in this July’s SBS Cup, the race his little sister Baekpa had won in his absence last year. Baekgwang ran fourth, keeping his record of always finishing in the money intact but most importantly, he came out of the race in fine condition.

A second place to Gi Ra Seong followed last month but today, the rehabilitation was complete. Running seventh of nine as they entered the straight, Baekgwang – the “White Light” – ran them all down to finally reclaim his rightful place in the winner’s circle. Yes he was favourite in a slightly sub-par class 1 field and yes, big danger Hwangnyongsaji was a late scratching but in winning, Baekgwang brought a smile to the face of even the most hardened punter.

Baekgwang will almost certainly be pointed next at November’s President’s Cup – a race that, had he stayed injury free, he would no doubt have been in the mix for over the past two years. While the winner of the last two editions, Myeongmun Gamun, is now out of the picture, the likes of Gi Ra Seong and Secret Weapon remain very much on the prowl and Baekgwang will be an outsider.

Whatever happens next will happen. Punters paid him the ultimate compliment by yelling his name rather than his number as he entered the stretch this afternoon – an honour that only Subsidy, Bally Brae and Baekpa have received recently. His place in Korean racing history is already assured and the best thing about it is that against all odds, it’s not over yet.

Shaka is on hand with video of the race.

Class 1 Handicap – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Oct 17, 2009

1. Baekgwang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.6, 1.0
2. Free Woody (KOR) [Social Charter – Choeseonbong (Imperial Prince)] – Lee Jun Cheol – 3.4
3. Ugildongja (KOR) [Dixie Dot Com – May Roses (Incinderator)] – Moon Jung Kyun – 1.4
Distances: 0.5 lengths/0.5 lengths – 9 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

Big Chance for Baekgwang
Baekgwang is the star attraction of the weekend with the grey former champion three year old set to make his third appearance of his comeback. Now six, Baekgwang will finish off his preparations for a likely tilt at next month’s President’s Cup as he heads a field of ten in Saturday’s feature race at Seoul Race Park.

While it is a competitive field it is also a beatable one and, while the likes of Hwangnyongsaji, Machine Gun and Ugildongja are all proven winners, Baekgwang has his best chance since his return from stem cell therapy of finding himself back in the winner’s circle for the first time in nearly three years.

The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan on Friday with ten races while on Sunday one of the track’s stars, Crafty Louis will be on show in the pick of six races.

Busan Race Park

Friday October 16: 10 races, first post 13:00, last 17:30
Sunday October 18: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday October 17: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Sunday October 18: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:00

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday October 17: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10
Sunday October 18: 10 races, first post 12:10, last 17:35

Suryeohan Makes Short Work in Gyeongnam

Busan Round-up
Somewhat lost on Minister’s Cup Day at Seoul was that Busan also put on an interesting card on Sunday afternoon. Highlight was the Gyeongnam Shinmun Cup, one of the track’s most valuable filly races of the year.

Open to fillies in the second of the five tiers of racing at Busan, it was a chance for a number of three year olds to make the step up to the top level. In the end, it was Suryeohan, fifth in the Oaks who took the honours. Under Chae Gyu Jun, the third favourite hitting the front three furlongs out and had enough in reserve to hold off the very late challenge from relative outsider Viva Galileo by a comfortable two and a half lengths.

On board Suryeohan was new girl Hitomi Miyashita while Eiki Nishimrura made it two Japanese riders in the first three, bringing home Golden Egg in third. With Martin Wepner taking top honours at Seoul, it was another good day for foreign jockeys in Korea.

Gyeongnam Shinmun – Busan Race Park – 1400M – Sun Oct 11, 2009

1. Suryeohan (KOR) [Commendable – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – Chae Gyu Jun – 4.3, 1.3
2. Viva Galileo (KOR) [Galileo – Jessie’s Lass (Danehill)] – Hitomi Miyashita – 3.4
3. Golden Egg (KOR) [Duality – Bo Sang (Baptize)] – Eiki Nishimura – 10.8
Distances: 2.5 lengths/1.75 lengths – 14 ran

Glory For Namdo Jeap in Minister’s Cup

Sangseung Ilro’s Triple Crown dream ends / Wepner victorious
Sangseung Ilro battled all the way to the line in a brave bid to become the first filly in history to land the Korean Triple Crown at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. But it was stablemate and runner-up in both the first two legs, Namdo Jeap, who finally had his day in front of a crowd of 60,000 assembled for the Minister’s Cup.

Given a terrific ride by Martin Wepner, Namdo Jeap was always in control of the ten furlong race – the final Classic of the season. After taking an early lead from Ilgan Sports winner Khanui Jeguk, Namdo Jeap had favourite Nice Choice on his tail on the rail as they turned for home while Jo Sung Gon took Sangseung Ilro wide to launch her challenge.

The challenge was both thrilling and valiant. With a furlong to go, it looked as though Sangseung Ilro could write her name into history as the gap closed. However, with Nice Choice also gunning into top gear, Wepner coaxed Namdo Jeap into a final effort and the colt responded magnificently to hold off his rivals by a neck on the line.

For South African jockey Wepner, it was not only the biggest win of his Korean career, but also repayment for trainer Kim Young Kwan who brought him back from the brink of quitting Korea after the Derby in May and for the owner who put him back on Namdo Jeap.

In second place, Nice Choice showed his class re-affirmed his status as Seoul’s top three year old. That an eigth successive Classic has gone the way of a Busan based horse, however, must set alarm bells ringing on the capital’s backstretch. The other two Seoul horses, Khanui Jeguk and Love Cat came home fifth and sixth respectively. Nice Choice will most likely be nominated for the season ending Grand Prix and hopefully his connections will accept.

Sangseung Ilro went off third favourite and finished third. Despite bandaging on her legs, she appeared in fine form and were the race a little shorter, she may have got there. Winning two of the three legs of the Triple Crown and coming third in the final one is still a fine achievement. What comes next for her is questionable. Punters will hope her immediate future is on the track.

Namdo Jeap and Martin Wepner Pose after The Minister's Cup

Namdo Jeap and Martin Wepner Pose after The Minister's Cup

Yeonseung Daero finished half a length behind Sangseung Ilro in fourth but Oaks winner Pangpang found herself stuck in ninth. Overall Busan horses made up three of the first four but the top six contained three from each track.

Today was Namdo Jeap’s day. In Ft. Stockton, he shares a sire with J.S. Hold. Today he ensured that his half brother remains the sole holder of the Korean Triple Crown.

Minister of FAFF Cup (G.II) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Oct. 11, 2009

1. Namdo Jeap (KOR) [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – Martin Wepner – 16.0, 2.9
2. Nice Choice (KOR) [Lost Mountain – Betty’s Rhapsody (Don’t Hesitate)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.3
3. Sangseung Ilro (KOR) [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.7
Distances: Neck/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Yeonseung Daero; 5. Khanui Jeguk; 6. Love Cat; 7. Sky Star; 8. Isidae Gangja; 9. Pangpang; 10. Conqueror; 11. Tamna Hero

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Sangseung Ilro Bids For The Triple Crown

Filly has tough task in Minister’s Cup
Sangseung Ilro will lead a Busan invasion of Seoul Race Park on Sunday afternoon as she seeks to become the first filly to land the Korean Triple Crown.

Eight horses from Busan will line up compared to just three from the home track, however, it’s one of those three that is going to be the one to beat at 5pm tomorrow afternoon. Nice Choice was champion two year old of 2008. His owner’s decision to avoid the first leg of the Triple Crown in order to focus entirely on the Derby backfired as the colt finished a disappointing sixth. Since then he’s been in imperious form, racking up three straight wins including the Munhwa Ilbo Cup.

But what of Sangseung Ilro? After winning the KRA Cup Mile in April, punters failed to give her the respect she deserved in the Derby the following month and she duly punished them with a dominant win. Not appearing on the track again until the Korean Oaks in August, she looked set to stroll to victory before tying up in the final furlong to allow Pangpang to steal an unlikely victory. Coming out of that race with shin problems she hasn’t run again and there will be big questions over both her fitness and her ability to stay the 10 furlong course.

Having beaten Sangseung Ilro, Pangpang must be respected, but a subsequent race in which she was beaten not only by Busan stars Gaeseon Janggun (who won his race last year) and Areumdaun Jilju, she also finished behind Conqueror, who has strong claims here.

Busan’s main challenger, however, may be Yeonseung Daero. Since disappointing in the Derby, he has won twice over the distance against top class oppostion, including a victory last time out over Namdo Jeap, who was second to Sangseung Ilro in both the KRA Cup Mile and the Derby. Namdo Jeap will also go tomorrow and is something of a wildcard as he seems at his best at shorter distances. Nevertheless, he’s proved he likes the Seoul track and he can’t be discounted.

Neither can Khanui Jeguk. Second to Nice Choice in the Munhwa, he went on to beat Love Cat in the Ilgan Sports Cup last month and looks likely to improve further.

These three make up Seoul’s challenge and Nice Choice is set to bring some pride back to Seoul which has seen itself humiliated by Busan in recent classics. However, one Busan filly has beaten him before and tomorrow afternoon, Sangseung Ilro will run for the Triple Crown.

Full list of runners, records and riders:

Minister Of Agriculture (FAFF) Cup (G.II) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – October 11, 2009, 17:00

1. Sangseung Ilro [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] Filly, Busan (8/5/2/1) – Jo Sung Gon
2. Isidae Gangja [Lost Mountain – Angel (Land Rush)] Filly, Busan (11/3/3/2) – Kim Eu Su
3. Pangpang [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] Filly, Busan (17/4/1/1) – Yoo Hyun Myoung
4. Nice Choice [Lost Mountain – Betty’s Rhapsody (Don’t Hesitate)] Colt, Seoul (10/7/2/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho
5. Love Cat [Creek Cat – Love Cue (Curia Regis)] Filly, Seoul (11/6/1/2) – Choi Beom Hyun
6. Tamna Hero [Creek Cat – The Big C (Deputed Testamony)] Filly, Busan (10/4/3/0) – Han Sang Gyu
7. Khanui Jeguk [Sunday Well – Lucky Dip (Didyme)] Colt, Seoul (11/5/2/1) – Park Tae Jong
8. Conqueror [Revere – Model Actress (Stage Colony)] Colt, Busan (13/4/3/0) – Kim Myoung Shin
9. Namdo Jeap [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] Colt, Busan (12/4/3/3) – Martin Wepner
10. Sky Star [Tahamkke – Blue Lark (Ravenwood)] Colt, Busan (15/5/3/1) – Lee Hee Cheon
11. Yeonseung Daero [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] Colt, Busan (14/8/1/2) – Jo Chang Wook

Dongbanui Gangja Is Number One

Tomorrow, eleven three year olds will race in the final leg of the Korean Triple Crown. This afternoon, at Seoul Race Park, Dongbanui Gangja sent out a message that whoever wins will have a long way to go before they have any possibility of being recognised as the best horse in Korea.

Last time he ran, Dongbanui Gangja left it late to come through and claim his eighth straight win. It didn’t matter – the best horses don’t necessarily win by big margins, they just win. Today, however, he won with an awful lot to spare.

Sprint king Gamadongja set his usual early pace while Dongbanui Gangja sat right at the back of the field. Choi Beom Hyun moved the favourite up during the back straight and let him go as they turned for home. The four year old was quickly in front and, with Choi motionless in the saddle, cruised away from the field to record an effortless victory. Free Hugs trailed in eleven lengths back with Gamadongja following in third.

It’s now nine in a row for Dongbanui Gangja. With the Grand Prix now two months away, the only question at the moment seems to be just how far Dongbanui Gangja will win by.

Not a contender this year, but perhaps in future years is Great True. The two year old made his third appearance this afternoon and, like his previous two outings, it ended in victory. Stepping up in both class and distance, Great True [Yes It’s True – Gigi’s Magic (Allen’s Prospect)] led from gate to wire but had to work to hold off the fast finishing Daejayeon.

Daejayeon’s jockey was Lee Sang Hyeok, the apprentice earlier surviving a hard fall when in race 4, the impressive two year old colt Yyongwang Jjang sadly broke down when leading just 150 metres from the line in its debut race.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Eiki Spoils Hitomi’s Big Day

Japanese one-two on good day for foreign jocks at Busan
On the day Hitomi Miyashita became the first foreign female jockey to take up a full time license in Korea, it was her Japanese compatriot, Eiki Nishimura who denied her the honour of landing the day’s feature race at Busan Race Park.

Riding favourite Yongdu Baram, Miyashita was unable to catch Nishimura who guided second favourite Glory Champ to a two and a half length win. As well as a Japanese one-two, both horses are trained by Kim Young Gwan, the trainer who has supported overseas jockeys more than any other.

Miyashita had earlier made her debut in race 6 with a strong ride on mildy fancied Chowolgeum, taking the three year old to second place. Two other rides didn’t trouble the placings but overall it was a successful first day on the job for Hitomi.

With the track’s leading overseas rider Martin Wepner up in Seoul for Sunday’s Minister’s Cup, Nishimura took another win earlier in the day with a win on Theres No Reason in race 5. Rounding out a great day for the foreign riders at the track, Stephan Swanepoel took an unlikely win on 100/1 outsider Stormy Run in race 1. Swanepoel went on to add two third place finishes to his haul.

The action moves to Seoul and Jeju Race Parks on Saturday before all three tracks host cards on Sunday.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Minister’s Cup Weekend Preview

Triple Crown on the line at Seoul / Gyeongnam Shinmun at Busan
Racing took last weekend off, but it’s back with a vengeance. And it’s as big as it gets in Korean racing. At 5pm on Sunday, eleven three year olds will go to post at Seoul Race Park for the Minster Of Agriculture’s Cup and one of them, Sangseung Ilro, is running for the Korean Triple Crown.

She hasn’t run since she was unexpectedly beaten in the Oaks, having already won the KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby. That reverse will be all but forgotton about, however, if she comes out on top on Sunday.

It won’t be easy and we’ll have a full preview of the big race over the next couple of days but with the Gyeongnam Shinmun Cup at Busan, as well as Dongbanui Gangja – Seoul’s top ranked horse, making an appearance on Saturday, it promises to be an exciiting weekend.

Busan Race Park

Friday October 9: 10 races, first race 13:00, last 17:30
Sunday October 11: 6 races, first race 12:40, last 16:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday October 10: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Sunday October 11: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:10

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday October 10: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10
Sunday October 11: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10