Month: October 2010

Love Cat Pounces To Claim Distaff Crown

Lucky Mountain & Baekpa downed as Four-year old Wins Gyeonggi Cup

Love Cat saw off a field of Seoul’s top home-grown fillies and mares to take victory in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Love Cat

The race – the track’s most valuable of the year restricted to females – had attracted a star-filled line-up. Sent off favourite was five-year old Lucky Mountain, second in this year’s Ttukseom Cup and she was joined by a pair of Oaks winners – Baekpa, from 2007 and Euro Fighter, winner of this year’s Classic. Also there was Cheonun, who was second in the Oaks and widely thought to have the most potential of any filly in her age group, as well as Stakes winners Golden Rose and Tamnahwanhui.

It was Cheonun who set the early pace in the nine furlong race, leading until they turned for home. The filly who beat her in the Oaks then came to take things up. Euro Fighter was a 50/1 chance that day at Busan though and punters didn’t expect lightning to strike twice. It didn’t. Entering the straight, Choi Bum Hyun made his move on Love Cat while Cho Kyoung Ho did similar on Lucky Mountain. The older mare went down the rail while Love Cat was in the centre of the track and it was the four-year old who got the better of the sprint, Love Cat winning by just over a length on the line. Cheonun stayed on for third place.

Another big winner: Choi Bum Hyun

Sentimental favourite Baekpa could only manage sixth, her customary late charge deserting her this time. It was even worse for Euro Fighter, who left her race on the last bend and ended a well-beaten tenth.

For Love Cat, it was a tenth win from twenty-two career starts and a second Stakes victory following her win in the Sports Seoul last year. She has only been out of the money on three occasions and today was only her fourth race against all fillies and mares. It was another big payday for jockey Choi Bum Hyun. A week after landing his 400th career winner, he was back in the Stakes Winner’s Circle once again.

Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Oct 31, 2010

1. Love Cat (KOR) [Creek Cat – Love Cue (Curia Regis)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 5.7, 1.7
2. Lucky Mountain (KOR) [Silent Warrior – Myeonggaheui (Revere)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.3
3. Cheonun (KOR) [Ft. Stockton – Restless Patricia (Born Restless)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 1.9

Distances: 1.25 lengths/Head
Also Ran: 4. Golden Rose 5. Namchonui Yeowang 6. Baekpa 7. Choedaepungseok 8. Feel It Now 9. Baengnakgo 10. Euro Fighter 11. Centum 12. Gamdonguijumal 13. Tamnahwanhui

* Last year, Sangseung Ilro twice defeated Love Cat but the double Classic winner couldn’t find her best form in the feature race at Busan this afternoon. Many were sceptical as to how Sangseung Ilro would handle life as a four-year old but a golden summer in which she claimed both the KNN and Gyeongnam Do-Min Ilbo Cups in imperious fashion proved the doubters wrong. However, her always fragile fitness caused her to be a late scratching from the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup in September and in her re-appearance today, she was never in contention.

Even if she had been at her best, it is touch-and-go as to whether she would have beaten the winner. Gimakhin Seungbu (Trippi) is a colt on the rise but he had to expend every last ounce of energy to defeat Sky Star by a nose on the line. Sangseung Ilro was just beaten out of third place by Yoshi Aoki on Money Tree.

There had been some talk of Sangseung Ilro joining Dangdae Bulpae, Cheonnyeon Daero, Namdo Jeap and Yeonseung Daero on the trip to Seoul in two weeks time as part of Busan’s challenge for the President’s Cup. That’s probably not going to happen now, but she will surely be back to fight another day.

Today though belonged to Love Cat. Seoul’s Champion Korean bred filly & mare of 2010.

G20? The track is the place for GI, II & III, not G20!

Landmark Days For Veteran And Apprentice

The oldest and the youngest jockeys in the weighing room both had an enjoyable day in the autumn sunshine at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Veteran Kim Gui Bae landed a rare double, while apprentice Kim Jeong Jun recorded his first ever race win.

Kim Gui Bae returns after the second of his winners

Kim Gui Bae has never been a prolific winner or even rider. He rode his first race in 1979 at the old Seoul Racecourse at Ttukseom and it was there where he had his biggest win, riding Po Gyeong Seon to victory in the 1986 Grand Prix. One of Korean racing’s most famous names, Po Gyeong Seon won twenty of his twenty-five starts and had already won the 1985 Grand Prix. Kim would win on him six times.

Four of the jockeys behind Kim and Po Gyeong Seon that day are now trainers but Kim remains one of a dwindling few – Park Tae Jong and Shin Hyung Chul the only others – to have begun their riding careers at Ttukseom and still be in the saddle today. Winners have not been easy to come by for Kim. Today he guided home Pungnim in race 6 and Race Terror in race 9 to take him, after 31 years of work, to 279 career victories. Punters,

Racing in Korea has changed a lot since Kim Gui Bae started out. He rode in his first race at the age of 17 which, while common around the world, can’t happen in Korea any more. Now all potential jockeys must graduate from the KRA’s jockey academy which means a young jockey won’t be granted a license until they are in their early to mid twenties. The academy, which includes foreign trainers, is designed to improve the standard of riding in Korea and seems to be working. The likes of Jo In Kwen and Lee Sang Hyuk are both, with only two years of experience, established big race riders.

This year there were four graduates from the academy. While Lee Gang Seo and Jang Chu Yeol had already tasted victory, today it was the turn of a third, as Kim Jeong Jun guided US-bred filly Skiff’s Chic (With Distinction) to a three-length triumph in race 2.

Kim Jeong Jun, 2nd left won for the first time today (Picture: KRA)

* Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when it is the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup – Seoul’s richest race of the year for fillies & mares. In action among full field of fourteen are Baekpa, Lucky Mountain, Euro-Fighter and Cheonun.

Subsidy, Last Son of Mr. Prospector, Retired at 10

Subsidy, Grand Prix winner and Horse Of The Year in Korea in 2005 has been officially retired at the age of 10, his owners confirmed at the weekend. One of the final foals by the late Mr. Prospector, Subsidy [Mr. Prospector – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] was born on March 29, 2000, nine months after the death of his illustrious sire.

Subsidy (KRA)

Subsidy was a late arrival to Korea, not being imported until the age of four. These days, the only horses older than two who arrive here are for breeding purposes and it is almost unheard of for a new arrival to have racing experience. Subsidy, however, was a veteran of 14 races in the US.

He made his debut as a two-year old on November 11, 2002 over 6 furlongs at a sloppy Delaware Park, finishing an encouraging second. He made one more appearance as a two-year old at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York but was a disappointing eighth. Reappearing at Pimlico the following spring, he ran second again. After a couple more outings back at Delaware Park, he was taken to Monmouth, where he scored his first – and only – victory on US soil in a 6 furlong allowance race on July 12, 2003.

At the end of his three-year old season he was sold to Korea. His US racing record was 14 runs with 1 win, 4 seconds and 1 third. In total he won $51,000. Four months after his last US appearance – a claiming race at Philadelphia Park between Christmas and New Year – he debuted in Korea on April 3, 2004 winning at seven furlongs with ease. He did enough throughout the remainder of his four-year old campaign to merit an invite to the season ending Grand Prix in December. It didn’t quite go to plan as he finished sixth. However, he was not done with this race.

2005 was Subsidy’s year. He won the Owner’s Trophy in April and, despite suffering a surprise defeat to Value Play in the KRA Chairman’s Cup the following month, harvested big handicaps throughout the summer and autumn and headed into the Grand Prix as favourite. He didn’t disappoint. Hitting the front as the field turned for home, Subsidy stretched away for a three length win, taking Korean racing’s biggest prize as well as the Horse of the Year award.

By 2006, Bally Brae was on the scene. A year younger than Subsidy, the pair would spend the next three years battling it out in big handicaps. Their connections could have avoided each other in all but the very biggest races but they would regularly meet. In the Grand Prix of that year, neither would win as Flying Cat took the honours with Bally Brae in second and an out-of-sorts Subsidy back in fourth. Only running five times in 2006, Subsidy still picked up three wins. It was Bally Brae though who picked up Horse of the Year.

In early 2007, Subsidy and Bally Brae had their most memorable battle as, despite giving the rest of the field an almost ten-kilo weight advantage, they engaged in a private duel over the last four furlongs, battling each other right up until the line. Subsidy came out on top that day in a race that, given the fondness for both of these horses, will always be special for Korean racing lovers.

However, later that year, Bally Brae would get his own back as he dominated the Grand Prix, beating Subsidy into second by place by four lengths. That Grand Prix goes down as one of the great “what might have beens” for Korean racing. 2007 was the year of J.S. Hold, but the three-year-old Triple Crown winner had already run his last race by the time the Grand Prix came around. Likewise the “white light”, Baekgwang, another star domestic-bred horse was also injured. No-one will ever know if either could have beaten Bally Brae and Subsidy, the two dominant horses of their generation.

By 2008, it was clear that Subsidy’s star was waning. He still managed three wins but, faced with a restrictive weight to carry in the big handicaps, things were getting more difficult. Subsidy’s last win came on September 7, 2008. Second in that race was Dongbanui Gangja. The margin was a nose. By the time of the Grand Prix later that year, Dongbanui Gangja was established as top horse on the peninsula.

Subsidy continued to run sporadically – and finish in the money until what has now been confirmed as his last race, the 2009 Owner’s Trophy. Dongbanui Gangja won that day with Subsidy finishing sixth. Old rival Bally Brae wasn’t there – they had said their goodbyes the previous month as Bally Brae comfortably beat him in a Saturday handicap.

He wasn’t officially retired then. Always sensibly campaigned, his owners had said that so long as he could be competitive and safe, he would run again. In July 2010, he took part in a Friday morning race trial and won easily, re-qualifying him for the real thing. The real return never happened though. Subsidy will be retired to a private farm. One of those few horses in Korea known by name rather than number, the gelding who went from being a mid-week claimer at Philadelphia Park to winning a Grand Prix in front of 80,000 passionate punters and amassing over $1Million in prize money, has earned his retirement.

Ecton Cat Takes Grand Prize

Longshot Wins Over Grand Prix Distance

While the inaugural Korean Grand Prix took place in torrential rain in Jeolla Province, up at Seoul Race Park there wasn’t a cloud in the sky as Ecton Cat pulled off an unlikely victory in the Turkey Jockey Club Trophy.

It was Turkey Jockey Club Trophy Day at Seoul

The longest shot on the board, five-year old Ecton Cat was at the back of the twelve strong field for much of the race which at 2300 metres is the same length as the real “Grand Prix”, the longest of the Korean racing year. However, under jockey Won Jung Il, the gelding picked off his rivals in the straight to claim victory by just a head from KJ Khan. With those two finishing first and second, some lucky punter was cashing a 2798/1 exacta.

In a close finish, pre-race favourite Victory Town was a length back in fourth. For Ecton Cat it was a first win since January and only the sixth from his thirty lifetime starts.

Moon Jung Kyun Wins Again

Victory Town’s jockey was Cho Kyoung Ho who, with rivals Park Tae Jong and Moon Se Young out of action this weekend, would have been looking to make in-roads into the Jockeys’ Championship. Instead, however, it was Moon Jung Kyun, erstwhile partner of J.S. Hold, who had a lucrative weekend. Following on from his three winners yesterday, he added a further four today.

Chief among them was victory on four-year old Cheongha Eutteum, the horse making his first appearance since January to just hold off odds-on favourite Balhaemyeongjang. Cheongha Eutteum has had an injury-ravaged career but now has five wins from nine starts spread out over two-and-a-half years. Moon’s other victory of note came on debut-making Daesan Champ [Five Star Day – Stormy Alliance (Storm Creek)] in race 6. The young US import was a confortable six length winner.

Turkey Jockey Club Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 2300M – October 24, 2010

1. Ecton Cat (USA) [Ecton Park – Fiery Miss (Mountain Cat)] – Won Jung Il – 92.9, 20.1
2. K J Khan (JPN) [Squirtle Squirt – Bulge (Assatis)] – Lee Go Hweoi – 3.1
3. Kahnui Jeonseol (NZ) [Howbaddouwantit – Flash (Jetball)] – Jo In Kwen – 2.2

Distances: Head/1 length – 12 ran

Brilliant sunshine bathed the track today

Four Hundred Up For Choi Bum Hyun

Wink Win Brings Up Milestone / Suseong TX Lands Feature

Choi Bum Hyun was the toast of Seoul today as the jockey secured his 400th career victory. While in world racing terms, it’s not many, he joins just a select few Korean riders to have achieved the figure.

In a blur: Choi Bum Hyun wins on Wink to score his 400th career win

Choi’s 400th came in race 8 on a beautiful afternoon at Seoul Race Park. The 31 year old guided favourite Wink to a narrow half-length victory over Nice Keeping. It was his only winner from ten rides on the card.

No Pictures! Choi Bum Hyun after winning his 400th race

In recent times, Choi has been a freqent visitor to the Winner’s Circle in the big races. As regular jockey of Dongbanui Gangja, he has won back-to-back Grand Prixs as well as last year’s Owner’s Cup. Triple Seven gave him the Ttukseom Cup earlier this year while he picked up last year’s Busan Metropolitan on Bulpae Gisang. He is, however, yet to win a classic.

Choi’s 400 wins have come from just over 3400 rides. He has an 11% win and 32% place record for his career. In terms of absolute winners, he is behind only Park Tae Jong, Moon Se Young, Shin Hyoung Chul and Cho Kyoung Ho. Park, who along with Moon is out of action this weekend, is more than a thousand winners clear of almost anyone else in Korean racing history.

In the feature race, Suseong TX, at five-years old a late entrant to the class 1 ranks, won a very competitive handicap. Under Cho Kyoung Ho, Suseong TX comfortably led home Janggun Bada and Free Woody by four lengths.

Earlier, there was a win for New Zealand-bred Super Yongwang (Ekraar) in race 9. The four year-old has been a money winner in each of his ten races, but today was just his second victory. Also scoring a second victory – although just from three starts – was two-year old colt Hwanggeum Bolt [Congaree – Tilly’s Pulpit (Pulpit). He eeked out a narrow win over Giroksangseung and Sun Best in race 6.

Hwanggeum Bolt and jockey Jo In Kwen win race 7

Winning for the first time today were US import Broadcaster (Mass Media) and the debut-making filly Prete Ingran (Ingrandire) who landed race two and four respectively. Meanwhile, while the riding focus was on Choi Bum Hyun’s 400 winners, Moon Jung Kyun was jockey of the day, notching three winners.

* Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when the 2300 metre Turkey Jockey Club Trophy is the highlight. There are eleven races from 11:30 to 18:10 in the capital while down at Busan, there are six races from 12:40 to 16:30.

Seoul Racecourse - October 23, 2010

Seoul Saturday Selections

It’s set to be a glorious weekend in the capital and, with the forecast for cold weather to hit midway through next week it could be the last weekend of the year before the winter coats need to go on. A trip (or two) to the track is therefore a must. Time to take a look at what’s going to win tomorrow.

Tomorrow should be sunny at Seoul Racecourse

First, however, there was a performance of note at Busan this afternoon as three-year old Mister Park scored his ninth straight win. The gelding won with almost contemptuous ease over a field including last year’s Minister’s Cup winner Namdo Jeap. Ineligible for the Classics this year (doubly in fact for being both a gelding and conceived overseas, even though his sire is now in Korea) today’s was his most notable win to date and sets up the prospect of a clash with this year’s Minister’s Cup winner and top three-year old colt, Dangdae Bulpae.

That’s the news, here are the winners:

Race 1: Domestic-bred Class 6 (D6) 1200M – Mighty Kaiser (number 7) will be favoured but Jeonsingapbu (10) is a more interesting bet.

Race 2: Foreign-bred Class 4 (F4) 1200M – Some interesting two-year olds here including the unraced A.P. Dubai (1) who has looked very impressive in trials. Canadian-bred Home For Dinner (4) is also worth a bet to win.

Race 3: D6 1000M – Another baby race. Brief Dream (12) will be hot favourite and should win but if Jeonsingapbu wins race 1, have a little punt on Spino (3). For value, Beongae Gangho (7) should be worth a place bet.

Race 4: D6 1000M – More babies in this one. Good Speed (5) should win but won’t make you rich. Best to pick one of the unraced entrants to grab a place or even surprise the favourite. My Energy (11) could be the one.

Race 5: D5 1200M – Two-year old Sun Blaze (10) easily won his debut and he should win this for Japanese jockey Hiro Hamada. Look for Glory Sun (6) to place.

Race 6: D5 1300M – Hiro Hamada can make it two in a row with Sun Best (1). His main challenger is Hwanggeum Bolt (2). The quinella will not pay a lot if these two finish first and second.

Race 7: D4 1700M – Nice Keeping (2) is coming back off a two month lay-off and has an unfashionable jockey on board, yet has form at this distance finishing second to subsequent Oaks winner Euro Fighter. There will be value to be had. Don’t bother betting to place as there are only seven runners.

Race 8: D4 1400M – Taewangseong (6) is the best horse in the race but Napalsori (5) will be better value.

Race 9: F3 1800M – Black Saint (9) edged out Super Yongwang (1) by a head last time they met. The result could be reversed this time.

Race 10: F2 1800M – Cheonho (11) has the beating of these although Jewang Tansaeng may well be favourite (9).

Race 11: D1 1900M – The feature race of the afternoon. Winner Prince (8) and Taepung Chukje (11) find themselves well handicapped, unlike Gi Ra Seong (2). Machine Gun (10) has a good chance of scoring his tenth career victory.

Race 12: D3 1400M – Decent contest to send punters home with an empty wallet. Filly Babble Classic (2) will come close.

* Racing gets underway at Seoul at 11:20 with the last race at 17:40. Two races will also be simulcast live from Jeju Race Park.

Weekend Preview: Cabbages and (Sport Of) Kings

Of all the crises that could potentially befall South Korea, a punter wouldn’t necessarily have put his money on a kimchi shortage being the most likely to actually happen. Yet happen it has. As The Economist noted, “Forget mad dictators. The price of cabbage is what really worries Koreans.”

It's kimchi - but not as we know it

The track has not been immune. The abberation to the left is what passes for a bowl of steamed kimchi at the Seoul Race Park buffet these days. Partially fermented weeds would be a more accurate description. Even that’s expensive. As prices continue to rise, there seems no end in sight to the shortage.

Luckily one thing there’s no shortage of this weekend though is top flight racing. And very interesting it is too as we have races at distances unusual to Korea.

Three of those big races are at Busan on Friday where we have class 1 events at seven, eight and eleven furlongs. Korean racing history is littered with talented sprinters whose careers stutter because there are no valuable races run at less than 1800 metres but tomorrow, Night Moves, Baekjeom Manjeom and Ganghan Yeoja are among twelve horses who get their chance at a class 1 prize over 1400 metres.

Also on show on Friday will be Mister Park, winner of his last eight races, facing his stiffest test when he comes up against Namdo Jeap over the latter’s favoured distance of a mile. The younger Mister Park has a two kilo advantage and will be favoured to make it nine in a row.

Gi Ra Seong

There are entertaining cards at Seoul on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s feature sees Gi Ra Seong head the weights in a 1900 metre handicap – rather unfair on the six-year old given that he is without a win in seven starts this year. On Sunday the feature is a rare race over the Grand Prix distance of 2300 metres. It’s competitive too. Victory Town will carry top weight out of the twelve runners but with no form at the distance, it is real stick-a-pin-in-it stuff. Here’s what’s happening:

Friday October 22

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday October 23

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:10 to 17:10

Sunday October 24

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Bulkkot Gisang Takes Busan Juvenile Crown

Filly Wins Gyeongnam Sinmun / Jumong Wins at Seoul

Yesterday it was Seoul, today it was the turn of eight of Busan’s top two-year olds to compete for a big prize in the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup. And at the end of the six furlongs, it was Bulkkot Gisang, who emerged with her unbeaten record intact and her reputation enhanced after leading wire-to-wire for a one-length win.

Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup – Busan Race Park – 1200M – October 17, 2010

1. Bulkkot Gisang (KOR) [Langfuhr – Attendance (A.P. Indy)] – Lim Sung Sil – 4.6, 1.5
2. Beongae Bolt (KOR) [Bellamy Road – Silk Stole (Pulpit)] – Kim Yong Geun – 1.1
3. Secret Whisper (KOR) [Seas Of Secrets – Generals Passion (General Meeting)] – Park Geum Man – 1.7

Distances: 1 length/4 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Heukdujjangun 5. Here The Lady 6. Myeongmun Power 7. Lucky Chief 8. Butterfly

Beongae Bolt was sent off favourite and although the colt finished much the quicker, it was too late to catch Bulkkot Gisang. Pegasus Farm and Peter Wolsley’s Secret Whisper was four lengths back in third.

Just like yesterday at Seoul, we are no closer to learning anything about next year’s classics; all three place-getters were sired overseas and therefore will not be eligible for the big three-year old races. There will still be plenty of opportunities for them to show their talent though Will Bulkkot Gisang be able to go more than 6 furlongs? Will Beongae Bolt avenge this loss? Will Secret Whisper turn out to be better than both of them? Will another, currently unheard of emerge? Those are the wonderful questions we can ponder as the year starts to draw to a close.

A smile would be nice: Moon Se Young and Jumong return to scale after winning Seoul's Sunday feature

Up at Seoul on a beautiful afternoon, the feature race, containing all US-bred horses, was won by three-year old Jumong. Under Moon Se Young, Jumong [Johar – Foreign Aid (Danzig)], a half-brother to Korean superstar Bally Brae, hit the front as the field entered the home straight and kicked on to win by two lengths from Mr. Loving Life and Cheonji Jangsu. It was Jumong’s first win in six attempts at class 1 and his fifth overall from thirteen starts.

In other races, there was an impressive debut for debut-making two-year old Haengun Party (Broken Vow), who landed race 4 while there was a maiden victory for Prime Galloper, one of the last foals by the late sire Strodes Creek, in race 6.

Red Monster and Park Sang Woo stretch away in race 5

Also winning were the improving Red Monster (Biwa Shinseiki), who made all the running in race 5, and Super Jet who was successul in race 9. Despite winning the HRI Trophy last year, the now five-year old Super Jet (Archer City Slew) has always been somewhat under the radar. Yet with victory today he has now amassed seven wins from twenty starts, sixteen of which have ended in the money.

Meanwhile, back down at Busan, Golden Appeal gave the field a six kilo weight advantage, but still had little difficulty cantering to a four-length victory in the feature handicap. One of the best horses at the track, Golden Appeal (Sharp Appeal) has a record of nine wins from fourteen starts.

So concludes another weekend of racing on the peninsula. There’s more action next week, when the likes of Seonbongbulpae, Top Point, Nice Choice and Gi Ra Seong are slated to be in action at Seoul, while Mister Park, Namdo Jeap, Night Moves and Ganghan Yeoja are entered at Busan.

Seoul Racecourse, October 17, 2010

Party Time!

Filly Cruises To Victory in Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup

It looked touch and go for a while, but those of us who doubted Magic Party were put firmly in our place as the two-year old swept to victory in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Could It Be Magic? Magic Party and Park Tae Jong

Sent off odds-on favourite on the strength of a fourteen length stroll last time out, the filly was always well placed but had a fight on her hands as early pace-setter and second favourite Smyth, refused to give way as they hit the home tsraight in the six furlong race. However, under champion jockey Park Tae Jong, Magic Party found another gear and swept past Smyth and Park Byeong Yun in the final half-furlong to take victory by just over a length.

After an impressive run, Smyth held on for third with Sun Hero, who actually holds a win over Magic Party, running into third.

Magic Party - what's next?

Magic Party looks to have a bright future ahead of her, but it won’t be won’t be in next year’s Classics. She, like second placed Smyth, though born in Korea was conceived elsewhere and therefore doesn’t qualify. Regardless, she’ll have plenty of other opportunities to show her talent.

Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – October 16, 2010

1. Magic Party (KOR) [Artie Schiller – Gigi’s Magic (Allen’s Prospect)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.3, 1.0
2. Smyth (KOR) [Consolidator – Ghostly Gal (Silver Ghost)] – Park Byeong Yun – 1.3
3. Sun Hero (KOR)[Menifee – Strategic Reward (Bold Revenue)] – Moon Se Young – 1.2

Distances: 1.25 lengths/6 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Ugilcheonha 5. Cheonjibaram 6. Queen’s Brown 7. Eocheonmansa 8. Sahara

In other races, there was an impressive debut for another two-year old. US import Mass Media [Mass Media – Tea Pot Joy (Joyeux Danseur)] was sent off odds-on in race 6 and didn’t disappoint as he overwhelmed his rivals to take a six length win without breaking into a gallop.

In the feature handicap, filly Dongbang Rose proved her connections correct in choosing to skip last week’ Minister’s Cup, as she swept to a two length victory over Chowon Dream.

Donghae Suho and Choi Bum Hyun (Number 4) hit the front at Seoul today

Tomorrow, the two-year old focus switches to Busan and the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup.

Sunday October 17

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Seoul Saturday Selections

It’s been a long week. Time for some punting. Here is what Gyongmaman will be losing his money on at Seoul Race Park tomorrow:

Race 1: Domestic-bred Class 6 (D6) 1200M – Dreadful fare to begin with. Of these three-year old fillies, Geumbit (Number 1) has done the least wrong and is worth a bet. Lane Green (12) will be more fancied.

Race 2: D5 1200M – Gate Shine (10) will be odds-on. If you must take him on, do so with Yeast (2).

Let's hope for more of this

Race 3: D6 1000M – A host of unraced two-year olds here. Korean punters like experience and will probably make Nicole Windsor (3), who has underachieved in her four starts, favourite. Of the debut-makers, Huimangpyeongchang (6) and Palgigun (11) take the eye.

Race 4: D6 1000M – More two-year olds in this. Arieon (12) and Huimangdaero (3) have placed before but Misocheonguk (1) is where the value will be.

Race 5: D5 1300M – Sharp Concept (9) is one for one and should still provide plenty of place value as few expect him to handle to increase in trip and class. Should they be correct, Eunbit Cheonsa (7) is the one to win.

Race 6: Foreign-bred Class 4 (F4) 1000M – The highly anticpated debut of Mass Media (1). He has the same name as his sire (his original name was Mass Media’s Tea). Should he fail to live up to expectations, Imperial Girl (3) could be the one to capitalise.

Race 7: D4 1700M – Jeongsang Cheonha (1) should have too much for this field. Twenty-one race maiden Yongwangseong (8) could be value for a place.

Race 8: D4 1800M – Small field of just seven means there’s no place value. None of these inspire much confidence although Isang (7) is interesting and Mulmangcho (3) should have a chance at a decent price.

Race 9: D3 1700M – Very competitve. A winner at this class and distance but coming off a two month lay-off and with an unfashionable jockey on board, Power Of Money (3) will offer generous odds.

Race 10: D2 1200M – The Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup – It will be a big surprise if Magic Party (2) failed to land this championship race for two-year olds. You’ll not get rich betting on her though. Smyth (4) will be second favourite for good reason.

Race 11: D2 1900M – Dongbang Rose (5) skipped last week’s Minister’s Cup for this. She’d better win it.

Race 12: F3 1400M – If you’re still in the game by this time, it’s probably a good idea to put your money back in your pocket. Moonhaksan (7) should win this but he’ll be odds-on.

* Racing at Seoul gets underway at 11:20 with the last at 17:50. There is also racing at Jeju Island with nine races from 12:10 to 17:20. Two races from Jeju will be simulcasted to Seoul.