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.

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.

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