Sun Hero is Champion Korean Juvenile / Clean Sweep for Sire Menifee in Breeders’ Cup

They were supposed to be the second-string from owner Lee Shin Keun and trainer Seo Beom Seok. Instead, Sun Hero ran out the length and a half winner of the Breeders’ Cup at a frozen Seoul Race Park this afternoon to become the peninsula’s champion Juvenile of 2010. In second place was stablemate – and pre-race favourite – Sun Blaze.

Shrewd punters would have noticed that jockey Moon Se Young received a five-day riding ban last weekend but had asked for it to be deferred by one week to allow him to ride today. In doing so, he ruled himself out of a chance to ride in the Grand Prix Stakes, the nation’s most prestigious race in a fortnight’s time. Clearly he believed Sun Hero wasn’t there just to make up the numbers.

And Moon, whose ban means he will almost certainly fall short in his quest for the jockey’s championship, was at his imperious best as he kept Sun Hero just off the lead early in the 1300 metre race, bringing him to the front inside the final furlong and holding on as Sun Blaze and Park Tae Jong came challenging down the centre of the track. As they returned to scale Moon celebrated with the exuberance of a man for whom a plan – and a gamble – had paid off.

The Breeders’ Cup race was an amalgamation of Busan’s Breeders’ Cup and Seoul’s Herald Business which in previous years had been the two tracks’ Juvenile championships. Significantly, today’s race was restricted to colts and fillies who will be eligible for next year’s Triple Crown races and was the first time that colts and fillies from Seoul and Busan could face off against one another prior to the three-year old Classics. Seoul today took first and second place but in third was Busan’s 150/1 outsider Useung Touch.

Sun Hero and Sun Blaze not only have the same trainer and owner but also the same sire, Menifee. Indeed Useung Touch meant a clean sweep for the stallion who arrived in Korea in 2006 and whose first crop of two-year olds look destined for great things.

Disappointments of the race were Busan’s highly rated pair of Heukdujanggun and the previously undefeated Hwallyeok Energy. They finished eleventh and last respectively. Recently Busan has dominated the Classics, today will give Seoul heart but a lot could happen between now and next April when the best of the generation will convene in Busan for the KRA Cup Mile.

One race later on a bitterly cold day, five-year old Kahnui Jeonseol, produced a surprise win in the afternoon’s feature handicap. The New Zealand bred gelding edged out K J Khan and Owners’ Cup winner Serendipper by half a length. For Kahnui Jeonseol (Howbaddouwantit), it was his first win for nearly two years, his first at class 1 and only his third overall. Meanwhile, joining him at Class 1 in future will be Balhaemyeongjang. The three-year old edged out Cheongha Eutteum for a narrow win in race 8.

While five jockeys from Busan were in town for the weekend, only one of them, You Hyun Myung, rode a winner. You partnered filly Gyemyeongui Bit to an easy victory in race 7. Back home on the South Coast, those jockeys missed out on a six-race card, the star of which was fast improving colt Wanggol. The three-year old Australian import took on a host of the track’s elder statesmen in the feature race. He had few problems dealing with them though as he made all to romp to a two-length win from Full Forest and Admiral Reigart. Wanggol (Jet Spur) now has a record of five wins from eight starts.

Breeders’ Cup (KOR.GIII) – Seoul Race Park – 1300M – November 28, 2010

1. Sun Hero (KOR) [Menifee – Strategic Reward (Bold Revenue)] – Moon Se Young – 14.1, 3.7
2. Sun Blaze (KOR) [Menifee – Claudia’s Secret (Crafty Prospector)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.3
3. Useung Touch (KOR) [Menifee – Jenny Tudor (Gulch)] – Yang Young Nam – 24.3

Distances: 1.5 lengths/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Dallija 5. Cheonji Horyeong 6. Haesan 7. Winette Dancer 8. Soseuldaemun 9. Absolute 10. Gaemamusa 11. Heukdujanggun 12. King Field 13. Mustang King 14. Hwallyeok Energy

And so ends another fabulous weekend’s entertainment at the racecourse. Next week it’s the Busan Owners’ Cup and the week after it’s the biggest of them all, the Grand Prix Stakes at Seoul. We start our build-up to both of them tomorrow.

Only Korean Filly Wins STC / Lucky Mountain Scores

It was close, but up against some of the brightest young imported fillies, Korean bred Urikkot did just enough to clinch victory in the Selangor Turf Club Trophy at a bitterly cold Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Sent off the slight favourite, Cho Kyoung Ho and the lightly raced three-year old hit the front in the home straight after early leaders Blown Sky High and Kkochyeol faded and though tiring herself, built up enough of a lead to hold off the challenge of Blueband Mama and Boo Min Ho who swept by just the wrong side of the line.

A late starter, Urikkot (Creek Cat) only debuted as a three-year old this year. She’s now won four of her six starts. This was the sixth running of the Selangor Turf Club Trophy and STC Chairman Datuk Cham was on hand to present the awards. Unfortunately, hardly anyone was around to hear his speech as the 40,000 punters in attendance had retreated to the warmth of the grandstand to escape the biting wind, long before the presentation got underway.

Also in attendance were two Malaysian jockeys, Veerapan Sivan and Salleh Mutaza. Neither troubled the placings in the STC Trophy, however, Mutaza scored a third placed finish in race 5 on Daedamham.

For jockey Cho Kyoung Ho, it was a second trip to the Presentation stage in as many weeks, following Dongbang Rose’s Nonghyup win last Sunday. The day got even better for Cho as immediately after the STC, he guided Lucky Mountain to victory in the afternoon’s feature handicap. The five-year old mare scored a half-length win over Winner Prince and favourite Janggun Bada. With main rival Moon Se Young riding his last weekend of the year before a five-meeting ban kicks in, Cho is also in pole position to claim the jockeys’ championship.

Speaking of jockeys, it was a good day for the small contingent of female riders in Korean racing. Lee Keum Joo rarely rides these days but she made an appearance in race 1 at Seoul today and it was a winning one as she partnered Cheonguntaehu to a half-length win over favourite Yahoo Event. It was just a seventeenth win for Lee in a nine-year career. Already closing in on that figure is Kim Hae Sun. The twenty-two year old claimed her eleventh win as she got the best of a four-way photo finish to race 6 on filly Miss Nine.

Down on Jeju Island, Kim Da Young was newly licensed this year and she already looks set to follow Na Yu Na and Kim Ju Hee who are both established as top riders in the pony racing colony on the island. Today she scored her fourth winner, guiding Uryangsidae – a pony she’s won on before – to victory in race 2.

STC Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 1300M – November 27, 2010

1. Urikkot (KOR) [Creek Cat – Miswick (The Wicked North)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 2.0, 1.1
2. Blueband Mama (USA) [Purge – Meadow Bryte (Meadowlake)] – Boo Min Ho – 1.3
3. Fortunata (USA) [Eurosilver – Eleanor’s Song (Seattle Song)] – Shin Hyoung Chul – 5.0

Distances: Neck/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Worincheong 5. Milwaukee Money 6. Kkochyeol 7. Soul Legend 8. Grand Ace 9. Jangson 10. Dangmasan 11. Major Lady 12. Skiff’s Chic 13. Atlantic Queen 14. Blown Sky High

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when Sun Blaze and Heukdujanggun will be favourites in the Breeders’ Cup at Seoul Race Park. There are eleven races at Seoul from 11:20 to 18:10 and six at Busan from 12:40 to 16:30.

Busan Friday Review

In English, his name means “Beautiful Racing” and even though it’s thoroughly coincidental, the Busan Racecourse has a publicity song which has his name in the chorus. Not that anyone involved with that most likely has a clue who he is but today, Areumdaun Jilju returned after an eleven-month lay-off to win the feature race at Busan.

Sent off second favourite in a mile-long race which was led for its early stages by a loose horse after Black Scorpion had thrown his jockey when leaving the starting gate, Areumdaun Jilju stalked leader Mupae Star before reeling him in and overtaking him in the final furlong while favourite Deep Desire closed strongly to grab second.

For Areumdaun Jilju [Didyme – Chills Of Nepal (Nepal)] it was a fifteenth win from twenty-five starts. Now six, he has never finished outside of the money and his return means a welcome addition to the contenders for big honours among Korean-bred horses at Busan.

While most of the country shivered today, down at Busan it was reasonably pleasant as Japanese jockey Toshio Uchida, who had been very quiet since returning to Korea two weeks ago, got back among the winners. “Mr Pink” grabbed race 5 on Good Dream and then the class 1 race 6 with a narrow win on Night Moves (Proud Accolade). The filly, who was champion juvenile with her Breeders’ Cup win last year, got up to beat Tamna Hero and Mulbora by a neck in a blanket finish. Meanwhile, Yoshi Aoki ensured there was a third Japanese victory today as he partnered Real Winner to victory in race 9.

The most visually impressive performance of the day came in the 1300-metre all-foreign bred race 3. Two-year old American born gelding Viva Ace (Macho Uno) was sent off long odds-on favourite and didn’t disappoint as he led wire-to-wire to record a twelve length victory. It was his second win from three starts.

Saurday’s thoroughbred action is at Seoul Race Park where there are twelve races from 11:20 to 17:50 including the Selangor Turf Club Trophy. There is also pony racing on Jeju Island with ten races from 12:10 to 17:30.

* The KRA produces English language Stewards’ Reports for all meetings at Busan – today’s can be downloaded by clicking here.

Second in the Sports Seoul Cup and third in the Korean Oaks, today Dongbang Rose finally landed a big Stakes prize as she snatched victory with a late run in the Nonghyup Chairman’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Sent off the odds-on favourite, the three-year old was kept at the back of the field by jockey Cho Kyoung Ho as outsiders Babble Classic, Magic Collar and Oaks winner Euro Fighter set a fast early pace. Entering the home straight, Cho made his move and he and Dongbang Rose were always travelling well enough to be able to comfortably hold off the challenge of Meotjin Segye and Anseong Chukje in the final furlong

Dongbang Rose now has six wins from ten starts. With Euro Fighter’s unlikely Oaks win looking more and more a flash in the pan and Sports Seoul winner Cheonun currently out of action, she can conceivably claim to be the nation’s top three-year old filly.

For jockey Cho Kyoung Ho, it was a fourth stakes win of the year and his second consecutive win in this race, after his victory on Lucky Mountain last year.

While Cho scored three wins today, there was a milestone of sorts for apprentice jockey Kim Hae Sun. Kim scored the tenth winner of her career with an emphatic victory on two-year old filly Cara Line in race 4.

In that race, three of the five licensed female jockeys at Seoul had rides. Like the others, Kim has never really been given the rides that alllow her to show her talent. When she gets them though, she doesn’t let anybody down.

Down at Busan there were no feature races but there was another win for the burgeoning partnership of Australian trainer Peter Wolsley and Japanese jockey Yoshi Aoki.

The pair combined to win race 1 with the debut-making filly Brave Cougar to continue their recent hot run of form together. Aoki, who is quickly establishing himself as one of the top riders at Busan also recorded two further second-place finishes while fellow Japanese rider Hitomi Miyashita was also amongst the winners with highly rated US-bred filly Queen Of Rain (Lion Heart) scoring in race 3.

NACF Chairman’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – November 21, 2010

1. Dongbang Rose (KOR) [Volponi – Night Mary (Strike Gold)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.7, 1.2
2. Meotjin Segye (KOR) [Concept Win – Ch’eon-Goju (Centro)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.7
3. Anseong Chukje (KOR) [Exploit – Perdido Wood (Woodman)] – Shin Hyoung Chul – 2.9

Distances: 0.75 lengths/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Special Volpony 5. Selah 6. Babble Classic 7. Rose Cat 8. Manjeomhwanhui 9. Magic Collar 10. Beomtti 11. Choedayeonseung 12. Euro Fighter 13. Ganghan Speed 14. Wind Crown

That was impressive. First it was the Gyeongnam Governor’s Trophy, then the Minister’s Cup now Dangdae Bulpae has completed a hat-trick of big Autumn victories by claiming the President’s Cup and in doing so, re-affirming his status as the top three-year old – and arguably the top domestically bred horse in Korea.

This afternoon, taking on older horses, he was outstanding. Sent off as odds-on favourite over a star-studded field, Jo Sung Gon took the colt into an early lead. By the time they were into the back straight, they were leading the rest of the field by three lengths. They slowed as they began the long turn for home, allowing the field to come back together, however, Dangdae Bulpae was barely out of first gear. Jockey Jo went to work as they entered the home straight and with a furlong to go, the race was won.

Behind him was Yeonseung Daero. The four-year old winner of last year’s Busan Owners’ Cup was two-and-a-half lengths adrift. It might as well have been ten lengths given the way the winner eased up. In third was another four-year old from Busan, Golden Appeal. Triple Seven was the highest placed horse from Seoul, the Ttukseom Cup winner was fourth, one place ahead of Busan’s Derby winning Cheonnyeon Daero.

A disappointing eighth in the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown, Dangdae Bulpae was third in the Derby. Since then though, he’s been unbeatable and has amassed overall career figures of nine wins from twelve starts. Significantly, since the Derby, four of his five wins have come against older horses.

Dangdae Bulpae’s victory also means that in the races where Seoul and Busan horses have faced each other this year, the two tracks have three wins apiece. There is one more race to come (well, two if you count the Breeders’ Cup which is for two-year olds only). The Grand Prix Stakes, the biggest race in the Korean calender takes place next month. Entry to the race is by invitation-only, with the invitations decided by an online vote of punters. Dangdae Bulpae is sure to be voted in, however, the Grand Prix isn’t restricted to Korean bred horses. The best imports will be there too, including Tough Win. In the last ten years, only one Korean bred horse has won the Grand Prix. Dangdae Bulpae has the talent to make it two. Let’s hope he goes for it.

President’s Cup (KOR.GI) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – November 14, 2010

1. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.5, 1.1
2. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat -Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance) – Choi Si Dae – 1.7
3. Golden Appeal (KOR) [Shaep Appeal – Golden Image (Dancer’s Image)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.6

Distances: 2.5 lengths/1.25 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Triple Seven 5. Cheonnyeon Daero 6. Suseong TX 7. Baengnyeonbong 8. Money Teukgeup 9. Holy Dreamer 10. Glory Yeonggwang 11. Lucky Dancer 12. Hongji 13. Natural Guy
Non Runner: Geumgangi

In other races, there was a surprising return to form for five-year old Yodongseong (Payne’s Bay). This was a horse who, two years ago looked set to challenge the likes of Bally Brae and Dongbanui Gangja as he arrived on the class 1 scene with five wins from nine starts. Remarkably, he hadn’t won since. Today, at his fifteenth attempt at class 1, he finally came out on top, beating out Cheonji Jangsu and Jumong by a neck.

It was a cold day at the track, the official temperature of 9C not reflecting the windchill which made it seem much chillier. It was a taste of things to come as it’s going to get a lot colder over the weeks and months ahead. However, a performance like that of Dangdae Bulpae is enough to make a punter forget the cold and instead, think about what that horse can possibly achieve over the months ahead.

* Down at Busan, the combination of Australian trainer Peter Wolsley and Japanese jockey Yoshiyuki Aoki struck again. Today they combined for two winners and two second place from the six races run at Busan. Pegasus Farm’s two-year old filly Secret Whisper (Sea Of Secrets) has much expected of her and she scored her second win from five starts in race 2 today. Aoki and Wolsley followed it up with two second place finishes with Jungle Love and Miss Bella in races 3 and 4, before Heukbaram (Exploit) landed race 5. Aoki then went on to score another second place in the last aboard Yu Chung Yeol’s Geungnak Seonnyo, who was beaten by favourite Ecton Legacy.

Bonsol, Geumbi, Lady Hazzys Step-up

It’s the President’s Cup tomorrow, but there was still a competitive afternoon of racing at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

In co-feature races, there were wins for Bonsol and Geumbi. Earlier this year, Bonsol had been talked about as a possible Classic contender. In the end, the only one of the Triple Crown races he took part in was the Minister’s Cup last month, when he finished a disappointing ninth. Today, however, he made no mistake, as he comfortably dispatched a class 2 field by a length and a half.

As for Geumbi (Ecton Park), the three-year old US-bred filly was going into her first race at class 2 with a record of three wins from six starts. She made it four from seven under the floodlights with a dominant performance, leading home second place Gippeum Sesang by eight lengths.

Earlier, promising import Lady Hazzys (Lightnin N’Thunder) had made it two wins from two starts as she breezed to a half-length win from fellow highly thought of two-year old Manchester Miss (Van Nistelrooy) in race 6. On a beautiful afternoon in the Korean capital, Lady Hazzys wasn’t the only grey to win as earlier, three-year old Flying Punch (Volponi) landed his second career victory. It was also a good day for jockey Hiro Hamada. The Japanese rider picked up his third Korean win, taking victory by a nose on Daltanyang in race 7.

Tomorrow it’s the big one. The President’s Cup is underway at 17:00 and is the highlight of an eleven race card at Seoul with the first race at 11:20. Busan also hosts a card with six races from 12:40 to 16:30.