Segye Ilbo Champion Returns a Winner / Mass Media’s Tea beaten

Last time she appeared on the track, she got so upset by other runners, she panicked and collided with the rail, injuring her leg and keeping her out of action for eight months. Today though, there were no such nerves as Florida Sox returned to the track and the Winner’s Circle at Seoul Race Park.

The three-year old filly looked set for great things when she won the Segye Ilbo Cup by seven lengths in just her fourth outing in February. That win stepped her up in class for her next race and, unaccustomed to being challenged on the final turn, she took fright. Today, jockey Boo Min Ho took no chances. Gunning Florida Sox straight into the lead coming out of the gate, they stayed there all the way. Wonerful Sun got closest, trailing home the winner by four lengths with Green Empire third. Florida Sox (Woke Up Dreamin) moves on to four wins from six starts and will be one to look out for as she steps up in class again next time.

Victory on Florida Sox was the first leg of a double for jockey Boo Min Ho. The second leg was a lot more unlikely as 220/1 outsider Yamang (Pleasantly Perfect) scored a two-length win over one of the year’s hottest two-year old imports Mass Media’s Tea (Mass Media). The favourite, was looking for his third straight win but, stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time and having established a lead, faded badly in the straight to allow the grey Yamang – who had failed to win any money at all in seven previous attempts at class 3 – to steal the victory. Mass Media’s Tea wasn’t the only one to disappoint in that race. Pildu (Silver Train) and I’d Rather Be Lucky (Gobson County) – the most expensive imported two-year old of the year – were also well beaten.

Some two-year olds did live up to their reputations, however. Three fillies to be precise. Ruby Queen (Badge Of Silver) became the fist juvenile this year to win at a distance greater than seven furlongs, when she claimed the nine-furlong race 8 to take her overall record to three wins from four starts. A race earlier, Grand First (Salt Lake) scored a narrow victory over seven furlongs to also put herself on three from four while Maono (Menifee) now has a perfect two-from-two after winning race 5.

Sons of Menifee cleaned up in the Breeders’ Cup, Korea’s biggest Juvenile race, last weekend. It seems he is going to be well-represented in terms of fillies too as his first Korean crop head for the three-year old Classics in 2011.

Today’s feature race went the way of Ace Galloper. The three-year old got the better of a final furlong tussle with Blue Pin to claim the class 1 handicap. Jilpunggangho was third. Ace Galloper (Chapel Royal) was scoring the ninth win of his fourteen race career.

Racing returns to Seoul on Sunday with an eleven race card from 11:20 to 18:00, however, race of the day is at Busan where it is Owners’ Cup Day. Derby winner Cheonnyean Daero faces tough opposition from Namdo Jeap and Golden Appeal in the highlight of a six race card which runs from 12:35 to 16:30.