Month: May 2011

Weekend Preview: The Derby

Soseuldaemun travels to Seoul to to attempt to secure the second leg of the 2011 Triple Crown as he takes on a full field in the Korean Derby at Seoul Race Park this Sunday.

Soseuldaemun and Toshio Uchida Head The Derby Field (Picture: KRA)

The KRA Cup Mile winner is one of six challengers heading north from Busan to take on the best the capital has to offer.

While starting as an outsider in the Cup Mile, he’ll be among the favourites as he bids to come one race closer to emulating the great J.S. Hold in sweeping the Triple Crown.

Here is the full list of runners, pedigrees, race records and riders:

Korean Derby (KOR.GI) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – May 15, 2011 – 16:35

1. Shoot In [Exploit – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] – (5/3/2/0) – Shin Hyoung Chul
2. Singgereounachim [Exploit – Singgereoun (Mr. Adorable)] (9/3/1/2) – Jo In Kwen
3. Useung Touch [Menifee – Jenny Tudor (Gulch)] (Filly) (6/3/1/1) – Choi Si Dae
4. Sun Hero [Menifee – Strategic Reward (Bold Revenue)] (9/4/2/1) – Moon Se Young
5. World Winner [Yankee Victor – Wakired (Red Ransom)] (11/2/3/2) – Jo Sung Gon (Busan)
6. Soseuldaemun [Meisei Opera – This Ole Way (Vigors)] (10/3/3/1) – Toshio Uchida (Busan)
7. Yeongung Icheon [Concept Win – Saratogasplash (Wild Again)] (9/3/2/1) – Park Tae Jong
8. Champion Belt [Exploit – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] (6/2/2/2) – Lim Sung Sil (Busan)
9. Daeseung Yegam [Silent Warrior – Tolp’ung-Yegam (Land Rush)] (10/3/1/1) – Kim Myoung Sin (Busan)
10. Cheonji Horyeong [Buster’s Daydream – Sorority Jazz (Dixieland Band)] (9/2/3/1) – Chae Gyu Jun (Busan)
11. Geuma Champ [Vicar – Stormcloudrising (Stormy Atlantic)] (7/2/3/1) – Jung Ki Yong
12. Double Light [Menifee – Iruda (Glorify)] (8/3/3/1) – Cho Kyoung Ho
13. Gwangyajeil [Vicar – Hurricane Havoc (Jade Robbery)] (6/4/0/0) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
14. Prime Galloper [Strodes Creek – Apple G (Carson City)] (7/3/4/0) – Hwang Soon Do

We’ll have a final run-down of all the challengers and their chances, along with predictions, on the blog on Saturday evening.

Saturday sees the JRA Trophy at Seoul – full run down of runners and riders tomorrow – while on Sunday at Busan, last year’s Derby winner Cheonnyeon Daero is in action.

Here’s what’s happening when and where this weekend:

Friday May 13

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

Saturday May 14

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17: 40 (JRA Trophy at 16:30)
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 18:00

Sunday May 15

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:05 (Korean Derby at 16:35)
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:00

Korean Derby – All The Winners So Far…

2011 Sees Fourteenth Running of Korean Classic

The Derby is a relatively recent addition to the Korean racing year. Except for an enforced stoppage during the Korean War, racing has been running on the peninsula continuously since the 1920’s, however, the calendar as we know it today only really started to take shape in the 1980’s. The Ilgan Sports Cup and the Grand Prix started things off with both being run for the first time in 1985.

Busan's Cheonnyeon Daero wins the 2010 Derby (Pic: Ross Holburt)

The introduction of the private ownership of race-horses – and therefore prize money – accelerated the creation of big Stakes races in the 1990s and finally in 1998, the Derby was run for the first time. In 2007, the Korean Triple Crown Series with inaugurated with the Ttukseom Cup, Derby and Minister’s Cup making up the three Classic races. Indeed, in that first year, J.S. Hold took the lot. The following year, the KRA Cup Mile at Busan replaced the Ttukseom Cup as the first jewel in the crown and, while Sangseung Ilro won the first two legs in 2009, no horse has since swept all three.

In the thirteen editions run so far, eight colts and five fillies have taken the prize which for its first three years was run over just seven furlongs before moving up to its current nine in 2001. Since horses from Busan became eligible for the Derby in 2008, they have won it three times in a row and in Soseuldaemun, winner of the KRA Cup Mile, they have one of this year’s favourites.

Here are those winners with pedigree and jockey:

2010: Cheonnyeon Daero [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] – Park Geum Man – Money Car, winner of the KRA Cup Mile was sent off the favourite but got sucked into a speed duel with the sprinter Seonbongbulpae in the early stages. Still, the favourite had a considerable lead entering the final furlong. He was spent though, and Cheonnyeon Daero, a 30/1 shot, chased him down and caught him on the line. Money Car was never the same again and only ran once more. Cheonnyeon Daero went on to finish second in the Minister’s Cup – the final leg of the Triple Crown – and is in good form this year. In fact, 30 minutes before this year’s Derby gets underway at Seoul, he’ll be running in the feature race at Busan.

2009: Sangseung Ilro [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Jo Sung Gon
– The filly, a shock winner of the KRA Cup Mile a month earlier made it two in a row for Busan. She couldn’t maintain her form over the whole year, however, and went down to a shock defeat in the Oaks in August before returning for a creditable third in the Minister’s Cup, the third and final leg of the Triple Crown in October. She was retired from racing in January 2011 and has been bred to Menifee.

2008: Ebony Storm [Buster’s Daydream – Sorority Jazz (Dixieland Band)] – Shim Seung Tae – Two years ago was the first time that Busan’s best three-year olds were invited up to Seoul to contest the Derby and it was one of those visitors, Ebony Storm, the longest shot on the board, who took victory in a monsoon downpour. Ebony Storm is still running as a six-year old, specialising in distances of up to a mile.

2007: J.S. Hold [Ft. Stockton – Hwangsangjiljoo (Passetreul)] – Moon Jung Kyun – Widely considered the best Korean bred horse ever. J.S. Hold landed the inaugural Triple Crown injuring himself in the final race and not returning to the track. He retired with nine wins from ten starts.

2006: Baengnokjeong [Slew O’Green – Lesu Run (Proper Reality)] – Hwang Soon Do – The rank outsider at over 80-1 on Derby day, Baengnokjeong was at the time, the longest priced horse to win the Derby.

2005: Saebyeok Dongja [Fiercely – Cheongpa (The Rodgers Four)] – Chun Chang Ki – Raced on at the top-level for three more years and his jockey Chun Chang Ki became a trainer after a battle against cancer.

2004: Mupae Gangja [Didyme – A Heun A Hop Kan (Kinsky)] – Kim Hyo Seob – One of the top colts of this decade, Mupae Gangja won ten of his sixteen races including the Chairman’s Trophy and Minister’s Cup along with the Derby in 2004.

2003: Habidongju [Silent Warrior – Kahwa (Zoffany)] – Park Tae Jong – The last filly to win until Sangseung Ilro in 2009.

2002: Haeam Janggun [Didyme – Ronde (Toast The Champ)] – Lim Dae Gyu – Ronde foaled her second Derby winner in as many years with this filly who won eight of her fourteen races and gave the late Lim Dae Gyu a Derby victory.

2001: Haetpit Maeul [Mujaazif – Ronde (Toast The Champ)] – Ji Ha Ju – Starting a run of three consecutive years of filly triumphs was Haetpit Maeul. Now a broodmare with some success.

2000: Haekdol’pung [Lost Mountain – Swift Diplomacy (Nice Pirate)] – Park Tae Jong – Korea’s most successful ever jockey got his second straight Derby win on the favourite. It was tight though, with Haekdol’pung getting the verdict in a three-way photograph.

1999: Manseokkkeun [Fiercely – Komplication (Kris. S)] – Park Tae Jong – Yes, he really did have three consecutive ‘k’s in his name. Park Tae Jong got the first of his three Derby winners on the colt whose sire, Fiercely, died in 2009.

1998: Useung Yegam [Happy Jazz Band – Man Jang Dae()] – Song Seok Hen – Nine of the 14 runners in the first Derby were fillies and the favourite Useung Yegam, whose dam wasn’t even in the studbook, took the honours by a length.

* For more videos see Fallight’s YouTube page. This post is a slightly updated version of the one posted in correspondong Derby build-ups over the past two years.

Aussie Trainer Peter Wolsley Saddles 100th Korean Winner

While jockey Jo In Kwen reached 100 winners in the saddle yesterday, at Busan last Friday it was one of those doing the saddling who reached the same milestone.

Peter Wolsley (Pic: Herald Media)

Peter Wolsley became Korea’s first ever foreign trainer when he was granted a license at the end of 2007. On Friday afternoon, Wolsley’s three-year old colt King Austin grabbed a two-length win in race 7 to give the Australian his 100th Korean victory. He didn’t have to wait very long for his 101st either as his Saeroun Taeyang scored in the feature event of the afternoon two races later.

Fittingly, King Austin (Yehudi) is owned by Isidore Farm, the Jeju Island institution that has been, along with fellow foreign influenced Jeju outfit Pegasus, Wolsley’s biggest supporter. The 48-year-old has 33 horses under his care, including seven who compete at class 1, the elite level of Korean racing. It hasn’t always been this way.

On arrival in Korea from his previous posting in Dubai, Wolsley was assigned the “breakdown barn” at Busan Race Park. In common with the majority of foreign jockeys who come to ride here, he got the horses no-one else wanted. It didn’t make for a very rewarding start to his time here but the trainer stuck at it and gradually started grinding out some modest successes. Others began to take note and eventually he started to receive some better horses.

The Numbers Don't Lie: Wolsley is arguably the track's top trainer right now

Perhaps the turning point came in late 2008. Wolsley had been pushing for pacifiers (mesh eye-protectors used to prevent sand getting in the eyes of the horse) to be allowed to be fitted during races – a cause also taken up by his countryman, steward, Brett Wright – and in October of that year, they were finally approved by the KRA. The next month, his mare Gyeongcheonsa became the first racehorse in Korea to run with them and she flew home at odds of 19/1. One race later, his colt Khaosan, also decked out in pacifiers and starting at similarly attractive odds, came from last to second in the home straight.

How would the local trainers respond? To their credit, instead of trying to get them banned again, the majority realised that Wolsley knew what he was talking about and started using them with horses who hated the vicious kickback that is inevitable on the sand track. Now pacifiers, which are compulsory in some jurisdictions which race on sand, are commonplace – both Mister Park, Korea’s current best horse, and Tough Win, the second best, always wear them in their races. More and better horses started to arrive in Wolsley’s barn and winners swiftly followed.

Wolsley's Protege Park Geum Man in the Derby Winner's Circle

Wolsley has also acted as mentor, specifically to jockey Park Geum Man who was his stable jockey for two years. In that time, Park developed into one of Busan’s – and Korea’s – most tactically aware and skilful jockeys. Wolsley told the Korea Herald last year that Park’s victory on Cheonnyeon Daero in the Korean Derby in 2010 – albeit for a different trainer – is his proudest moment in Korea so far.

Wolsley and Park have now gone their separate ways and Kim Nam Sung is the latest jockey to benefit from Wolsley’s guidance.

With 100 wins in the bank there remains one more challenge for Peter Wolsley. He still needs to become the first foreign trainer to saddle a Stakes winner. He has no horse on the Triple Crown trail this year but, now he’s established as one of the track’s top trainers, it can only be a matter of time.

Peter Wolsley is an example of the KRA’s internationalization plan working. Many trainers around the world will have won more races and far more money. But few can genuinely claim to have come to a place and actually made racing better. That is what he has done.

A Tale Of Two Sisters

Plum Pretty is America’s Champion Three-Year old filly, but her older half-sister helps beginners learn how to ride at an Equestrian Club in Korea.

Korean racing fans were a little bemused to watch Plum Pretty bravely hang on in the final furlong at Churchill Downs on Friday to win the Kentucky Oaks. For Plum Pretty (Medaglia D’Oro) is the fourth foal out of a dam called Liszy. And in 2006, Liszy (A.P. Indy) gave birth to a filly by More Than Ready (Southern Halo).

In December the following year, that filly would go through the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic December Mixed sale and, at a knock-down price, be purchased by a Korean buyer. A month later, in January 2008, she arrived for her new life in Korea.

The filly was bought by Kumak Farm and was named Taeyangui Mabeopsa – or “Magic of the Sun.” She was sent to Seoul Race Park and the barn of trainer Kim Myung Guk. Although not especially impressive in trials, by September of that year she was considered ready to race and made her debut in race 2 on the 28th of that month.

Ridden by Choi Bum Hyun, she was sent off at 35/1 and ran to expectations finishing seventh of twelve over five furlongs. That would set the standard for her next couple of outings and on her fourth start she finished so far behind the winner, she was banned from racing from two months for being uncompetitive.

Taeyangui Mabeopsa given the KRA Studbook treatment (Pic: KRA)

On her return in March 2009, things improved. Now in the ownership of Kim Gwang Young and under American jockey Santos Chavez in another five furlong race, she finished fourth, gaining her first money finish. Two races later and stepping up to six furlongs, she would finish third. This was a position she would go on to achieve three more times for a third owner, Koo Bon Soon, over the next couple of years, but Taeyangui Mabeopsa never won a race and never made it out of class 4 racing – the lowest for imported horses.

She ran at Seoul for the final time in January of this year, finishing tenth of twelve in her thirty-second outing. Owner Koo decided that she was unlikely to add to the 21 Million Korean won (about US$20K) she had won and retired her from racing. She was transferred to the Namyang Riding Club, an equestrian club in Gyeonggi Province, 75 miles south-west of Seoul, an organisation that retrains former racehorses as riding horses.

Once re-trained, the horses are used for various leisure activities while the club is also well-known for appearing in many Korean movies and TV Dramas.

Taeyangui Mabeopsa is in good company. Among many recently retired from the track, Namyang recently took possession of Seonbongbulpae, Korea’s champion juvenile of 2009 who also ran his last race earlier this year. As a Korean born colt, Seonbongbulpae had no stud value. Likewise, Taeyangui Mabeopsa hadn’t been deemed worthy of broodmare duties.

After what happened in Louisville last Friday evening, she may well find herself called back to the farm.

H/T to Fallight for this story.

Ton-Up Jo In Kwen Leads New Generation

100th Winner for Jo In Kwen / Mister Park Streak Hits Fourteen

Jo In Kwen passed an important milestone at Seoul Race Park today as he became the first of the “New Generation” of Korean jockeys to record his 100th winner. The landmark arrived in race 4, as Jo partnered favourite, Power Runner to a routine two-length victory. It was his 811th ride since making his debut in June 2008.

Ton-Up: Jo In Kwen

The “New Generation” comprises graduates of the KRA’s Jockey Academy which, with overseas riding instructors, has been churning out riders with a more westernized style and approach to racing. Of course once they graduate and are apprenticed to a trainer – all ex-jockeys themselves – they are expected to ride in the old style. However, class is gradually begininng to show through and the likes of Jo, Boo Min Ho and this year’s stand-out debutant Jang Chu Yeol are some of those young riders making quick in-roads into the upper-echelons of the weighing room.

Among them is Kim Hae Sun who looks like she has a chance of being the first female rider to break through to the top-tier. Today, she scored her 21st career winner with a typically dashing performance on Ganghanyeosin in race 5. That Ganghanyeosin was favourite is telling. Kim is the first female rider to have regular opportunities on fancied horses. And when she gets those opportunities, she converts them at a rate equal to anybody’s.

Kim Hae Sun Drives Ganghanyeosin to victory at Seoul today

In the feature race today, Jo In Kwen could only manage second place, albeit on a 35/1 outsider, as 4/1 High Point took the honours by a comfortable five lengths. It was five-year old High Point’s second consecutive victory and his first at class 1.

Down at Busan, Korea’s current number one horse Mister Park (Ecton Park) further enhanced his reputation as he moved onto fourteen straight wins by taking the feature race. Facing exclusively foreign-bred opposition for the first time and with a relatively unknown jockey on board, punters still sent the 2010 Grand Prix winner off as the long odds-on favourite. And, despite one or two nervous moments, he didn’t let them down. Bounding out of the gate into an early lead, Lee Dae Yeon and Mister Park had the race fully under control from the beginning and looked set for a comfortable win.

Mister Park (Pic: KRA)

However, as they entered the home stretch, Sinheung Hwangjae, a five-year old Australian bred horse emerged from the field and challenged the leader on his inside. With two furlongs to go, he drew level and for the next furlong the lead changed hands a number of times. For just a moment, it looked as though the champion was going to falter but it was only for a moment. As they entered the final 150 metres, Mister Park shifted gears again and eased away from his opponent, recording a three-length victory on the line.

The streak is intact – following defeat on his racecourse debut, Mister Park has now gone fourteen races without suffering another.

* Yesterday at Seoul, the “rubber match” between Jumong and Bally Brae was crashed emphatically by Strong Demand (Read The Footnotes), who justified his favourite tag by scoring a two and a half-length victory in the feature race. Jumong (Johar) got the better of Bally Brae (Yarrow Brae) as the pair finished second and third respectively to take a 2-1 lead in their 2011 head-to-heads.

Next week it’s the big one. The 14th Korean Derby. All the build-up will be here throughout the week.

Seoul Racecourse, May 8, 2011

Weekend Preview

Jumong vs Bally Brae Part 3, Larrycat, Mister Park

Back when he had a full head of hair and only one stomach and chin, a pre-teen Gyongmaman used to complain to his parents that while there was a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day, there was no “Children’s Day.” Invariably the response came back that “Every day is Children’s Day”.

It was Childrens' Day in Korea today. This chap will no doubt have stayed home to study the weekend's form

Well here in Korea today actually was “Children’s Day” and it meant a public holiday. Seoul Race Park’s infield was open and hosting the usual brand of Korean family oriented daftness that these occasions call for. No racing though. That begins on the peninsula tomorrow.

While in the US it is Derby weekend, here in Korea, we’re still a week away from the big one. However, while it might be expected to be a low-key weekend of racing, it’s anything but. We have an absolute belter of a main event at Seoul Race Park this Saturday while the “best horse in Korea” runs at Busan on Sunday.

Four weeks ago, Jumong (Johar) levelled things up with his older brother Subsidy’s great rival Bally Brae (Yarrow Brae) after the older horse had beaten him earlier this year. At the time we said a decider was necessary, and that is what we’re going to get in the nine furlong feature race. However, there’s a problem for the two of them and his name is Larrycat (Fantasticat). Second in the Grand Prix Stakes last year, the four-year old will be carrying top weight in the handicap but on his day, could have the beating of both.

Mister Park

Speaking of the Grand Prix, the current champion and de-facto holder of the title of best horse in Korea, Mister Park (Ecton Park) makes his third appearance of 2011 in the feature race at his home track of Busan on Sunday. And for the first time, except of course for the Grand Prix, he’ll take his chance against exclusively imported horses. While in theory it’s a tougher challenge, it also means he’ll have to carry less weight (although this race is actually an allowance or conditions race, rather than a handicap).

Mister Park will be looking for hs fourteenth straight victory and jockey Lee Dae Yeon, who surprisingly gets the ride, has the biggest opportunity of his career when the race comes under orders at 17:00 on Sunday.

There’s also big action for the ponies at Jeju in the shape of the “Seongsan Ilchul” or “Sunrise Stakes” on the Island on Saturday.

Here’s what’s happening when and where around the peninsula this weekend:

Friday May 6

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

Saturday May 7

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17:30
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:30

Sunday May 8

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:00

Korean Derby 2011: First Look At Contenders

D-13: Sixteen Remain in The Running For The Big One

We’re less than two weeks away from one of the highlights of the season. The 2011 Korean Derby, the second leg of the Triple Crown Series, takes place at Seoul Race Park on Sunday May 15. It’s Seoul vs Busan as the best three-year olds on the peninsula face one another for the prestige of being called the best of their generation. The President’s Cup may be more valuable and the Grand Prix more prestigious. But the world over, when you think of flat thoroughbred racing, you think of the Derby. So it is in Korea too

Who will follow Cheonnyeon Daero into the Korean Derby Winner's Circle?

Sixteen horses remain in the running at this stage although at least two of these will be cut before the final line-up is declared on the Thursday before the race to leave a maximum field size of fourteen. Nine are from Seoul and seven are from Busan.

Listed is the name, pedigree and race records. I’ve also taken a guess at the likely jockey; these should be quite accurate for the entrants from Seoul but given that there’s very little logic in who rides what at Busan at the best of times, I’d be surprised to get even two out of the possible seven correct!

As per Korean Derby rules, all entrants were both bred and foaled in Korea:

Korean Derby (KOR GI) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Sunday May 15, 2011

Seoul

Sun Hero [Menifee – Strategic Reward (Bold Revenue)] (9/4/2/1)
Winner of the Breeders’ Cup and therefore Champion Juvenile of 2010. He’s won over the Derby distance already this year but struggled to eighth place in the KRA Cup Mile. Likely Jockey: Moon Se Young

Prime Galloper [Strodes Creek – Apple G (Carson City)] (7/3/4/0)
One of the last foals of late sire Strodes Creek to reach the track, he’s been first or second in all his starts to date. Second in both his starts around two turns he’s finished slowly both times which may be a concern. Likely Jockey: Hwang Soon Do

Gwangyajeil [Vicar – Hurricane Havoc (Jade Robbery)] (6/4/0/0)
Didn’t go to the KRA Cup Mile and is yet to run over the Derby distance but has looked impressive in back to back recent wins. Will be fancied. Likely Jockey: Oh Kyoung Hoan

Kakamega [Gold Money – Daecheonpung (Fiercely)] (9/3/1/2)
One of the few to have a Korean bred dam so a win would be good for Korean racing. In the money in all his nine starts and has won at two turns. Likely Jockey: Moon Se Young is his regular rider and may pick him over Sun Hero. Park Byoung Yun has also ridden him twice but it coud go to a third jockey.

Yeongung Icheon [Concept Win – Saratogasplash (Wild Again)] (9/3/2/1)
A half-brother to 2009 Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup winner Yeongung Manse, he first came to attention by winning a race in a blizzard just before racing was abandoned for the day back in January. He’s certainly tough but isn’t proven around two turns and was beaten by filles Legal Lady and Ruby Queen last time out. Likely Jockey: Park Tae Jong

Geuma Champ [Vicar – Stormcloudrising (Stormy Atlantic)] (7/2/3/1)
A bit of a surprise entrant, he put in a strong performance when finishing second to four-year old Super Rich over the Derby distance in April looking impressive in the process, albeit in a slowly run race. Likely Jockey: Jung Ki Yong

Double Light [Menifee – Iruda (Glorify)] (8/3/3/1)
Second in the KRA Cup Mile, will be looking to go one better on his home track. Shouldn’t have a problem with the distance and will be well-fancied. Likely Jockey: Cho Kyoung Ho

Singgereounachim [Exploit – Singgereoun (Mr. Adorable)] (9/3/1/2)
Didn’t win as a two-year old but bounded into the Classic picture by beating then Triple Crown front-runner Ophelia back in February. Recovered from a disappointing run in the KRA Cup Mile by winning by ten lengths on his return this month. Will be among the favourites: Likely Jockey: Moon Jung Kyun rode him in his first few starts but Jo In Kwen has ridden him in his last three and would be the logical choice to keep the ride for the Derby.

Absolute [Commendable – Tai Chi (Quest For Fame)] (7/3/0/2)
An outsider and although he ran a solid third behind Yeongtap and Lucky Box in April, he’d need to improve a lot to challenge here. Likely Jockey: Park Byeong Yun has ridden him in every race so far.

Busan

Dongseo Jeongbeol [Vicar – Rendezvous Bay (Wonderloaf)] (6/3/1/0)
Won at the distance on Cup Mile day in April and, given past experience, no Busan horse who does that can be discounted. That said, there are better colts joining him on the trip north. Likely Jockey: In his six starts, he’s been ridden by five jockeys. Could be anyone. Lim Sung Sil is the only one to ride him twice.

World Winner [Yankee Victor – Wakired (Red Ransom)] (11/2/3/2)
He took ten races to break his maiden but then immediately followed it up with another win to get him his shot here. However, he’s never gone further than seven furlongs and has a lot to find to be in contention. Likely Jockey: If Jo Sung Gon can’t get on one of the others, he’ll probably ride this, Unless there’s more money to be made in the feature race back home at Busan on Derby day.

Soseuldaemun [Meisei Opera – This Ole Way (Vigors)] (10/3/3/1)
By virtue of winning the Cup Mile, he’s the one to aim at here. He wasn’t favourite that day and he possibly won’t be here either. Nevertheless, he’s the front-runner right now. Likely Jockey: While Eiki Nishimura was jocked off Sangseung Ilro two years ago after winning the Cup Mile on her, that’s unlikely to happen to Toshio Uchida. If he wants the ride, he’ll be on it.

Cheonji Horyeong [Buster’s Daydream – Sorority Jazz (Dixieland Band)] (9/2/3/1)
A full brother (I hate that phrase) to 2008 Derby winner Ebony Storm, he was fourth in the KRA Cup Mile. Untried at longer distances so a little bit of an unknown quantity. No-one thought Ebony Storm had the pedigree to get the distance so he started the Derby as the longest shot on the board, but we all know what happened during that downpour three years ago. If it rains, he’s worth a punt. Likely Jockey: Chae Gyu Jun

Useung Touch [Menifee – Jenny Tudor (Gulch)] (Filly) (6/3/1/1)
One of just two fillies entered, she was a shock third in the Breeders’ Cup last year when starting at 100/1. Continuing her form as a three-year old she was fifth in the KRA Cup Mile. Likely Jockey: Choi Si Dae

Daeseung Yegam [Silent Warrior – Tolp’ung-Yegam (Land Rush)] (10/3/1/1)
Hasn’t been seen since running a disappointing twelfth in the Cup Mile and was inconsistent before that. An outsider. Likely Jockey: Many have ridden him, Jo Chang Wook rode him in the Cup Mile.

Cyclone [Concept Win – Bakuachi (Debonair Roger)] (filly) (6/2/3/0)
The second filly, Cyclone has no form to speak of having never gone further than 1300 metres. It would be a major shock if she was to feature. Likely Jockey: Jo Sung Gon has ridden her to both of her victories although it’s questionable as to whether he would come all the way to Seoul if he was to be riding her in the Derby. Unless they know something I don’t – which is highly possible…

Much more to come on the Derby over the next two weeks!

Lion Santa Claws His Way to Kookje Crown

We may have a good one on our hands. Lion Santa kept his unbeaten record intact with a late surge to comfortably see off some top-class opposition in the Kookje Sinmun Stakes at Busan Race Park this afternoon.

The Kookje Sinmun is a rare chance for Busan’s imported horses to race for a Stakes prize over a sprint distance and a number of proven horses were out to stop Lion Santa [Lion King – Santa Fe Strip (Phone Trick)] who was sent off the slight odds-on favourite. Park Geum Man on Hudson River Line took the early initiative and it looked at one point in the home straight that they were going to secure an unlikely wire-to-wire victory.

Inevitably, however, they couldn’t maintain the pace and once jockey Kim Dong Young got Lion Santa running for the line they relentlessly made up the distance and cruised past in the final furlong to record a two and a half-length win from 10/1 shot Mystery Boy and Isidae Gangja, the only Korean horse in the race.

That makes it six wins from six races for Lion Santa. He’s won at every distance from five furlongs to a mile so far and there’s nothing in the manner of his victories to suggest that he can’t go further. From now on, he’ll be doing all his racing at class 1.

Kookje Sinmun Stakes – Busan Race Park – 1400M – May 1, 2011

1. Lion Santa (USA) [Lion Heart – Santa Fe Strip (Phone Trick)] – Kim Dong Young – 1.9, 1.2
2. Mystery Boy (USA) [Ecton Park – Mysterious Moll (Bates Motel)] – Jo Chang Wook – 2.6
3. Isidae Gangja (KOR) [Lost Mountain – Angel (Land Rush)] – Choi Si Dae – 2.5

Distances: 2.5 lengths/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Hudson River Line (USA) 5. Field Tripping (USA) 6. Viva Ace (USA) 7. High Best (USA) 8. Seonnyang Yongsa (AUS) 9. Admiral Reigart (USA) 10. Peolpeol (AUS) 11. Dudeurim (AUS) 12. Global Champ (AUS) 13. Hey Sexy (USA) 14. Royale Embrace (USA)

In Busan’s other big race, Areumdaun Jilju (Didyme) clinched the seventeenth victory of his illustrious career beating out second favourite Winning Perfect by a neck at the end of the 1800 metre handicap. It was another big race win for jockey Toshio Uchida who won two of the today’s six races.

Up at Seoul, the feature race was little more than a formality for the track’s top rated Korean horse Ace Galloper. The four-year old was sent off as the odds-on favourite and utterly crushed his eleven rivals over nine furlongs. By the time they hit the finish line, Cho Kyoung Ho had eased Ace Galloper (Chapel Royal) to an eight length victory over New Year’s Stakes winner Andy’s Runner and last year’s top filly Love Cat.

He Shoots; He Scores: Shoot In and Cho Kyoung Ho ease to victory at Seoul today

Ace Galloper was the second horse Cho Kyoung Ho had the luxury of easing down today. Despite not being on the Classic trail so far, Shoot In (Exploit) has played a big part in it finishing second in his last two outings; first to Yeongung Icheon and then to Gwangyajeil, both of whom are expected to line up for the Korean Derby two weeks today. On today’s form, that pair are worth watching out for as, over 1700 metres, Shoot In comfortably saw off a class 4 field.

Admittedly, he didn’t beat much but the ease of his acceleration when asked and the fact that he clearly ran very much within himself would suggest that this may be a colt that we are likely to hear more from later this year.

Speaking of the Derby, we are indeed just two weeks away. We begin the build-up here, very soon!

On The Turn: It was a dusty day at Seoul Racecourse - Sunday May 1, 2011