Japanese jockey Akane Yamamoto has ridden her first winner in Korea. The 28-year-old partnered 16/1 shot Baramui Jeonsa to victory in race 4 at Busan on Friday.

It was Akane’s 16th ride since her debut a week earlier. In scoring the win, she’s already had more success than her compatriots Makoto Noda and Mai Beppu at Seoul.

All three have received plenty of rides since arriving – Noda has nine today and Beppu seven – but none of them have been given much quality to work with. Both Noda and Beppu will be in Busan this Sunday to ride outsiders in the Busan Metropolitan Cup, however, with nine out of the eleven entrants for the race coming from Seoul, neither Akane nor Toshio Uchida – the other Busan based Japanese rider – will be riding against them.

Life seemingly remains better for foreign riders at Busan. A video of Akane’s win and post-race interview (in Japanese) can be seen here.

Up at Seoul, today is a big day for another of the small female contingent in Korean racing. Lee Shin Young formally hung up her boots last month to begin training and her first runner hits the track in race 1.

Red Money has no wins from ten starts and will be an outsider. Lee just has the one runner today and she’ll have one more tomorrow when she saddles Geomunduksori in race 5.

Saturday July 16

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 14:20 to 20:50
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 16:20 to 21:20 (including the KCTV Cup at 19:55)

Sunday July 17

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 14:20 tp 21:00 (including the Munhwa Ilbo Cup at 19:10)
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 16:30 to 20:35 (including the Busan Metropolitan City Mayor’s Cup at 19:45)

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