Month: September 2011

Weekend Preview

After last week’s break for the Korean Thanksgiving Weekend, racing returns to the peninsula on Friday as a busy three days get underway.

It’s always interesting to see how things are after a blank weekend – especially after Thanksgiving, or “Chuseok” as it is called in Korean. More so than Christmas here, it is the time of year when there is a tendency to over-indulge in both food, drink and carousing.

There may still be some heads when they reconvene at Busan tomorrow. Gyongmaman of course is always sure to steer clear of wine, woman and song and has spent the intervening time carefully studying form. Even so, he’s still got a clue who’s going to win the Ilgan Sports Stakes on Sunday.

The Ilgan Sports is the highlight of the weekend and brings together a full field of fourteen runners over the Derby distance of 1800 metres. There’s a mixture of three-year olds who remain on the Classic trail, such as Geuma Champ, Magnifique and Beongaegangho. They’re joined by ones from last year such as Super Rich and Full Step in what makes for a cracking contest.

There’s plenty else going on too with big handicaps – a sprint on Saturday and a long distance test on Sunday – on both days at Seoul, while Busan also hosts competitive cards on Friday and Sunday. Australian jockey Nathan Stanley will get to put his 100% win record on the line at Busan with five rides across the weekend.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday September 16

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday September 17

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

Sunday September 18

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:05
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:05

Weekend Preview: No Racing – Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a reminder there’s no racing anywhere on the peninsula this weekend due to the long “Chuseok” – Korean Thanksgiving – holiday.

Things are back to normal next week with racing getting underway again on Friday September 16 at Busan. The Ilgan Sports Cup at Seoul on Sunday September 18 will be the weekend’s feature race.

New Racing Movie “Champ” Opens Today

The latest Korean movie to use horse racing as its backdrop opens in cinemas across the country today.

“Champ”, Starring Cha Tae Hyeon as a jockey and child star Kim Seeo Jeong as his daughter, the movie is (very) loosely based on the story of Korean racehorse Luna, who went through the sales ring unsold as a two-year old as she was believed to be too broken down to race. She went on to recover and become a multiple Stakes winner at Busan Racecourse.

The movie is being released to catch the Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) market and is therefore aimed at families who have been forced together for a few days and are at each others’ throats and want to go somewhere they don’t need to talk to each other.

That would suggest that, just like last year’s “Grand Prix”, we’re not talking Academy Award winning stuff. However, that the movie is directed by Lee Hwan Gyeong who was responsible for “Gakseoltang” – by far the best Korean racing movie to date – offers hope that it won’t be completely terrible.

Publicity poster for the movie "Champ"

The Korea Racing Authority has part funded the movie and the press conference to launch it was held at Seoul Racecourse after simul-casting last Friday. The KRA is using the movie as part of a renewed drive to popularise racing and to encourage racehorse ownership.

Who Is Seo Seung Woon?

Nathan Stanley And Six Apprentices Join Weighing Rooms

It was such a breathless start to the month on the track that perhaps it’s no bad thing that we’re off this coming weekend for the Korean Thanksgiving holiday. Highlight of the weekend was Australian jockey Nathan Stanley making an unexpected debut, and scoring an even more unexpected DQ victor, for countryman Peter Wolsley in the dramatic Busan Owners’ Cup on Sunday. However, Stanley was just one of seven new jockeys to debut at the weekend.

Dream Start: Seo Seung Woon drives Darling Vision to victory

The rest were all graduates of the KRA Jockey Academy, three at Seoul and three at Busan. And undoubtedly the star of the show was 21-year-old Seo Seung Woon. It started off as good fortune as the young jockey got the kind of break that others have had to wait many months for in only his second ride – he was on the favourite. If he felt any pressure, it didn’t show as he guided Challenge Concept (Concept Win) to a comfortable win. Later came the shock as in race 9, he produced a perfectly timed run on 37/1 shot Daring Vision (Perfect Champion) to beat out the opposition and claim a very good win. Punters were impressed.

New At Seoul: Lee Hyeok, Lee A-Na and Seo Seung Woon Pic: KRA

Seo is joined at Seoul by 24-year-old Lee Hyeok and 22-year-old Lee A-Na, who brings the number of female jockeys currently riding at Seoul to six. She will be looking to follow Kim Hae Sun who, two years after qualifying, is slowly becoming established as a potential star. Busan’s jockeys tend to be slightly less experienced than those at Seoul (although that is not to say less talented – often it’s anything but) so this year was the first in some time that the track has had a new intake. As well as Australian veteran Stanley, academy graduates Kim Jung Woong, Yoo Kwang Hee and Jung Dong Chul also debuted.

Busan new boys: Kim Jung Woong, Yoo Kwang Hee and Jung Dong Chul - The very manly pic is by the KRA

Korean blogger Chulgigi did sound a note of caution though. In 1995, newly qualified Ji Ha Ju won his first two races. Sixteen years later and he’s only won 212 more and has never been prolific in terms of mounts or wins. Things are different these days though. Much more rigorous training, helped by the presence of South African jockey trainer Kenny Michel, as well as stints in wither South Africa or Australia for the graduates mean that today’s newly qualified jockeys are better prepared – and, dare we say just plain better, than their forerunners. Lee Sang Hyeok, Jo In Kwen, Kim Hae Sun and Jang Chu Youl are just four recent graduates at Seoul who punters would place ahead of all but the elite four – Park Tae Jong, Cho Kyoung Ho, Moon Se Young and Choi Bum Hyun (that last one is questionable too).

As for Nathan Stanley, he debuted in 1992 and in addition to having ridden in Australia, has also competed recently in Malaysia. He takes over the senior International Jockey role at Busan from Toshio Uchida who completed his second stint at the track at the end of August.

And if the foreign contingent in Korea were feeling some sense of satisfaction that the Union had seen off Uchida only to see his replacement win a Group race in his very first ride – for a foreign trainer to boot – then they were positively rolling on the floor with laughter an hour later as Akane Yamamoto took out the Gold Circle Trophy on outsider Cheonji Horyeong (Buster’s Daydream). For some it may be that the foreigners are coming here and taking the money. They should, however, look at the benefits. The bar is being raised for everyone and that can only benefit racing in the long-term.

Cheonnyeon Daero DQ’d As Khaosan Scores Stakes Win For Peter Wolsley

Aussie Trainer And Jockey Combine in Owners’ Cup

Australian trainer Peter Wolsley earned his first Korean Stakes winner as his Khaosan [Sunday Well-Mogaung] won the Busan Owners’ Cup this afternoon. But it wasn’t straightforward as 2010 Derby winner Cheonnyeon Daero was first over the line before being demoted after a lengthy stewards’ inquiry.

Peter Wolsley - Stakes and Group Winner! (Pic: Herald Media)

Dangdae Bulpae was sent off as hot favourite to bounce back from his disappointment in the Metropolitan Stakes in July and it was he who set the early pace. Indeed, he was looking good to go on and record a comfortable win as the small field of seven entered the home straight. But then, all hell broke loose.

Dangdae Bulpae started to go backwards as Triple Sinwha took things up only to veer crazily wide towards the grandstand ruling himself out of contention for the win. That left Cheonnyeon Daero [Creek Cat-Doneitmyway], 2010 Derby winner in the lead.

DQ: Cheonnyeon Daero

But he was not alone. Six year old gelding Khaosan was in pursuit and, under Australian jockey Nathan Stanley – on his first ever mount in Korea – he was in fighting mood. Back and forth they went and Cheonnyeon Daero, under Park Geum Man, seemed to get the advantage but Khaosan, a 16/1 outsider was right there with him.

They came together once and then twice, Cheonnyeon Daero seemed to be to blame but was in front as they crossed the line. A Stewards Inquiry ensued and, after a fifteen minute wait the result came back. The positions were reversed. Khaosan won the Owners’ Cup with Cheonnyeon Daero demoted to second. Triple Sinhwa, alone on the grandstand rail, claimed third.

Nathan Stanley

The result meant a first ever Korean Stakes win for Peter Wolsley and a remarkable debut for Australian jockey Nathan Stanley who was standing in for Wolsley’s regular rider Kim Nam Sung. Khaosan, a six-year-old gelding, was winning for only the seventh time in thirty starts. For Cheonnyeon Daero, the reverse meant a twelfth second place finish in twenty-five races.

For Peter Wolsley, it is the crowning moment of his time in Busan so far. But it will be slightly bittersweet. Not only is it a win via disqualification but Cheonnyeon Daero’s jockey was Park Geum Man. Park is Wolsley’s protegé.

The young jockey ignored the xenophobia that is prevalent in Korean racing and sought out the Australian trainer as someone he could learn from and became his stable jockey for two years. Wolsley is on record as saying that Park’s win on Cheonnyeon Daero in last year’s Korean Derby – despite being for another trainer – is his proudest moment in Korea to date.

Wolsley will gain no pleasure in Cheonnyeon Daero’s disqualification. But Park is still surely destined for a glittering career and with Khaosan, Wolsley has deservedly joined him in being a Stakes and Group winner.

For Nathan Stanley it is a dream start. As Toshio Uchida’s replacement, the Australian had massive boots to fill and, unexpectedly filling in for Kim Nam Sung, he could not ahve done any better.

The overseas triumphs didn’t end there. Once the Owners’ Cup was over with, it was time for the Gold Circle Turf Club Trophy. And while the Peter Wolsley trained favourite Secret Whisper didn’t perform to expectations, Japanese jockey Akane Yamamoto guided 22/1 Cheonji Horyeong [Buster’s Daydream-Sorority Jazz] to a memorable victory.

Seoul Racecourse - September 4, 2011

Kkakjaengi Fails Her Tough Test

Tough Win Puts Star Filly in her Place / Who is Seo Seung Woon?

Star filly Kkakjaengi ran slap bang into a resurgent Tough Win in a thrilling main event at Seoul Race Park this afternoon, which saw the first five horses home separated by just a length and a half.

Tough Win and Cho Kyoung Ho return to scale after winning at Seoul

Tough Win (Yonaguska) was looking to bounce back from a disappointing defence of his Busan Metropolitan title in July and punters kept faith with him, sending him off as slight favourite, despite being up against double-Stakes winning three-year old filly Kkakjaengi (Put It Back).

After second favourite Khaki Halls set the early pace, it was former Grand Prix winner Bally Brae who led the field into the home straight. It looked as though the grand old man of Korean racing may pull off an unlikely victory but Kkakjaengi was looming ominously. Tough Win meanwhile had to go all the way around the field to find a run. Eventually he got into stride and, despite carrying a back-busting 63Kg, he had enough in him to haul himself to the line in front. 70/1 outsider Indian Secret scored an unlikely second place with Kkakjaengi, Bally Brae and Larrycat crossing the line together behind.

Tough Win moves onto 12 wins from 16 starts. Kkakjaengi has to settle for being on 6 wins from 10 starts.

Dream Start: Seo Seung Woon drives Darling Vision to victory

While Tough Win was the equine star of the day, on the jockey front we have someone new to watch. Newly qualified Seo Seung Woon had the good fortune to make his racing debut on favourite Challenge Concept (Concept Win) in race 3. He duly did the business by 3 lengths. A dream start but so far, so professional. Things got even better for him later on though as he put in a cracking shift on board 37/1 outsider Darling Vision (Perfect Champion) in race 9 to score an all-out half-length victory. One to watch over the coming months.

Tomorrow it’s the Owners’ Cup at Busan. It was Dangdae Bulpae who took Tough Win out of the Metropolitan in July by engaging him in a pointless speed duel in the early part of the race. Both horses were exhausted by the time they got to the business part of the race. Today was Tough Win’s redemption, tomorrow Dangdae Bulpae will have the opportunity to earn his.

Sunday September 4

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:10 including the Owners’ Cup at 16:15 and the GCTC Trophy at 17:10.

Mister Park Sets New Consecutive Win Record

Son of Ecton Park Romps to Sixteenth Straight Victory

In the end we didn’t get our Zenyatta-esque Glory in victory and glory in defeat That was what we were expecting had Mister Park been able to put his fifteen race unbeaten record on the line back in July in the Busan Metropolitan against the very best on the peninsula.

Mister Park (Pic: KRA)

Instead, it was shortly after 6pm on this warm late summer Friday and in a regular handicap when, in his customary fashion, Mister Park steamrolled his way into the record books to win a record sixteenth consecutive victory.

Taking on foreign-bred horses for only the third time in his career allowed the four-year old gelding to carry less weight than he would have done against Korean born opposition and he led from gate to wire to score a five-length win.

With the win, he surpasses Po Gyeong Seon and Saegangja – iconic names in Korean racing – with whom he had been tied on fifteen since his last start in June. He is a special talent yet, due to circumstances and the way he has been campaigned, he does not get the kind of coverage others do. Having been born in Korea but sired outside (his sire, Ecton Park was later brought to Korea too) he was ineligible for the three-year old Classics and had to wait back in the barn while Dangdae Bulpae (Biwa Shinseiki) racked up five Stakes wins.

Mister Park in the Grand Prix Winner's Circle

Mister Park only has the one Stakes victory, albeit the biggest of them all in the 2010 Grand Prix, and only faced foreign bred horses on one other occasion before today. His late withdrawal from the Busan Metropolitan led to claims from some – vehemently denied by connections – that they were happy to harvest relatively easy money by winning mismatches in contrast to the likes of Yeonseung Daero who has a much lower win rate than he should simply because he only ever runs against the very best.

None of this is Mister Park’s fault of course. He just beats whoever he’s asked to. And he’s beaten them all. Sixteen times in a row.

How many more can he win? There are potential threats. Lion Santa (Lion Heart) is a year younger and has won all eight of his starts so far. A US import, however, there is no guarantee that he will ever meet Mister Park. He will also quickly find himself carrying a lot of weight in handicaps – something Mister Park can escape by entering foreign-bred races. If they do, it would likely come in the Grand Prix at Seoul in December. IF he makes it there and goes onto win, Mister Park will undoubtedly belong among the great names of Korean racing.

* Mister Park [Ecton Park-Formal Deal (Formal Gold)] is a four-year old gelding owned by Oh Sang Chul and trained by Kim Young Gwan. His jockey today was Jo Sung Gon.

Click here to watch the race

Weekend Preview

Owners’ Cup At Busan / Kkakjaengi Meets Tough Win at Seoul

It’s Busan Owners’ Cup Weekend and Dangdae Bulpae will be at the head of a field of seven racing for one of Busan Race Park’s biggest prizes of the year on Sunday afternoon. However, that’s just the highlight of a busy weekend of racing in Korea.

Tough Test: Kkakjaengi

And up at Seoul on Saturday we have an absolute belter of a feature race as the star three-year old filly Kkaekjaengi (Put It Back), winner of the Segye Ilbo Cup and Seoul Owners’ Trophy, faces the toughest test of her short career so far taking on eleven older male horses over seven furlongs. And not just any old males. Alongside her will be Tough Win (Yonaguska), who is making his first start since he and Dangdae Bulpae thwarted each other in the Busan Metropolitan in July.

Tough Win is still the top rated horse at Seoul with eleven wins from his fifteen starts. Then there’s Larrycat (Fantasticat), second only to Mister Park in the Grand Prix Stakes last year, he’s making only his fourth appearance of the year and is dropping down to seven furlongs for the first time since he was a two-year old. Then there is Bally Brae (Yarrow Brae). The former Grand Prix Stakes winner will have Moon Se Young back in the saddle for the first time this year and is still capable of pulling off an upset. The big race is race 11 of 12 on Saturday.

It is set to be a beautiful – if ever so slightly humid weekend. Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday September 2

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday September 3

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:10 to 17:30
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:55

Sunday September 4

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:10 including the Owners’ Cup at 16:15 and the Gold Circle Trophy at 17:10