Sunday’s racing, including the Owners’ Cup, and all of next weekend’s cards have been cancelled following the ferry disaster.
Report to follow.
Month: April 2014
Seoul Owners’ Association Trophy: Full Preview
The Seoul Owners’ Association Trophy has been run for as long as there has been an Owners’ Association.
Gwanggyo Bisang is among 11 vying for the Owners’ Association Trophy
That was 1993, the same year that the system of private ownership of racehorses was introduced.
Since then it’s gone through many forms and has seen some of the most well-known names in Korean racing win. P’Ulgeurim, Subsidy, Dongbanui Gangja and last year, Jigeum I Sungan have all made their way into the winner’s circle in the past.
Since 2012, the race has been restricted to Korean-bred runners aged 4 and up and is run over 7 furlongs and that’s what it will be this time around.
Joy Lucky and Gwanggyo Bisang are among a number of top class horses who will contest one of the highlights of the Spring racing calendar. Here’s a full run down of the field with their race records and jockeys:
Seoul Owners’ Association Trophy (KOR G3) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – April 20, 16:35
1. K Tap [Menifee – Summit Party (Ecton Park)] 4 C (14/6/2/4) – Jang Chu Youl
Has won his last two starts over this distance including a class 1 last time out. He’s quick and likes to come from just off the pace which gives him a chance here.
2. Jjak Kkung [Forest Camp – Fab Four (Yes It’s True)] 5 M (20/6/1/4) – Kim Tea Hun
Well beaten by K Tap over the distance last time out and there’s little to suggest that form is going to be overturned. Won from the front over 1200M in January but should find the company a little quick here.
3. Brig [Menifee – Delicias (Deputy Minister)] 4 C (16/8/3/0) – Moon Se Young
4th in last year’s Derby and a two-time class 1 winner, Brig drops down to one-turn for the first time since he was a 2-year-old. He’s never run at this distance but Brig likes to come from just off the pace and could be a big threat in the home straight. A chance.
4. Cheonnyeon Dongan [Ecton Park – Honeycakes (Hennessey) 4 F (12/7/0/3) – Jo In Kwen
Comes into the race off the back of three wins – two of them in Stakes races but hasn’t run since January. One of those Stakes wins came at the expense of Joy Lucky who suffered interference. All things being equal though, Joy Lucky is faster than her. Another closer, it’s worth watching the board for any value.
5. Full Step [Didyme – Fox Dance (Foxtrail)] 7 H (41/4/4/4) – Lee Gang Seo
Has been out of step for a long time now. Hasn’t moneyed for two years and won’t do so here. Served his time and should be retired. To his credit, in his 41 starts, he’s never finished last.
6. Reigns Cat [Creek Cat – Eternal Reigns (Eternal Orage)] 6 H (32/5/3/3) – Ikuyasu Kurakane
Four indifferent performances since returning from a long lay-off make it very difficult to recommend him here. The old Reigns Cat would have had a chance but not this one.
7. Joy Lucky [Vicar – Proper Gun (Prosper Fager)] 4 F (12/8/1/0) – Seo Seung Un
Comes into the race off of a hugely disappointing run in the Ttukseom Cup. She is the fastest horse in the race and if she runs at her best, she wins. In three of her last races, however, she hasn’t. Still difficult to oppose.
8. New And Best [Trick Of Fate – Yongungch’eon (Phizam)] 7 H (54/4/6/3) – Bang Choon Sik
A shock second in this race to Jigeum I Sungan last year at odds of 200/1. He’ll be something similar here and for good reason.
9. Seoul Jeongsang [Capital Spending – Luvtonoah (Westminster)] 6 G (32/4/5/7) – Yoon Tae Hyuk
Although he has graduated up the levels through virtue of prize-money, Seoul Jeongsang has never won a race at a higher level than class 3. He’ll not win this one either and though he was a decent sprinter, is unlikely to have the pace to figure in the finish.
10. Gwanggyo Bisang [Menifee – Touch Upon (Touch Gold)] 4 G (11/8/1/1) – Park Tae Jong
A double-Stakes winner last year and narrowly beaten by Joy Lucky over further in December. Hasn’t run since January but will be among the favourites and is very capable of beating Joy Lucky.
11. Heukgisa [A.P.Dancer – Mansumugang (Half Term)] 5 G (17/7/3/1) – Cho Kyoung Ho
Beat a small field to win a class 1 with a very swift turn of foot last time out. Likely to be close to front and could make a nuisance of himself in the closing stages.
Weekend Race Times
The feature race of the weekend is the Seoul Owners’ Association Trophy which takes place in the capital on Sunday afternoon. There will be a full runner-by-runner preview on this site tomorrow evening.
In the meantime, here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday April 18
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 13:00 to 19:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:25 to 17:40
Saturday April 19
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:15
Sunday April 20
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:00
Female Korean Jockey Lee Keum Joo Wins In Morocco
Lee Keum Joo last week won the latest round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) 2014 at Hippodrome De Casablanca-Anfa in Morocco last Friday.
Lee Keum Joo and Kanzaman win in Morocco (Pic: IFAHR)
Riding the locally-bred and reasonably well-fancied Kanzaman, Lee finished almost a length ahead of German rider Tamara Hofer on favourite Saqr II.
Aside from professionals Lee and Hofer the majority of other riders were either local apprentices or visiting amateurs and included former British Champion Lady Amateur Serena Brotherton.
37-year-old Lee, who will no doubt appreciate the event website’s description of her as a “brilliant young rider”, debuted at Seoul in 2001 when she became only the 2nd woman to gain a jockey license in Korea.
She has had a stop-start career but returned to reasonably regular race-riding this year and is currently attached to the stable of trainer Lee Shin Young – who she qualified as a jockey with before the latter Lee went on to become Korea’s first female trainer. Lee Keum Joo now has 26 career wins.
The “World Championship” continues in Toulouse in France this week and has further global stops including Newbury in England before concluding in Abu Dhabi in November.
Jo Sung Gon & Kenny Seo Combine in Macau, Major King Flops at Pimlico
Mixed news from the overseas Korean racing diaspora over the past couple of weeks. There was an all-Korean connections winner in Macau but Minister’s Cup winner Major King was a major disappointment on his American racing debut.
Jo Sung Gon and Kenny Seo in the Taipa Winner’s Circle (MJC)
Seoul Racecourse based trainer Seo Beom Seok – better known as Kenny Seo – has been running a parallel stable in Macau for a year now, primarily training for Korean owners. Busan’s champion jockey Jo Sung Gon has been based in Macau since January.
On April 4, the Park Nam Sung owned, Kenny Seo trained and Jo Sung Gon ridden Liver Pool (All Bar One) took victory in the 1100 metre race 2 at Taipa. For trainer and jockey it was their 4th and 2nd winners respectively in the Special Administrative Region.
Taipa will host the Korea Racing Authority Trophy on May 2. The KRA Chairman will be among those making the trip from Seoul.
Seo’s attempt to make a go of things in Asia is at odds with the KRA’s seemingly never-ending fascination with the USA, a jurisdiction which despite the source of a large quantity of racehorses and breeding stock, has little in common with Korea and by their own admission, isn’t a model that authorities here are aiming to emulate.
The sending of 2-year-olds to Florida for early training has great merit and the latest batch of them will be returning to Korea next month much better for the experience. However, the habit of sending of mature Korean-bred horses to run in claiming races in the North-East is far more questionable.
2013 classic winners Speedy First and Major King headed Stateside in January and Major King (Pico Central) – who hadn’t exactly been pulling up trees in his most recent Korean outings was the first to make his debut. Korean racing fans are strongly advised to look away now.
It was hoped that the Pick Me Up and Baekpa debacles of 2008 and 2009 had been learned from but it seems we are doomed to keep repeating the same old mistakes – Horses that are bred and only trained in Korea are going to struggle when expected to race alongside animals that have been raised entirely differently.
More interaction with Asia-Pacific – of which the exchange races with Japan last year were a perfect example – is what’s needed now, not sending our Classic winners to plod around Pimlico.
Indian Blue Closes To Sports Donga Success
Indian Blue lived up to her reputation as one of Seoul’s top horses over any distance as she walked off with the Sports Donga Cup this afternoon.
Indian Blue and Ikuyasu Kurakane return as winners of the Sports Donga
Remarkably, the 4-year-old Indian Blue (Henny Hughes) had won only 4 of her 15 starts coming into today’s race. However, a 3rd and a 2nd in consecutive Ttukseom Cups, a 2nd in the KRA Cup Classic and a 4th in the Grand Prix Stakes meant the raw statistics didn’t really tell the full story.
Add in a sprint victory over Watts Village, Korea’s “Hero of Ohi” and it was no surprise that punters sent her off the short-priced favourite in a field of 14 for the Sports Donga.
She didn’t disappoint. Under Ikuyasu Kurakane, Indian Blue was inevitably the fastest of a group of closers who took charge in the home straight. Hitting the front with a furlong to run – early by her standards, Indian Blue was pushed all the way by Wonder Bolt but never looked in serious danger.
In third place there was a welcome return to form for 2012 KRA Cup Classic winner Sing Sing Cat but the highly though of pair of Double Shining and Kentucky Galloper disappointed.
Going forward, there are plenty of options for Indian Blue. The remaining legs of the Queens’ Tour will be attractive but so will a the Busan Metropolitan in July. Further on, a second tilt at the Korea vs Japan Goodwill race in August – with its prospect of an international rating and subsequent trip to Dubai – should be on the agenda.
Down at Busan, the JRA Kokura Racecourse Trophy was the main event. And while at Seoul it was one of the up-and-comers taking the plaudits, this race went to one of the elder statesmen of the sand as 8-year-old Full Forest (Full Mandate) took victory by a length.
Debuting in 2008, Full Forest was making his 58th start and recorded his first win since Janaury 2012 – and only his 7th in all. Over the years he’s had many jockeys – including the tragic pair of Park Jin Hee and Yoshi Aoki – but today it was the turn of Kim Yong Geun, who made the race his 4th win of the afternoon.
A fine ride it was too as he guided Full Forest into contention as they entered the home straight before passing long-time leader Star Bolt inside the final furlong to win going away.
Next weekend, Stakes action returns to Seoul in the form of the Seoul Owners’ Association Trophy.
Weekend Preview
Last week saw the KRA Cup Mile and next week is the Seoul Owners’ Cup. No Stakes this weekend – not for the thoroughbreds anyway – but still plenty to keep us occupied.
Springtime – hopefully we’ll have some sunshine this weekend. Wouldn’t bet on it though
Seoul’s weekend feature is the Sports Donga Trophy on Sunday afternoon. KRA Cup Classic and Ttukseom Cup runner-up Indian Blue heads a competitive looking class 1 field over 2000 metres. Fellow 4-year-olds Double Shining and Kentucky Galloper will also be there.
Busan hosts class 1 fields on both Friday and Sunday. Old favourite Ghost Whisper goes in Friday’s contest which also features up-and-comer Smile Again making his debut at this level.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Lion Santa and Viva Ace – both winless for a long time – renew hostilities. They’ll be hard pressed to break their streaks here.
The one Stakes of the weekend is on Jeju Island on Saturday, where the ponies will be running for the cutely titled “Blossom Stakes”. Speaking of blossoms, it’s the final weekend of the Cherry Blossom festival at Seoul Racecourse.
Here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday April 11
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 13:00 to 19:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:25 to 17:40
Saturday April 12
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:15
Sunday April 13
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:00
Cheongnyong Bisang Dominates KRA Cup Mile
Cheongnyong Bisang showed that he was no Juvenile wonder as he landed a dominating win in the KRA Cup Mile – the Korean 2000 Guineas – at Busan this afternoon.
Cheongnyong Bisang wins the KRA Cup Mile (KRA)
Despite having won the Breeders’ Cup and being crowned champion 2-year-old of 2013, Cheongnyong Bisang was sent off at odds of 20/1 for the first leg of the 2014 Korean Triple Crown. He duly made a mockery of those odds, stalking the leaders early on before unleashing a sprint that none could respond to.
But for a short stint at the front, pre-race favourite Queen’s Blade showed little, ultimately fading and finishing in 5th and as her fellow pacesetters also fell away it was left to outsiders Gilbert and Namdo Trio to close strongly and push the winner to the line.
Two horses threw away their chances at the start. First, Pureun Geotap reared in the gate and had to be scratched. Once they finally did get underway Busan’s champion juvenile of last year Jungang Gongju missed the break and only managed to catch one horse by the end, continuing her recent run of poor form.
Also disappointing was previously unbeaten filly Winner’s Marine who finished 9th after being sent off as the 2nd favourite.
Aside from the three placers, Raon Morris put on a good show, leading for most of the way before being overcome at the end. He could be one to watch going forward.
Cheongnyong Bisang is the first Seoul winner of the KRA Cup Mile since Money Car in 2010 and he did it in style. He’ll be the favourite as we head back to the capital for the Korean Derby on May 18.
KRA Cup Mile (KOR G2) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – April 6, 2014
1. Cheongnyong Bisang (KOR) [Volponi – Miss Alwuhush (Alwuhush)] – Seo Seung Un – 21.5, 4.1
2. Gilbert (KOR) [Yankee Victor – Wonderful Wanda (Fusaichi Pegasus)] – Kim Dong Young – 14.9
3. Namdo Trio (KOR) [Didyme – Tapas (Sky Classic)] – Kanichiro Fujii – 4.3
Distances: 2 lengths/0.5 lengths – 14 ran
Also Ran: 4. Raon Morris 5. Queen’s Blade 6. Yeonggwanguichampion 7. Nubi Queen 8. Cupid Girl 9. Winner’s Marine 10. Gangchi 11. Royal Impact 12. Power Champion 13. Jungang Gongju 14. Classic Cat NR. Pureun Geotap NR. Hwanggeumbitjijunghye
K-Triple Crown 2014: KRA Cup Mile Full Preview
The Triple Crown is upon us. We’ve a long slog ahead with 6 months between the first leg and final legs. We begin at Busan Race Park this coming Sunday with the KRA Cup Mile – the Korean 2000 Guineas.
Cheongnyong Bisang stands to attention after becoming champion juvenile. He’ll have plenty of supporters in the KRA Cup Mile
A full field of 16 will line up for the big race – 7 of them fillies. It looks extremely open and hard to call. Here’s a run-down of the runners and riders:
KRA Cup Mile (KOR G2) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Sunday April 6, 2014
1. Classic Cat [One Cool Cat – Deoksugung (Cherokee Run)] (6/3/1/0) – Park Hyun Woo (Seoul)
Faded badly in the final furlong of his last start which was his first try at 7 furlongs. Prior to that he’d recorded some very dominant wins and with plenty of speed, if he runs back to that form he could do feature at the buiness end of the race. Doing it at Busan is a big ask though.
2. Yeonggwanguichampion [Menifee – Manwang (Road Of War)] (7/4/1/1) – Lim Sung Sil (Busan)
Lim Sung Sil has been to be on in Stakes races recently although he’s not riding for trainer Kim Young Kwan this time. Finished 2nd on his only start over the distance to date. He’s a front-runner and will need to have come on since then if he is to hold on here. A chance.
3. Cheongnyong Bisang [Volponi – Miss Alwuhush (Alwuhush)] (7/4/0/0) – Seo Seung Un (Seoul)
Last year’s Champion Juvenile found himself exposed last time out against class 2 opposition. That was over 1800M and he already has a win at 1700M to his name. With the exception of his Breeders’ Cup, his wins have come from the front and he is going to face a lot of competition up there. If he can stay on in the long and tough Busan home straight, he’ll be among the contenders.
4. Pureun Geotap [Menifee – Charmin Strike (Smart Strike)] Filly (9/2/2/3) Lee Chan Ho (Seoul)
The filly was 3rd in the Breeders’ Cup and has gone on to show she can handle an extended trip, with a class 4 win over 1800M. She was hanging on a bit in a slowly run race but should appreciate the drop down to 1600M.
5. Gangchi [Volponi – Regal Heir (Regal Intention)] (9/3/1/1) – Darryll Holland (Busan)
Bart Rice saddles his first Korean Classic runner. Gangchi was a sharp-looking winner over 1300M last time out. Expect to see him just off the lead and if anyone can coax the best out of him, it’s Darryll Holland.
6. Nubi Queen [Menifee – Dream Runner (Our Poetic Prince)] Filly (9/3/1/2) – Oh Kyoung Hoan (Seoul)
Another who has won over 1800M at Seoul, Nubi Queen could only manage 6th when facing a lot of these rivals in the Breeders’ Cup last December and although she’s clearly gone on since, whether she has the pace to match them at the business end of the race is open to question.
7. Winner’s Marine [Volponi – Graceful Ballerina (Posse)] Filly (5/5/0/0) – You Hyun Myung (Busan)
The only unbeaten runner coming into the race, she’s going to have to work very hard to still be unbeaten come the end of Sunday afternoon though. She’s never tried further than 1300M and hasn’t beaten anything special but she is undeniably quick and jockey You Hyun Myung has been in sensational form of late.
8. Raon Morris [Yankee Victor – Thunder By Night (Thunder Gulch)] (6/3/1/1) – Moon Se Young (Seoul)
Seoul’s champion 2-year-old of last year has only made one competitive start in 2014, finishing 3rd over 1700M in January. He has race-trialed twice since though and Seoul’s top jockey Moon Se Young has seen fit to make the journey South – a tip in itself. On his day, he has the fastest sprint and must be respected.
9. Jungang Gongju [Menifee – Command And Hope (Commands)] Filly (7/2/2/0) – Choi Si Dae (Busan)
Winner of Busan’s biggest 2-year-old race last year, she’s been deeply unimpressive in her three starts since. Likes to come from off the pace with a very fast final three furlongs, if she runs to her best, she can win especially if the front-runners burn themselves out. However, she’s not been doing that lately, disappointing punters who’ve backed her into short odds each time. They won’t this time.
10. Queen’s Blade [Menifee – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] Filly (7/4/3/0) – Kim Yong Geun (Busan)
A Kim Young Kwan trained horse must always be in contention in a big race and his filly cones into this race with the most impressive recent form, winning a class 2 race over this distance. She’ll need to go quicker than she did that day to win this but she has the pace and the pedigree to excel here – she’s half-sister to 2008 Oaks winner Jeolho Chance – and could be hard to beat.
11. Gilbert [Yankee Victor – Wonderful Wanda (Fusaichi Pegasus)] (5/3/1/0) – Kim Dong Young (Busan)
One of the bigger colts in the race, Gilbert looks like a sprinter and so far has only run once over 6 furlongs – he finished 8th. Kim Dong Young, who won this race last year on Sting Ray, will be his 5th jockey in 6 races. He’s quick but others are quicker.
12. Namdo Trio [Didyme – Tapas (Sky Classic)] (9/2/4/0) – Kanichiro Fujii (Busan)
A very encouraging run over the distance in March and Joe Fujii on his back are two things that Namdo Trio has in his favour. Likes to close from just off the pace, he should find one or two quicker here but the Fujii-factor will mean he has his backers.
13. Power Champion [Perfect Champion – Perfect Vision (Psychobabble)] (8/4/1/0) – Jo In Kwen (Seoul)
Enters the race in great form, having won his past 4 starts and with Jo In Kwen on board, he’ll have plenty of support from punters. It’s his first try at this distance which could be a concern but he will be among the favourites.
14. Cupid Girl [Vicar – Sheza Hot Dish (Rubiano)] Filly (8/4/0/1) – Park Byung Yun (Seoul)
Another who comes into the race on a winning streak, her’s currently stands at 3, her most recent coming over 1800M. The distance therefore isn’t a concern and she has won both from the front and from off the pace. Should be a good price with an unfashionable jockey on board but likely to find a few too quick here though.
15. Hwanggeumbitjijung [Menifee – Firstclasscat (Catienus)] Filly (6/4/0/1) – Masakazu Tanaka (Busan)
Got squeezed out in a very tight four-way finish over 1500M last time out and the fact that she was passed by 3 class 3 horses in the final few strides of that race is a worry. If she can stay the distance, she should have plenty of speed in store.
16. Royal Impact [Cielo Gold – Skeemo (Meadowlake)] (7/2/0/3) – Song Keong Yun (Busan)
A closer who could well appreciate stepping up a further half-furlong than he’s run before. Although he comes in looking in good form, he hasn’t beaten very much and only has one start at class 3 to his name so he’ll be one of the outsiders. Bet him if you think the pace-setters will sprint each other out the race.
The KRA Cup Mile is race 5 of a 6-race program at Busan on Sunday. The race will also be broadcast live to Seoul Racecourse for simulcast betting.
Weekend Race Times – Cherry Blossom Edition
It’s KRA Cup Mile weekend! The opening leg of the 2014 Korean Triple Crown takes place at Busan Racecourse this coming Sunday.
Cherry blossoms are out at Seoul Racecourse
Our full horse-by-horse preview of the big race will be published here on Friday evening but in the meantime, here’s what’s happening when and where on a weekend when the Cherry blossoms are expected to be fully in bloom at Seoul Racecourse:
Friday April 5
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 13:00 to 19:00
Jeju Race Park: 8 races from 13:25 to 17:15
Saturday April 6
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:15
Sunday April 7
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:05 including the KRA Cup Mile at 16:15
Horse Racing in Korea 