Kim Dong Soo took the top prize in the 7th Asian Young Guns Jockey Challenge, riding winners in two of the four rounds at Seoul Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.
Kim Dong Soo atthe Asian Young Guns Ceremony (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Always expected to win the first leg having drawn the plum ride on Nabom, Korean apprentice Kim added another win in round 3 on Ganginhae to take an unassailable lead going into the Singapore Turf Club Trophy. In that race, he would extend his lead by partnering Gasok Bisang to 2nd place behind Hong Kong’s Jack Wong on Yeondu.
Kim Dong Soo wins round 1 on Nabom (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Round 1: Class 4 / 1000M / Handicap
1. Nabom – Kim Dong Soo (Korea)
2. Muhandoma – Jack Wong (Hong Kong)
3. Strong Winner – Jye McNeil (Australia)
Distances: 6 lengths / 1.34 lengths – 10 ran
Macau’s Choi Yee Mo would take the second leg of the challenge, swooping home wide and late on Hwanggeum Sesang. It would, however, be Choi’s last mount of the day as he was stood down with exhaustion after the race.
Choi Yee Mo returns to scale having won Round 2 on Hwanggeum Sesang (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Round 2: Class 4 / 1400M / Handicap
1. Hwanggeum Sesang – Choi Yee MO (Macau)
2. Giant Hold – Cho Han Byeol
3. Power Symphony – See Zhi Yong (Singapore)
Distances: 4 lengths/ 0.75 lengths – 14 ran
With Choi unfortunately retired, the challenge was Kim’s to lose and he made sure of victory with a round to spare, guiding 7/1 chance Ganginhae to a four-length triumph.
Kim Dong Soo returns victorious on Ganginhae (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Round 3: Class 5 / 1200M / Handicap
1. Ganginhae – Kim Dong Soo (Korea)
2. Eutteum Wangja – Tsubasa Sasagawa (Japan)
3. Seoho Arari – Song Jae Chul
Distances: 4 lengths / Neck – 11 ran
The challenge may have bee over as a contest but there was still the most valuable race of the four to come in the shape of the Singapore Turf Club Trophy. And remarkably, the in-form Kim Dong Soo came close in that too, partnering 70/1 shot Gasok Bisang to an improbable 2nd place.
He could, however, only get within two lengths of the winner, Yeondu, who was ridden by Hong Kong’s Jack Wong.
Hong Kong’s Jack Wong wins the Singapore Turf Club Trophy on Yeondu (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Round 4: The Singapore Turf Club Trophy / 1400M / Class Open
1. Yeondu – Jack Wong (Singapore)
2. Gasok Bisang – Kim Dong Soo (Korea)
3. Nuri Narae – Jye McNeil (Australia)
Distances: 2.5 lengths/4 lengths – 13 ran
Kim Dong Soo is presented with…something (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Kim Dong Soo was the overall winner, ahead of Hong Kong’s Jack Wong and Australia’s Jye McNeil.
Horse Racing in Korea 