Month: November 2015

Weekend Round-Up: Cinderella Man & Bold Kings Star

Cinderella Man charged back into the winner’s circle at Seoul while Bold Kings maintained his 100% record at Busan as the pair emerged victorious from Sunday’s two Grand Prix Stakes trials.

Cinderella Man had run just twice in the capital since his ownership transferred from Pegasus Stables to Ruairi O’Coilean and he joined the stable of Seoul’s fast emerging trainer Lee Shin Young. The first of those was the KRA Cup Classic when questionable riding tactics scuppered his chances but he looked sharp when running 2nd last month over 2000M

He had to battle on Sunday when racing over the Grand Prix distance for the first time but once he had finally managed to get past long time leader Hwanggeum Tap in the final furlong, Cinderella Man ran on for victory by just over a length under champion jockey Moon Se Young. It was Cinderella Man’s 10th win from 17 career starts.

Class 1 Handicap – Seoul Racecourse – 2300M – Nov 9, 2015

1. Cinderella Man (KOR) [Southern Image – Tiza Fast Kat (Tiznow)] – Moon Se Young – 2.7, 1.3
2. Hwanggeum Tap (USA) [Tiz Wonderful – La Tulipe (Silver Deputy)] – Lee Sang Hyeok – 3.4
3. Winning Andy (USA) [Cowboy Cal – Belvedere Miss (Pleasant Colony)] – Djordje Perovic – 1.5
Distances: 1.5 lengths/1.5 lengths – 9 ran

At Busan, three-year-old US import Bold Kings confirmed his status as one of the hottest emerging talents in Korean racing. He too had to battle in the 2200M class 1 event but under Jo Sung Gon, he finally got the better of Goji Jeongbeol by a head after the two dueled for the final furlong. Bold Kings is now six for six.

The Grand Prix at Seoul next month would be a big ask for both of them. Bold Kings is three, has only run six times and is yet to travel to race. Cinderella Man, while reasonably conservatively campaigned this year (he has run eight times) did suffer setbacks over the summer. Their presence though would be a huge boost for the race.

Class 1 Handicap – Busan Racecourse – 2200M – Nov 8, 2015

1. Bold Kings (USA) [Afleet Express – Bold Arrival (Gilded Time)] – Jo Sung Gon – 2.5, 1.3
2. Goji Jeongbeol (USA) [Congrats – I Love CIndy (Adonis)] – Ikuyasu Kurakane – 1.5
3. Gandai (KOR) [ Don’t Get Mad – Gamble To Victory (Prospector’s Gamble)] – Song Keong Yun – 2.7
Distances: Head / 2.5 lengths – 8 ran

Bold Kings was ridden for the first time by Jo Sung Gon as regular rider Kim Yong Geun was riding Nobody Catch Me for Kim Young Kwan. It may be a good thing that he won’t be going to the Tokyo Daishoten and he probably won’t be going to the Grand Prix either as he faded to a well-beaten 6th having shown prominently early in the race.

Trainer Kim will still have plenty of options for the season-ending showpiece – which once again will be available to European punters through the PMU – with three-year-olds Rock Band and Triple Nine among them.

On a weekend when it rained practically non-stop and the track at times resembled more a rowing lake than a racecourse, the pari-mutuel system decided that it was as wet and fed-up as everybody else and packed up immediate following race 3 at Seoul. It was a good 40 minutes before it could be coaxed into life again and that meant the abandonment of race 4. It’s not the first time it’s happened.

Jockey of the weekend was once more Djordje Perovic who rode another treble on Saturday and a further winner on Sunday. Jockey of the weekend wasn’t Nicola Pinna who while finally making his debut on Saturday, had to get off two later mounts – one of which Perovic won on.

Jockey of the weekend wasn’t Kim Hye Sun either. She will be having nightmares over getting Saetbyeori beaten in Saturday’s race 4 when the race looked won. While it looked to be a total brain freeze rather than anything nefarious (the Stewards adjourned their inquiry), the punters who backed the 10/1 shot won’t have been amused. However, those who were on the favourite that Kim failed to notice closing on her inside until it was too late, wouldn’t have minded at all. The usually reliable Kim was much more vigilant on Sunday with a very good ride on 38/1 shot Beongae Power, who she coaxed home when looking about to be beaten.

In other jockey news, Japanese rider Makoto Okabe debuted at Busan with seven rides across the weekend. He didn’t manage to get a winner but did land two 2nd places and one 3rd. Pasquale Borelli, Ikuyasu Kurakane and Masa Tanaka all did manage to find their way into the winner’s circle though.

Perovic Perks Up At Seoul As Foreign Jockeys & Trainers Enjoy Winning Weekend

Borelli, Tomizawa, Rice, Tanaka, Takahashi, Gillespie & Wolsley All With Winners Too

It’s been a mixed couple of months for Djordje Perovic but the “Balkan Wolf” was back smiling again having guided four winners home on what was an all-round good weekend for the foreign contingent in Korean racing.

Things hadn’t been going all Perovic’s way since losing the support of one of his main trainers after the KRA Cup Classic at the end of August. However, other trainers have continued to use him and this weekend it all came together as the “Serbian Frankie” – he has no shortage of nicknames – showed his class with a treble on Saturday and a further winner on Sunday.

Those four winners took Perovic to 28 in Korea. Meanwhile fellow Seoul rider Yuri Takahashi, whose Korean license was last week confirmed to have been extended until the end of April 2016 rode his 16th winner in the country on Saturday.

Down at Busan, Bart Rice saddled two winners on Friday, giving Masa Tanaka his 95th Korean victory and taking the Japanese rider one closer to his stated goal of 100 before his license ends. Rice also provided Italian rider Pasquale Borelli with one of his two weekend successes. Nozi Tomizawa also got home in front twice, the first of them a welcome win for trainer Thomas Gillespie.

Gillespie has still only sent out 35 runners in total but has 4 winners now and a remarkable place strike rate of 37%. Rice too takes care of his horses and doesn’t send them out for the sake of it and has a place strike rate of 31%. Peter Wolsley also sent out a winner on Friday and remains in clear 2nd place in the Trainer Championship. His place strike rate is also 37% and was bolstered by Ms. Margaux running a very good 2nd in the Governor’s Cup on Sunday.

Those foreign trained or ridden winners in full:

Djordje Perovic: 4 – Saturday Seoul Race 2 (Yeongam Arirang), Saturday Seoul Race 8 (Bulguruisinhwa), Saturday Seoul Race 13 (Sun Strong), Sunday Seoul Race 1 (Cin Cin Jjan)

Nozi Tomizawa: 2 – Friday Busan Race 9 (Professor Silver), Sunday Busan Race 1 (Green Mireu)

Bart Rice: 2 – Friday Busan Race 1 (Jangguneui Huye), Friday Busan Race 3 (King’s Rules)

Pasquale Borelli: 2 – Friday Busan Race 3 (King’s Rules), Sunday Busan Race 3 (Ganghan Namja)

Masa Tanaka: 1 – Friday Busan Race 1 (Jangguneui Huye)

Yuri Takahashi: 1 – Saturday Seoul Race 5 (Samba Festival)

Thomas Gillespie: 1 – Friday Busan Race 9 (Professor Silver)

Peter Wolsley: 1 – Friday Busan Race 5 (Dangdae Queen)

It wasn’t all good news for the foreign contingent though. Italian jockey Nicola Pinna was scheduled to debut at Seoul this past weekend but unfortunately was unable to make weight for his three mounts. Pinna’s disappointment was compounded as the first of those, Jeongsang Daegil in race 2 on Saturday, bolted up at 10/1 under replacement Lee Chan Ho. Pinna will hopefully get another chance next week when Japanese rider Makoto Okabe is expected to start at Busan.

In addition to Takahashi’s extension, the KRA also confirmed last week that Ikuyasu Kurakane (who was suspended this week) has had his jockey license extended until April 2016. Good news for punters and less so for the local jockey colony. “Good”, is the only sensible reaction to that.

Busan has undoubtedly benefited from the presence of foreign trainers and that is set to be extended to Seoul. Applications have been received over the past couple of months and the first overseas trainers to be granted licenses in the capital will be announced soon.

Heba Is The Guv’Nor

Heba was the runaway winner of the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup at Busan Racecourse this afternoon. In the process she became the overall winner of the Queens’ Tour series of races and was crowned champion filly or mare of 2015.

Having finished in 5th place behind Japanese visitor Esmeraldina in the opening leg of the tour, 1400M Ttukseom Cup at Seoul in June and then winning the second leg, the KNN Cup at Busan in September, Heba was always going to be in pole position to claim the overall title and was duly sent off as a warm favourite today.

And once they got to the business end of the race, nothing looked like beating the favourite. As expected, the Korean Oaks winner Jangpung Parang made the early running along with Seoul-based filly and TJK Trophy winner Silver Wolf. Under Song Keong Yun, Heba, also as expected, sat comfortably behind them.

Making the long turn for home, Song brought Heba to the front and the pair of them never looked like being caught. They raced on for a four-length win on the line from Ms. Margaux with YTN Cup winner Areumdaundonghaeng Seoul’s best finisher in 3rd.

Heba is a five-year-old mare who this year has really come into her own. She was 3rd in the Busan Mayor’s Cup in July, behind last year’s Queens’ Tour champion Gamdonguibada. She finished 5th behind New York Blue in a handicap in August and it was New York Blue, who was 2nd in the Ttukseom Cup, who was sent off the odds-on favourite in the KNN. She met with interference and lost her jockey.

That’s racing though and Heba took full advantage to record her 8th career win that day and then today her 9th.

Despite the breeding bonus available to fillies or mares who win the Queens’ Tour, Gamdonguibada raced on having won it last year.

As for the others, Peter Wolsley’s Ms. Margaux ran a huge race in 2nd – a position she seems to love having been runner-up or 3rd on 15 of her 21 starts. Areumdaundonghaeng proved her YTN Cup win in the summer was no fluke while Jangpung Parang ran on well for 4th. 2nd favourite Bichui Jeongsang was perhaps a touch disappointing though in 6th.

And none of them could get close to Heba.

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (KG3) – Busan Racecourse – 2000M – Nov 1, 2015

1. Heba (USA) [Peace Rules – Sue’s Temper (Temperence Hill)] – Song Keong Yun – 2.6, 1.3
2. Ms. Margaux (USA) [MIdnight Lute – Sixtyone Margaux (Cozzene)] – Jo Sung Gon – 2.5
3. Areumdaundonghaeng (USA) [A.P. Warrior – Legacy’s Silver (Robyn Dancer)] – Park Eul Woon – 6.3
Distances: 4 lengths/3 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Jangpung Parang (KOR) 5. Hay Queen (USA) 6. Bichui Jeongsang (USA) 7. Silver Wolf (AUS) 8. Halla Chukje (USA) 9. Gyeoul Wangguk (USA) 10. Seungbu Sinhwa (USA) 11. Rising Park (KOR) 12. Sharp Lady (KOR) 13. Jangsan Lion (JPN) 14. Haengbok Cheonsa

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup – Full Preview

Fourteen fillies and mares will line up for the final leg of the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup, the final leg of the 2015 Queens Tour, at Busan this afternoon.

Heba won the KNN Cup (Pic: Ilgan Sports)

Heba won the KNN Cup (Pic: Ilgan Sports)

They are headed by Heba, 5th in the Ttukseom Cup and then the winner of September’s KNN Cup and Seoul raider Bichui Jeongsang, 3rd in the Ttukseom Cup but unraced since a 5th place finish in the KRA Cup Classic at the end of August. Oaks winner Jangpung Parang and KNN 2nd place-getter Hay Queen also go in the 2000M test.

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (KOR G3) – Busan Racecourse – 2000M – November 1, 2015 (15:40)

1. Bichui Jeongsang (USA) [Wildcat Heir-Persimmon Honey] (15/5/4/2) – Choi Bum Hyun
Last seen racing 5th in the KRA Cup Classic over this distance at the end of August, she was 3rd behind Esmeraldina in the first leg of the tour. She doesn’t usually go forward early but if well placed entering the home straight, has every chance.

2. Hay Queen (USA) [Hold Me Back – Jack’s Touch] (12/3/6/1) – Seo Seung Un
She was 2nd to Heba in the KNN Cup; her third consecutive 2nd place finish. She can certainly handle the Busan track. Beaten by Silver Wolf in the HRI Trophy at the end of August, she should be close again but may once more find one or two too quick.

3. Ms. Margaux (USA) [Midnight Lute – Sixtyone Margaux] (20/2/77) – Jo Sung Gon
Through her career she has excelled at just getting beaten into 2nd or 3rd and she is up against it here. A solid campaigner though who can’t be ruled out of sneaking into a place.

4. Seungbu Sinhwa (USA) [Bluegrass Cat – Island Rhythm] (32/0/34) – Lee Gi Hweoi
Yet to win in 32 starts and that’s not going to change today. Hasn’t finished any better than 6th for more than a year. Her defence is that she always races in top class company and that defence will be used again here.

5. Sharp Lady (KOR) [Sharp Humor – Gentlemen’s Lady] (13/4/1/4) – Lim Sung Sil
From the Kim Young Kwan stable, it is always difficult to tell just what his second string is. It is probably her and she is only one race into a comeback after almost a year away. She was 5th in her return race and should have come on for it. Dangerous outsider.

6. Jangpung Parang (KOR) [Creek Cat – Ascend The Throne] (11/4/2/4) – Kim Yong Geun
The Korean Oaks winner was 3rd in the KNN Cup behind Heba and Hay Queen and there will be those who will back her to overturn that form today. She is a front-runner who will likely look to lead and has every chance of staying on.

7. Rising Park (KOR) [Ecton Park – Cozzie Maxine] (31/3/4/4) – Pasquale Borelli
Quite a step up in competition for this one who is yet to win at a higher level than class 3. Distance shouldn’t be a problem but the minor placings would be the most realistic aim.

8. Halla Chukje (USA) [Gottcha Gold – C D Player] (21/3/4/1) – Lee Hyeok
She came a very creditable 5th in the KNN Cup at odds of 140/1 on her last start and that encouraging performance on her first trip to Busan encourages connections to have another go. That minor prize will again be the aim.

9. Gyeoul Wangguk (USA) [Any Given Saturday – Collodia] (12/2/4/0) – Masakazu Tanaka
She takes her chance having landed her second win, over a mile at class 3, in September. She tries this distance for the first time but has run adequately enough over 1800M before. Likely to be close to the front early on, she will need to find plenty of improvement here.

10. Jangsan Lion (JPN) [Eishin Sandy – Kogane Sengan] (13/4/1/3] – Lee Joon Chel
She was 3rd behind Silver Wolf and Hay Queen in the HRI Trophy at the end of August before a decent 4th of 12 over 1800M at class 2 last start. Another who will look to be close to the front early on and another who has a bit to find here.

11. Haengbok Cheonsa (KOR) [Menifee – Missed The Tower] (17/5/4/0) – Choi Si Dae
A class 3 winner over 1800M in August, she comes in following a 4th place, ahead of Sharp Lady over 1200M last month. She has plenty of speed but will find it diffiult in this company.

12. Silver Wolf (AUS) [Orotorio – Ready For More] (6/4/1/0) – Yoo Seung Wan
A real up and comer from Seoul, she won the HRI Trophy at the end of August, beating Hay Queen and Jangsan Lion. That was her 4th win from 6 starts and she led from gate to wire to win by three lengths. She could well compete for the lead early and look to make all once more. It is going to be much much harder to do that today though.

13. Areumdaundonghaeng (USA) [A.P. Warrior – Legacy’s Silver] (9/4/1/1) – Park Eul Woon
Seoul’s final entrant won the YTN Cup over this distance in June before running 7th in the KRA Cup Classic at the end of August. Today’s field is more similar to the latter in terms of strength and therefore any improvement on that 7th will be a good result.

14. Heba (USA) [Peace Rules – Sue’s Temper] (34/8/5/2) – Song Keong Yun
Having been 5th in the first leg and then winning the second, she is well placed to win the overall Tour. While one of the favourites unseated her jockey in the KNN Cup, Heba was still a solid three length winner and is likely to be the betting favourite. She will most likely be settled just behind the early pace