Month: October 2017

Silver Wolf Maintains Outstanding 2017 Record in Munhwa Ilbo

Silver Wolf may only have run five times in 2017 but it’s been a golden year for the Aussie import. Last Sunday at Seoul, she took home yet another big prize, scoring in the Munhwa Ilbo Cup over six furlongs.

Having won the Ttukseom Cup over 1400M and the KNN Cup at a mile, Silver Wolf has essentially already won the “Queens’ Tour” series for fillies & mares even before the final leg – the 2000M Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup in November. She has spent the early autumn sprinting, running a very creditable 5th in the Korea Sprint in September and then picking up Sunday’s Munhwa.

The strong early pace suited Silver Wolf’s style and under a patient ride from Djordje Perovic, Silver Wolf turned on the accelerator just as the early leaders started to fade. She went away to win by just under two lengths from two other fast finishers, Daisyan and Parang Juuibo.

Munhwa Ilbo Cup – Seoul Racecourse – 1200M – October 15, 2017

1. Silver Wolf (AUS) [Oratorio – Ready For More (More Than Ready)] Djrodje Perovic – 1.5, 1.0
2. Daisyan (USA) [Rock Hard Ten – My Catriona (Tactical Cat)] – Shinji Hatanaka – 2.5
3. Parang Juuibo (USA) [With Distinction – Spicy Souffle (French Deputy)] – Lim Gi Won – 1.8
Distances: 1.75 lengths / 0.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Wonder Bolt (USA) 5. Choegangja USA) 6. Cheonjiga (USA) 7. Always Winner (KOR) 8. Zentenary (USA) 9. Clean Up Bingo (KOR) 10. Cheonma (USA)

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Race-By-Race Preview

Big race action returns to Seoul today (Sunday) with the running of the Munhwa Ilbo Cup. The Sprint is the feature of an 11-race program in the capital which runs from 10:45 to 18:00. At Busan, there are 6 races from 12:40 to 17:05.

Silver Wolf

Silver Wolf goes in the Munhwa Ilbo Cup (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

(6) MASK is ready to win. He almost slipped over turning into the home straight on debut in July but still managed to finish 3rd before running 2nd on his return in August. He’ll be on the early speed here and really should be winning. (3) LUCKY BONGHWA was 3rd, two and a half lengths behind Mask in that August race, continuing the progression that he’s shown in each of his three outings so far and he looks to be the main danger although (5) ROYAL ACE has come close once or twice and could be in the hunt too. (2) M.J. CAPTAIN comes in off a 2nd place finish last start and will likely join Mask on the early speed while (10) DAECHEON ACE was a creditable enough 5th of 9 on debut a month ago and the jockey booking will attract some.

Selections (6) Mask (3) Lucky Bonghwa (2) M.J. Captain (5) Royal Ace
Next Best 10, 12
Fast Start 2, 6

Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Enhanced prize money for this juvenile contest and it sees six first-timers taking on six others who have each started once before. And a number of those experienced ones did well on debut and are likely to be favoured over the newcomers here. (3) KING POSE is the pick, running on fluently for 3rd on debut over 1000M on September 10th and the extra furlong should suit just fine today. (5) EMERALD KING and (12) BAEKSAN GUNJU (more…)

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (October 14)

Seoul is back from the long holiday and on what is a set to be a cool but fine day in the capital there are 12 races from 10:45 to 18:00:

Race 1: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

We begin with a filly-only contest and a nice competitive one at that. (6) AMENDA wasn’t far off 3rd place on debut in August, coming home 5th but then improved to 2nd on her re-appearance on September 3rd. She’s not the quickest of starters but is up slightly in trip today and has as good a chance as any here. (3) RUBY BEOLKIN returned from a lengthy absence to record a sound 3rd place at this distance last month. She looks a much better filly now and can continue to progress here while (2) JEGUKUI HUYE was favourite when stepped up to 1700M a month ago but didn’t see out the trip. She should be much happier back at 1300M where she scored her best finish to date. (5) SAUVIGNON and (8) CHEONGUN ILHO, both at this distance for the first time, are others with scope to go well.

Selections (6) Amenda (3) Ruby Beolkin (2) Jegukui Huye (5) Sauvignon
Next Best 8, 1, 4
Fast Start 3, 9, 11, 12

Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Seven of the twelve are racing for the first time but it’s among the five who have each raced once previously where we find out pick. That’s (12) GEUMA THUNDER, who may have been ten lengths behind the winner on debut at this distance on September 9th but that was no disgrace. He led for much of the race and ran on for a comfortable 2nd place (more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (October 13)

It’s back! After a week’s break for this year’s rather lengthy “Chuseok” holiday, racing returns to Korea this weekend. Things get underway at Friday for an 11-race card with the first at 11:30 and the last at 18:00. Time to get stuck in:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

Competitive opener. (1) CHANG GONG and (2) BELLAMY GONGJU raced 5th and 6th at 1200M a month ago. It was Chang Gong’s debut and he showed enough to suggest he has some promise, leading early. There were no expectations on (3) DONE IT MY on his debut the same day but he managed a very creditable 3rd and won’t be overlooked this time. (4) SEOGANG JILJU didn’t enjoy the extra furlong last time and may be better dropped back in trip today while the Bart Rice pair of (5) CHRISTIANO and (8) CLOVER QUEEN may also have a say.

 

Selections (1) Chang Gong (4) Seogang Jilju (8) Clover Queen (3) Done It My
Next Best 5, 2
Fast Start 1, 6, 2

 Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 55 Million

Half the field have raced before while the other half make their debuts here. We’ll go with experience and a number of them raced each other last time. (8) SMART DANCER, (9) YEONGGWANGUI BOSS and (5) DIVIDE WIND ran 3rd, 4th and 5th on their own debuts on September 15th. Punters will likely make Kim Young Kwan’s Divide Wind favourite to overturn that today, especially given the draw should allow him to get on speed early but (more…)

Asian Racing Conference 2018 Preparations Step-Up

Preparations are well underway for the 37th Asian Racing Conference (ARC), which will be held in Seoul from May 13th-18th, 2018. 

ARC Logo

Under the supervision of the Asian Racing Federation, The Korea Racing Authority will be hosting the ARC, which has grown into world racing’s largest bi-annual get-together, for the 3rd time with delegates having most recently assembled in Seoul for the 30th ARC in 2005. Earlier this week, the organizing committee updated on preparations at the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) annual conference in Paris.

The main Conference venue will be COEX in the Southern Seoul Business District although the week’s events will get underway at Seoul Racecourse on Korean Derby Day on the Sunday May 13th when in addition to Korea’s three-year-old showpiece event, there will also be a special ARC Commemorative Race.

There will be various Bureau meetings on Monday 14th before the Conference officially opens that evening. This will be followed by three days of Conference proper. Delegates may then join an optional tour of the KRA’s breeding facilities on Jeju Island on Friday.

Alongside the main conference, the 2nd International Forum for the Aftercare of Racecourses will also be held.

For more information and for “Early-Bird” Registration, which is available until December 31st, please see the following links:

Official site is here
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Power Blade Cuts Down Triple Nine Again

Power Blade asserted his dominance, at least at short distances,  over stable-mate and long-time rival Triple Nine with a commanding win in the Kukje Sinmun Cup at Busan Racecourse on Sunday Afternoon.

Since the pair returned from the Dubai World Cup Carnival earlier this year, they have raced each other twice with Power Blade prevailing both times; first over a mile in August’s Owners’ Cup and then again in Sunday’s Kukje at 1400M. Last year, Triple Nine got the better of the then 3-year-old Power Blade at 1800M, 2000M and 2300M.

Given a better draw, Power Blade may well have won the Korea Sprint. Instead he was a fast finishing 2nd behind Japanese raider Graceful Leap. That day Triple Nine went in the Korea Cup and once more was the best Korean finisher in 4th. Today they raced together but at the distance, Triple Nine was always going to struggle to get into top gear in time to trouble his younger rival.

As it was Franco Da Silva took things up on Power Blade as they entered the home straight and he ran on strongly to win by almost three lengths on the line. Triple Nine, still getting faster, was 2nd with Seoul-trained City Star pipping Success Story for 3rd.

It was Power Blade’s tenth career win and took his earnings to well in excess of US$2 Million. Whether he takes on the President’s Cup and Grand Prix Stakes once more at unfavourable distances remains to be seen but hopefully connections can be persuaded to have another crack at Meydan in the new year. Cheongdam Dokki and Final Boss (if we forgive the unpredictable latter’s 4th in a 1200M Sprint on Sunday) are the young pretenders but Power Blade and Triple Nine remain very much the big boys of Korean racing right now.

Kukje Sinmun Cup – Busan Racecourse – 1400M – October 1, 2017

1. Power Blade (KOR) [Menifee – Cheonmachong (Lost Mountain)] – Franco Da Silva – 1.5, 1.1
2. Triple Nine (KOR) [Ecton Park – A Little Poke (Pleasant Tap)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.0
3. City Star (KOR) [Menifee – City Styling (Carson City)] – Kim Yong Geun – 1.7
Distances: 2.5 lengths/3 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Success Story 5. Dongchonui Achim 6. Cheonji Park 7. Baedari Bobae 8. Rocket Blade

Racing takes a one week break now with the action resuming at Busan on Friday October 13th.

Sunday Seoul & Busan: Power Blade vs Triple Nine / Final Boss (October 1)

It’s the final day of racing before the Korean Thanksgiving break and at both Seoul and Busan, some of the top names on the peninsula are coming out for a run. The day’s main attraction is on the south-coast where stablemates Triple Nine and Power Blade face each other once again, this time in the Kukje Sinmun Cup. There are 11 races at Seoul from 10:45 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:40 to 17:05.

Power Blade finally got the better of Triple Nine in the Owners’ Cup over a mile in August and had he had a slightly ore favourable draw at Seoul last month, could well have won the Korea Sprint. At 1400M today he will be favoured to prevail once more over Triple Nine, who is yet to win since returning from Dubai. Also among the small field of eight are Success Story and Seoul raider City Star.

Korean Derby winner Final Boss returned to winning ways over 1800M in August and today he too steps down to a Sprint distance in the concluding race 11. He’s up against sprint-specialist Choegang Schiller over 1200M which means he carries a very light weight.

Only Seoul is simulcast overseas today – here are the notes:

Race 1: Class 6 (1000M) Allowance / KRW 22 Million

It’s been a long time coming but (8) STORMY PASSION should finally get her maiden win today. She’s been getting closer, culminating in a 3rd place three weeks ago but has always run into one or two too quick. It will be her first time as favourite and she should have too much against this limited set of opponents. Main danger is (11) GEUMEUN JUOK, who has been a little one-paced but shown glimpses of ability across three improving outings to date. (6) I AM WINNER made an underwhelming debut in August but looked useful when trialling up again a couple of weeks ago and may have something to contribute if she gets a good start while (5) DUSON EYE and debut-maker (12) CHOEGO BISANG are others who could go ok.

Selections (8) Stormy Passion (11) Geumeun Juok (5) Duson Eye (6) I Am Winner
Next Best 12, 7
Fast Start 1, 5, 6, 12

Race 2: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 60 Million

Restricted to juveniles this one with six first-timers joining three who have raced before. It’s one of those three, (7) MAGIC TEN, who will be the strong favourite. She finished off very nicely for 2nd over 1000M on debut at the end of August and given the extra furlong today, should win. (4) SEOURI BYEOL similarly should be happier today at this distance than she was on her own debut and can improve. None of the debut-makers were hugely impressive in trials although (3) CLEAN UP TEUKGEUP will be backed by virtue of having recorded the fastest time. Likewise, (9) ROYAL TANK also showed that he knows what he’s supposed to in the latest of three trials he went through a couple of weeks ago.

Selections (7) Magic Ten (4) Seouri Byeol (3) Clean Up Teukgeup (9) Royal Tank
Next Best 1, 5, 2
Fast Start 2, 8, 9

Race 3: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Competitive contest. (1) CLEO and (5) GOLD LEG are both up in class following decent showings at class 6, the latter running out an all the way winner by three lengths over 1300M last time. Both should be competitive at this level. They won’t be favourites though. (4) MENI BADA didn’t quite get home when well backed on his first try at the distance on September 2nd. The two-year-old shows promise though and should have learned from that. He can win today. Also with promise is (2) HARPY EAGLE. The

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