The International Jockeys Challenge was won by one of the international entrants and it was another great day for Moon Se Young

International Jockeys Challenge
Despite not winning any of the four designated races in the challenge, South African Gerrit Schlechter was the overall winner in terms of prize-money and took the $20,000 award. Cho Kyoung Ho finished second in the standings following his win on Bandoueui Byeol in the 15:20 “Macau Jockey Club Goodwill Trophy” beating Schlecter by a nose on High Boy. Park Tae Jong finished third overall. Schlecter also took time out to win Race 9 – not part of the Challenge – on joint-favourite Eoullimnyeongung overhauling long time leader Balgeunhae (Yoon Dae Keun) in the final furlong. An interesting event and it was certainly a novelty to see so many official looking foreigners around Gwacheon. They even laid on a US military band for the presentation ceremony. The only pity was that Irish representative Wayne Lordan seemed to get lumbered with the weakest horse in each race – four times he got himself into a good position on the final turn – four times the horse then went backwards.

Moon does the business again
The weekend has further cemented Moon Se Young’s reputation as the man you most trust your money with at the moment. Following on from his success in yesterday’s feature race, Moon repeated the trick in today’s feature taking the 80,000,000won 1400 metre Handicap Special on Saerounbisul. Taking an early lead, Moon was overtaken on the final turn and seemingly boxed-in until he found a gap with a furlong to go and won pulling away from Park Tae Jong on Ilbo Gyeongcheon and Gerrit Schlecter on Eunpa Manse. A superb ride that earned rare applause from racegoers and it was Moon’s second win of the day having earlier guided old-stager Turn Turtle to success in the horse’s first outing over 1800 metres in race 7.

Round-up
Japanese jockey Nozomu Tomizawa is worthy of a mention having had a good day, notching up his sixth winner in Korea on the unfancied Smart Angel in race 5 and following it up with a 3rd place finish on Seonbi in race 6. Of the two Japanese Jocks riding regularly at Gwacheon Ikayasu Kurakane has been the most successful so far but Nozomu showed what he can do today. Elsewhere there was a rare British bred horse in race 7. Be My Day went off favourite but didn’t stay the 1800 metre trip and finished last.

A chilly, cloudy day in Gwacheon for 12 races of varying quality. Feature race was the 90,000,000won Japan Racing Authority Trophy but the card was also notable for the first two races in the “International Jockey Challenge”.

JRA Trophy
Eight two year olds lined up for the JRA trophy at 16:20. The 1200 metre race was led from start to finish by favourite Clever Star (2.2) ridden by Moon Se Young for a five length victory from Seoul Taekgup (4.2) in second and Big Sox (6.3) in third. The result means Clever Star has now won 2 of his 3 starts.

International Jockey Challenge
A curious event which is now in its third year, the International Jockey Challenge consists of 4 races involving five Korean and five international jockeys. This year the international line-up consists of Gerrit Schlechter from South Africa – a man with a truly incredible head of hair, Kevin Radke of the USA, Lam Hoi of Macau, Kunihiko Watanabe of Japan – a man also well endowed in the hair department and Wayne Lordan, the promising young Irish jockey. For Korea, Park Tae Jong, Chun Chang Ki, Kim Hyo Seob, Cho Kyoung Ho and Park Soo Hong line up. Over the weekend there are four races and the jockey with the best record wins $20,000. After an awkward photocall at lunchtime, they got down to business in the 6th race of the day and Park Tae Jong did the business on Widaehan Khan with an exaggerated celebration as he crossed the line. Lam Hoi managed third place but the other internationals were well down, Lordan and Radke in particular not looking impressed with their mounts. The balance was redressed in race 9, however, in a race of much higher quality, Radke on Arrow Guard edged out Schlecter on Vere Strong in a cracking final furlong. The event will conclude with two more races tomorrow.

Round-up
Saturday’s remaining big race saw Good Day comfortably add to his impressive record in a 1900 metre 66,000,000 won Handicap. The only three year old in the race he led for most of the way under Cho Kyoung Ho to rack up victory number 8 in 10 outings.