Author: gyongmaman

Korean Classic Winners Speedy First & Major King In USA For 2014 Campaign

Korean Derby and Oaks winner Speedy First and Minister’s Cup winner Major King are in the United States where they will be trained and raced for at least the first part of the year.

Stateside: Korean Derby and Oaks winner Speedy First

Stateside: Korean Derby and Oaks winner Speedy First

The pair, who between them won 3 of the 4 Korean Classic races in 2013, arrived at JFK Airport last week and are currently in quarantine. They are then expected to transfer to Laurel Park in Maryland to enter training.

Speedy First [Menifee – Speedy Deedy (Victory Gallop)] is a 4-year-old filly who has won 6 of her 10 starts to date. In May last year, she became the 5th filly to win the Korean Derby and added another classic in August with a comfortable win in the Oaks at Busan.

Major King [Pico Central – Still Golden (Gold Fever)] was third in the Derby, but had his revenge in the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the Triple Crown when he scored a 2-length win. An out of sorts Speedy First finishing last that day.

He might have fluffy ears, but Major King is a Classic winner. he is also in the US

He might have fluffy ears, but Major King is a Classic winner. he is also in the US

Neither finished the 2013 season especially strongly, Speedy First slumping to another defeat in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup while Major King was an also ran in the President’s Cup, the effects of a long season being blamed for both.

They are by no means the first Korea bred horses to run Stateside. In 2008, a horse called Pick Me Up went to the US and ran – extremely unsuccessfully – at Charles Town, Laurel and Delaware Park. A year later, 2007 Korean Oaks winner Baekpa also went across and ran similarly poorly.

That prompted the Korea Racing Authority to change their approach a little and to send a small group of yearlings and 2-year-olds to Florida each year in the hope of proving their belief that it wasn’t necessarily that Korean-bred horses could compete if trained the same way as their American counterparts.

They got their reward when Feel So Good won a race at Calder in September 2012. Now they’ve decided to try again with established horses.

If all goes to plan, Speedy First and Major King will make their American debuts in April. We’ll be following their progress.

Speedy First winning the 2013 Korean Derby

Major King winning the 2013 Minister’s Cup

Fly Top Queen’s Crown Slips Again

Fly Top Queen stumbled to her first defeat on Korean soil after a lacklustre run alowed Xicar to grab an unlikely victory at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Fly Top Queen is trotted up for the vet after finishing 5th

Fly Top Queen is trotted up for the vet after finishing 5th

Korea’s most expensive ever imported racehorse had, after a year of injury problems, breezed through 4 consecutive wins last summer and autumn without breaking into a gallop before being sent to Japan to compete in the Japan vs Korea challenge at Ohi in November.

Fly Top Queen (Henny Hughes) disappointed there but few expected her to have any problems upon her return to Seoul against what was a less than impressive class 2 line-up over 1700 metres. She was sent off as the odds-on favourite and looked to be fully worth that as she entered the home straight in front and pulling away.

Then, with just over a furlong to go, she stalled. Jockey Cho Kyoung Ho, standing in for the suspended Park Tae Jong, quickly realised there was nothing left in the tank and could do nothing as the chasing pack swept by.

In the end it was Xicar (Written Tycoon) took the win. The 5-year-old Australian mare looked quite a talent when she first appeared on the scene in 2011, winning 3 of her first 6 races. She then went on to lose 15 in a row until today, almost exactly 2 years since she was last victorious, she found herself back in the winner’s circle.

As for Fly Top Queen, the vet found nothing obvious wrong with her. She’s undoubtedly one of the finest bred and most naturally gifted of horses to ever run here but as we knew from the year it took her to be ready to run after arriving, she’s not the soundest. Hopefully her best isn’t behind her already.

Class 2 – Seoul Race Park – 1700M – January 11, 2014

1. Xicar (AUS) [Written Tycoon – Grand Jewel (Brocco)] – Jang Chu Youl
2. Stan The Cameraman (USA) [With Distinction – Always On The Go (Lord Carson)] – Fausto Durso
3. Socheonha (NZ) [Duelled – Interdame (Senior Pete)] – Kim Hye Sun
Distances: 0.5 lengths/1.5 lengths – 11 ran

Weekend Preview: Fly Top Queen, Gamdonguibada Headline At Seoul & Busan

The weekend’s racing got underway at Busan today but there’s still plenty to keep us occupied on Saturday and Sunday.

Fly Top Queen is back home and will be favourite to get her fifth straight win on Korean...sand

Fly Top Queen is back home and will be favourite to get her fifth straight win on Korean…sand

Fly Top Queen (Henny Hughes) is the most expensive racehorse ever imported to Korea. She won all 4 of her domestic starts last year before heading to Tokyo to take part in the 2nd-leg of the Korea vs Japan Challenge at Ohi in November.

She didn’t quite live up to expectations that night, but she’s back in Korea now and will be the heavy favourite to get back to winning ways in race 10 at Seoul on Saturday, a class 2 test over 1700 metres.

Sunday at Busan sees a quick return to action for Gamdonguibada (Werblin). The 2012 Grand Prix Stakes winner failed to successfully defend her title in Seoul last month and has a tough ask on her season-debut as a 5-year-old, carrying over 60kg in the class 1 race 6.

The ever-reliable Lion Santa and Viva Ace are among those she’ll be giving weight to in the 10-furlong feature race.

Both Gamdonguibada and Fly Top Queen will have new jockeys this weekend with Lim Sung Sil and Cho Kyoung Ho replacing the suspended pair of Joe Fujii and Park Tae Jong.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Saturday January 11
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:30

Sunday January 12
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:30

He’s Gon! Top Busan Jockey Jo In Macau For 6 Months

Jo Sung Gon has been granted a 6-month license to ride in Macau. The reigning champion jockey at Busan Race Park will have his first rides at Taipa this weekend.

Going...going...Jo Sung Gon is Macau bound

Going…going…Jo Sung Gon is Macau bound

31-uear-old Jo has won more races at Busan than any other jockey, with 480 since the track opened and has a career quinella strike-rate of 27%.

Jo’s big race wins include the Korean Derby in 2009 on Sangseung Ilro and the Korean Oaks in 2012 on Rising Glory, although he’s best known for his partnership with the recently retired Dangdae Bulpae, on who he won a Minsister’s Cup and 3 consecutive President’s Cups.

Most recently, Jo has been stable jockey to Australian trainer Peter Wolsley. He follows on from Seoul’s champion jockey Moon Se Young who also had a stint in Macau this time last year.

Jo will debut this Sunday with rides in six of the seven races on the card, including two for Korean trainer Seo Beom Seok who since the middle of last year has been simultaneously operating stables at both Seoul and Taipa.

Se Young’s Super Six

Champion jockey Moon Se Young was in imperious form at Seoul on Sunday, riding the winner in 6 or the 10 races on the card.

Moon Se Young

Moon Se Young

As has been mentioned many times on this blog, the standard of riding in Korea has been getting better and better over the past few years.

Seo Seung Un, while not the champion, was undoubtedly the jockey of the year in 2013 by virtue of his outstanding performance with limited firepower.

Lee Chan Ho, a first year apprentice is showing great potential, while Jo In Kwen pushed Moon all the way last year.

However, if there was any doubt as to who is the number one in the weighing room, it was dispelled today. All his mounts had chances and Moon brought them home with ruthless efficiency.

Those wins included both co-feature races, firstly with Brig (Menifee), a 4-year-old who was 4th in the Korean Derby last year and looks set to fulfil his potential this time around.

Then there was Bichui Wangja (Roman Ruler), a 4-year-old American import who held off two long shots to record his 5th career win. Seo Seung Un had ridden Bichui Wangja in all his previous outings before today. With Moon being available though, the ride went to him.

A smile would be nice: Even after Bichui Wangja give s him his 6th winner of the day, Moon Se Young is in no mood for celebration

A smile would be nice: Even after Bichui Wangja give s him his 6th winner of the day, Moon Se Young is in no mood for celebration

Earlier in Moon’s haul was Feel So Good (Ft.Stockton). The only Korean bred horse to win a race in the United States returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in 4 outings, winning race 6 by a nose. He’ll be in class 2 company next time out.

Down at Busan, we have some quality riders too although with Jo Sung Gon off to Macau, most of them are now foreign.

Joe Fujii and Darryll Holland both picked up where they left off from Friday by riding winners. Fujii added to his Friday four-timer by scoring a routine win on hot favourite Not Anymore (Casino Prince) in race 4. It was a 3rd win from 7 starts for the Aussie filly who has never finished worse than 3rd.

Two races later, Holland, who rode a double on Friday, landed the feature race for the 2nd time in as many meetings, guiding Grand Teukgeup (Menifee) to a comfortable win over 7 furlongs.

New Year Begins With Impetus

It’s got one of the most cumbersome names in the calendar but the New Year’s Commemorative Race lived up to its reputation of being a tough punting prospect as 9/1 shot Impetus landed 2014’s first big prize at Seoul Race Park.

Impetus and Park Tae Jong return to scale after winning the New Year's Commemorative race

Impetus and Park Tae Jong return to scale after winning the New Year’s Commemorative race

Now 4-years-old, Impetus (Exploit) came in to the race having won 4 of his previous 13 starts and was 6th most favoured by punters.

Under jockey Park Tae Jong he hit the front coming off the final turn and fought off the determined challenge of favourite Bulkkot Daewang, who finished quickly on the rail, by a neck.

In other news on what was a long 14-race opening day in the Korean capital, we saw our first dead-heat of the year as the judges failed to separate Space Gun and Speed King at the end of race 10.

One race earlier, we also unfortunately saw the first heavy fall of the year as jockey Ahn Hyo Ri was unseated from her mount on the final turn. Ahn required hospital treatment but horse was unhurt and continued without his rider.

New Year Commemorative Race – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – January 4, 2014

1. Impetus (KOR) [Exploit – Miss Stravinsky (Stravinsky)] – Park Tae Jong
2. Bullkot Daewang (KOR) [Pico Central – Hwaju (Joindre)] – Cho Kyoung Ho
3. Daejangjeong (KOR) [Menifee – Ledge (Kris S.)] – Lee Sang Hyeok
Distances: Neck/2.5 lengths – 14 ran

Sunday January 5
Seoul Race Park: 10 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:30

Four-Timer Fujii Leads Magnificent Seven For Foreign Jocks At Busan

The 2014 Korean racing season got underway at Busan today and the track’s foreign jockeys were on fire as they helped themselves to 7 of the 12 races.

Smiling: Masa Tanaka (left) and Joe Fujii (Pic: Hiromi Kobayashi)

Smiling: Masa Tanaka (left) and Joe Fujii (Pic: Hiromi Kobayashi)

Masa Tanaka kicked things off with victory in race 3 on 6/1 chance Bada Gangja with Darryll Holland getting off the mark for the year in the next with a 2-length win on Thunder Ray. Race 5 saw Joe Fujii get in on the action as he guided US-bred gelding Smart Energy to a 6-length triumph.

Local jockeys Park Sung Kwang and Kim Jeong Woong grabbed the next two before Fujii completed a double with an unexpected win on 19/1 outsider Uribong in race 8.

Winning: Darryll Holland (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Winning: Darryll Holland (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Holland wrapped up a double of his own in race 10, piloting Peter Wolsley’s Vicar Sun home before Fujii took over once more and snatched the final two races of the day on Queen’s Blade and Cheonji Jeonseung to complete a remarkable four-timer.

Fujii, who turned 30 on New Year’s Eve, finished 2nd in the Busan Jockey Championship in 2013, winning both the Korean Derby and Oaks along the way. For Holland, it was a welcome return to the saddle and the winner’s circle after being forced to miss last weekend’s bumper cards through suspension. Meanwhile the ever-reliable Tanaka was continuing the good form he showed last week when he won his first Korean class 1 race.

Saturday sees opening day at Seoul where it’s not likely to quite as successful for the visitors among the capital jockey colony. Ikuyasu Kurakane is suspended leaving Fausto Durso as the only foreign jockey in action. On Sunday there is racing at both Seoul and Busan.

Weekend Preview: 2014 Opening Days at Seoul & Busan

The 2014 racing season gets underway in Korea this weekend, headlined as always by the New Year’s Commemorative Race at Seoul.

The punter can get back down to business this weekend at Seoul and Busan

The punter can get back down to business this weekend at Seoul and Busan

That race is the feature of a lengthy 14-race card at Seoul on Saturday while Sunday sees three class 1 races on the peninsula; two at Seoul and one at Busan.

The New Year race, sponsored as usual by Herald Media, brings together a group of horses who didn’t quite make the class 1 breakthrough last year and gives them an early chance to do so this time around.

It’s notoriously difficult to punt on but Blue Camp, Geumbit Mannam and Last Mudae come into the race with the best recent form while Like The Sun and Bulkkot Daewang are proven winners over the distance.

The pony racing on Jeju Island takes a weekend off after running right through the holiday period. Here’s what’s happening where and when:

Friday January 3
Busan Race Park: 12 races from 12:00 to 18:00

Saturday January 4
Seoul Race Park: 14 races from 11:00 to 18:00

Sunday January 5
Seoul Race Park: 10 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:30

2014 is the Year of the Horse. Come Racing!

2014 Racing Schedule

Well that was a short break. 2014 racing gets underway at Busan on Friday and the full racing calendar is now online. Be sure to check the blog every Thursday for the preview and any potential changes.

We're back. That was a very short break.

We’re back. That was a very short break.

Click here for the full schedule

As ususal, there is racing at Seoul every Saturday and Sunday, Busan ever Friday and Sunday and Jeju (pony racing) every Friday and Saturday.

The Stakes race schedule will be uploaded very soon.

MBC Gayo Daejun Sees In 2014 At Seoul Racecourse

The MBC network’s “Gayo Daejun” – the annual K-Pop marathon that traditionally sees in the New Year, marked 2014 being the Year of the Horse with a special performance at Seoul Racecourse shown just before midnight last night.

CN Blue at Seoul Racecourse

CN Blue at Seoul Racecourse

The segment, which was pre-recorded, featured “pop rock” group CNBLUE performing under the floodlights on the winning line at a deserted track.

Gayo CNblue2

The 5-hour long live broadcast Gayo Daejun (or “Song Festival”) has been airing in some form on New Year’s Eve since the mid 1960’s.