Author: gyongmaman

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.

Breeding Review: Menifee Dominates Leading Sire Race / Pico Central Best Known of 11 Sires To Pass Away in 2013

Menifee retained his Leading Sire crown by a huge margin at the end of a year where his progeny have dominated once again.

Leading Sire in Korea. Again: Menifee (KRA)

Leading Sire in Korea. Again: Menifee (KRA)

Filly Speedy First, who landed a Korean Derby and Oaks double was Menifee’s chief money earner in a year where the Leading sire saw 14.2% of all his starters win.

Forest Camp got the closest to Menifee ahead of Vicar and the late Pico Central. Meanwhile, One Cool Cat just headed Peace Rules in the first-crop sire race. Those latter two will have their first foals reach 3-years-ol in 2014.

Even more competition is on its way. Chapel Royal and Rock Hard Ten covered their first mares in 2013 while the end of the year saw Hansen make his way to Jeju.

Leading General Sires in Korea 2013
Prize Money in Korean won ($1=1055KRW) (Runners/Winners/Starts/Wins) Win %age – Leading Money Earner (Big Race wins)

1. Menifee (USA) 6,985,819,000 (131/67/760/108) 14.2% – Speedy First (Korean Derby/Oaks)
2. Forest Camp (USA) 4,904,203,000 (140/71/874/108) 12.4% – Sting Ray (KRA Cup Mile)
3. Vicar (USA) 4,550,712,000 (104/45/672/75 11.3% – Joy Lucky (Sports Seoul Cup)
4. Pico Central (BRZ) 3,910,888,000 (99/44/605/76) 12.6% – Major King (Minister’s Cup)
5. Volponi (USA) 3,904,000,000 (124/48/872/80) 9.2% – Cheongnyeong Busang (Breeders’ Cup)
6. Creek Cat (USA) 3,270,478,000 (106/46/565/71) 12.6% – High Five
7. Exploit (USA) 3,099,129,000 (124/35/771/57) 7.4% – Singgereounachim
8. Ecton Park (USA) 3,025,779,000 (57/31/342/54) 15.8% – Indie Band (President’s Cup, Grand Prix Stakes)
9. Ingrandire (JPN) 2,378,958,000 (51/14/346/31) 9.0% – Jigeum I Sungan (Owners’ Cup)
10. Yankee Victor (USA) 2,053,560,000 (87/28/504/41) 8.1% – Raon Morris (Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup)

Sadly, we also lost a number of stallions in 2013. Pico Central was the best known among them, but all had their stories. The following registered sires died in 2013:

Dancing Surpass (IRE) – by Dancing Brave. He did his racing in Japan where he also stood at stud before coming to Korea in 2006. Passed away aged 23.

Editor In Chief (USA) – by Kingmambo. Winner of 2 of 4 starts in the US before resuming his racing career in Korea where he won 4 more times. Died in Setember aged 14

Gamun Bobae (USA) – by Silic. A good racer in Korea, passed away from Colic aged 9

Kwaedo Nanma (KOR) – by Didyme. A very good racehorse in Korea with 21 wins and was shaping up to be the best ever domestically bred sire before he died in February aged 15.

Lazer Beam (USA) – by Seeking The Gold. An average racer in the US, he came to Korea in 2001. Had been pensioned after illness for the past 3 years and finally passed away aged 18.

Lethal Instrument (USA) – by Gulch. Winner of 7 races in the US, he came to Korea in 2005. Died aged 17.

Nite Dreamer (CAN) – by El Prado. Earned over $1Million in prize money in the US despite only winning 5 races, a quarter of it coming in the “Cornhuskers Breeders’ Cup” at Prairie Meadows in 1999. His stud career was short and he was pensioned in 2006. He passed away after illness in October aged 18.

Perfect Vision II (USA) – by Storm Cat. Unraced, he came to Korea in 2006. Had been regularly siring winners up until his death, aged 18 in July.

Pico Central (BRZ) – by Spend A Buck. One of the jewels of the Korean breeding program, he sired his first Classic winner Major King, in the same year as his untimely passing aged 14.
Sunny Mountain (KOR) – by Lost Mountain – 5 wins from 12 starts in Korea, he was registered as a stallion but was more a family pet. Died aged 11.

Wanggol (AUS) – by Jet Spur. Won 6 of his 12 starts in Korea. Was retired to stud only this year but fell ill and passed away aged 6 before covering any mares.

Wheels N’Wings (USA) – by Thunder Gulch. A winner of 2 races in the US and 3 in Korea, he had modest success at stud and passed away after illness aged 14 in June.

Record-Breaking Stakes Winner Dangdae Bulpae Retired

Dangdae Bulpae, a three-time winner of the President’s Cup, has been retired.

Dangdae Bulpae in the President's Cup winner's circle - a place he made his own

Dangdae Bulpae in the President’s Cup winner’s circle – a place he made his own

A winner of 19 of his 32 starts, Dangdae Bulpae won a Korean record 10 Stakes victories and amassed a record KRW 2.9 Billion (around US$2.6Million) in prize money. Among those Stakes wins were three consecutive triumphs in Korea’s richest race, the President’s Cup.

By the unfashionable – and generally unsuccessful – Japanese sire Biwa Shinseiki and out of the Alydeed mare Indeed My Dear, Dangdae Bulpae debuted as a 2-year-old in 2009, running a rather inauspicious 5th place over 5-furlongs. He won his next 4 though, which was enough to allow him to take his chance in the 2010 Spring Classics.

Jo Sung Gon reacts as Dangdae Bulpae crosses the finish line (Pic: Newsis)

Jo Sung Gon reacts as Dangdae Bulpae crosses the finish line (Pic: Newsis)

He could only manage 8th in the KRA Cup Mile but on his first trip to Seoul, he was an impressive 3rd in the Korean Derby behind Cheonnyeon Daero. The winner that day would spend most of the rest of his career looking at Dangdae Bulpae’s tail.

Maturing in the autumn, Dangdae Bulpae won the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup and then landed the first of his President’s Cups.

This set the tone for the next two years and although he had the occasional off-day – neither of his two attempts on the Grand Prix Stakes were successful – he and the late great Mister Park became the dominant Korean bred horses of their era.

He generally came off second-best to Mister Park, including one comical afternoon where the two found themselves facing each other with 1st year apprentice jockeys on their backs as both trainers baulked at the weights they’d been assigned in the handicap.

Most of the time though, things were serious and Dangdae Bulpae was a serious racehorse. While the 2300 metres of the Grand Pix proved out of his distance range, he did win the “Summer Grand Prix”, the Busan Mayor’s Trophy in 2012 in a another golden year that culminated in his 3rd and final President’s Cup triumph.

2013 saw him add another Stakes win – the Busan Ilbo Cup in February – but injury then intervened and it was a very different Dangdae Bulpae who lined up in Seoul last month to try for his 4th President’s Cup. He ran a shadow of his former self and retirement was immediately decided on. Dangdae Bulpae had done quite enough.

Horse racing in Korea although run on the flat, is similar to jumps racing in that its stars can have reasonably long careers on the track. From a sporting point of view, this is an overwhelming positive as we get to follow our favourites for a number of years. From a welfare point of view, it relies heavily on owners doing the right thing by their horses both before and after retirement.

Since I started writing this blog back in 2007, there have been perhaps two big “eras” of Korean racing. The first, from 2007 until mid-2010, was dominated by an American import, Dongbanui Gangja. However, the star of the second, from mid-2010 to the present, was the home-grown Dangdae Bulpae. He’ll be missed but has thoroughly earned his retirement to stud.

Masa Makes Good At Busan

Masa Tanaka landed his biggest Korean win to date as he rode Sand Hi to a comfortable victory in the class 1 feature race at Busan this afternoon.

Masa Tanaka (Pic: Busan Ilbo)

Masa Tanaka (Pic: Busan Ilbo)

It’s been a good year for foreign jockeys at Busan with the remarkable Joe Fujii notching his 100th winner last month and Darryll Holland also regularly scoring.

However, while less heralded, the 29-year-old Tanaka has performed well too and has ridden a steady stream of winners since debuting in June this year.

The Japanese jockey learned how to ride in his homeland but with few opportunities for young riders there, moved to New Zealand in 2005 and ended up staying for 7 years, riding several big winners including the Group 1 Thorndon Mile in 2011 on 16/1 shot Booming.

Not knowing a word of English when he arrived in New Zealand, Tanaka now speaks with a broad Kiwi accent and eager to settle in here, has set about learning some Korean in Busan.

From his 135 rides in Korea to date, Tanaka has 24 winners and 22 2nd places. Despite only being present for half the season, he lies in 11th place in the Busan Championship and earned trips to Seoul to ride in the Minister’s and President’s Cups.

Today, after breaking from the widest of 12 gates, Tanaka kept Sand Hi (Stormy Atlantic) close before going away in the final furlongs to win from 4 lengths. It won’t go down as one of the jockey’s toughest winners and, if he keeps going the way he is, it certainly won’t be his last.

Tanaka and fellow foreign riders Fujii and Jerome Lermyte (Holland is suspended) are back in action at Busan tomorrow in a bumper 13-race card.

Bundling up: Tanaka looked like he was off to rob a bank at Busan today (Pic: Hiromi Kobayashi)

Bundling up: Tanaka looked like he was off to rob a bank at Busan today (Pic: Hiromi Kobayashi)

Weekend Preview: Busan Takes Centre-Stage

Seoul Racecourse takes a weekend off so Busan switches to Saturday and Sunday for the final racedays of 2013.

Busan is the place to be this weekend

Busan is the place to be this weekend

Both days see class 1 action and while Saturday’s feature isn’t exactly one to set pulses beating too fast, Sunday’s sees the Kim Young Kwan trained duo of Road To Prince and Magic Dancer face off over 1900 metres. The 3-year-old Magic Dancer missed the Classics but has amassed 7 wins and 2 second places from his 9 starts to date and is quite a talent.

Meanwhile, the similarly prolific winner Road To Prince will be looking to get back into form after souring a fantastic year with a couple of lacklustre runs of late. Minister’s Cup victor Major King and Peter Wolsley’s Cheongchun Bulpae also go in what should be a decent contest.

In addition to the thoroughbreds at Busan, there are pony racing cards on Jeju Island on Friday and Saturday. Despite there being no live racing in the capital, Seoul Race Park will be open for simulcasting from Friday to Sunday.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday December 27
Jeju Race Park: 13 races from 11:50 to 18:00

Saturday December 28
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 7 races from 11:25 to 16:35

Sunday December 29
Busan Race Park: 14 races from 11:00 to 18:00