Author: gyongmaman

Super Sunday Preview

Governor’s Cup at Busan / Ilgan Sports at Seoul

We’re set for some Super Sunday Stakes Action on the peninsula tomorrow with some cracking races at both Seoul and Busan on Sunday. While Seoul has soaked under monsoon rain for the past 48 hours, the capital track should be largely dry for the Ilgan Sports Cup, while it’s Busan’s turn to have thunder and torrential downpours forecasted. It’s also at Busan where the biggest race of the day will be held in the form of the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup.

The lights won't be on, but Geumgangi could be back in the Winner's Circle

Here are the fields with runners, riders and race records:

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (KOR G.III)- Busan Race Park – 1800M – September 12, 15:45

1. Sangseung Ilro (KOR) (15/8/3/2) – You Hyun Myung
2. Namdo Jeap (KOR) (22/8/5/3) – Yang Young Nam
3. Lucky Dancer (KOR) (21/9/3/2) – Jo Sung Gon
4. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) (23/10/4/3) – Park Geum Man
5. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) (9/6/0/1) – Jo Chang Wook
6. Khaosan (KOR) (20/6/4/6) – Kim Nam Sung
7. Mulbora (KOR) (15/6/3/1) – Kim Dong Young
8. Golden Appeal (KOR) (12/8/2/1) – Lim Sung Sil

So we have two classic winners in the shape of Sangseung Ilro and Namdo Jeap, this year’s champion three-year old elect in Dangdae Bulpae, the most frustratingly talented horse on the peninsula in Yeonseung Daero and the late developer Lucky Dancer.

The sentimental money will be on Sangseung Ilro but she has her work cut out here. That jockey Jo Sung Gon has opted to ride Lucky Dancer speaks volumes as to their relative chances. Yeonseung Daero pushed Tough Win all the way in the Busan Metropolitan and if he is on his top form, he will win. However, he only brings his top form 50% of the time. A case can be made for all the others too. This is a race to puzzle long and hard over. Let’s hope the weather doesn’t make it any more of a lottery than it already is.

Ilgan Sports Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – September 12 – 17:00

1. Suseong TX (KOR) (15/5/2/3) – Moon Se Young
2. Tamnaseontaek (KOR) (8/3/1/2) – Kim Dong Kyun
3. Dansimga (KOR) (23/2/5/4) – Park Byeong Yun
4. Geumgangi (KOR) (14/4/4/1) – Cho Kyoung Ho
5. Khanui Huye (KOR) (19/5/3/2) – Ham Wan Sik
6. Luxury Jewang (KOR) (21/5/2/2) – Boo Min Ho
7. Daehanbobae (KOR) (29/4/4/0) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
8. Gayabobae (KOR) (10/4/2/0) – Choi Bum Hyun
9. Best Holls (KOR) (9/4/1/2) – Lee Sang Hyeok
10. Andy’s Runner (KOR) (11/3/2/5) – Hirotaka Hamada
11. Super Jet (KOR) (18/6/0/1) – Kim Young Jin
12. Grand Money (KOR) (11/3/4/1) – Park Tae Jong
13. Jebe (KOR) (40/3/2/4) – Jung Pyeong Soo

Geumgangi must be favourite to repeat his victory in July’s Munhwa Ilbo. However, Suseong TX, Daehanbobae and Super Jet are all proven performers at this level while Luxury Jewang is a Stakes winner. Meanwhile, Andy’s Runner, who will be ridden by new Japanese jockey Hirotaka Hamada, is not without a chance, while Grand Money beat Oaks Winner Euro Fighter in his last but one start.

Once the Ilgan Sports is over, there is a class 1 handicap to look forward to. Bally Brae will be running. The former horse of the year will not be favourite – he’s carrying a ridiculous amount of weight – but any opportunity to watch this living legend of Korean racing run, must be taken.

Follow all the action as it happens on twitter at twitter.com/korearacing

Saturday Round-Up

There was action at both Seoul and Jeju Race Parks today. Here’s what happened:

Rare Winner: Won Jung Il

* There was a surprise in the feature race as 40/1 outsider Sesemanse led from gate-to-wire to claim the 10 furlong class 1 handicap. Under jockey Won Jung I, who was also scoring a rare win, the six-year old finished two lengths clear of second placed Hongji with favourite Wangson – recent winner of the SBS Cup, dead-heating with Daesahyong for third a further five lengths adrift.

*Apprentice jockey Jang Chu Yeol, who scored his first ever winner last Sunday didn’t have to wait long to make a second appearance in the winner’s Circle. He claimed race 2 on Sobaengnyeong beating out Moon Se Young on hot favourite Sun Hero.

* A filly won the event for Korean-bred unraced two-year olds. However, the interestingly named Dynaspurt (Langfuhr) won’t be eligible for the Classics next year.

* Another two-year old filly breaking her maiden was US import Kkochyeol [Essence Of Dubai – A Star Has Risen (Rock Band)]. The heavy favourite beat out a field of fellow juveniles by a length.

* Jeju Race Park hosted one of the Island’s biggest annual pony races in the form of the KRA Jeju Cup. The prixe went to second favourite Hwangjini a filly who at three-years old, was he youngest pony in the race. It was her sixth win from eleven starts on the Island.

Full results can be found at the KRA’s website.

Busan Notes

Busan escaped the rain that has been soaking most of the peninsula for the past 24 hours and seems likely to blight the card at Seoul tomorrow. Here’s what happened down south today:

* The opener was for previously unraced imported two-year olds. While highly thought of colt Suhosin [Trippi – Slewionaire (Proper Reality)] was sent off hot favourite, it was filly New Windy [Forest Wildcat – Clamorosa (Seattle Dancer)] who took the honours. The 40/1 shot beat Suhosin into second by just over a length in the five furlong race.

* In the event for Korean-bred two-year olds, there were no such shocks as Pegasus Stables’ filly Heartache (Sky Terrace) took a narrow win. She’ll not be classic bound next year though as her dam (Bartok’s Dancer) was imported while in foal and as such is ineligible.

* Race 7 saw a fourth win in the last five starts for rapidly improving Aussie-bred gelding Peolpeol (Barely A Moment)

Gone: Ketsuya Sameshima

* The feature race went to US import Red Young (Chapel Royal). The four-year old was recording his fourth win from eight starts.

* In jockey news, Japanese rider Ketsuya Sameshima has cut short his spell at Busan in order to return home. Sameshima was only on a three-month contract but has decided to go home slightly early. In his place, it seems likely that former Seoul rider Yoshiyuki Aoki will be returning to Korea.

Download English language Stewards’ Report

Weekend Preview

GyeongNam Governor’s Cup / Ilgan Sports / KRA Jeju Cup

A big weekend of racing in Korea is in store with Stakes action at all three tracks and some of the best known thoroughbreds – and ponies – in the country in action.

Highlight of the weekend is the GyeongNam Governor’s Cup at Busan on Sunday. Only eight will go but they include Classic Winners Sangseung Ilro and Namdo Jeap, plus Yeonseung Daero and young upstart Dangdae Bulpae.

Can Geumgangi make it two Stakes in two months?

Up at Seoul, it’s the Ilgan Sports Cup on Sunday, featuring the likes of Stakes winners Geumgangi and Luxury Jewang as well as up-and-comers such as Tamnaseontaek and Best Holls. Also at Seoul big names Nice Choice, Holy Dreamer and former Horse of the Year Bally Brae will be in action over the weekend.

Down on Jeju, it’s the biggest race of the year on the island in the form of the KRA Jeju Cup. Ten ponies will line up for the event with filly Cheonjibusa – with eleven wins from fifteen starts to her name, heading the weights in the 1700 metre handicap.

We will have a full preview of each big race over the bext couple of days. In the meantime, here’s what’s happening and when:

Friday September 10

Busan Race Park: 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday September 11

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:40

Sunday September 12

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

* Someone who won’t be involved this weekend is steward James Perry. The Australian has taken the decision to return to his homeland after two-and-a-half years officiating with the KRA at Seoul Race Park. In addition to his regular steward duties, Perry, along with fellow Aussie Brett Wright – now Senior Stipendiary Steward at Busan – began publishing stewards’ reports for each race meeting in English. This initiative, taken by the stewards themselves, was one of the few visible signs of progress in the KRA’s stated policy of internationalization. His presence will be missed.

On his return to Australia with his young family, Perry will be taking up a Senior Steward position with Racing Queensland.

Stalling For Korea

Gyongmaman generally gets excited about all things horse racing. Yet even he struggles to raise much enthusiasm about starting gates – or “stalls” as he was brought up to say. However, a strangely high number of googlers arriving at this site by way of the search term “Korean starting gates” this week did remind him that last weekend, the Korean racing media was gushing in its approval of the fact that Seoul and Busan Race Parks have acquired new starting gates which are, for the first-time ever, Korean made!

Threeway view: But only 12 could fit in the old nasty foreign-made gate

And how are they? Actually, Gyongmaman didn’t notice, but apparently the new ones can accommodate a full field of fourteen horses in a single unit. Fourteen is the maximum number of horses permitted to run in any race in Korea. The old ones had twelve and two had to be joined together for races which attracted a full entry. Unfortunately, the only picture Gyongmaman took of the gates last weekend was the one below – taken in a torrential downpour while the photographer had a substantial sum riding on the winner – but there are, indubitably fourteen stalls in the one unit. Bravo Korean technology!

It's wet and Lee Ae Li is in the foreground, but yes, you can see that 14 horses can fit into these gates!

Hiro’s Welcome

There’s another new Japanese jockey in town, bringing the total number of riders from across the sea to five.

Hirotaka Hamada debuted on Saturday and had six rides over the weekend. His best finish was second place on Aussie bred Seoului Gangja in Saturday’s race 10.

A wet Hiro Hamada returns to scale on Sunday

Hamada has been billed in Seoul as being the “new Nozi” after the popular Nozomu Tomizawa who rode at the track for nearly two years. Like Tomizawa, the thirty three year-old Hamada has done the bulk of his recent riding in Australia with over 100 wins from around 1000 rides in Queensland.

Hamada joins Toshiyuki Katoh and Kunihisa Hirase at Seoul, while Ketsuya Sameshima and Hitomi Miyashita are at Busan.

Like all foreign riders in Korea, Hamada will start out as a freelance jockey and will have to overcome passive hostility from the local jockeys’ union (who incidentally, have a new Chairman) as he seeks to establish himself. The weekend was a good start though and like all foreign riders, he’ll need to convert his opportunities into wins to make it as hard as possible for the local trainers to ignore him.

Best of luck to him.

Derby Winner Downed At Busan

Punters believed that Cheonnyeon Daero could take on and beat older horses in the feature race at Busan Race Park this afternoon, but the Derby Winner came up short as Wonder Unicorn strode to an emphatic six-length win.

Not Today: Cheonnyeon Daero was beaten

Third favourite Top Grade set the early pace in the ten furlong handicap, but under jockey Park Geum Man, Cheonnyeon Daero, after recovering from a bad start, was always handily placed and looked ready to strike as they entered the home straight. Instead it was Jo Chan Hoon and Wonder Unicorn who took their chance while Cheonnyeon Daero seemed to get lost in the middle of the track. Top Grade held on for third from Conqueror, who stopped the Derby winner from even placing.

With KRA Cup Mile winner Money Car looking set to be out of action indefinitely following a poor showing at Seoul last week, the Oaks won by 50/1 outsider Euro Fighter and now the Derby Winner being beaten by three competant – but hardly world beating – horses, questions will be asked about the calibre of this year’s three-year old crop.

Mine's a double: Park Sang Woo

Maybe there are some late developers. Earlier at Busan, Ganghan Yeoja (Lethal Instrument), absolutely crushed a class 2 field by nine lengths, adding to the twelve length victory she scored last month. Although she won her very first race back in March 2009, it took her ten starts to win again. Now aged four, she’ll soon be in top class company. Whether she can maintain this form at longer distances is yet to be seen.

Up in Seoul, the weather was once again the focus of many people’s attention. What started as a baking hot day with temperatures around 34C, quickly progressed into a spectacular thunderstorm, followed by a monsoon downpour, before eventually settling down into a cool late summer’s day. On the track, things were set for a showdown between Vicar Love and the ever-improving Larrycat in the feature race. While Vicar Love was a late scratching, Larrycat did the business in his absence, scoring a narrow win over Jumong and Cheonjidolpung.

Earlier, there was a surprise in the all-fillies race 9 as hot favourite Raipai went down to defeat by Jeokbyeokgang. Raipai, who came into the race with four wins from six starts, could only manage third as Special Volpony sneaked into second under apprentice jockey Park Sang Woo. It was a good day for Park, who had earlier scored the first double of his career, with victory in race 1 on Honggwang and race 5 on Cheonhagullim.

It was also a good day for lady jockey Lee Ae Li who, in the rain-soaked race 7, produced City Ruler at exactly the right moment to overcome Cho Kyoung Ho on Rose Line and in doing so, record her first victory for five months. It was a skilful piece of riding by Lee who showed that despite her increasingly limited opportunities, when given a horse with a chance, she’s just as likely as anyone to convert it into a win.

She Made It Through The Rain: In dreadful conditions, Lee Ae Li on City Ruler gets the better of Cho Kyoung Ho on Rose Line

In other races, HRI Trophy victor Cheot Insang was successful in race 9, while debut-making fillies Gate Shine (Capital Spending) and Grand Ace (Grand Slam) began their careers with victories in races 3 and 4 respectively.

Class 1 Handicap (Domestic) – Busan Race Park – 2000M – September 5, 2010

1. Wonder Unicorn (KOR) [Graeme Hall – Bessette (Quest For Fame)] – Jo Chan Hoon – 4.0, 1.6
2. Top Grade (KOR) [Texas Glitter – Potential Storm (Cape Town)] – Hitomi Miyashita – 1.9
3. Conqueror (KOR) [Revere – Model Actress (Stage Colony)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.8
Distances: 6 lengths/3 lengths – 12 ran

Class 1 Handicap (Foreign) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – September 5, 2010

1. Larrycat (USA) [Fantasticat – Tiger In My Tank (Tank) – Park Tae Jong – 1.6, 1.0
2. Jumong (USA) [Johar – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] – Moon Se Young – 1.6
3. Cheonjidolpung (USA) [Tactical Cat – Luminate (A.P. Indy)] – Boo Min Hoo – 2.2
Distances: 0.75 lengths/0.5 lengths – 9 ran

* Download English Stewards’ Reports from Busan and Seoul.

* Full results from both of today’s meetings are on the KRA’s website.

Euro Fighter On Target in Korean Oaks

53/1 shot Euro Fighter was the surprise winner of the 2010 Korean Oaks at Busan Race Park this afternoon. The Seoul-trained filly got off to a flying start and led the field into the first corner.

As the better-known names, headed by odds-on favourite Cheonun, massed behind her, it looked just a matter of time before she faded. Instead she did the opposite and, staying firmly on the rail, Euro Fighter found another gear in the home straight and pulled further away from the field. In the middle of the track, Cheonun laboured into stride but by then it was far too late. Euro Fighter, daughter of Archer City Slew, had won the fillies’ Classic.

Was it such a surprise though? Not if form rather than potential was anything to go by. Punters simply chose to disregard the fact that she was one of only two fillies in the race to have won a two-turn race before instead taking a chance on the unknown with fillies who had never gone further than seven furlongs. The exception to this was Cheonun, who had won twice at two turns. She looked set to pounce as they rounded the home turn but by the time Choi Bum Hyun had her pointing in the right direction in the straight, Euro Fighter was out of reach.

Moon Jung Kyun - First Classic winner since J.S. Hold

Seoul horses filled all the first four places – a welcome result for the capital after Busan’s recent domination of the Classics. Indeed, the calibre of the southern track’s fillies this year would appear to leave a lot to be desired. Crown Flag, the second longest shot on the board, was the host track’s best finisher, managing fifth. Busan does of course still boast the Derby winner, Cheonnyeon Daero, and if all goes to plan, Euro Fighter will have the opportunity to prove that today wasn’t a one off, when the pair meet in the Minister’s Cup at Seoul in October.

For jockey Moon Jung Kyun, it was a first Classic win since his swept all three legs of the Triple Crown on the great J.S. Hold in 2007.

While down at Busan, temperatures were in the low thirties, it was ten degrees cooler and a whole lot wetter back in the capital. Not that jockey Jang Chu Yeol will care tonight. The apprentice won a race for the very first time when he guided Gwanakteukgeup to victory in race 4. Jang is the first of this year’s new jockeys to score a win. It was his thirteenth start.

Another winner - Lee Shin Young returns to scale

Meanwhile, she may be the first Korean woman to earn a trainer’s license but Lee Shin Young is very much in form on the track at the moment. Thirty-year old Lee scored a typically agressive win on Nike Seven in race 7. As soon as a training vacancy opens up, she’ll be moving into the barn, however, punters will be quite happy if that doesn’t happen for a good while longer yet.

Seoul’s feature race was won by another 53-1 shot. Mr Loving Life (Full Mandate) scored a win over Owner’s Cup winner Serendipper in the ten furlong handicap.

Korean Oaks (KOR.GII) – Busan Race Park – 1800M – Aug 29, 2010

1. Euro Fighter (KOR) [Archer City Slew – Ilso Cheongun (High Yield)] – Moon Jung Kyun – 53.7, 7.8
2. Cheonun (KOR) [Ft. Stockon – Restless Patricia (Born Restless)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.1
3. Dongbang Rose (KOR) [Volponi – Night Mary (Strike Gold)] – Shin Hyoung Chul – 2.6

Distances: 5 lengths/1.25 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Kanui Byeol 5. Crown Flag 6. Heukgun Jilju 7. Saeroun Gongju 8. Harue 9. Selah 10. Sanbang Plus 11. Hushtilled 12. Namgang 13. Shining Champion 14. Saroungangja

The rain was falling in the capital as Gaemamusa took race 5

Cheonun Can Take Korean Oaks Back To Seoul

The Korean Oaks has only been run at Busan for two years but in that time, the southern track has taken something of a stranglehold over both it and the other three-year old Classics. On Sunday, fourteen fillies will line up for the 2010 edition of the race. And in Cheonun, Seoul has an excellent chance of taking the crown back to the capital. Here are the runners and riders:

Korean Oaks (KOR.GII) – Busan Race Park – 1800M Aug 29, 2010 – 15:45

1. Crown Flag (13/1/2/3) – Kim Myoung Sin (Busan)
Despite an encouraging second last time out, it would be a major surprise if she was to trouble the placings.
2. Heukgun Jilju (9/3/1/2) – Kim Dong Young (Busan)
Has two wins from her last four starts. If the visitors from Seoul don’t enjoy the Busan track, she has an outside placing chance.
3. Kanui Byeol (9/3/1/2) – Cho Kyoung Ho (Seoul)
Finished well behind Cheonun and Dongbang Rose in the Sports Seoul but may benefit from the slightly longer distance and she will appear in many punters’ quinellas.
4. Saeroun Gongju (9/2/1/2) – Choi Si Dae (Busan)
Has really struggled since moving up to class 2. Not completely without hope, but an outsider nonetheless.
5. Sanbang Plus (12/2/2/1) – Mun Jung Won (Busan)
Won last time out to break a string of disappointing performances but not expected to challenge here.
6. Euro Fighter (9/3/2/1) – Moon Jung Kyun (Seoul)
Not many give her a chance but she was third in the Sports Seoul and is one of very few in the race to have won a two-turn race.
7. Cheonun (8/4/3/1) – Choi Bum Hyun
The favorite. Never finished worse than third, she was a 5-length winner of the Sports Seoul Cup. If she’s on form, she will win.
8. Selah (11/4/1/1) – Yoo Sang Wan
In great form with two wins and a second in her last three outings which has made a run here possible. If she keeps that form going, she must be considered for a place.
9. Dongbang Rose (7/4/1/1) – Shin Hyoung Chul
One of the stars of her year group so far, she’s finished behind Cheonun in each of her last three starts. It would be no surprise if they were to be first and second here.
10. Saeroungangja (9/3/2/0) – Lee Dong Kug
Another who didn’t look a Classic prospect until good recent form changed things. She’ll have supporters but a place looks the extent of her ambitions.
11. Shining Champion (13/1/0/7) – Hitomi Miyashita
Likes finishing third. She’ll have the only lady jockey in the race on board but there’s little suggest she’ll be anything other than an also-ran.
12. Harue (6/2/2/2) – Park Tae Jong
An intriguing entrant. Won convincingly at 1700 metres last time and is worth taking a plunge on at what should be generous prices.
13. Namgang (10/2/2/2) – Kim Yong Geun
If a Busan filly is going to win, this one has as much chance as any. She’ll have to improve a lot though to beat Cheonun.
14. Hushtilled (13/3/3/1) – Jung Ki Yong
Hasn’t really live up to her early promise to date but she’s the only filly in the race to hae won over the distance and a surprise is possible.

Choi Leads Korea To Challenge Victory

Syu Ishibashi Lands YTN on Tanmahwanhui while Muzi Yeni Also a Winner

Choi Bum Hyun ended up victorious, but there was plenty to cheer too for Japan’s Syu Ishibashi and South Africa’s Muzi Yeni as the 2010 International Jockey Invitational drew to a close in front of 50,000 people under the floodlights at Seoul Race Park this evening.

Choi Bum Hyun returns to scale on Jisang Mujeok after taking a winning lead in the Jockey's Invitational

In only the second week of his comeback from injury, Choi landed race 7 – the third leg of the Invitational – with a four-length win on Jisang Mujeok, to effectively wrap things up in favour of the home team. However, there was still the main event to come, the tenth running of the YTN Cup. Always a big event, due to its sponsorship by Korea’s 24 hour news channel – who broadcast the race and subsequent ceremony live (the only horse race you’ll see on Korean TV all year) – the all filly and mare race was where the visitors finally came into their own.

The winner was something of a surprise though. Tamnahwanhui was sent off at 20/1 but, under Syu Ishibashi boucned out of the gate and into a lead that she would never relinquish. Those who came closest to catching her were Baengnakgo, under Akin Sozen and Sky Center – Scott Seamer adding a third place finish to his second yesterday.

Syu Ishibashi and Tamnahwanhui pose

Four-year old Tamnahwanhui was recording her third straight win and fifth in total from twelve starts.

After the contest was over, Muzi Yeni and Oliver Castillo got back out on regular rides in race 10 and it ended in glory for the young South African. Yeni guided the 12/1 shot Bogideongguljae to a commanding five-length win. Always showing towards the front of the thirteen strong field, Bogideongguljae hit the front in mid-stretch and never looked like being caught.

Winner - Muzi Yeni

Overall, the Korean team won the contest by 112 points to 78. However, Ishibashi, Yeni, Seamer and Sozen will all go away with plenty of earned prize money. As in previous years, it was an enjoyable event to watch and punters took warmly to the visitors – espeically the tiny Yeni who built up quite a following trackside in his five rides.

YTN Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – August 22, 2010

1. Tamnahwanhui (KOR) [Al Naba – Bulbijihye (Pro For Sure)] – Syu Ishibashi – 21.1, 5.3
2. Baengnakgo (KOR) [Fiercely – Sobaeksu (Mr. Adorable)] – Akin Sozen – 2.7
3. Sky Center (USA) [Anziyan – Busy Chick (Numerous)] – Scott Seamer – 2.7
Distances: 0.75 lengths/0.75 lengths

Also Ran: 4. Gwangsokcheoreom (Oh Kyoung Hoan) 5. Hwansanguimulgyeol (Cho Kyoung Ho – KOR) 6. Fly Top (Oliver Castillo – USA) 7. Devilish Speed (Yoo Sang Wan – KOR) 8. Fortunata (Nisall McCullogh – IRE) 9. Chongalcheoreom (Moon Se Young – KOR) 10. Gangha Speed (Park Tae Jong – KOR) 11. Raon Chamber (Muzi Yeni – SA) 12. D Day (Choi Bum Hyun – KOR) 13. Yeopungjudo (Jung Ki Yong – KOR) 14. Gwacheon Geojang (Lee Sang Hyeok)

YTN brought their cameras to their race