Author: gyongmaman

Ocala Spring Purchases Sold-On

KRA takes quantity over quality at OBS

Horses purchased by the KRA and the Seoul Racecourse Trainers’ Association at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales (OBS) Spring two-year old sale have arrived in Korea and have now been sold on to local owners. At the original sale in April, Korean representatives purchased 92 horses – 12% of the total who went through the ring.

Due to government restrictions designed to protect the Korean breeding industry, the Korean buyers at Ocala were limited to paying no more than $20,000 for a single colt or $40,000 for a single filly – the higher limit for fillies being intended to encourage the purchase of higher quality fillies for racing who may end up having careers as broodmares.

There were no such limits on the amounts they could be sold on for in Korea, however, with owners at Busan splashing out the most. A Tiznow colt out of the mare Trickle of Gold (Formal Gold) fetched the highest figure closely followed by another colt by Sharp Humor out of Secret Mirage (Secreto). Owners Choi Sang Il and Choi Sang Hee both shelling out close to 200 Million on the pair.

Tough Win

While such high prices for seemingly indifferent horses may seem inexplicable, it must be remembered that these horses will immediately be running for big money with even the least valuable race worth $13,000 to the winner. Indeed, both Dongbanui Gangja and Tough Win – respectively the best and the most exciting horses on the peninsula right now – arrived in Korea via Ocala and owners are keen to get a piece of the action.

The KRA operates as a not-for-profit oragnization so the excess money made is put straight back into breeding and also for funding their next overseas purchases.

Here are a list of the top re-sales of horses bought at the OBS Spring Sale for both Busan and Seoul with original names if known as well as the amount (in Korean won) they were sold for:

Busan

1. Colt [Tiznow – Trickle Of Gold (Formal Gold)] – 187,700,000 won
2. Colt [Sharp Humor – Secret Mirage (Secreto)] – 183,300,00 won
3. Filly [Dehere – Riptide (Gold Case)] – 150,000,000
4. Colt [Montbrook – Auf Wiedersehn (Notebook)] – 115,000,000
5. Filly [Johannesburg – Perfect Wave (Boston Harbor)] – 110,000,000 won

Seoul

1. I’d Rather B Lucky (Colt) [Gibson County – Tricky Prospector (Prospector’s Halo)] – 72,000,000 won
2. Colt [D Wildcat – Freddy Fenter (Fenter)] – 61,500,000 won
3. American Revival (Colt) [Put It Back – American Saint (Saint Ballado)] – 52,000,000 won
4. Filly [Sir Shackleton – Tocar (Jeblar)] – 50,200,000 won
5. Public Mischief (Filly) [Grand Slam – Silver Lover (Silver Deputy)] – 46,100,000 won

1233 Korean won = 1 US$ – Figures from Korean Stud Book and Korea Racing Journal

The local Ocala media ran a story on the Korean buyers at the time of the sale.

Anyone wishing to check on the progress of horses they may have sold to Korea can do so by going to the homepage of the Korean Studbook and then searching on the dam’s name.

Kim Tae Hee Saddles-Up At Seoul

Punters had a treat at Seoul Race Park this afternoon as actress Kim Tae Hee donned racing silks and a pair of impossibly tight riding trousers to shoot scenes for upcoming movie “Grand Prix”.

Kim Tae Hee waits to get on

For two weeks now, the racetrack has been decked out in flags and banners for the production. Today an extra number 9 horse – complete with a ribbon in its tail – joined the runners in the paddock prior to race 9.

Best legs in the paddock - Kim Tae Hee

Kim emerged from the tunnel along with the jockeys and, after a little difficulty as her mount was playing-up, was given a leg-up by a lucky groom. She then completed a lap of the paddock and followed the rest of the horses back into into the track-bound tunnel.

Kim Tae Hee - once up she certainly looked the part

To their credit, punters refrained from the abuse they normally greet any newcomers to the paddock with and Kim, for her part, certainly looked assured in the saddle.

Grand Prix, which is part funded by the Korea Racing Authority is scheduled for an autumn release. It’s production was disrupted when the original male lead, Lee Jun Ki, was hauled off to military service with a month of filming already complete. He has since been replaced by Yang Dong Kun.

The officially released pictures of shooting so far have shown sad faces so it is likely that the movie will be a traditional Korean melodrama/love story; indeed Allkpop reports that Kim’s character moves to Jeju Island after her horse dies where she meets fellow jockey and love-interest Yang. Nevertheless, like Gak-seol-tang before it, the movie looks set to introduce racing to a wider audience and its release is eagerly awaited.

Kim Tae Hee

Park Tae Jong 1600 Up

Korea’s most successful ever jockey reached another milestone at Seoul Race Park this afternoon as Park Tae Jong rode his 1600th career winner.

Park Tae Jong - 1600 up but still doesn't smile a lot

Park started the day on 1598 but took race 1 on Daejiuichukje before guiding third-favourite Gwangsokcheoreom to a half-length victory in race 7 to reach the 1600 mark. Half an hour later it was 1601 with Haetbitbeonjjeok a three-length winner in race 8.  He wasn’t finished there either as victory on hot favourite Summa Cum Laude in race 10 meant he ended the day with four winners.

The forty-four year old Park gained his license in 1987 at the old Seoul Race Park at Ttukseom. During his career he has won three Korean Derbies as well as the Grand Prix and Minister’s Cup. In April, he partnered Money Car to the KRA Cup Mile before the pair finished second in the Derby.

Park Tae Jong about to take Gwangsokchereom (No.2) into the lead to secure his 1600th career win

While 1600 winners is not a lot in terms of world racing, Park has achieved the figure from just over 10,000 race rides. Not only can he only race two days a week in Korea but, until the freelance jockey system came into effect a few years ago he, like every other jockey, was restricted to just five race rides per weekend.

While most of his contemporaries who gained licenses in the late 1980s – Chun Chang Ki, Ahn Byung Ki and Kim Hyo Seob – have recently taken up training licenses, If Park’s desire remains strong, there is no reason why he can’t reach 2000 winners before he finally calls it a day.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

G20 Finance Ministers are meeting in Busan this weekend. Some could hardly do worse than to pop down to the track where there are ten races on Friday followed up by six more on Sunday which culminates in young upstarts Captain Sir and Useung Geotap taking on Busan stalwart Crafty Louis in the feature.

Key To Success goes on Sunday

Up in the capital it’s getting hot. Not too hot but pleasantly summery. Put simply, it’s perfect punting weather. This should make up for a less than inspiring feature race on Saturday when Natural Nine – a horse who hasn’t won for going on two years – carries top weight among a small field of just seven

Sunday is a little more promising with Bulpae Gisang, Seoul Teukgeup, Torpedo Mast, Free Hugs, Noubeau Riche and a rare British-bred runner in Key To Success, do battle over ten furlongs.

Here’s what’s happening:

Friday June 4

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday June 5

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:30

Sunday June 6

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Creek Cat Leads Sire Race

Didyme’s three-year streak set to be ended

It’s looking less and less likely that that Didyme is going to make it four straight years as leading sire in Korea after Cheonnyeon Daero’s Derby victory propelled Creek Cat to the top of the standings.

Fiercely is just over 100 Million won behind, just edging The Groom Is Red into third. Last year’s runner-up, Concept Win makes it into fourth with Sangseung Ilro once more his top earner.

Revere is the only non US-bred stallion in the top ten in ninth place, one below Didyme eighth in eighth.

Leading Sires in Korea as at January 1 – June 1, 2010

Name – Earnings (Chief Earner)
1. Creek Cat (USA) 1,204,702 (Cheonnyeon Daero)
2. Fiercely (USA) 1,099,840 (Seon San)
3. The Groom Is Red (USA) 1,083,946 (Triple Seven)
4. Concept Win (USA) 1,018,712 (Sangseung Ilro)
5. War Zone (USA) 910,313 (Hanhyeolgeumgu)
6. Social Charter (USA) 868,611 (Free Woody)
7. Ft. Stockton (USA) 841,525 (Namdo Jeap)
8. Didyme (USA) 769,355 (Top Seed)
9. Revere (IRE) 693,225 (Boryeong Bulbit)
10. Buster’s Daydream (USA) 644,564 (Seungundaeseung)

Naturally Creek Cat is also the leading sire of three-year olds with the late Newsprint – sire of Money Car and Seonbongbulpae – in second. Also appearing in that top ten are Capital Spending, Exploit, Biwa Shinseiki, Volponi and Yehudi.

While at the two-year old and yearling sales recently there has been a buzz around Menifee, whose first crop will be making their debut this year (one of his fillies, Daehwarang, already has, although she made an inauspicious debut), more and more Korean bred horses are being sent to stud.

2007 Triple Crown winner J.S. Hold (Ft, Stockton) is the highest profile, however, he covered just fourteen mares last year with just one foal born so far. Meanwhile, 2008 Minister’s Cup winner Gaeseon Janggun (Duality) is set to begin stud duties this year.

* Information on all stallions in Korea can be found at the Korean Studbook. Also, Fallight maintains a constantly updated user-friendly list at his website.

Weekend Review: Katoh At The Double

It was supposed to rain all weekend. Instead, racegoers who took their umbrellas ended up using them as parasols as Seoul basked in perfect conditions for punting.

Toshiyuki Katoh on Dongbang Jinju - the second of his two winners

And Sunday was a very good day for Seoul Race Park’s sole foreign jockey as Toshiyuki Katoh landed a quick-fire double in races 5 & 6. Approaching the first anniversary of his Korean debut, the Japanese rider had only been successful on seven occasions before today. However, strong rides, first on filly Wink and then, a race later on Dongbang Jinju.

Like all foreign riders before him at Seoul, Katoh has struggled to get rides, let alone good ones. When he has been given horses with chances, he hasn’t let anybody down.

Down at Busan, where things have been better for overseas riders – in terms of opportunities anyway – there was more success today for the Japanese contingent. Kunihisa Hirase guided old-stager Wonder Love to a two and a half length victory in the feature race.

The now eight-year old Wonder Love made his debut in December 2004, just three months after the track opened. While the pinnacle of his career was victory in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup in 2008 his performance today, ahead of a field including King Kephalos (who returned lame), Haengbok Dream and fellow old-timer Golding, showed he still has plenty to offer.

In other races at Seoul, there was a useful win for US import Bop’s Punch – the four-year old getting the better of a photo-finish with Mistergolden to secure his first victory at class 2. Meanwhile, three-year old filly Magic Collar scored her first victory at class 3 and her fourth from eight starts overall – a tilt at the Oaks may be possible.

Mistergolden (No.4) would get to within a nose, but Bop's Punch (9) would hold on

* The most valuable race of the weekend at Seoul took place on Saturday. With likely favourite Taesanbukdu a late scratching, it was left to Ugildongja to take the honours for jockey Ham Wan Sik.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Weekend Preview

Racing is back and Busan hosts arguably the most interesting race of the weekend on Friday afternoon as Hangang Ruby, Ebony Storm, Night Moves and Mulbora are among a full field of fourteen class 1 horses getting a rare opportunity to compete for a big prize over the sprint distance of six furlongs.

As usual, Busan hosts cards on Friday and Sunday while Seoul has its most valuable race of the weekend on Saturday. It’s a relatively uninspiring line-up for the ten furlong handicap, however, with Taesanbukdu slated to be top weight by some 5 kilos. Nevertheless, there’s plenty to get stuck into in the rest of the card on both days.

Suspended - Moon Se Young

Three of Seoul’s top jockeys will be on the sidelines this weekend. Choi Bum Hyun remains injured while Moon Se Young and Kim Ok Sung both begin bans which will last for four meetings. It will be an opportunity for the chasing pack to close some of the gap between themselves and Moon, who is looking to regain the title that he won in 2008.

Here’s what’s happening:

Friday May 28

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00-18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30-17:30

Saturday May 29

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20-18:00
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10-17:30

Sunday May 30

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40-16:30

Gambling News Round-Up

Betting has been in the news in one form or another over the past couple of weeks in Korea. First off, the Starcraft “Match-Fixing” case saw some breakthroughs with arrests and charges and now supposedly confessions. Ultimately it seems a tale of young men being manipulated for surprisingly little money.

Next up is the JoongAng Daily with a glorified advert, masquerading as news, for Sports Toto’s World Cup games. Sports Toto is one of Korea’s licensed lotteries and runs pools on Korean domestic sports leagues as well as European football. It’s run by the Seoul Olympic Sports Promotion Foundation which also operates Track Cycling and Motorboat racing. These, along with horse racing and one casino,are the only legal betting opportunities for Koreans.

Speaking of that one casino, most news outlets covered the story of a Mr Ahn Seung Pil, who won the “Super Mega Jackpot” at Kangwon Land and promptly decided to donate all his winnings – which at 766 Million won were the biggest in the Korean casino history – to the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology and Science (KAIST). KAIST is one of the nation’s richest academic institutions.

Mr Ahn said he was inspired to make his donation after he remembered seeing a KAIST Professor on TV complaining that without adequate funding, Korea’s scientists will end up lagging behind their Chinese counterparts. Whether that happens or not, that Professor surely has a second career in Sales ahead of him.

* Note to any potential jackpot winners: Korean racing currently lags far behind that of Japan. This is not good. Investment is very important if it is to have any chance of catching up. Look at the quality of pictures on Keiblog…Gyongmaman will need a new camera is he is to compete…

Lap Of Luxury

Luxury Jewang Wins Sports Chosun / Namdo Jeap, Sangseung Ilro Go Down At Busan / Tough Win Seven-Up

Luxury Jewang held off a determined challenge from Daesahyeong to win the Sports Chosun Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The five-year old took the line just a neck ahead of his rival, giving young jockey Boo Min Ho his second big race win of the year.

Luxury Jewang in the Sports Chosun Winner's Circle

It was the lightly raced Blooming who set the early pace but in the back straight Boo Min Ho brought Luxury Jewang right from the back of the field to the front. When Blooming fell away with two furlongs to go, favourite Khanui Huye struck down the rail. Luxury Jewang was the stronger though and while Daesahyeong was the quickest of them all in the final furlong, the line came just in time.

Boo-tiful

Luxury Jewang was recording a fifth win from twenty starts. His previous best performance came in January, when he claimed the scalp of the then unbeaten Seonbongbulpae. Now he’ll be competing in the same class every outing. Meanwhile jockey Boo Min Ho adds the Sports Chosun to the Segye Ilbo Cup that he won earlier this year.

While racing at Seoul was run under slate-grey skies, the rain by and large held off. Not so at Busan where five of the six races were run in torrential rain. This made for plenty of drama in the co-feature races.

First up was the Kokura Handicap, sponsored by Japan’s Kokura Racecourse. Namdo Jeap, taking on overseas bred horses yet again, was sent off the favourite but foundered in the sloppy home straight as New Zealand bred old-timer Gunham [Anziyan – Kaapture The Heart (Kaapstad)] took advantage of a favourable handicap to record his first win in over a year.

The second co-feature saw Sangseung Ilro, last year’s Derby winner sent off the favourite but, in a topsy-turvy final furlong where the lead changed hands three times, she was beaten into second by Gangjaui Beopchik. A horse who frequently hits the money finishes but hardly ever wins – this was Gangjaui Beopchik’s first victory since September 2008. Peter Wolsley’s Khaosan filled out the placings.

Back at Seoul, three-year old American import Tough Win [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] was going for his seventh straight win, this time over ten furlongs. He duly obliged by two lengths without jockey Cho Kyoung Ho having to do much except point him in the right direction. A showdown with Dongbanui Gangja – the highest rated horse in Korea – now seems inevitable and few will be betting against the younger horse.

Sports Chosun Cup (Stakes Listed) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – May 23, 2010

1. Luxury Jewang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Integra’s Delight (Integra)] – Boo Min Ho – 9.0, 2.6
2. Daesahyeong (KOR) [Slew O’Green – Nakchodae (Kingsview)] – Lee Sang Hyeok – 2.2
2. Khanui Huye (KOR) [The Grrom Is Red – Noble Michelle (Flow Technology)] – Ham Wan Sik – 1.5
Distances: Neck/1.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Dansimga; 5. Gamdongui Sungan; 6. Seon San; 7. Top Seed; 8. Pop’s Slew; 9. Golden Rose; 10. Uri Manse; 11. Blooming; 12. Free Bird; 13. Centum; 14. Mr. Swing

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

It’s Wide Open In The Sports Chosun

Full field for Cup / Tough Win goes for 7 / Namdo Jeap, Sangseung Ilro go at Busan

Just a week after the Derby, Stakes racing is back at Seoul Race Park on Sunday in the shape of the 21st Sports Chosun Cup. For Korean bred horses aged four and up, but who haven’t made it to class 1 yet, it offers an opportunity for those horses who’ve been at the fringes of the top-tier of Korean racing to break into the big time.

Luxury Jewang

A full field of fourteen will contest the nine furlong race and it really is “stick a pin in it” time as any one of a number have good claims. Two horses have won at the class and distance before. Of these Seon San is well favoured while Pop’s Slew will be carrying significantly more weight than when he triumphed.

Luxury Jewang was the first horse to defeat Seonbongbulpae – one of this year’s star three-year olds while Khanui Huye also has notable scalps and was a creditable fourth in January’s Herald Business. Blooming has five wins from just eight starts and while Gamdongui Sungan hasn’t had a good year, a third place last time out suggests he is returning to form. Neither Daesahyoung and Golden Rose should be overlooked while Top Seed is the improver of the race.

Punters, take this one on at your peril but the rewards are potentially big. Here’s the full list of runners and riders with race records:

Sports Chosun Cup (Stakes) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – May 23, 2010 – 17:00

1. Dansimga (KOR) 4 G (20/2/4/4) – Park Byeong Yun
2. Centum (KOR) 5 M (26/5/1/5) – Yoo Sang Wan
3. Luxury Jewang (KOR) 5 G (19/4/2/2) – Boo Min Ho
4. Mr. Swing (KOR) 5 H (30/3/4/1) – Park Eul Woon
5. Khanui Huye (KOR) 4 C (17/5/3/1) – Ham Wan Sik
6. Free Bird (KOR) 5 M (27/3/3/3) – Lee Gi Hweoi
7. Gamdongui Sungan (KOR) 7 H (40/3/3/5) – Moon Se Young
8. Top Seed (KOR) 4 C (19/2/5/4) – Park Tae Jong
9. Blooming (KOR) 4 C (8/5/1/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho
10. Golden Rose (KOR) 4 F (14/4/3/3) – Han Sung Youl
11. Daesanhyeong (KOR) 5 G (23/5/3/1) – Lee San Hyeok
12. Uri Manse (KOR) 5 M (20/3/3/3) – Yoon Tae Hyoug
13. Seon San (KOR) 5 G (18/4/4/4) – Shin Hyoung Chul
14. Pop’s Slew (KOR) 5 G (22/3/4/5) – Kim Ok Sung

Gyongmaman will be losing his money on: 1. Khanui Huye; 2. Seon San; 3. Luxury Jewang; Wildcard bet: Top Seed

Tough Win

Once the Sports Chosun is out-of-the-way, one of the hottest properties in Korean racing will take to the track. Tough Win has six wins from six starts and has Dongbanui Gangja firmly in his sights as they head towards a potential clash in the Owners’ Cup next month. Tough Win will be long odds-on to dispose of a class 1 field.

It’s not just at Seoul where there’s action. Down at Busan, Namdo Jeap, winner of last year’s Minister’s Cup once more faces overseas-bred horses while Sangseung Ilro, last year’s KRA Cup Mile and Derby winner will go in the second of the double feature races.

Overall it’s set to be a great day’s sport. There’s just one problem: It looks set to rain all day!

Sunday May 23

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