It’s cold. The temperature is yet to rise above zero in Seoul in 2010 and it’s getting tiresome. The snow from a fortnight ago is still on the ground and riding out these past few mornings must have been horrific. Nevertheless, there’s a full set of race-cards to look forward to this weekend.
While hopes have been dashed that last year’s champion three-year old Nice Choice would make his season debut, we have an even more intriguing entry at Seoul Race Park this weekend. Seonbongbulpae, Champion Juvenile in 2009 steps up to nine furlongs in race 7 on Sunday afternoon as he launches his three-year old campaign.
The colt is unbeaten in four races but laboured in winning the Herald Business Cup back in December. He’ll face an array of older horses in the class 3 test.
The big race of the weekend at Seoul is on Saturday. As mentioned above, there’s no Nice Choice but Gi Ra Seong will be there and the six-year old will be fancied to overcome a field that includes the likes of Symphony Sonata and Hwangnyongsaji.
Busan Race Park
Friday January 15: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00 Sunday January 17: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15
Seoul Race Park
Saturday January 16: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45 Sunday January 17: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Jeju Race Park (Pony Racing)
Friday January 15: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30 Saturday Janaury 16: 9 races, first post 12:30, last 17:10
Last year was another tough one for overseas jocks in Korea
Korea provides a notoriously difficult challenge for ex-pat employees with long hours and alien working practices. A lot of people have bad experiences, some self-inflicted, some not. Racing is no exception.
The most high-profile of foreign employees in the Korean racing industry are the jockeys. On the surface a jockey’s life in Korea is good – purses are big, accommodation is free and they only race twice a week. In reality, it’s anything but. Just like everywhere else in the World, while the top jockeys do indeed earn a lot, the majority don’t.
Japanese riders have generally had the best luck in Korea. The culture shock is less as is the style of racing – Korean racing has been described by more than one observer as being similar to that of Japan. Twenty years ago. The gap left by Toshio Uchida at Busan was ably filled by Ikuyasu Kurakane who moved down from Seoul and quickly became the track’s top rider. Ikuyasu left during 2009 as did Nozomu Tomizawa who returned to Australia after putting in a creditable two years at Seoul without getting the recognition – or more importantly, the rides – he deserved.
Eiki Nishimura joined Busan early in 2009 and battled through a tough start to be rewarded with victory on Sangseung Ilro in the KRA Cup Mile. Sadly Eiki was jocked off the filly for the Korean Derby amid rumours that the militant Seoul Jockeys’ Association did not want a foreigner riding a potential Derby winner. He did, however, regain the ride for the Oaks where Sangseung Ilro was beaten.
Three other Japanese riders joined during the year. Toshiyuki Katoh has found rides difficult to come by at Seoul but is still plugging away. He was joined recently by Yoshiyuki Aoki who has found rides in more quantity than Katoh, if not in quality. Finally, Hitomi Miyashita joined Busan in October. The winner of the International Lady Jockey Invitational at the track in August, Hitomi wasted no time in applying for a full-time license and has had no trouble settling in and being accepted by trainers. As of now, she is arguably the top jockey at the track and is worshipped by lovestruck punters.
As for the non-Japanese, American Santos Chavez was popular with punters and put in a quiet but competent four months at Seoul before returning to the States. At Busan, Vincent Sit rode for two months before returning to Hong Kong where his wife had just become the first woman to be granted a trainer’s license. India’s Rahul Shinde lasted all of one week while Eden Cheung of Hong Kong is currently on the injured list.
That leaves the two South Africans. Stephan Swanepoel started off at Seoul but, as is common at the capital track was given no opportunities and was allowed to relocate to Busan where he had slightly more success. Swanepoel called time in late November and returned to South Africa, retiring from the saddle completely.
Then there is the exception. Martin Wepner arrived in Korea having had considerable experience in Malaysia. With a strong reputation and an ability to do the light weights, he instantly got more rides – not necessarily good rides, just more – than the other foreigners. And he started winning on them. Things haven’t been simple with Wepner. A miscommunication which placed him in an embarrassing situation led to him walking out on the ride of Namdo Jeap in the Derby on the day of race.
With Wepner set to leave Korea, top Busan trainer Kim Young Gwan, possibly appreciating the difficulties faced by foreign riders here, stepped in to offer him the job as his stable jockey. Wepner accepted and it was the start of a prolific partnership. However, late in 2009 their relationship broke down and trainer and jockey went their separate ways. Wepner has once again landed on his feet and, back as a freelancer is, alongside Hitomi, the most in-demand rider at the track.
Peter Wolsley is still the sole foreign trainer working on the peninsula. Just as the foreign jockeys get the horses no-one else wants to ride, when he arrived, Wolsley was given the horses no-one else wanted to train. He toughed it out, however, and has been rewarded with a number of good quality runners in his barn including Ebony Storm, Khaosan and Yeoreumbi, as well as one-time Derby hopeful Impeccable. Now with twenty-four horses in his care, Wolsley saddled twenty-nine winners in 2009.
In terms of the KRA, the last week of 2009 saw the upgrade of their website to include English language racecards and results as well as links to the English language stewards reports. The KRA have a foreign steward at both thoroughbred tracks and James Perry at Seoul and Brett Wright at Busan have been tapping out English translations of the reports for over a year. Behind the scenes, a South African jockey instructor has played a key role in the development of a promising crop of young Korean jockeys.
The word is that another overseas trainer will be granted a licence in 2010. No word yet on the identity or even the nationality. The KRA is also still accepting applications from foriegn jockeys. Any newcomer should hope to be based at Busan which while still challenging, offers a more accepting environment to newcomers than at Seoul where the Jockeys’ Association still wields great power on the backstretch.
Overall there is still plenty of work to be done for the much heralded “Internationalization” plan to be realised. 2010 promises to be another challenging year for those racing professionals who choose to ply their trade on the peninsula
Soseono back to winning ways / Galsaem beaten Good Day and Namdo Jeap both went wire-to-wire to win their respective big races at Seoul and Busan Race Parks this afternoon.
Namdo Jeap, winner of last year’s Minister’s Cup was sent off only second favourite behind in-form fellow four-year old Golden Appeal. The result was never in doubt, however, as Namdo Jeap bounced out of the gate under Lim Sung Sil and cruised away from the field in the home straight for a six length victory. Golden Appeal rallied late but never got close.
Up at Seoul, Good Day had slightly more to worry about in the final stages of his ten furlong test. Balhaejanggun was finishing much the quicker and got close as the line loomed ahead. It arrived just in time for Good Day though, with the six year old having half a length in hand.
Namchonuijijon arrived late on the scene and grabbed third but there was no happy return for Galsaem. The former champion mare showed towards the front of the field early on but didn’t stay in the final furlong, eventually finishing fifth.
There was victory for one mare at Seoul today though as Soseono (no longer a filly by 10 days) scored her first win since the YTN Cup last August courtesy of a late run to overhaul outsiders Big Guy and Top Plus. Soseono’s race also saw a return to action for jockey Lee Geum Joo. Always likely to be up against it, long-shot Cheongunbaram duly finished in last place.
Soseono, seen here after the YTN Cup, was back in the winner's circle today
Soseono was ridden by Moon Se Young and provided the third of the 2008 champion’s three winners on the day. In other jockey news, Lee Geum Joo wasn’t the only rider to return today. Highly thought of young jockey Yoo Seung Wan was back in action after spending much of 2009 in the United States. Yoo finished the day with two second place finishes.
Two of Korean racing’s most distinguished females make long awaited returns to the track at Seoul Race Park on Sunday.
Now eight years old, Galsaem [Adjudicating – Golden Image (Dancer’s Image)] made her debut in 2005 and quickly became one of the most formidable fillies on the track. She won the NACF Chairman’s Race in 2006 and amassed seventeen wins from her thirty-six starts, missing out on the money on just three occasions.
Her last appearance was in the Grand Prix race at the end of the 2008 season in which she finished ninth and was found to be lame. After a long recovery period, she came through an official race trial in December with no problems and will line up for Sunday’s feature handicap.
She’ll have her work cut out with the likes of Secret Weapon, Balhae Janggun, Good Day, New Rider and Namchonuijijon all having claims in the 2000 metre race 10.
Despite having not riddden competitively for over two years, Geum Joo retained her license and, having got married last year, returns to race riding at Seoul on Sunday afternoon. She has just the one mount on six-year old gelding Cheongun Baram, who is himself coming off a nine month lay-off in the competitive looking race 9.
In that race, Soseono is the best known of the thirteen declared, but she’ll face strong competition from Gangho Jewang and Yaho MK among others.
Sunday Racing:
Seoul: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45 Busan: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15
Baengnyeonbong took victory in the opening Stakes action of the year as he came from behind to win the New Year’s Commemorative Race at a cold and snowy Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
With likely pre-race favourite Wangsan a late scratching, Winner Prince was sent off the even money favourite with Baengnyeonbong and Golden Rose the joint 6-1 seconds. Indeed, it was Golden Rose who provided the early pace leading them through the opening six furlongs.
Outsider Green Jewel came to take things up as they turned for home but quickly faded in the home straight as the closers came through. Baengnyeonbong was the fastest, leading Winner Prince over the line by two lengths with Fundahigh another fast finisher in third.
Highly thought of during the early part of his three-year old campaign, the highlight of which was third place in the Korean Derby, the win today should see Baengnyeonbong gaining access to class 1 races for the rest of this season. The victory was his sixth in fifteen starts, during which time he’s only been out of the money twice.
New Year Commemorative Stakes (Herald Business) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Jan 9, 2010
1. Baengnyeonbong (KOR) [Al Naba – Sansovino Art (Mister. C)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 7.7, 2.3 2. Winner Prince (KOR) [Fortitude – Happy Power (Priceless Prince)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.3 3. Fundahigh (KOR) [Warzone – Fundamental High (High Brite)] – Lee Gong Kug – 5.8
Distances: 2 lengths/0.75 lengths – 13 ran
There was a shock later on as Vicar Love, sent off odds-on in the feature handicap could only manage fourth place as Ecton Cat took victory over ten furlongs. Vicar Love looked well placed entering the home straight but Ecton Cat, who had led wire-to-wire, was in no mood to be caught, going on to win by three lengths from Wind King and Seoul Teukgeup.
Jockey of the day was Jung Ki Yong, landing a treble withing the first eight races. Cho Kyoung Ho managed two winners while Choi Beom Hyun got one. 2008 Champion Moon Se Young scored a blank while 2009 winner Park Tae Jong had to wait until the very last to guide hot property Grand Money to victory.
Seoul is getting back to normal after the heaviest snowfall in the city’s hitory was recorded earlier this week. Normal being that it’s still plenty of degrees below zero and that snow remains on the ground, turning progressively uglier by the day.
As of now though, the 2010 season at Seoul Race Park is expected to get underway as planned on Saturday. Today they raced at a chilly Busan, with Jo Sung Gon winning the year’s first race on Widaehan Dojeon, while Jeju also ran its first regular Friday pony card. The rest of the weekend looks like this:
Saturday: Seoul: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 18:05 Jeju: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:25
Sunday: Seoul: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45 Busan: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15
As always, the feature event of the opening day of the year at Seoul is the New Year’s Commemorative Race. A full field of fourteen will contest the nine furlong event, among them Winner Prince, Guard Blue and Wangsan. The top horse on show on the day, however will be Vicar Love who lines up in race 11.
Gyongmaman is in the mood for some punting so here is what he will be losing his money on tomorrow:
Race 1: Pretty dreadful stuff to get us underway, Bon Rising might be the least slow.
Race 2: Mr Lucky will be odds-on to do just that.
Race 3: Kkonnuri has been third and fourth in his two outings to date and could score
Race 4: A lot of unknown quanities as a lot of young three year olds go for the first time. Of those who have raced before, Defcon and Golden Impact look the most likely to break their maidens.
Race 5: A tough one, Little Dreamer won last time out but Pilseung Korea may be the better option.
Race 6: Haengbokhan Party should not be beaten under Cho Kyoung Ho. His odds will reflect that.
Race 7: Gippeumnuri has won at this level and distance and could well do so again, Jangta under Moon Se Young might be worth a chance though.
Race 8: Anything could win this as the whole field steps up to eight and a half furlongs for the the first time. Bichui Adeul won’t be favourite, but could win.
Race 9: Jangbi Sarang could be another winner for Moon Se Young.
Race 10: The New Year’s race features a lot of improving young four-year olds. Wangsan and Fundahigh could provide the value.
Race 11: Vicar Love won’t be worth a bet to win. He should but he’s had off days in the past. All nine of his challengers though have dismal recent form.
Race 12: Champion jockey Park Tae Jong should be winning this comfortably on Grand Money.
Dongbanui Gangja ran seven times in 2009 and won seven times. Among those wins were an Owners’ Cup and his second Grand Prix. Currently untouchable at Seoul, he comfortably saw off those from Busan who dared to challenge him. By some distance, Dongbanui Gangja is our horse of the year.
Three year olds have had another mixed year. On the domestic front, Nice Choice eventually came good after a disappointing start to the year, his President’s Cup win over older horses the highlight. For the second year running, however, it was Busan horses who dominated the generation.
Namdo Jeap was second in the KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby before going one better in the final leg of the Triple Crown. Like Nice Choice, Yeonseung Daero started the year with big expectations but only started living up to them late on in the campaign. In 2010, he more than others, will be the one to watch.
And then there was Sangseung Ilro. Overlooked by most before the Classics, the filly stormed to victory in the KRA Cup Mile at 16/1. Bizarrely, she remained unfancied for the Derby, which she proceeded to romp with ease.
Then it all went wrong. Sent off odds-on for the Oaks, she seemed all set for victory with a furlong to run, but tired to the extent that Pangpang managed to catch her. Diagnosed with a shin problem, she didn’t reappear until October when she made her bid for the Triple Crown in the Minister’s Cup at Seoul. Again she tired but bravely ran on for third place behind stablemate Namdo Jeap and Nice Choice.
With a disappointing reappearance last week, whether Sangseung Ilro returns in 2010 or follows 2008’s top filly Jeolho Chance, another plagued by injury, into the breeding shed, is still in doubt.
Those to have already had their careers prematurely ended by injury include Gangho and most notably, Playing Politics. The four-year old won six of his seven races and was considered a potential late season challenger to Dongbanui Gangja before he came back lame after easily winning what proved to be his final race in February.
Some old friends faded in 2009. Subsidy, Gayansanseong and Daiwa Arazi were retired while Golding, a stalwart of Busan since the track’s opening four years ago is in the way out. Meanwhile Subsidy’s great sparring partner Bally Brae was victorious early in the year but by the end of 2009, it was clear that his best days were behind him.
Feelgood story of the year is Baekgwang. Now six years old, the grey was champion three-year old in 2006 before suffering an injury that decimated his four-year old season and then flared up again in his only appearance in 2008. Following stem-cell treatment and a long period of recuperation, he came back in the SBS Cup in August. He ran fourth but went on to win two handicaps and finished second in the President’s Cup. In the unsentimental world of Korean racing, the sight of Baekgwang launching his home straight charge from the back of the field, just as he did three years ago.
Then there is the future. Seonbongbulpae, Northern Ace, Money Car and Night Moves caught the eye in the two-year old ranks this year. Will they push on in 2010? Who are those that we don’t know about yet but will have forced themselves into the Classic reckoning come May?
The road to the Derby is just days away. With that in mind, let’s take a look back at the four Classics of 2009:
1: The KRA Cup Mile – Busan, April 5: Sangseung Ilro stuns the colts by winning the first Classic:
2: The Korean Derby – Seoul, May 17: Sangseung Ilro again takes the honours to set up a possible Triple Crown:
3: The Korean Oaks – Busan, August 9: It’s Sangseung Ilro’s turn to be upset as Pangpang reels her in over the final furlong on a hot night in Busan:
4: The Minster of FAFF Cup – Seoul, October 12 – Namdo Jeap finally makes it to the Winners’ Circle, ending Sangseung Ilro’s hopes of emulating J.S.Hold in winning the Korean Triple Crown:
All these equine athletes become a year older on January 1. We will no doubt say goodbye to some in 2010 and meet a whole host of others for the first time. Wherever a horse is running next year, may it come home safely.
Didyme is Leading Sire in Korea for the third year running. The nineteen year old was responsible for earnings approaching 3 Billion Won over the year, 200 Million Won more than nearest rival Concept Win whose filly, Sangseung Ilro claimed two legs of the Triple Crown. Revere was in third place.
Leading Sires in Korea 2009
Name/Pedigree/Earnings (Korean Won)/Win Rate/Chief Earner
All of the top five’s chief money earners run at Busan, a further demonstration of the stranglehold the southern track has in terms of quality. In races where Seoul and Busan horses faced each other this year, Busan won four and Seoul won two. Crucially though, Busan won all the races which were restricted to Korean bred runners.
Creek Cat was leading sire of two year-olds, ahead of Didyme, but one to look out for though could be Newsprint (USA) [Gone West – Salty Perfume (Salt Lake)]. He finished seventh on the list of sires of two-year olds from just six runners. They included Seonbongbulpae and Money Car, two of the year’s most exciting juveniles. Newsprint was second among first crop sires behind Volponi. Sadly Newsprint died in November at the tender age of seven but his offspring may do him proud in 2010.
Park Tae Jong Trebles to Claim Jockey Title / Sangseung Ilro beaten
At the start of this year, it would have been a brave punter who suggested that it would be Baekgwang, champion three-year old of 2006 but since lost to perpetual injury, who would be bringing the curtain down on the 2009 season by running down the field in the home straight to claim a last gasp victory like he did so many times three years ago.
Yet that is what happened in the snow at Seoul Race Park this afternoon as the brilliant grey turned for home last out of eleven in the nine and a half furlong handicap. Roared on by 40,000 punters and under Park Tae Jong, another former champion about to have his crown restored, Baekgwang picked off one after another. Natural Guy, Best Fusion and Free Woody were the last to resist, but Baekgwang swept by with plenty to spare with Blue Pin, one of the year’s better three-year olds, coming through for second.
We shouldn’t even have been here today. However, a pair of cancellations – first for a Presidential funeral and then because of an iced-up track, meant that this additional weekend was necessary to complete all the races allocated for 2009. Any regrets racegoers may have had over leaving their yuletide firesides for the snowy wilds of Gwacheon were forgotten though as Baekgwang since secured his second win since his unlikely comeback and a twelfth win in total for the six-year old. Now only Nice Choice is ahead of him in the domestic ranks at Seoul. A seven-year old season is now very much on the cards.
For jockey Park Tae Jong, the jockey with the most rides and the most wins in Korean racing history, Baekgwang was just the start of a glorious late treble that saw him wrap-up the jockeys’ championship by a surprisingly comfortable margin.
2008 Champion Moon Se Young had done his best to upstage the veteran Park early on. Moon, making up for lost time after a frustrating three month lay-off went about business with a vengeance, landing five of the first seven races. In doing so, he made Park’s lead over Cho Kyoung Ho – three going into today – almost unassailable (although Cho had taken race 2 to narrow the gap).
From race 9 onwards, it was all about Park. This is a jockey who already has an exhibit in the KRA’s racing museum dedicated to him as well as a plaque commemorating his becoming the first jockey to ride 1000 winners in Korea. That was five years ago and he’s well over 1500 now.
After Baekgwang, Park took Obaek Yechan to a commanding five length victory in race 10 and then closed out the season with an easy win on two year old Money Car – the colt breezing away from a hopelessly outclassed field to win by fifteen lengths. It’s four out of five for Money Car [Newsprint – Pinocchio (Big Sur)] and he may have a big part to play in 2010.
As 2009 wrapped up at Seoul, however, it was all about Baekgwang.
Class 1 Handicap (Domestic) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – Dec 27, 2009
1. Baekgwang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.4, 1.0 2. Blue Pin (KOR) [Lion Heart – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.4 3. Free Woody (KOR) [Social Charter – Choiseonbong (Imperial Prince)] – Lee Joon Chel – 1.8
Distances: 1.75 lengths/0.75 lengths – 11 ran
Busan Race Park also had a catch-up meeting and the eagerly awaited return to the track of Derby winner Sangseung Ilro was the main attraction. Off the track since her third place in the Minister’s Cup at Seoul in October, the filly was sent off the odds-on favourite but failed to fire in the home straight, eventually finishing fourth behind outsider Segye Jepae. 2008 Derby winner Ebony Storm was never involved, trailing home last but one.
With one day to go, Park Tae Jong scored a double to go three clear at the top of the Seoul Jockeys’ Championship at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Long time championship leader Cho Kyoung Ho stayed in the hunt with a single win but Choi Beom Hyun scored a blank and is now five behind.
Park’s first victory came with three-year old filly Jangjagang in race 7 and in the last on favourite K Two Bong. Cho, meanwhile, guided two-year old US import Tough Win [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] to his third straight win. The gelding was stepped up in class for the seven furlong race 9 but once again was cantered to victory by an overwhelming margin. Tough Win will be one to watch in 2010.
While Park Tae Jong was moving ever closer to taking the Jockeys’ Championship, there was a welcome return to action for another veteran rider as Kim Ok Sung took his first mounts since suffering a knee injury in a trackwork fall during the summer. And it was a victorious return for the “Smile Jockey” as he landed race 5 on Cheot Insang.
Finally of note on a day when the focus seemed very much on the jockeys, apprentice rider Kim Hae Sun took only her second career victory as she guided long-shot Jumalui Haengbok to a comfortable win in race 1.
Racing returns to Seoul on Sunday with an eleven race card. Baekgwang is the big name runner in race 9. Also at Seoul four races will be simulcasted from Busan where Sangseung Ilro makes her long awaited return to the track. The 2009 Derby winner faces the winner of the 2008 edition, Ebony Storm. Racing at Seoul gets underway at 11:10am.
Horse Racing in Korea 