Tomorrow, eleven three year olds will race in the final leg of the Korean Triple Crown. This afternoon, at Seoul Race Park, Dongbanui Gangja sent out a message that whoever wins will have a long way to go before they have any possibility of being recognised as the best horse in Korea.

Last time he ran, Dongbanui Gangja left it late to come through and claim his eighth straight win. It didn’t matter – the best horses don’t necessarily win by big margins, they just win. Today, however, he won with an awful lot to spare.

Sprint king Gamadongja set his usual early pace while Dongbanui Gangja sat right at the back of the field. Choi Beom Hyun moved the favourite up during the back straight and let him go as they turned for home. The four year old was quickly in front and, with Choi motionless in the saddle, cruised away from the field to record an effortless victory. Free Hugs trailed in eleven lengths back with Gamadongja following in third.

It’s now nine in a row for Dongbanui Gangja. With the Grand Prix now two months away, the only question at the moment seems to be just how far Dongbanui Gangja will win by.

Not a contender this year, but perhaps in future years is Great True. The two year old made his third appearance this afternoon and, like his previous two outings, it ended in victory. Stepping up in both class and distance, Great True [Yes It’s True – Gigi’s Magic (Allen’s Prospect)] led from gate to wire but had to work to hold off the fast finishing Daejayeon.

Daejayeon’s jockey was Lee Sang Hyeok, the apprentice earlier surviving a hard fall when in race 4, the impressive two year old colt Yyongwang Jjang sadly broke down when leading just 150 metres from the line in its debut race.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Japanese one-two on good day for foreign jocks at Busan
On the day Hitomi Miyashita became the first foreign female jockey to take up a full time license in Korea, it was her Japanese compatriot, Eiki Nishimura who denied her the honour of landing the day’s feature race at Busan Race Park.

Riding favourite Yongdu Baram, Miyashita was unable to catch Nishimura who guided second favourite Glory Champ to a two and a half length win. As well as a Japanese one-two, both horses are trained by Kim Young Gwan, the trainer who has supported overseas jockeys more than any other.

Miyashita had earlier made her debut in race 6 with a strong ride on mildy fancied Chowolgeum, taking the three year old to second place. Two other rides didn’t trouble the placings but overall it was a successful first day on the job for Hitomi.

With the track’s leading overseas rider Martin Wepner up in Seoul for Sunday’s Minister’s Cup, Nishimura took another win earlier in the day with a win on Theres No Reason in race 5. Rounding out a great day for the foreign riders at the track, Stephan Swanepoel took an unlikely win on 100/1 outsider Stormy Run in race 1. Swanepoel went on to add two third place finishes to his haul.

The action moves to Seoul and Jeju Race Parks on Saturday before all three tracks host cards on Sunday.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Triple Crown on the line at Seoul / Gyeongnam Shinmun at Busan
Racing took last weekend off, but it’s back with a vengeance. And it’s as big as it gets in Korean racing. At 5pm on Sunday, eleven three year olds will go to post at Seoul Race Park for the Minster Of Agriculture’s Cup and one of them, Sangseung Ilro, is running for the Korean Triple Crown.

She hasn’t run since she was unexpectedly beaten in the Oaks, having already won the KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby. That reverse will be all but forgotton about, however, if she comes out on top on Sunday.

It won’t be easy and we’ll have a full preview of the big race over the next couple of days but with the Gyeongnam Shinmun Cup at Busan, as well as Dongbanui Gangja – Seoul’s top ranked horse, making an appearance on Saturday, it promises to be an exciiting weekend.

Busan Race Park

Friday October 9: 10 races, first race 13:00, last 17:30
Sunday October 11: 6 races, first race 12:40, last 16:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday October 10: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Sunday October 11: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:10

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday October 10: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10
Sunday October 11: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10

Top Point put in a commanding performance to cruise to victory in the KRA Cup Classic at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Sent off the odds-on favourite, Park Tae Jong took the five year old into the lead straight out of the gate and there was any question of her relinquishing it as she pulled away from the field in the home straight. The winning distance on the line was five lengths, with plenty in hand.

Behind her there was something of a shock as 50/1 outsider Angel Pegasus came wide with a late run to grab second ahead of 2007 winner Pocketful Of Money. Serendipper placed fourth and YTN Cup winner Soseono took the last of the moneying positions in fifth.

For Top Point, third in this race last year, it was a validation of her position as top rated filly or mare on the peninsula and should guarantee her ticket to the season ending Grand Prix in December. She was last in that race last year, a rare setback in a career which now boasts fourteen wins from twenty two starts.

KRA Cup Classic (KOR. GIII) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Sep 27, 2009

1. Top Point (KOR) [Tom Cruiser – Mooncello (Northern Baby)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.6, 1.2
2. Angel Pegasus (USA) [Gold Case – Sahara Princess (Alphabet Soup)] – Bang Choon Sik – 10.9
3. Pocketful Of Money (USA) [Running Stag – Ms. Deep Pockets (Buckaroo)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 3.9
Distances: 5 lengths/3 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Serendipper; 5. Soseono; 6. Air Kat; 7. Kkumchaja; 8. Hwanggeum Dwaeji; 9. Badajebi; 10. Princess Thumb; 11. Ginny’s Delight; 12. Mexicali Blues; 13. Gate Way

With Championship leader Cho Kyoung Ho sidelined due to a trackwork injury sustained this morning, Park Tae Jong was dominant. Aside from Top Point, he added three more winners including on Symphony Sonata [E. Dubai – First Violin (Dixieland Band)] – the four year old winning his fifth race from nine and his first at class 2 level.

Down at Busan, King Kephalos upset Dongbang Geona to take the feature Mile Handicap, the more valuable of two races at the Gyeongnam track this afternoon sponsored by the Japan Bloodstock Breeders’ Association (JBBA).

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Juveniles stake their claim
Ace Galloper has been very much in the shadow of Seonbongbulpae and Nothern Ace, having been beaten ten lengths by the latter in their track debuts. Despite coming out in his second race and winning by practically a furlong, he was still thought vulnerable as he stepped up to six and a half furlongs as the only two year old in a field of twelve at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

He doesn’t look vulnerable any more. Not only did he win with plenty to spare, he took nearly a second off the Korean record for the distance – and was only a tenth of a second outside the track record held by the ill-fated Playing Politics.

On the filly side of things, there was plenty of interest in the two year old ranks as well as Oh My Sun took her third consecutive win, this time against older fillies and mares.

The feature race of the afternoon went the way of the favourite as Huimang Energy saw off Natural Nine for a two and a half length win. It was jockey Cho Kyoung Ho’s second in as many races after bringing home hot favourite Blue Pin by seven lengths in race 9. The three year old – ineligible for the classics by virtue of being Korean born but not Korean bred – now has six wins from twelve and looks ready for the top tier of racing.

* We mentioned earlier tis week that winning on Enertein last Sunday may have been what jockey Lee Ae Li needed to get back in form after a recent barren spell. Indeed, it seems to have been the case as she nursed 25/1 outsider Believe Win to victory in race 8 this afternoon when the colt looked done for in the home straight after setting a strong early pace.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL