Author: gyongmaman

Secret Weapon Fires To The Top

Easy for SW / Nothern Ace makes record breaking debut
Secret Weapon crowned a week in which he became recognised as the top Korean bred horse currently running at Seoul by winning the feature race under the lights at Seoul Race Park this evening.

Sent off as odds-on favourite for the 2000 metre handicap, the six year old had little trouble seeing off the rest of the fourteen strong field. Under Park Tae Jong, Secret Weapon hit the front entering the home straight and went on to record a four length victory from Jigusangwiryeok in second and Badajebi in third.

With Myeongmun Gamun slipping down to fourth in the Korean Racing Journal’s ranking of Korean bred horses, Secret Weapon takes the top spot after three consecutive victories at the top level. In second is Good Day with Top Point the highest placed filly or mare in third place.

Earlier, two year old Nothern Ace made his highly anticipated debut. He didn’t disappoint. Not only did he wire the field in race 2, he also took over half a second off the great J.S. Hold’s track record for Korean breds over five furlongs. Nothern Ace [Didyme – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] will be one to follow as the year progresses.

Race 2 was also significant as it saw the first two year old by former Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Volponi take to the track. Special Volpony was unplaced. Korean owners have clearly taken a liking to the name “Volpony” – also slated to debut soon is “White Volpony”, a grey filly.

Nothern Ace wasn’t the only horse with a curiously spelled name to find success today. Three year old colt Preety Good came into form too late to get on the Classic trail but he picked up his second straight win – and fourth from ten in total – in race 9. Meanwhile, in her third outing, filly Victoria Captin was narrowly beaten by Yaho Shani in race 6.

Tomorrow sees the Munhwa Ilbo Cup headline the last day’s racing before the two week summer break. Most seem to be predicting a two way battle between three year olds Nice Choice and Baengnyeonbong. However, nine other horses will be seeking to spoil that. Racing starts at 2:30pm with the big race at 7:35pm.

Class 1 Handicap – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – July 25, 2009

1. Secret Weapon (KOR) [Native Regent – Aheadofthetimes (Gold Alert)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.4, 1.0
2. Jigusangwiryeok (KOR) [Washington Color – Leapski (Nagurski)] – Won Jung Il – 6.4
3. Badajebi (KOR) [Mujaazif – Madonna (Avon’s Lord)] – Park Byoung Yun – 3.6
Distances: 4 lengths/Neck – 14 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

It’s week two of night racing in Korea and Busan kicks things off on Friday with a twilight card beginning at 4:30pm. Seoul and Jeju run on Saturday with all thre having cards on Sunday.

The Munhwa Ilbo Cup at Seoul on Sunday is the highlight of the weekend (see full preview) but there is other action worth watching too. Last year’s champion three year old filly Mexicali Blues goes in a competitve handicap at Seoul on Sunday while
Secret Weapon, one of Seoul’s best Korean bred horses goes on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, Supernatural, an import from New Zealand makes his first start of 2009. The five year old made a prmising start to his career last year with three wins before injury hit at the end of the year.

Busan Race Park

Friday July 24: 10 races, first post 16:00, last 21:00
Sunday July 26: 6 races, first post 16:20, last 20:50

Seoul Race Park

Saturday July 25: 12 races, first post 14:30, last 21:00
Sunday July 26: 11 races, first post 14:30, last 21:00

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday July 25: 10 races, first post 16:30, last 21:30
Sunday July 26: 10 races, first post 16:30, last 21:30

The monsoon has been quiet throughout the week and sunshine and showers are predicted for the weekend.

Nice Choice Leads Munhwa Hopefuls

It’s been another disappointing year for three year olds at Seoul but one of them may have the chance to step up on Sunday as four of the best of the crop are among the entries for the Munhwa Ilbo Cup.

The Munhwa brings together a group of three year olds and also older horses who haven’t quite made it into the big time yet. However, with winners in recent years including Myeongmun Gamun and Baekgwang, who went on to become two of the track’s biggest stars, there is the potential for a champion to emerge.

Nice Choice is the one many will be looking to. He’s won five of his eight races to date and was last year’s champion two year old. The one race he’s dissappointed in was the Derby. Ahead of him that day, Baengnyeonbong slipped into third place and following a smart win last month, he’s also back. Khanui Jeguk also disappointed in the Derby, but he too won last time out. The final three year old is Event. Kept off the classic trail, the colt has quietly amassed six wins from his ten starts.

Among the older horses, Lhotse Shar has been in good form this year and won at this level last time out. All the others have wins in their history but only Super Jet and Hallasinbi have been in winning form recently.

The race will be run under the lights on Sunday evening with post time at 7:35pm. Click here for past performance information (Korean) and see below for a full list of runners, records and riders:

Munhwa Ilbo Cup – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – July 26, 2009

1. Nanjeongseo [Psychobabble – Caroful (Sportful)] – (22/4/1/3) – Ham Wan Sik
2. Lhotse Shar [Revere – Leave It To Mama (Pappa Riccio)] – (16/5/1/1) – Shim Seung Tae
3. Baengnyeonbong [Al Naba – Sansovino Art (Mister C.)] – (11/5/1/2) – Shin Hyoung Cheol
4. Taegeuk Musa [Walkslikeaduck – Bae Gil Gi Do (Salmon Leap)] – (47/3/2/5) – Yang Hee Jin
5. Super Jet [Archer City Slew – Tae-Eulbong (Road Of War)] – (12/5/0/1) – Kim Young Jin
6. Khanui Jeguk [Sunday Well – Lucky Dip (Didyme)] – (9/4/1/1) – Choi Beom Hyun
7. Hallasinbi [Duality – Gamble On Jill (Spare Card)] – (21/4/4/1) – Lee Gi Hwoi
8. Challanhanbit [Psychobabble – Naha (Silver Buck)] – (21/5/1/1) – Moon Jung Kyun
9. Event [Creek Cat – Forget Me Dot (Citidancer)] – (10/6/0/0) – Moon Se Young
10. Nice Choice [Lost Mountain – Betty’s Rhapsody (Don’t Hesitate)] – (8/5/2/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho
11. Grandzif [Mujaazif – Knight Blues (Knight’s Choice)] – (18/3/5/3) – Park Tae Jong

Sit in at Busan

Another overseas jockey rides into Busan this weekend as Hong Kong’s Vincent Sit takes up a four month licence. He’ll make his debut on Friday.

Sit (Shun Keung Sit) isn’t one of Hong Kong’s most prolific jockeys – he has 103 career wins from 2385 rides. His best season was in 2000-2001. In the 2008-2009 season he has three wins.

He will join what’s becoming a vibrant overseas jockey community at Busan. Eiki Nishimura and Martin Wepner have been thriving recently with Wepner currently the in-form jockey at the track. Stephan Swanepoel also recently transferred down from Seoul and has already landed his first winner – something he was unable to do in four months in the capital.

Back up north, Nozomu Tomizawa continues to valiantly battle on against the odds at Seoul where he was recently joined by fellow Japanese rider Toshiyuki Katoh .

Click here for Vincent Sit’s profile from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Update: Shaka has collected some videos of Vincent Sit in action in Hong Kong

Baekpa Does a Little Better

Baekpa not only stayed in touch with the field but actually beat one home in her second US outing at Colonial Downs on Monday evening. The five year old ran sixth of seven in race 6, an Allowance Optional Claiming over a mile on the turf under jockey Geovany Garcia.

Still not exactly world beating but a better effort for her first ever race on turf and if they must run her again before bringing her home, one that gives heart.

Video hat-tip to Fpop.

Screens Go Dark as Racing on TV Outlawed

Yesterday saw the last live TV broadcasts of horse racing in Korea before such coverage became illegal today. The Living TV cable channel had previously broadcast four hours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The ban comes in conjunction with an enforced end to telephone and internet betting which also came into effect today.

The move to ban TV coverage comes from a fear that as punters can no longer legally bet from home on what they are watching, they will do it illegally. Now they will have to leave their houses. Racing on TV had long been keeping those in charge of the nation’s morals up at night. The maximum bet limit of KRW 100,000 and the 27% take-out rate had meant that many had already been seeking other avenues for their gambling money and to prevent illegal bookmakers using the racing coverage, a time delay was in place to ensure races weren’t actually shown “live”.

Living TV, a relentlessly optimistic channel which spends most of its time showing travelogues set to uplifting music, will continue to show its “Ye-Sang Gyongma!” preview shows on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Many inside racing fear that the strong anti-gambling lobby will use this victory to move onto bigger targets. This year they have succeeded in cutting the number of race dates as well as limiting the number of pari-mutuel windows that can be open at any one time at the track. Now it is the ending of telephone and internet betting coupled with the TV ban. Next in their sights is likely to be the Off Track betting sites – or “KRA Plazas”. Aside from the race tracks themselves, these are now the only places in Korea where it is legal to place a bet.

The KRA is responding. They have worked to position the Plazas – generally located in prestige office buildings – as community hubs on the four days a week there is no racing, with various activities and events taking place free of charge for local residents.

There is some requirement on them to do this. The KRA is part of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (FAFF, as it were) and is mandated to fund a lot of social programs. It also plays a large role in promoting Korean agriculture. Making itself indispensible is perhaps the only defence the racing industry can use when the next onslaught comes.

Meanwhile, as punters become criminalized, those already on the other side of the law remain more than willing to take over.

Update: In semi-related news Korea Beat translates a YTN report about some Korean teachers being caught gambling. It is likely that these games go on up and down the country every day of the week. The report is typical of Korean news coverage of gambling issues in that it describes the teachers as engaging in “anti-educational” acts. Korearacing would contend that, on the contrary, he learned what little mathematics he did calculating each-way returns at Newmarket.

Baekpa To Make Second US Start

Baekpa will make her second US start on Monday evening (Tuesday morning Korean time) in race 6 at Colonial Downs in Virginia. The 2007 Korean Oaks winner finished last on her debut at Delaware Park last month and she’ll be hard pushed to improve on that with seven tough looking fillies and mares currently entered against her. Here’s the line-up with records and rider:

Allowance/Optional Claiming ($40,000) – Colonial Downs – One Mile (Turf), July 20, Race 6

1. One Man To Beat – (11/4/3/0) – H. Karamanos
2. Baekpa – (23/8/5/2) – G. Garcia
3. Royal Regan – (34/6/8/6) – L. Garcia
4. Miss Lombardi – (23/7/3/5) – R.B. Homeister, Jnr.
5. Song Cat – (19/3/2/3) – S. Russell
6. Burst Of Light – (13/3/2/1) – J. Hall
7. Lily’s Joy – (19/3/2/7) – M. Franklin
8. Beau’s Trip – (22/3/1/1) – E. Camacho

The race is off at 7:20pm local time (8:20am Korean time).

Hallyu Star Lights Up SBS

Outsider shocks Seoul / Areumdaun Jilju takes Min Ilbo
On a glorious summer’s evening under the lights at Seoul Race Park, long shot Hallyu Star was the shock winner of the SBS Cup.

The six year old had set the early pace in the nine and a half furlong race and had opened up a lead of four lengths at one point in the back straight. With the big guns of Namchonuijijon, Triple Seven, Natural Nine and Baekgwang all gathering behind, it was inevitable that the lead wouldn’t last for long.

It didn’t. The field came roaring back as they entered the home straight and Seoul settled back to see which of the favourites would step up. There was a twist. Rather than succomb, Choi Won Joon coaxed a second wind out of Hallyu Star. Somehow they stayed in front during a pulsating final furlong that saw the first five horses within a length and a half of each other on the line. To add to the shock, the horse closest to them was Lucky Seven, the longest shot on the board. Natural Nine grabbed third while the returning Baekgwang, finishing fast, ran out of track in fourth.

It was another big race let down for Namchonuijijon while Triple Seven never fired, despite being in a good position turning for home, ultimately beating only one home. Baekgwang looked good and ran as expected – he was fourth in the betting and he finished fourth. The vet will have the final say but the signs are good that he has indeed made a full recovery.

Today, however, belongs to Hallyu Star, the old stager winning his sixth race from thirty seven starts. For jockey Choi Won Joon, who put in a sparkling ride, it is also the biggest win of his career.

In what was a sumptious half hour of racing on the peninsula, the lights were on at Busan too as Areumdaun Jilju landed the Gyeongnam-Do Min Ilbo Cup. The only Korean bred horse in the field, Areumdaun Jilju dominated the nine furlong race, taking the lead as they entered the back straight and though tiring late on, did enough to repel a challenge from outsider Haengbok Dream. Filly Miss Ecton finished third. With the win, and in landing a race for foreign bred horses, Areumdaun Jilju further embellishes his reputation.

A little later on at Busan, it was the turn of a three year old to start to repair his reputation. Yeonseung Daero was sent off favourite in the KRA Cup Mile and was well-fancied for the Derby. He flopped in both. Today he began to make amends as he made a very late run to overhaul Distance Runner in the last few strides of the mile long category 1 handicap. The domestic picture looks very bright under the lights of Busan this evening.

Finally, mention must be made of jockey Yoo Mi Ra. The apprentice made her debut over a year ago and today she finally made it into the winner’s circle as she took favourite Tamnahwanhui to victory in race 2. It was only the third time she’d ridden a favourite in over 110 mounts and while she had scored plenty of seconds, the win had eluded her until today. Next month, Yoo will join Lee Ae Li and Park Jin Hee at Busan on Oaks day for the “Lady Jockeys International Challenge” races. Among those set to compete are Australian Claire Lindop and Ireland’s Catherin Gannon. Full preview over the next couple of weeks.

After yesterday’s storm lashed card, perfect conditions and a massive crowd at Seoul in the region of 70,000 made for a wonderful afternoon and evening’s entertainment. Next Sunday will see another big night at Seoul when the Munhwa Ilbo will top the bill.

SBS Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – Jul 19, 2009

1. Hallyu Star (KOR) [Sharp Appeal – Angel (Land Rush)] – Choi Won Joon – 35.2, 4.6
2. Lucky Seven (KOR) [Didyme – Agent Flirt (Double Agent] – Lee Sang Hyuk – 10.9
3. Natural Nine (KOR) [Revere – C. Bop (Aly Dark)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 1.4
Distances: 0.5 lengths/Neck
Also ran: 4. Baekgwang; 5. Geumbit Gangja; 6. Daehyo; 7. Namchonuijijon; 8. Triple Seven; 9. Seungni Yongsa
Non-Runner: Wangson

Gyeongnam-Do Min Ilbo Cup – Busan Race Park – 1800M – Jul 19, 2009

1. Areumdaun Jilju (KOR) [Didyme – Chills Of Nepal (Nepal)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.9, 1.3
2. Haengbok Dream (JPN) [Lammtarra – Sister Slew (Slew The Dragon)] – Jo Chan Hoon – 7.4
3. Miss Ecton (USA) [Ecton Park – Miss Lion King (Lion Cavern)] – Martin Wepner – 2.8
Distances: 1 length/1.5 lengths
Also ran: 4. Phasmes; 5. Crafty Louis; 6= Hardride; 6=Wonder Love; 8. Winter Invitation; 9. Angle Slam; 10. Gyeongcheonsa; 11. King Kephalos; 12. Jewang; 13. Power Captain; 14. Saeroun Bulpae

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Weekend Preview – Night Racing Begins

After a year’s break, night racing returns to Korea this weekend. High oil prices were blamed for last year’s decision to abandon the usual four weeks of late starts and late finishes but this year, it goes ahead. This year the four weekends are interrupted by a two week total break from racing.

It is a weekend capped by two big races within thirty minutes of each other on Sunday evening: The Gyeongnam-Do Min Ilbo Cup at Busan (preview) and the SBS Cup at Seoul (preview).

Busan will get things underway with a ten race card on Friday. The first will come under orders at 4pm and the last will be at 9pm. Seoul and Jeju take over on Sunday and as usual, all three tracks host cards on Sunday.

Busan Race Park

Friday July 17: 10 races, first post 16:00, last post 21:00
Sunday July 19: 6 races, first post 16:20, last post 20:50

Seoul Race Park

Saturday July 18: 12 races, first post 14:30, last post 21:00
Sunday July 19: 11 races, first post 14:30, last post 21:00

Jeju Race Park (Pony Racing)

Saturday July 18: 10 races, first post 16:30, last post 21:30
Sunday July 19: 10 races, first post 16:30, last post 21:35

It’s been a monsoon filled week on the peninsula with Tuesday seeing the largest amount of rainfall on any one day for many years. It hasn’t rained since but more storms are predicted for Friday and Saturday.

Baekgwang Comes Back

Former Champion Heads SBS Cup Field
Baekgwang will be the star attraction on Sunday as the SBS Cup crowns this year’s first weekend of night racing at Seoul Race Park. In a week when live televised horse racing was outlawed in Korea, it is perhaps a little ironic that the first big race after the ban is sponsored by one of the country’s three main broadcasters and is the only race of the year to usually be shown on that channel.

And with the presence of Baekgwang, champion three year old of 2006, the race has become one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year. Whether the “White Wave” (see full profile) will be anything like his former self will go a long way to determining the outcome and a tough field of nine rivals will assemble to try to prevent him from achieving the fairytale comeback in winning the race his little sister Baekpa did last year.

Namchonuijijon will be there. Though dreadful last time out, he was second in the Ttukseom Cup and must always be considered. Third in that race back in April was Triple Seven and he returns on Sunday also. Winning last time out, he was a close second to Secret Weapon last month. Stepping up to the top level for the first time will be Wangson. Making his first appearance since winning the Sports Chosun in May, the four year old will be a dangerous contender.

A perennial placer of late has been Natural Nine. One of those who may have won a Classic were it not for J.S. Hold in 2007, he’s been involved at the business end of all of his races over the past year. Daehyo ran third to Top Point last monthand while Lucky Seven, Hallyu Star, Seungni Yongsa and Geumbit Gangja may look to be making up the numbers, all are proven winners.

The race, over nine and a half furlongs, is off at 7:35pm on Sunday. Click here to download past performance info (in Korean) and see below for a full list of runenrs, records and riders:

SBS Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – July 19, 2009

1. Lucky Seven (KOR) [Didyme – Agent Flirt (Double Agent)] – (24/5/5/1) – Lee Sang Hyuk
2. Geumbit Gangja (KOR) [Didyme – Fleein Snow (Snow Chief)] – (25/4/7/1) – Ham Wan Sik
3. Daehyo (KOR) [Happy Jazz Band – Jasmine Douglas (Reference Point)] – (24/5/3/7) – Moon Se Young
4. Triple Seven (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Impudence (Grand Lodge)] – (18/5/3/5) – Choi Beom Hyun
5. Seungni Yongsa (KOR) [Our Poetic Prince – Jane Lauren (Snow Chief)] – (49/5/4/7) – Won Jung Il
6. Baekgwang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – (17/9/5/3) – Park Tae Jong
7. Hallyu Star (KOR) [Sharp Appeal – Angel (Land Rush)] – (36/5/6/3) – Choi Won Joon
8. Natural Nine (KOR) [Revere – C. Bop (Aly Dark)] – (21/7/4/4) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
9. Wangson (KOR) [Distilled – Eastern Tide (Far Out East)] – (11/5/3/0) – Kim Young Jin
10. Namchonuijijon (KOR) [Concept Win – Intriga (Lord At Law)] – (22/6/8/3) – Cho Kyoung Ho