Author: gyongmaman

Areumdaun Jilju Goes For The Min

A big weekend for Korean racing is coming up as the first of four weeks of evening racing gets underway. There are co-main events on Sunday with the SBS Cup at Seoul and the Gyeongnam-Do Min Ilbo Cup at Busan. The Min Ilbo is for imported horses and a full field of fourteen will contest the 1800 metre race.

Continuing the theme of recent weeks of locally bred horses running against the imports at Busan, Korean bred Areumdaun Jilju is entered. Last year’s most feared horse, has only run twice this season, but has won both of those and will, as ever, be hard to beat.

Among those trying will be a host of frequent winners such as Crafty Louis, who won over this distance last month. 2008 Busan Owners’ Trophy winner Hardride will be there, as will King Kephalos, winner of two out of his last four. Angle Slam prefers shorter distances but is always likely to be around the front of the field in the home straight while the filly Miss Ecton has been in strong form this year.

The race is off at 19:05 and is race 4 of 6 on Busan’s Sunday card which gets underway at 16:20. Full past performance information can be downloaded here (Korean) and a full list of runners and riders is below:

Gyeongnamdo Min Ilbo Cup – Busan Race Park – 1800M – July 19, 2009

1. Hardride (USA) [Colony Light – Lametta] – (21/6/5/1) – Han Sang Gyu
2. Wonder Love (USA) [Wild Wonder – Love Spanish] – (43/5/9/7) – Kim Tae Kyoung
3. Jewang (USA) [Precise End – Chap Slewy] – (21/1/6/1) – Eiki Nishimura
4. Winter Invitation (USA) [Take Me Out – Winter Crown] – (38/3/7/8) – Kim Dong Young
5. Crafty Louis (USA) [Louis Quatorze – Crafty Atlantic] – (31/11/4/2) – Jo Chang Wook
6. Power Captain (AUS) [King Charlemagne – Green Band] – (25/5/4/2) – Kim Young Min
7. Haengbok Dream (JPN) [Lammtarra – Sister Slew] – (7/3/2/1) – Jo Chan Hoon
8. Miss Ecton (USA) [Ecton Park – Miss Lion King] – (15/5/2/5) – Martin Wepner
9. Phasmes (USA) [Parker’s Storm Cat – Madelaine] – (10/4/1/4) – Jo Sung Gon
10. King Kephalos (JPN) [King Glorious – Western Edge] – (15/7/2/2) – Kim Eu Su
11. Gyeoncheonsa (USA) [Slew Gin Fizz – Jika] – (23/6/2/0) – Park Geum Man
12. Angle Slam (USA) [Gold Case – Platinum Code] – (40/8/7/8) – Gu Min Sung
13. Saeroun Bulpae (USA) [Northern Afleet – Really Appealing] – (17/5/1/4) – Chae Gyu Jun
14. Areumdaun Jilju (KOR) [Didyme – Chills of Nepal] – (19/13/3/0) – Lim Sung Sil

Tomorrow we’ll have a full look at the rest of the weekend’s cards including a run down of the contenders for Seoul’s SBS Cup.

Gaeseon Janggun Wins Again

Namdo Jeap did it last week and today at Busan Race Park it was the turn of Gaeseon Janggun to take on and beat the track’s imported horses.

Second in the first two legs of last year’s Triple Crown and winner of the final one, Gaeson Janggun has now won all four of his starts as a four year old and until Sangseung Ilro takes on older horses, still has claims to be recognised as the top Korean bred horse currently in training.

Today’s win was typical as he came late and wide to defeat a field of twelve rivals by three lengths. Korean bred horses rarely take on imported horses and although this field contained no real stars – indeed Gaeseon Janggun was sent off as odds-on favourite, it is encouraging to see some of the top horses entered in open races.

There is little incentive for owners to do so, however. Prize money is generally higher in domestic races and the competition is less fierce. While the standard of imported horses in Korea is not especially high – there is, after all, a limit ($20,000 for colts $40,000 for fillies) on how much can be spent on them, their early training and conditioning tends to have been better than that which locally bred horses receive. While the KRA spends a lot of money sending horses overseas to “test” the level of Korean racing, one might think it would be a start to get them to run against the imports here in Korea a little more often.

Up at a wet Seoul Race Park, Bulpae Gisang, last year’s top imported two year old, stepped up to category 1 racing for the first time. It was winning start as the colt overhauled long time leader Gamadongja in the final firlong of the 2000 metre race to claim his sixth win from nine career starts.

Class 1 (foreign bred) – Busan Race Park – 2000M (Hdcp) – July 12, 2009

1. Gaeseon Janggun (KOR) [Duality – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.5, 1.3
2. Bugyeong Choegang (AUS) [Flying Spur – Time For Bed (Night Shift)] – Yang Young Nam – 1.6
3. Bugyeong Maru (AUS) – [Favorite Trick – Narrate (Danzero)] – Martin Wepner – 15.7
Distances: 3 lengths/Neck – 13 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Seoul Saturday Round-Up

Notes from this afternoon’s meeting at Seoul Race Park:

* Natural Guy landed the feature race, a 1900 metre domestic category 2 handicap. The four year old gelding edged out Galamasan by half a length.

* Highly rated imported filly Fly Top stepped up to 1800 metres for the first time in race 10. However, neither she nor favourite Thewon Thewon, who was coming off three straight wins, managed to stay the distance as five year old mare Cheonsangcheonha took the victory.

* Another imported filly did manage to add to her reputation, albeit at the other end of the card. Australian bred Alpha Lady [Iglesia – Star Tipper (Luskin Star)] didn’t hit the front until the final 100 metres of race 3 but by the line had opened up a six length gap between her and the rest of the field. It was Alpha Lady’s second win.

A big crowd was attracted to the track today – many punters perhaps noting that heavy rain is looking inevitable tomorrow. Sunday’s cards get underway at Seoul at 11:20, Busan at 12:40 and Jeju at 12:10.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

Gamadongja at Seoul / Gaeseon Janggun at Busan
The weekend is almost upon us once more and racing returns to the peninsula on Friday when the action will be at Busan. Seoul and Jeju take over on Saturday, before all three tracks host a card on Sunday.

Namdo Jijon and Sinheung Gangja head Friday’s feature race at Busan. Annika Queen and Rainmaker will also be lining up alongside them. On Sunday, another of last year’s Classic Winners, Gaeson Janggun will be in action, taking on a field of foreign bred horses including Bugyeong Choegang. Namdo Jeap took on the imports last week and won and the field that Gaeseon Janggun will face is less than intimidating.

Seoul’s feature race is on Sunday and it features a number of the track’s best imports. Seoul Teukgeup tops the weights and will be up against Dankee’s Pal, who beat Bally Brae last time out. Also going are Gamadongja and Brilliant Knight, as well as last year’s top imported two year old, Bulpae Gisang.

Busan Race Park

Friday July 10: 11 races, first post 12:30
Sunday July 12: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday July 11: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday July 12: 11 races, first post 11:20

There is racing at Jeju Race Park on Saturday and Sunday with the first coming under orders at 12:10 on both days.

Thursday saw some crazy rain across the Korean peninsula which has stopped now in Seoul and should hold off for Friday and Sunday. Currently the monsoon is forecast to be back with a vengeance on Sunday. Come racing – but bring an umbrella!

Baekgwang Set for SBS Cup Return

Former Champion battled back from likely career-ending injury
It didn’t seem possible but the “White Light” could be just days away from returning to racing. Champion three year old of 2006, Baekgwang, is amongst the early entries for the SBS Cup which will be run at Seoul Race Park on Sunday July 19.

It took Baekgwang [The Groom is Red – Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] three races to break his maiden and after showing promise in the early part of his three year old season, he was beaten into third place in the 2006 Korean Derby by 85/1 outsider Baengnokjeong . Following this, he embarked on a golden late summer and autumn, landing the Munhwa Ilbo and Donga Ilbo Cups in quick succession before going to claim the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the Triple Crown, in October that year.

His form would continue into 2007 in which he won his first four outings. With his distinctive light grey coat and his come from behind running style, which made for some thrilling finishes, he was a firm favourite of the racing public – even if his tendency to lay-in in the home straight was maddening for some punters. With J.S. Hold dominating the three year old ranks that year a likely season ending showdown between the two in the 2007 Grand Prix, looked set to be Korean racing’s most hotly anticipated race in history.

Neither of them would make it there. An already less than fully fit J.S. Hold would suffer a career ending injury in the process of making history in the Minister’s Cup by winning Korea’s first Triple Crown. Meanwhile Baekgwang suffered an injury in September that would keep him off the track until April of 2008. His return came in the Ttukseom Cup. Coming through late as ever, he hit the front with 150 metres left to run only for Namchonuijijon, a contemporary of J.S. Hold, to come through even later to pip him him on the line. After the race, it emerged Baekgwang had suffered ligament damage to his right foreleg. Automatically stood down by the stewards for a minimum one year, it seemed his career was over.

Sent to Jeju Island for recuperation, Baekgwang underwent a series of reportedly pioneering operations and, to the surprise of many, returned to his box at Seoul Race Park earlier this year. He began working out in May and, on June 12, breezed through an official race trial over five furlongs and was given the all clear to race again. Baekgwang now finds himself entered in the SBS Cup, a race won by his little sister Baekpa last year.

If he makes it to the starting gate, he is once again likely to find himself once again alongside Namchonuijijon as well as Natural Nine and Sports Chosun winner Wangson. For race fans, whether he wins or loses, seeing a fit Baekgwang once again is going to raise smiles and bring back memories. All will hope he comes back to the barn safely this time. We’ll have a full preview of the SBS Cup – with or without Baekgwang – on Thursday next week. In the meantime, here is Baekgwang’s biggest victory, the 2006 Minister’s Cup:

Photo finish…

These chaps were on the right end of the photograph for second place in race 9 at Seoul on Saturday, which brought home their quinella after a five minute wait…

Photo Finish

Korearacing only has two hands and while at the track a form guide is generally in one and a pen (or something containing caffeine) is in the other. No room for cameras. Seoul based photographer “letsbook” was at the track Saturday, however, and while he may be an even worse handicapper than your correspondent, he knows how to take a picture.

shin-hyoung-cheol

He only took a few but hopefully we’ll get him back before too long to take some more.

The future…

The future...

You can find letsbook’s photostream here.

Gi Ra Seong Triumphs as Myeongmun Gamun Sinks

First time out of the money for 8YO
He’s won back to back President’s Cups and has been the first domestically bred horse home in the Grand Prix races of the past two years, but it’s looking increasingly likely that 2009 is not to be the year of Myeongmun Gamun. On his first outing since a disappointing run in the Ttukseom Cup in April, the 2008 Horse of The Year put in a lucklustre performance at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

After putting up only a fraction of his usual resistance at the gate, the Myeongmun Gamun got away badly. Whereas in the Ttukseom Cup, the poor start had put paid to his chances very early on, today’s distance of 2000 metres meant that by the time the field exited the back straight, Oh Kyoung Hoan had managed to shake the eight year old around the outside and ono the shoulder of the leaders.

However, that was all the exertion Myeongmun Gamun could muster and as he sank back through the field, it was Gi Ra Seong who emerged to take an emphatic four length win. Leading the rest home was Wontagui Gisa, the longest shot on the board making for a 749.1 exacta. Ttukseom Cup winner Mighty Runner came late down the outside but could only manage third.

It was the first time in all of his thirty three runs that Myeongmun Gamun had finished out of the money. However, while today signified an unwelcome milestone in his career, for another horse there was an equally significant, but altogether more positive one.

Gi Ra Seong was last in the winner’s circle on Derby weekend in May last year. Coincidentally the race that he won was a race that Myeongmun Gamun refused to go into the gate for. Trailing behind that day was Baekpa. An injury picked up immediately after that win kept him off the track for the remainder of his four year old season. Coming back in April this year he placed fourth, and then managed a second in May. With victory today in a race in which most of Seoul’s top Korean bred horses were present, perhaps 2009 could be the year of Gi Ra Seong.

Class 1 (Korean bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M (Hdcp) – July 5, 2009

1. Gi Ra Seong [Precise End – Dauntless Cat (Mountain Cat)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 3.9, 1.4
2. Wontagui Gisa [Fiercely – Grove Lady (Varick)] – Lee Sang Hyuk – 25.1
3. Mighty Runner [Pacific Bounty – Roan All Over (Fight Over)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.2
Distances: 4 lengths/1 length – 14 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Holy Dreamer Makes It Five

Unbeaten streak continues / Foreign jocks finally have their day
It wasn’t quite as easy as it could have been, but while Hanbatanguseum and Isfahan Teukgeup fought tooth and nail for second place, ahead of them Holy Dreamer took the line to make it five wins from five starts at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

The three year old Holy Dreamer [Duality – Nice Weather (Future Storm)] debuted in March and today stepped up to category 3 level for the first time. Moon Se Young kept the gelding towards the front throughout most of the 1700 metre race before heading into the lead as they entered the home straight.

The small winning margin of a length and a half owed a lot to the battle behind them as the stewards took nearly ten minutes to decide that Hanbatanguseum had dipped his head at the right time to claim second. Holy Dreamer meanwhile will have tougher challenges to face in the future.

Earlier on a day of low-key racing, Japanese rider Toshiyuki Katoh scored his first victory in Korea with just his fourth ride. Katoh guided filly Dolpunguihaek to victory in race 1. It was a good day for the small Japanese contingent at Seoul with Nozomu Tomizawa also amongst the winners, landing race 5 on Melody Again.

Indeed it has been a good weekend all round so far for the international contingent in Korea. At Busan Race Park on Friday, Stephan Swanepoel claimed what was not only his first win since moving to the southern track, but his first win in fifty mounts since arriving in Korea. That he has only been offered fifty rides since March speaks volumes about why the South African asked to be transferred to Busan, which has a reputation of being slightly more foreigner friendly than Seoul – there’s no jockeys’ union for a start. Swanepoel was a four length winner on Powerful Spark in race 6.

Holy Dreamer isn’t alone in going five for five this weekend. With Eiki Nishimura and Martin Wepner also winning at Busan yesterday, all five overseas riders have been in the Winner’s Circle over the past two days – most likely the first time this has happened. Both Nishimura and Wepner will shortly be at the end of their contracts but hopefully for Katoh and Swanepoel, these first winners will be the first of many.

Back at Seoul today there were co-feature races, one for local bred horses and one for overseas. Torpedo Mast took the overseas event while Gayawangbi was successful in the local race.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

Myeongmun Gamun Returns
Myeongmun Gamun doesn’t run very often, but he is still considered the best Korean bred horse at Seoul. One of the reasons the eight year old appears so infrequently is that he spends most of his time banned. Notoriously badly behaved at the gate, the gelding more often than not delays the start of his race and picks up a two month suspension in the process.

Myeongmun Gamun winning the President's Cup (Sports Munhwa)

Myeongmun Gamun winning the President's Cup (Sports Munhwa)

Nevertheless, Myeongmun Gamun has still managed to gain seventeen wins in his four year career and coming back off his latest ban, will be the one to beat in Sunday’s feature race. That ban was picked up in the Ttukseom Cup in April when he finished a disappointing fifth.

Going up against him will be Mighty Runner, who was victorious that day, as well as Free Woody and Hwangnyongsaji. Mighty Runner was also beaten last time out, and at 2000 metres, Myeongmun Gamun must be fancied to record his first win of 2009.

At Busan, the major races on Friday and Namdo Jeap, second in both the Cup Mile and the Derby this year will, intriguingly, line up against foreign bred horses over 1400 metres. It is unusual for a Korean horse to take on the imports and, carrying a low weight, Namdo Jeap will be well worth watching among a field where Sinjin Gangja is his best known opponent.

Busan Race Park

Friday July 3: 11 races, first post 12:30
Sunday July 5, 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday July 4: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday July 5: 11 races, first post 11:20

On Jeju Island, there are 10 races of both Saturday and Sunday, first post 12:10. Alternate spells of thunder, Sunshine and monsoon downpours have been a feature of the weather across the peninsula this week and there is no reason why that shouldn’t continue over the weekend.

Rare Racing Mention in the KT

Just as in most countries these days, racing in Korea doesn’t get a lot of mentions in the traditional media. While YTN News carried a twenty five second report of Park Tae Jong reaching 1500 career winners last week, generally it is only the slightly trashier “Sports” editions of the newspapers that cover goings-on at the track, in between photographs of the local schoolgirls getting wet.

Coverage is even less common in the English langauge media, so it was surprising to see yesterday’s racing on Haeundae beach at Busan featured in the Photo-News section of the Korea Times today.

Korea Times, July 2, 2009

Korea Times, July 2, 2009

The racing was held as part of Haeundae Beach’s “Opening Ceremony”. Korea has an official beach going season and that began on July 1. That means that while the last month may have seen better beach weather, now it is the official thing to do, this coming weekend is sure to see everybody heading there and it will probably look something like this.

It won’t be pleasant, so come racing instead!