Racing at Seoul today was abandoned due to an unsafe track brought on by icy conditions. With a track full of punters, races 1 and 2 were delayed after jockeys expressed safety concerns that the high level moisture in the track had frozen.
The track was deemed safe for race 3 to go ahead as planned at 12:10pm. However, prominent jockeys Moon Se Young, Cho Kyoung Ho and Jung Ki Young who were booked to ride in the race, did not appear and their horses were scratched.
The race went ahead and was won by Boo Min Ho on two-year old Bonsol. Immediately after the race the decision was made to abandon racing for the day. This is the third time in recent years that controversy over the safety of the track in cold weather has forced a very late abandonment.
The foxes have had their fun of late, but a lion was stalking them at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. And it didn’t take long for Moon Se Young to continue where he left off, alpha-maleing over the jockey colony at Seoul Race Park.
On his return from just over three months on the sidelines, the 2008 champion started slowly with a third place on Helmitonia in race 1, but was in the winner’s circle with Silver Way in race 4 and again with Samcheolli in race 9.
Although apprentice Kim Cheol Ho also managed a double (with both wins coming on mounts picked up from the injured Oh Kyoung Hoan), the big guns of Park Tae Jong, Choi Beom Hyun and Cho Kyoung Ho all managed just a solitary win. It’s too late for him to challenge to retain his title, but today Moon Se Young sent out a strong message that whoever takes the title, he remains the number one predator at the track.
Cho’s win was the most eye-catching, guiding highly rated US import Tough Win to his second victory in two starts. Once more, it was anything but a tough win. The two-year old was drawn in gate 14 in race 6 but was in front within 100 metres of the start and from there cruised round to score a 16 length win. His time was just three tenths of a second off the track record for 6 furlongs and Cho never had to move in the saddle.
Tough Win [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] is one to watch next year. Also in race 6, jockey Shim Seung Tae suffered a heavy fall. No word yet on his condition but it looked like a bad one.
The feature race was won by an outsider as New Rider gave Japanese jockey Yoshiyuki Aoki his biggest Korean win to date with a late run to defeat Taesanbukdu. In the same race, Symphony Sonata struggled to make the step-up to class 1 racing and old favourite Namchonuijijon continued his recent poor run of form.
It was a bitterly cold day at the capital track. Snow began falling shortly before the first race and continued until the fourth with a strong wind adding to the deeply unpleasant conditions for horses and riders. Race 3 had to be delayed due to jockey concerns about visibility. As soon as it stopped snowing, the visibility problems ceased but the biting wind meant for a challenging day.
It’s going to be even colder on Sunday although without the snow. Seonbongbulpae looks set to be favourite as he goes head-to-head with Northern Ace for the title of Champion Juvenile in the Herald Business. However, while it’s billed as a match race between the two, let’s not count out Moon Se Young on the filly Hushtilled. Meanwhile at Busan – where it is forecast to be a positively tropical seven degrees above zero, Yeonseung Daero and Areumdaun Jilju will go for the Owner’s Cup.
Herald Business at Seoul / Owner’s Cup at Busan
December is upon us and no doubt the KRA will have its Christmas tree up at the track this weekend. And there’s some cracking racing in prospect at both ends of the country.
At Seoul, the Champion two-year old title is on the line in one of the most hotly anticipated matchups of the year as Northern Ace takes on Seonbongbulpae (see full preview). Down at Busan, it’s Areumdaun Jilju and Yeonseung Daero going for the Owner’s Cup (see full preview).
2008 Champion jockey Moon Se Young makes his return from injury on Saturday. On August 29 he was thrown from two year old filly Raipai as she bolted out of the gate and into the rail leaving Moon with severely damaged knee ligaments. Initially it was thought he would be out until early next year but after successful surgery – and a restorative trip to the Breeders’ Cup in Santa Anita – Moon makes his return on Helmitonia in the first race on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, Symphony Sonata makes his debut at elite level. The E. Dubai colt will head the weights along with Taesan Bukdu and Namchonuijijon in a ten furlong handicap.
Busan Race Park
Friday December 4: 10 races, first post 13:00, last 17:30 Sunday December 6: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15
Seoul Race Park
Saturday December 5: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45 Sunday December 6: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:55
Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)
Saturday December 5: 10 races, first post 12:30, last 17:25 Sunday December 6: 10 races, first post 12:30, last 17:25
Among the many predictions that Gyongmaman got wrong last week was the weather, however, this week he can confidently say it is going to be very cold. It may even snow on Saturday. Come Racing! But wrap up very warm!
Two-Year Olds Get Down To Business
Last week, Night Moves landed the Champion Juvenile title at Busan. This Sunday it’s the turn of Seoul to award its prize as eight two-year olds go to post for the Herald Business Cup.
And it is a race that punters have been looking to since the summer as the two outstanding juveniles Northern Ace and Seonbongbulpae go head-to-head for the first time. So far both have been flat-track bullies, Seonbongbulpae racking up three wins from three and Northern Ace winning both of his starts by ridiculous margins whilst barely breaking into a canter.
However, Northern Ace now holds the five furlong track record, putting away Ace Galloper, who has gone on to record some impressive wins himself, by ten lengths in the process. Seonbongbulpae has been equally visually impressive. Now it’s crunch time.
Northern Ace hasn’t appeared since August. On that day, he was due to be partnered by champion jockey Moon Se Young. Moon, however, suffered a bad injury in an earlier race and Cho Kyoung Ho picked up the mount. Moon will coincidentally return to the track for the first time this weekend, but it is Cho who retains the ride. Seonbongbulpae has run and won an extra race.
Among the others, Full Step looks promising, but was found out a little when facing older horses last time out. Hushtilled, Yodongjewang and Silver Mon have, like all of the runners, won at least once, but none look likely to be able to live with the two favourites.
Nevertheless, the last time we billed a top Korean contest as being a match-race, it was Areumdaun Jilju Vs Gaeseon Janggun in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup at Busan. Both were left embarrassed by unfancied Yeongung Manse.
Herald Business Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – Dec 6, 2009, 16:45
1. Slew Bubble [Field Asuka – Simple Charm (Capote)] F (6/1/1/1) – Kim Cheol Ho 2. Muhandeunggeuk [Trick Of Fate – Odelia (Canny Lad)] C (5/1/1/0) – Kim Dong Cheol 3. Full Step [Didyme – Fox Dance (Foxtrail)] C (3/2/1/0) – Oh Kyoung Hoan 4. Yodongjewang [Field Asuka – Mary Wonder (Shahrastani)] C (3/1/1/1) – Choi Beom Hyun 5. Silver Mon [Distilled – Silver Fizz (Cee’s Tizzy)] C (2/1/0/0) – Boo Min Ho 6. Seonbongbulpae [Newsprint – Jeseok (Lost Mountain)] C (3/3/0/0) – Jo In Kwen 7. Northern Ace [Didyme – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] C (2/2/0/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho 8. Hushtilled [Distilled – Miss Alwuhush (Alwuhush)] F (6/1/2/1) – Moon Se Young
* The 2008 edition of the race was won by Nice Choice who went on to become Seoul’s top three-year old this year. Narrowly missing out on winning a classic, he landed the prestigious Group 1 President’s Cup last month. Whoever wins this year’s race is likely to come up against him at some stage in 2010.
Yeongung Manse, Areundaum Jilju, Pangpang also up for Owner’s Cup
Areumdaun Jilju and Yeonsung Daero could have been in Seoul next week contesting the Grand Prix, arguably the peninula’s most prestigious race. Instead they have elected to stay home in Busan where their presence ensures a quality line-up in this coming Sunday’s Busan Owner’s Cup.
While it means the home-bred assault on the Grand Prix will be understrength, given that Yeonseung Daero and Areumdaun Jilju were both beaten in the Metropolitan by Bulpae Gisang – a horse who will be second favourite at best at Seoul next week – perhaps it is an understandable decision.
That’s not to say it will be a two-horse race. Yeongung Manse, though fifth in the Metropolitan, beat Areumdaun Jilju in September and can’t be ruled out. Top Grade makes his first appearance in elite company and is well handicapped. Meanwhile, Glory Champ has won his last two races, both over this distance.
Also well handicapped is the only filly in the race. Pangpang stunned Sangseung Ilro to win the Oaks on a hot evening in August. In her two outings since,she hasn’t troubled the placings but she’s proved she can perform. Galsaek Teukgeup looks outclassed while Conqueror, Sandeomi and Viva Canon, while proven winners, have struggled of late.
It all points to a golden opportunity for Yeonseung Daero, who underperformed in the classics and suffered a near miss in the Metropolitan, to start living up to his undoubted potential.
The race is off at 15:20 on Sunday afternoon and is race 5 of a six-race card. Busan also holds a card on Friday. Seoul will host racing on Saturday and Sunday with the Herald Business topping the bill on Sunday. We’ll have a full preview of that race tomorrow.
Owner’s Cup – Busan Race Park – 2000M – Dec 6, 2009 – 15:20
1. Glory Champ [Whywhywhy – Tapas (Sky Classic)] C 4 (16/8/2/0) 55.5kg – Yoo Hyun Myoung 2. Top Grade [Texas Glitter – Potential Storm (Cape Town)] G 3 (9/6/2/0) 53.5kg – Jo Sung Gon 3. Viva Canon [Tahamkke – Special Craft (Crafty Prospector)] C 3 (16/3/4/2) 50kg – Kim Yong Geun 4. Yeongung Manse [Sharp Appeal – Saratogasplash (Wild Again)] G 3 (18/9/3/2) 57kg – Jo Chang Wook 5. Conqueror [Revere – Model Actress (Stage Colony)] C 3 (14/4/3/0) 50kg – Martin Wepner 6. Sandeomi [Commendable – Regal Meg (Regal Classic)] C 3 (12/5/1/1) 50kg – Kim Eu Su 7. Galsaek Teukgeup [Belong To Me – Parish Land (Deputy Minister)] C 3 (10/1/3/3) – 50kg – Seo In Seob 8. Pangpang [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] F 3 (18/4/1/1) 50kg – Han Sang Gyu 9. Yeonseung Daero [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] C 3 (16/8/2/2) 56.5kg – Park Geum Man 10. Areumdaun Jilju [Didyme – Chills Of Nepal (Nepal)] H 5 (22/14/3/2) 59kg – Jo Chan Hoon
* In 2008, this race was won by one time KRA Cup Classic winner and track stalwart Luna. The eight year old mare was retired last month after a career of thirty-three outings, with thirteen wins, five seconds and two thirds. Her last race was a win over seven furlongs at class 1 on November 13.
With less than a week to go until the Herald Business Cup, the KRA has amended the English spelling of the name of one of the two favourites for the race. At last, we can now refer to the Seoul Race Park five-furlong track record holder as “Northern Ace”. It seems there was a slight mistake when it was first entered into the Studbook which rendered his name for his first two races as “Nothern Ace”.
Northern Ace [Didyme – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] is two-for-two but hasn’t raced since the last weekend of August. He will be up against fellow unbeaten juvenile Seonbongbulpae [Newsprint – Jeseok (Lost Mountain)] over six furlongs this coming Sunday afternoon.
Two year old filly Wonerful Sun remains un-spell-checked despite being rendered as “Wonderful” in Korean script. However, as her performance on Saturday was anything but wonerful or wonderful, there is perhaps less danger with her of the KRA seeing any of their marquee races being won by a typo.
Nice Choice and Yeonseung Daero-shaped holes
Let’s first get who’s not going to be there out of the way, so that when we have the final preview next week, we can focus on those who will be taking part in the race that traditionally brings the curtain down (for a few days anyway) on the Korean racing season.
Racing fans had their vote and the KRA sent out the invitations accordingly but, in the year that the inclusion of Busan horses makes the Grand Prix truly the test to find the peninsula’s top horse, a number of those who should be there won’t be.
Nice Choice was second in the poll, but he won’t be there. Neither will Areumdaun Jilju, Yeonseung Daero or Sangseung Ilro from Busan. The former two will run in the Busan Owner’s Cup on December 6, while Sangseung Ilro’s legs are not up to the rigours of 2300 metres around Seoul in winter.
Yeonseung Daero’s absence may be felt the most. Sent off favourite in the KRA Cup Mile and highly fancied for the Derby, he missed out both times but there are strong suspicions that he may be on the verge of producing something special – many punters felt that he had Choi Beom Hyun been riding him, rather than Bulpae Gisang in the Busan Metropolitan last month, the result would have been different.
Those who will skip the event may be forgiven, however. Dongbanui Gangja has been in imperious form this year. Six runs, six wins. He’s a closer rather than a front-runner and that usually leads to butterflies but he has swatted away all comers this year in dismissive fashion. Stepping back up to 2300 metres is unliklely to faze him and it is difficult to see him being beaten.
Bally Brae is back to try. A winner once and second twice, he landed a couple of win earlier in the year but has suffered recently. There was speculation that he might be given a long break but the lure of the Grand Prix has proved too much for his connections. As ever, he will give his all and if he pulls it off, there won;t be a dry eye in the house (…maybe). Of the Seoul contingent though, Dongbanui Gangja’s stablemate, Bulpae Gisang, Busan Metropolitan winner, may be his greatest danger.
From Busan, Gaeseon Janggun, winner of the 2008 Minister’s Cup will fly the flag for Korea while Crafty Louis and King Kephalos are both solid performers. Haengbok Dream has potential while Rolling On Strong is set to be the only filly or mare in the race.
Here’s the full list of confirmed entries so far (Name/Pedigree/Sex/Age/Record):
Seoul
Yaho TS (USA) [Roar Of The Tiger – Propeller (Lear Fan)] C – 3 (15/4/1/1) Bally Brae (USA) [Yarrow Brae – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] G – 7 (31/15/10/1) Ugildongja (KOR) [Dixie Dot Com – May Roses (Incinderator)] H – 5 (32/10/5/1) Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] C – 4 (21/14/4/2) Bulpae Gisang (USA) [Lightnin N Thunder – Neat Trick (Clever Trick)] C – 3 (12/7/2/0)
Busan
Haengbok Dream (JPN) [Lammtarra – Sister Slew (Slew The Dragon)] C – 3 (11/4/4/2) King Kephalos (JPN) [King Glorious – Western Edge (Woodman)] G – 4 (19/8/3/3) Gaeseon Janggun (KOR) [Duality – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] C – 4 (18/9/4/1) Rolling On Strong (USA) [Werblin – Gracie Gale (Opening Verse)] F – 3 (12/4/1/3) Crafty Louis (USA) [Louis Quatorze – Crafty Atlantic (Crafty Prospector)] G – 6 (34/13/4/2)
Here’s Dongbanui Gangja winning last year from Bally Brae in second and Myeongmun Gamun in third:
Jeju Stud Farm hosted its November Yearling sale last week. Of the 90 lots offered, just 35 sold at an average price of 45 Million won ($39,000).
Topping the sale was was a colt by Vicar out of the Australian bred mare Hurricane Havoc [Jade Robbery – Hurricane Bay (Palace Music)] who fetched 100 Million won. Second highest was a colt by Revere out of Mina De Oro (USA) [Afleet – Alas De Oro (Ack Ack)] at 85 Million won. The Vicar colt was bought by Kim Chul, who currently has nine horses in training at Seoul while Busan owner Kwak Jung Su took the Revere colt.
The highest drawing filly was by Creek Cat and out of the Korean bred Tamna Jeilbong [Lost Mountain – Scotty’s Love (First Draft Choice)], fetching 56 Million won from Seung Myoung Ho. Prominent Seoul owner Ku Ja Sun (Dongbanui Gangja) was also in action, taking home colts by Creek Cat and Exploit for a combined total of just shy of 100 Million won.
Top five lots (Sex/Pedigree/Seller/Buyer/Price in units of 10,000 won):
1. Colt [Vicar – Hurricane Havoc (Jade Robbery)] Lim Sang Yun / Kim Chul – 10,000
2. Colt [Revere – Mina De Oro (Afleet)] Lim Sang Yun / Kwak Jung Su – 8,500
3. Colt [Menifee – Angel Be Great (Notebook)] Oh Gong Hak / Choi Cheol Yi – 8,000
4. Colt [Volponi – Regal Meg (Regal Classic)] Kang Seok Ho / Lee Jong Hun – 7,500
5. Colt* [Wando – Luv Meadow (Meadowlake)] Oh Gong Hak / Daemyoung Co. – 7,400
* Luv Meadow was in foal to Wando when imported to Korea in January 2008.
Filly Takes Juvenile Crown / Vicar Love Stays Again Night Moves maintained her perfect record by claiming victory in the Breeder’s Cup at Busan this afternoon and in doing so was crowned the southern track’s champion two-year old.
While it was a comfortable wire-to-wire win, it wasn’t quite as easy as some had predicted. Jockey Jo Sung Gon had to go to work in the final furlong to make sure the filly stayed alert and ahead of the fast finishing Cheonnyeon Daero.
Another filly, Dalbit Miso faded late on but managed to keep third spot while Super Jilju, the only other undefeated horse in the race faded badly in the stretch to finish last. Fillies made up three of the first four home.
The race was the second year of the Breeder’s Cup and Night Moves’ connections will be hoping that she fares better than last year’s winner. Power Boy, failed to kick on in his three-year old season and has been sidelined injured since June. Indeed, none of this season’s three-year old stars took part in the race. Next week, the two-year old action moves to Seoul as Seonbongbulpae and Nothern Ace go head-to-head in the Herald Business.
Breeder’s Cup – Busan Race Park – 1200M – Nov 29, 2009
1. Night Moves (KOR) F [Proud Accolade – Elania (Double Honor)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.5, 1.1 2. Cheonnyeon Daero (KOR) C [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] – Choi Si Dae – 3.7 3. Dalbit Miso (KOR) F [Pico Central – Lashae (Jack Livingston)] – Chae Gyu Jun – 2.0
Distances: 2 lengths/Head
Also Ran: 4. Money Tree; 5. Glory Yeonggwang; 6. Fine Jilju; 7. Trum Bell; 8. Super Jilju
Scratched: Land Lady
Also at Busan, Bugyeong Choegang got himself back in the Winner’s Circle, a full year after his last win. Yang Young Nam brought the five-year old Australian bred horse through late to snatch a half-length win from the grey Phasmes in a class 1 handicap. Favourite Seonnyang Yeonsa was third. Bugyeong Choegang now has nine wins from his thirty career starts.
Up at a damp and dismal Seoul Race Park,Vicar Love enhanced his reputation as a stayer by taking his second consecutive win over 2300 metres. The distance is the longest run at Seoul and is used for the season-ending Grand Prix. Vicar Love finished one from last in that race in 2008 and won’t be participating in this year’s edition.
Today, under Oh Kyoung Hoan, Vicar Love [Vicar – Canberra (Silver Hawk)] bided his time in the middle of the field before overtaking long-time leader Haengun Daewang with a furlong to go. From then on, there was no likelihood of his being caught.
On today’s form, Vicar Love’s absence is a blow to a Grand Prix race that isn’t shaping up to have an inspiring field (on Monday we’ll be reporting on the confirmed line-up so far). The four-year old now has ten wins from nineteen starts.
Earlier at Seoul, there was an easy win for two-year old Money Car [Newsprint – Pinocchio (Big Sur)]. Beaten by filly Saeroungamun in his debut in September, he broke his maiden last month and today stepped up in class. Both his time and the margin of victory were irrelevant as the rest of the field offered no challenge and Park Tae Jong in the saddle simply had to point him in the right direction. One to watch next year.
Punters couldn’t split Gi Ra Seong and Top Point but seven year old Machine Gun disposed of both of them to land the feature race under the floodlights at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Coming into the race on the back of four straight victories, Gi Ra Seong set the early pace but it was Blue Pin, the only three year old in the field who took command in the home stretch. Under Cho Kyoung Ho, the colt seemed to have the race wrapped up until Ham Wan Sik arrived on Machine Gun to snatch victory in the final stride.
Now seven, it was a first win of 2009 for Machine Gun [Ascot Knight – Crying Out Loud (Cryptoclearance)]. Ever reliable, he’s now scored nine wins, thirteen seconds and five thirds out of forty-four career starts
Top Point and Gi Ra Seong weren’t the only underperformers of the day. Two races earlier, Soseono, Photo Stone and Sangsangbong were highly fancied for an rare valuable sprint. None of the three even placed, however, as Giant Rose provided the second of jockey Ham Wan Sik’s four winners.
By the time the big race went to post the lights were on but it had been a beautifully mild – if misty – autumn day in Seoul. Under the November sunshine, there was a racecourse debut for Red Monster [Biwa Shinseiki – Witch’s Tea (Mugatea)]. Sire, Biwa Shinseiki, arrived in Korea in late 2005 and his first foals are now reaching the track. Red Monster is his third winner this month.
