Author: gyongmaman

First Winner for Wepner

Sky Star beats Sandeomi / Machine Gun misses at Seoul
On his fourth day of racing, South African jockey Martin Wepner rode his first Korean winner at Busan Race Park this afternoon. The thirty seven year old partnered Daehan Gangja to a two length victory in the day’s co-feature race, a class 2 handicap over 1600 metres for overseas bred horses.

Racing prominently throughout, Wepner hit the front on the five year old gelding as they entered the home straight and held off a determined challenge from Park Geum Man on the fast finishing outsider Sun Dance. Hot favourite, US import Heukjanggun was a disappointing fifth. For the Australian bred Daehan Gangja, it was a fourth career win. With Sun Dance finishing second, it made for a 1404.8 exacta.

On a good day for Wepner, the newcomer managed to land second place in the other feature race on outsider Homerun Yeowang. The pair finished just a length and a half behind Ikuyasu Kurakane on the highly rated Sky Star. Just as Impeccable did on Friday, Sky Star stepped up to class 2 for the first time, only at the Derby distance of nine furlongs. Kurakane kept Sky Star safely in the pack, making his move as they turned for home, overhauling favourite and fellow three year old Sandeomi in the straight and never looking in danger from there on despite Wepner’s late charge on five year old mare Homerun Yeowang.

Sandeomi had been four from six before today’s race but clearly didn’t appreciate the step up from a mile. Sky Star meanwhile, who had been inconsistent in previous outings, relished it. Although Impeccable has yet to go further than seven furlongs, with the first of the Triple Crown races being the KRA Cup Mile, there is plenty of time for that.

Also at Busan, it was another good day for the partnership of trainer Peter Wolsley and jockey Park Geum Man. After their double on Friday with Mentor and Impeccable, they repeated the feat today; pairing up to land wins on three year old filly Lady In Gala in race 3 and the gelding Running Man in race 4.

Up at Seoul Race Park, on what can only be described as a glorious spring day, Balhaejanggun upset favourite Machine Gun in a tight finish to the feature race. Third favourite Ugildongja led for much of the race but in a blanket finish it was Balhaejanggun who got his nose in front of Seonju Jangsu with Machine Gun in third.

* Jockey Kim Young Jin remains under observation in hospital following a heavy fall from Tobougg King in race 8 at Seoul. The horse was uninjured.

Class 2 (Foreign bred) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Mar 8, 2009

1. Daehan Gangja (AUS) [West Quest – La Daze (Palace Music)] – Martin Wepner – 18.5
2. Sun Dance (JPN) [Mutafaweq – Ensayista (Maruzensky)] – Park Geum Man – 73.4
3. Sunday Punch (JPN) [Silent Hunter – Makenaide (Arcangues)] – Kim Kyoung Geun – 63.4
Distances: 2 lengths/Nose – 11 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Bally Brae is Back Where He Belongs

After four consecutive second placed finishes, 2007 Grand Prix champion Bally Brae stood tall once again at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Nearly four years after his debut and two weeks after younger brother and stablemate Playing Politics suffered a career threatening injury, the seven year old recorded his fourteenth win in his twenty-seventh outing.

Sent off the marginal favourite in a field of eight, Bally Brae was quickest out of the stalls and led into the first corner with main danger Seoul Teukgeup right behind him. As they turned into the back straight, Yoo Sang Wan brought Pocketful of Money around the field to take up the running. The mare had extended her lead to five lengths as they turned for home but by the time they entered the home straight, the field was right behind her. Moon Se Young shook Bally Brae into action, passing Pocketful of Money with two furlongs to go. He then took the gelding over to the rail and the sprint was on. By now the only danger was Seoul Teukgeup and, under Moon Jung Kyun the big four year old found his run down the centre of the track.

But Bally Brae was not to be beaten today. Not by Seoul Teukgeup and not by Angus Empire who Yang Hee Jin brought roaring late down the outside. The line came in time, champion jockey Moon screaming as they crossed it as if they had won the Grand Prix all over again, not a Saturday afternoon handicap.

Bally Brae has a special place in Korean racing. His first jockey Hong Dae You is now his trainer and in his first big race win, the STC Trophy in 2006, he was ridden by the late Lim Dae Gyu who would also partner him in his first attempt at the Grand Prix on Christmas Eve that year. He would finish second, two places ahead of Subsidy with whom he was to enjoy some memorable battles over the course of the next year before defeating him to take the top prize in the 2007 Grand Prix. 2008 was tougher as he disappointed in the Owners’ Trophy and then Dongbanui Gangja took his Grand Prix crown. However, today Bally Brae emphatically showed he’s not done yet and Moon Se Young was joined by thousands of racegoers in delighting in his victory.

In other races on a gloriously sunny March day at Seoul Race Park, three year old Towering took his third win. A promising but inconsistent performer, Towering was always well placed and came through in the final furlong for a length and a half win. Meanwhile the confusingly named US import Thewon Thewon [Siphon – Marlee’s Rainbow (Geiger Counter)] broke his maiden in spectacular fashion scoring an eleven length domination of race 6.

Meanwhile race 5 resulted in a dead-heat between Dae Hit and Sky Center, with third placed Chonmyeong just a neck behind. Aside from being a dramatic finish, the dead-heat produced the amusing effect (unless you backed it) of favourite Sky Center paying less to win on the Pari-Mutuel than it did to show.

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow with the first of eleven races going to post at 11:20. Busan gets underway at 12:40 and Jeju at 12:10. It’s going to be a dry and mild day so…Come Racing!

Class 1 (Foreign bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Mar 7, 2009

1. Bally Brae (USA) [Yarrow Brae – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] – Moon Se Young – 2.1
2. Seoul Teukgeup (USA) [Safely’s Mark – Bemmalou (Waquoit)] – Moon Jung Kyun – 2.7
3. Angus Empire (USA) [Lion Cavern – Clever Dorothy (Clever Trick)] – Yang Hee Jin – 5.2
Distances: 2.5 lengths/3 lengths – 8 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Impeccable Passes Test

It was another step up in class and another easy win for Impeccable at Busan Race Park this afternoon. The three year old colt had won his previous three races by a combined thirty lengths and today Impeccable [Distilled – Bellebreezy (Foolish Pleasure)] had little trouble disposing of a class 2 field over seven furlongs to confirm his status as the most highly rated three year old on the peninsula.

Breaking from stall nine, the Park Geum Man ridden Impeccable settled in towards the back of the field in the early stages, improved round the turn and finally hit the front with two furlongs to go. Extending his stride in the stretch, he was eased down in the last fifty metres to a six length win.

It was a good day for jockey Park and trainer Peter Wolsley who have an exciting season to look forward to. Two races earlier they also combined to bring home promising filly Mentor [Testa Rossa – Crystal Decanter (Encosta De Lago)] for her fourth win from five races. In other three year old action, Geumbit Sesang [Duality – Shawnee Sunset (True Colors)] stepped up to a mile and got back to winning ways taking race 7 by two lengths for his third win in four.

In the first of two feature races, hot favourite Yeongung Manse took a two length win from Bulpae Yeoksa. In the second, punters kept faith with Golding but the big seven year old struggled again finishing sixth, while giving ten kilos to winner Gangsan Jijo who was scoring for the first time since 2007. Golding is now five races without a win.

Racing returns to Busan on Sunday when a six race card gets underway at 12:40. Tomorrow, the action is at Seoul (11:20) and Jeju (12:10).

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Weekend Preview

Bally Brae headlines card / Impeccable steps up
After four consecutive second place finishes, Bally Brae will be looking to be back in the Winner’s Circle at Seoul Race Park on Saturday afternoon. The seven year old older brother of the stricken Playing Politics should be favoured as he takes on a field of just seven rivals over 2000 metres. Among those up against him are Seoul Teukgeup and Angus Empire.

Sunday’s main event at Seoul is a low profile domestic affair. Machine Gun tops the weights of a 2000 metre handicap. Busan will get things underway on Friday with a ten race card. Yeongung Manse headlines a competitive domestic field in the first of two feature races while Golding, Florida Native and Boryeong Bulbit are among those going in the race for foreign bred horses.

There are a number of three year olds to look out for over the weekend. Chief among them is the Peter Wolsley trained Impeccable [Distilled – Bellebreezy (Foolish Pleasure)]. The colt is three for three, cantering to a ten length victory last time and steps up in class in race 6 at Busan tomorrow. Also on Friday, Geumbit Sesang [Duality – Shawnee Sunset (True Colors)] looks to recover from a disappointing last outing in race 7. At Seoul the colt Event [Creek Cat – Forget Me Dot (Citidancer)] goes in the last on Sunday.

Busan Race Park

Friday March 6: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday March 8: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday March 7: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday March 8: 11 races, first post 11:20

Weather in Seoul is forecast to be dry and mild with the only trace of the current rain being a wet track. At Busan, rain is forecast for Sunday. Jeju Race Park hosts cards on Saturday and Sunday with a 12:10 start on both days.

Playing Politics May Never Race Again

Playing Politics, winner of five of his six career starts, may never race again. The four year old gelding went wire to wire over 2000 metres in his first race in class 1 company on February 21, comfortably defeating a field including multiple winners Subsidy and Baekjeonmupae.

However, the Gyongma Munhwa (Racing Journal) reports a later x-ray showed a small fracture to his knee. Trainer Hong Dae You reported Playing Politics to have been in good shape before the race and having won comfortably carrying a light weight, showed no obvious ill-effects after.

Playing Politics [Outflanker – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] is a half brother of 2006 Horse of the Year Bally Brae. Brought to Korea as a two year old, he made his debut in May last year and broke the track record for six and a half furlongs in his second outing. He suffered his only defeat with a lacklustre performance in the YTN Cup, coming in fourth behind Vicar Love but after two months off, was back on form landing the JRA Trophy.

One more win at class two followed in 2008 before last week’s impressive run marked him down as a likely Grand Prix contender this year. Distressed trainer Hong said further tests will determine the severity of the fracture and whether his racing career can be saved.

Baekpa To Take on USA

2007 Korean Oaks winner Baekpa is currently in quarantine preparing to become the second Korean bred horse to race in the United States following Pick Me Up’s unsuccessful spell there in 2008. The five year old mare is likely to make her racing debut in mid to late March.

By the Dancing Brave stallion Revere, one of the leading sires in Korea, and out of Grey Crest (Gold Crest), the grey Baekpa is recognised as Korea’s best filly or mare. Despite finishing second in the 2006 Herald Business, the nation’s top race for Juveniles in her second outing, it took Baekpa seven races to break her maiden. Once she did, victory in the Sports Seoul Cup followed as did a comfortable win in the Oaks. She rounded out her three year old season by finishing fourth to J.S. Hold in the Minister’s Cup and then landing two class 2 handicaps.

Taking on male horses in every race since her Oaks triumph, Baekpa crowned her four year old season by beating 2008 horse of the year Myeongmun Gamun in the SBS Cup after a monsoon downpour last July. Only running three times since, Myeongmun Gamun turned the tables in the President’s Cup and Baekpa then managed a creditable fifth placed finish behind Dongbanui Gangja in the season ending Grand Prix race in December. Despite getting off to a terrible start in the Grand Prix, Myeongmun Gamun was the only Korean bred horse to be ahead of her at the finish line.

Baekpa’s complete race records are 22 starts, 8 wins, 5 seconds and 3 thirds. Since breaking her maiden, she has never been outside the money. While she is going to have to run quicker than she ever has before to even finish in the middle of an American field, sending Baekpa, a Classic winner and tenacious battler in her homeland and one of the few horses who Korean racegoers shout for by name rather than by number, will give the KRA’s “internationalization” experiment more legitimacy than it got from sending old-stager Pick Me Up last year.

Meanwhile, Baekpa’s half brother, Baekgwang, whose injury in 2007 ruled out a showdown with J.S. Hold and whose return running second in the Ttukseom Cup last year also ended in redamaging his ligaments, may return to the track after all. Having spent nearly a year recuperating on Jeju Island after undergoing pioneering stem cell treatment, Baekgwang is tentatively scheduled to race in May, his one year injury ban ending in April.

Dongbanui Gangja Too Good Again

Love Cat third / Brown Beauty shock win at Busan
Dongbanui Gangja further cemented his claim to be considered the top horse in training at Seoul as he breezed to victory in today’s big race. The four year old sat towards the back of the eleven strong field until they turned for home and Choi Beom Hyun didn’t have to ask twice for an effort as Dongbanui Gangja hit the front with a furlong to go and calmly claimed a three length win.

That the Grand Prix champion won wasn’t a surprise, but the identity of those horses closest to him certainly was. Bold Magic, an 82.6 outsider showed well throughout and though looked like tiring as they entered the home straight, found his second wind to hold on for second. Another outsider, Dankee’s Pal set the early pace and stayed on well for third. Second favourite, Haengun Daewang was fourth.

Another win takes Dongbanui Gangja to five in a row and ten from seventeen in total. A winner over every distance from seven furlongs to the maximum eleven and a half, it is difficult to imagine any other horse at Seoul being able to seriously challenge him at the moment.

Three year old filly Love Cat made the very early step up to class 2 racing in race 9. On a run of four straight wins she was sent off favorite and hit the front inside the final furlong. Ultimately she had to settle for finishing a narrowly beaten third behind four year olds Headline News and Shocking. Nevertheless, the performance was enough for Love Cat [Creek Cat – Love Cue (Curia Regis)] maintain her place among the Classic contenders.

At Busan Race Park, there was a shock in the feature race as outsider Brown Beauty, who had been towards the front for most of the 2000 metre race, hit the lead with a furlong to go and didn’t let go of it. The Japanese bred mare ran on to record a length’s victory over Admiral Reigart with Eodubong in third. Hot favourite Hwanggeumbit Taeyang never featured, finishing a disappointing sixth. For Brown Beauty [Jolie’s Halo – Big Paradise (Timber Country)] it was a first victory since September 2007.

Also at Busan, South African jockey Martin Wepner completed his second full race day. Across Friday and Sunday, Wepner had twelve rides, managing to place with three of them, not a bad return considering the extremely average quality of most of his mounts. He also managed to pick up a fine for careless riding in race 3 this afternoon.

Class 1 (Foreign Bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Mar 1, 2009

1. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 1.2
2. Bold Magic (USA) [Magic Cat – Too Late To Quit (Fighting Fit)] – Moon Jung Kyun – 82.6
3. Dankee’s Pal (USA) [Max’s Pal – Dankee (Regal Intention)] – Lee Gi Hwoi – 39.1
Distances: 3 lengths/1 length – 11 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Secret Weapon Misses Again

Gang Gwon takes chance / Strong Hug makes it four from four
Secret Weapon was sent off as long odds-on favourite but once more failed to deliver. Instead, it was Gang Gwon who came through to take the honours in the main event at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Having failed to stay the trip in the Grand Prix race in December and running second to Top Point in a handicap last month, Secret Weapon was well placed throughout and hit the front under Park Tae Jong with a furlong to go.

The six year old had nothing in the tank, however, and Gang Gwon, Highteen and Lucky Mountain all passed him, Gang Gwon taking it on the line by a length and a half. Another six year old, it was Gang Gwon’s first win since December 2007.

Earlier, on a day when punters digested the news that Playing Politics, who so emphatically dominated his first attempt at class 1 last week, may never race again (of which more on Monday), US bred three year old Strong Hug [Strong Hope – Lady Dora (Lord At War)] put in a powerful performance to record his fourth straight win. With Moon Se Young on board, the colt always looked comfortable and outsprinted Tiffanyuikkum, another horse stepping up to class 2 for the first time, by two lengths.

In other races, there was a long overdue win for Taklamakan, the five year old scoring for the first time for over a year in the valuable race 10. While Moon Se Young managed two wins, Shin Hyoung Cheol was jockey of the day, landing an early treble with victories on Jisang Gangja in race 1, outsider Hwallyeok Plus in race 2 and the promising American import Red Trip in race 5. Red Trip [Trippi – Queen’s Ransom (Red Ransom)] had placed in three of his four previous outings.

It was a spring-like day at the track today and on what was the mildest day of the year so far, a large Saturday crowd made it to the races with the infield park attracting families for the first time this year. Tomorrow is expected to be slightly cooler but should still be dry and bright for the eleven race card which gets underway at 11:10. Busan has six races beginning at 12:30 while Jeju has ten with a 12:30 start.

Class 1 (Korean Bred) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – Feb 28, 2009

1. Gang Gwon [Curia Regis – Bad Smart (Baederwood)] – Yoo Sang Wan – 15.2
2. Highteen [Mujaazif – Alittle Nostalgia (Nostalgia)] – Lee Gi Hwoi – 37.2
3. Lucky Mountain [Silent Warrior – Myeonggaheui (Revere)] – Choi, Beom Hyun – 10.4
Distances: 1.75 lengths/Head – 11 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

Wepner debuts with nine rides / Dongbanui Gangja goes Sunday
It’s almost the weekend once again and Busan Race Park will get racing underway on Friday afternoon. South African jockey Martin Wepner will make his Korean debut in race 1 with the first of nine rides. Wepner will follow this on Sunday with a further three mounts on the six race card. In Friday’s feature race, Pick Me Up starts for the second time since returning from the US. On Sunday, Hwanggeumbit Taeyang will carry top weight in the feature handicap.

Grand Prix winner Dongbanui Gangja headlines Seoul’s Sunday card and should be able to see off a field including K J Khan, Serendipper and Haengun Daewang. One race earlier, Love Cat will make a remarkably early step up to class 2 company. The three year old filly has won her last four and will go over the Derby distance of nine furlongs.

Saturday’s card at Seoul will see Secret Weapon look to get back into the Winner’s Circle. The six year old followed up his bad run in the Grand Prix with a second placed finish behind Top Point but ahead of Myeongmun Gamun last month and will give at least five kilos to field of twelve.

Busan Race Park

Friday February 27: Ten races, first post 13:00
Sunday March 1: Six races, first post 12:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday February 28:Twelve races, first post 11:10
Sunday March 1: Eleven races, first post 11:10

Jeju Race Park will host nine races on Saturday and ten races on Sunday with the first going to post at 12:30 on both days and racegoers on the island will be hoping for better weather following last week’s abandonment for fog. Busan could have some rain on Friday but the forecast for Seoul is dry, bright and relatively warm all weekend.

Moon Se Young to Become an Ajosshi

“Se Young-a, Cho-Ket-ta!!” – “Se Young, I envy you” – punters shouted at Moon Se Young in the paddock at Seoul Race Park last weekend after the announcement that the Champion Jockey is to marry Seoul Race Park announcer Kim Ryeo Jin.

The Herald Business newspaper reported last Friday that the twenty eight year old Moon and twenty seven year old Kim will marry at the Racetrack’s Wedding Hall in April. The Herald noted that it will be the third marriage in the last two years of a high profile sportsman and a TV reporter following the marriages of footballer Kim Nam Il to Kim Bo Min of KBS and Baseball player Seo Jang Hoon to Oh Jung Yeon, also of KBS.

Kim Ryeo Jin joined the KRA’s broadcast department in 2007 and co-presents the weekly online preview show “Click Gyongma” as well as doing raceday announcements at the track. In a style perhaps more suited to the POPSeoul website, or as a pitch for a Korean drama, the Herald Business reports in detail as to how they met, the secret early stages of their relationship, how they fell out and how they made up over Moon’s win on Bally Brae in the 2007 Grand Prix. The report is in Korean but the link is worth clicking if only for the picture of the happy couple with the Champion Jockey wearing quite an amazing sweater.

Moon Se Young was also one of three jockeys featured recently on EBS TV’s show “Extreme Jobs”, which devoted two episodes earlier this month to jockeys at Seoul Race Park. Cameras followed three jockeys at different stages of their career. As well as champion Moon, veteran Kim Gui Bae and second year apprentice Boo Min Ho were followed at trackwork and in the weighing room on raceday. The two episodes (both in Korean but with some excellent footage) can be seen in full here.