Author: gyongmaman

Monday Web Watch

Seoul Race Park featured on Korea.net / Volponi story
The Korean Culture Ministry website has run a feature on Seoul Race Park on its website. Korea.net exists to promote all aspects of Korean culture and can be found here. Thanks also to them for plugging this site!

Also worth reading is a story about 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Volponi, who was bought by the KRA in 2006 to stand at stud. His first runners are expected to reach the track during next year. Writing at bloodhorse.com, Steve Haskin, who picked the 43-1 outsider, recounts the story of Volponi’s shock win. Click here for the full article and here for Volponi’s Korean Studbook entry.

Hardride Wins Busan Metropolitan!

Outsider is Lim’s biggest win / Galsaem successful at last
Hardride proved to be the most successful ride of jockey Lim Sung Sil’s career as the outsider beat the odds to land the KRW 142Million first prize in the Busan Metropolitan City Cup at Busan Race Park this afternoon. However, it was heartbreak for Hardride’s regular rider Yoo Hyun Myoung who led from the start on Florida Native only to be overtaken in the final few strides. Florida Native was quickest away and with Dongbang Geona and Hardride following, the four-year old set the pace round the first turn and through the back straight.

As they turned for home, odds-on favourite Golding moved up menacingly on the outside under Toshio Uchida and Hardride dropped back to sixth, seemingly out of the hunt for places. There was much more to come, however, as Golding faltered in an ugly sprint. Florida Native increased his lead but Lim Sung Sil had found a run for Hardride and a final furlong dash saw the three-year old gelding overhaul the leader for a half-length win. Another outsider, Winter Invitation ran on for third. It was Hardride’s fifth career victory from fifteen starts and his first at the top level.

At Seoul Race Park, Galsaem finally landed her first victory of 2008. Having taken a pounding from the handicapper and suffering some near misses, the six year old mare took advantage of a weaker than usual cat.1 handicap field and went wire to wire over the 2000 metres for a length and a half win from Sinheung Gangho and Totoro. In the previous race, the scratching of Playing Politics had seen Yodongseong go off the 1.2 favourite and duly record a businesslike two and a half length victory in a 1900 metre handicap.

In other races, the highly thought of two-year old import Bulpae Gisang just managed to hold off the challenge of outsider Black Saint in race 3. The two of them were ten lengths clear of the rest of the field and Bulpae Gisang [Lightnin N Thunder – Neat Trick (Clever Trick)] is now two for two. In a similar race for domestic horses, another two-year old, Nice Choice romped home by ten lengths for his second win in three races and could be one for the Classics next year.

For jockeys it was very much Choi Beom Hyun’s day as he scored four winners to Moon Se young and Park Tae Jong’s two each. Willie Uys was scheduled to make his second appearance, but the South African had to sit out due to a “stomach bug”.

Busan Metro City Cup (G3) – Busan Race Park – 2000M – Nov 9, 2008 – 15:20

1. Hardride (USA) [Colony Light – Lametta (Lomond)] – Lim Sung Sil – 40.0
2. Florida Native (USA) [Kissin Kris – Binndiana (Jose Binn)] – Yoo Hyun Myoung – 12.9
3. Winter Invitation (USA) [Take Me Out – Winter Crown (Cox’s Ridge)] – Jo Chan Hoon – 32.9
Distances: 0.5 lengths/2.5 lengths – 13 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Easy for Wangson as Seoul Basks in Autumn

Taebaek Janggun upsets Free Woody / Uys makes creditable debut
Wangson stepped up to cat.3 for the first time at Seoul Race Park this afternoon but the three year old had things all his own way as he cruised to a 10 length win. Under Moon Se Young, the 1.9 favourite came round the field in the back straight and opened out as they rounded the final turn. A long way behind the winner, Bang Choon Sik on Kkumcheoreom held off Nozomu Tomizawa on Daeseolbong for second. Wangson now has four wins from eight outings and looks to be one to watch in the handicap ranks next year.

On a beautiful autumn day that showed the track at its finest, things went the way of the second favourite in the day’s most valuable race. Taebaek Janggun kept alongside favourite Free Woody for the early stages of the 1900 metre handicap but a burst of pace around the third corner took him to the front. Although Free Woody responded in the sprint the damage had been done and Taebaek Janggun ran on for a three length win under Choi Beom Hyun. Earlier there was an impressive performance by two year old Ganggeonhan, landing race 1 by seven lengths.

South African jockey Willie Uys made his Seoul debut in race 4. Riding the lightly backed Absolute Power he got out of the gate quickly, avoiding some nasty collisions at the back and showed towards the front for most of the 1300 metre race. As they entered the home straight, leaders Natural Guy and favourite Mideumi pulled away from the field and battled it out for the victory with Natural Guy taking it on the line for Choi Beom Hyun. There was a gap of 12 lengths between those two and the next home, third-favourite Taepung Malli, with Uys and Absolute Power coming in fourth at 17.4. Uys will have one more ride tomorrow on Eastern Hotshot in race 3.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Sinheung Gangja Triumphs as Favourites Fade

A kilo too far for Areumdaun Jilju / Baekgeom wins easily again
Sinheung Gangja made the most of a nine kilo weight advantage to get up in the final few metres to take the feature race at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Billed as a battle between top handicapper Areumdaun Jilju and Derby winner Ebony Storm, things were going to form as those two led from the gate and through the backstretch. It was all change as they turned for home, however. Ebony Storm started to go backwards through the field as Han Sang Kyu on Sinheung Gangja moved into contention. Toshio Uchida kept Areumdaun Jilju in the lead but the three year old had much the faster sprint coming through for a half length win on the line. Outsider Segye Jepae ran on for an unlikely third place.

The loss was only Areumdaun Jilju’s second of the year but Ebony Storm is without a win since the Derby back in May. In other races, there was a second easy win for the grey two year old Baekgeom [Halo’s Image – Sweet Paige (Montbrook)]. The horse arrived in Korea in July and followed up his debut win last month with a five length victory in race 1 this afternoon. Meanwhile, Eiki Nishimura scored his second success in Korea riding Gaeulbi to a five length win in race 5. Racing returns to Busan on Sunday.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Craven Talks About Korean Experience

Tough time highlights difficulties faced by overseas riders
Danny Craven, who completed nine months in Korea in August this year is back riding in Queensland and has been speaking about his time in Korea. Craven had 131 rides during his Korean stint landing 10 winners, 9 seconds and 13 third place finshes. He spent five months at Seoul and then a further four at Busan.

Speaking to WWOS.com.au, Craven talked about the difficulties faced by foreign jockeys in Korea saying “It was very difficult trying to get rides as the Korean trainers stuck with their local riders”. Also, as most of the overseas riders have found, the language barrier proved very difficult to overcome. Craven’s final comment was “I know one thing, I’ll never go back to ride there again”. Read the full article here.

Weekend Preview

Busan Race Park
Friday November 7: Areumdaun Jilju and Ebony Storm will feature in the big race on a card which begins at 13:00. The last of ten races is at 17:30.

Sunday November 9: A six race card gets underway at 12:20. The main event is the Busan Metropolitan City Race featuring some of Busan’s top overseas bred horses. See below for a full preview. The big race is at 15:20.

Seoul Race Park
Saturday November 8: The first of eleven races is at 11:00 and the last at 17:20. Three more races will be simulcast from Jeju Island. South African jockey Willie Uys makes his Korean debut in race 4.

Sunday November 9: As with Saturday, the first of eleven races is underway at 11:00, however, four simulcast races from Busan means the last is at 17:40. JRA Trophy winner Playing Politics will share top weight with Yodongseong in a cat.2 handicap for foreign bred horses. Meanwhile, Galsaem will be giving at least 3kg to all six rivals in the feature race despite the fact that the six year old mare hasn’t won in eight outings this year.

At present the forecast is for the weekend to be dry, if overcast. Jeju Race Park also holds its usual Saturday and Sunday cards with ten races starting at 12:20 both days.

Uys Debuts Saturday

South African veteran joins Seoul Race Park
The latest overseas jockey to come to Korea will make his debut this Saturday at Seoul Race Park. South African Willie Uys has signed a one year contract and will line up on the three year old Absolute Power in race 4. The forty six year old Uys comes to Korea off the back of a career that has so far yielded just over one thousand winners from just under ten thousand rides. Uys will be the third South African jockey to debut this year. Chris Taylor’s stint at Seoul was short-lived but Deryl Daniels is into his third month at Busan and looks set to be joined by another, Petrus Botha, later this month.

Uys has just the one ride on Saturday and then one more on Sunday when he will partner Eastern Hotshot in race 3.

Golding Heads Metropolitan Field

There’s just a week and a half to go until the President’s Cup, one of the year’s biggest races for older horses at Seoul Race Park where Myeongmun Gamun and Baekpa are expected to renew hostilities. This coming weekend, however, most of the top action will be at Busan Race Park.

On Friday, Korean Derby winner Ebony Storm will face off against the formidable Areumdaun Jilju in a handicap and then on Sunday, thirteen will line up for the Busan Metropolitan City Cup, one of the biggest races of the year open to foreign bred horses. Golding heads the field for the 2000 metre handicap which has a first prize of KRW 142Million. The race is off at 15:20 and will be simulcast to Seoul Race Park. Full list of runners, records, weights and riders:

Busan Metro City Cup (G.III) – Busan Race Park – 2000M – Nov 9, 2008 – 15:20

1. Bugyeong Choegang (AUS) (17/7/4/2) – 55.5kg – Gu Young Jun
2. Gamun Bobae (USA) (19/5/3/4) – 58kg – Chae Gyu Jun
3. Angle Slam (USA) (35/7/6/8) – 54.5kg – Eiki Nishimura
4. Alchan Sonyeo (USA) (52/1/4/8) – 50kg – Kim Myoung Shin
5. Winter Invitation (AUS) (30/3/6/5) – 52.5kg – Jo Chan Hoon
6. Hard Ride (USA) (14/4/2/1) – 52.5kg – Lim Sung Sil
7. Wonder Love (USA) (36/5/9/6) – 57kg – Han Sang Gyu
8. Florida Native (USA) (21/7/3/3) – 54.5kg – Yoo Hyun Myoung
9. King Kephalos (JPN) (9/5/1/1) – 53kg – Jo Chang Wook
10. Golding (USA) (32/15/7/4) – 60kg – Toshio Uchida
11. Oreumak (AUS) (45/5/5/8) – 50kg – Choi Si Dae
12. Dongbang Geona (JPN) (22/9/3/1) – 55.5kg – Kim Eu Su
13. Seonbaljein (JPN) (39/5/7/5) – 53.5kg – Ahn Sun Ho

Moon Passes 100 Wins

Moon Se Young has gone past the 100 winner mark for the season and remains a long way clear at the Jockey’s Championship for 2008 as he bears down on Park Tae Jong’s previous calender year best of 120:

1. Moon Se Young 106
2. Cho Kyoung Ho 80
3. Park Tae Jong 78
4. Choi Beom Hyun 55
5. Ikuyasu Kurakane 42

Park Byoung Yun was the latest of the newly qualified apprentice jockeys to pick up his first winner on Saturday. Of the seven newcomers this year, Lee Sang Hyuk, Park Si Cheon and Kim Cheol Ho have all landed four winners with only Kim Dong Min and Yoo Mi Na, now recovered from injury, yet to score.

1. Lee Sang Hyuk 4/5/2
2. Park Si Cheon 4/3/10
3. Kim Cheol Ho 4/1/2
4. Park Byoung Yun 1/1/9
5. Jo In Kwon 1/1/1
6. Kim Dong Min 0/0/2
7. Yoo Mi Na 0/0/0

Happy Queen Crowned Gyeonggi Champion

Blanket finish to Governor’s Cup / Secret Weapon holds off Machine Gun
Happy Queen won the KRW 106Million first prize by the narrowest of margins in the Gyeonggi-do Governor’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Under Cho Kyoung Ho, the second favourite got up by a nose on the line to take the honours from Night Fever. It was Night Fever who led out of the gate and the Oh Kyoung Hoan ridden outsider maintained her lead in the backstretch ahead of Hera and Gate Way while Happy Queen sat in the middle of the field. As they opened up the sprint, Hera faded as Happy Queen moved up to third a furlong out. Still Night Fever was hanging on, but the line couldn’t come soon enough as Happy Queen came through.

A thrilling race saw favourite Mild Go never feature as Happy Queen scored just her third career victory. However, the three year old hasn’t been out of the money since her third race, ten outings ago, and seems destined to move onto better company. Gate Way repeated her Korean Oaks performace by coming third in a blanket finish with the entire field separated by just a few lengths.

In other races, Secret Weapon did enough to live up to his 1.2 favourite status – but only just. The five year old hit the front of the 2000 metre handicap as they entered the final furlong but Moon Se Young on Machine Gun was in hot pursuit. Machine Gun has been in the best form of his career this autumn and the gelding almost got up to snatch victory. Secret Weapon held on though for his fifth straight win with a neck the distance between them on the line.

Big Sox followed up his second place in October’s JRA Trophy Race by taking victory in a cat 2 handicap. The three year old took his fourth win, half a length ahead of Serendipper. Big Sox was Moon Se Young’s third win of the day following wins on Yeong Jae in race 5 and Baekdu Beonjjeok in race 1. Race 1 was marred by a fatal breakdown by Merry Gold 300 metres out injuring jockey Lee Jun Dong. Ikuyasu Kurakane on Conan was also brought down but both horse and rider were quickly up.

At Busan Race Park, Japanese jockey Eiki Nishimura landed his first victory in Korea with a seven length win on Hyangsan in race 4. Busan’s feature was won by Eodubong, a half length ahead of Storm Rider.

Gyeonggi-do Governor’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Nov. 2, 2008 – 16:40

1. Happy Queen (KOR) [Revere – C. Bop (Aly Dark)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 2.7
2. Night Fever (KOR) [Concept Win – Sarah’s Boop (Whitesburg)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 39.6
3. Gate Way (KOR) [Psychobabble – Rich Emotions (Rizzi)] – Lee Gi Hwoi – 8.8
Distances: Nose/Neck – 14 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN