Foreigners in Korea

It’s No Secret That Aussies Rule At Busan

Secret Whisper Wins the MJC Trophy for Peter Wolsley & Nathan Stanley

Things just keep getting better on the track for Peter Wolsley and Nathan Stanley. The Australian trainer and jockey duo recorded another big win at Busan this afternoon as Secret Whisper took victory in the Macau Jockey Club Trophy by the narrowest of noses.

Another big win: Nathan Stanley

Sent off as second favourite, Stanley and Secret Whisper sat towards the back of the field in the early stages of the 1400 metre race as punters’ choice Jeonseong Sidae made the early running. There was still plenty to do when Stanley made his move entering the home straight finding one route and then another blocked off by traffic.

It wasn’t until deep inside the final furlong that Secret Whisper had daylight in front of her and she swept past Jeonseong Sidae just before the line.

One of five fillies among the fourteen strong field, the Pegasus Farm owned Secret Whisper now has five wins from her eleven starts. Although officially classed as a “Featured” rather than “Stakes” race, in terms of prize money, the MJC Trophy is still a big one and it continued the remarkable run of success that Peter Wolsley and Nathan Stanley have been enjoying of late.

For Wolsley it has been a long hard slog in the barn since arriving in Korea three years ago to reach his current position as one of the top four trainers at Busan. On the contrary for Stanley, success has been instantaneous. Since getting an unexpected bonus on his first day when he picked up the ride on Khaosan, who would go onto win the Owners’ Cup, it has been winner after winner.

With a win rate of nearly 25%, punters have started to look out for him. No doubt the local jockeys will be doing exactly the same. They should; his ride on Secret Whisper today was both resourceful and well judged.

Macau Jockey Club Trophy – Busan Race Park – 1200M – October 23, 2011

1. Secret Whisper (KOR) [Sea Of Secrets-General’s Passion (General Meeting)] – Nathan Stanley – 4.8, 1.9
2. Jeonseong Sidae (AUS) [Stromberg Carlsen-Jessie’s Journey (Crown Jester)] – Choi Si Dae – 1.7
3. Kidari Joe (USA) [Tiznow-Trickle Of Gold (Formal Gold)] – Jo Chang Wook – 3.5

Distances: Nose/0.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Gamun Daejangun (KOR) 5. Haneului Chubok (KOR) 6. Choegang Uno (USA) 7. Darani (USA) 8. Book Seven (USA) 9. Royale Embrace (USA) 10. Money Hunter (KOR) 11. Dehere Queen (USA) 12. Juknokwon (USA) 13. Sand Hi (USA) 14. Sangseung Geotap (USA)

Up at Seoul the fillies were in Stakes action in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup and it was three-year old Seingniuihamseong, fifth in the Korean Oaks in August who took the honours. Last but one entering the home straight, Moon Se Young guided the 5.1 second favourite through the pack to hit the front with just metres to spare to win by just under a length.

Gyeonggi Governor’s Stakes – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – October 23, 2011

1. Seungniuihamseong (KOR) [Vicar-Hug And Kiss (Commander In Chief)] – Moon Se Young – 5.9, 2.0
2. Mustang Queen (KOR) [Concept Win-Arouser (Golden Missile)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.4
3. Candy Gongju (KOR) [CReek Cat-Mi Geum Ho (Shearwalk)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 3.9

Distances: 0/75 lengths/1.25 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Sen Girl 5. Beauty Icheon 6. Wild Cat 7. Isanghwa 8. Gate Shine 9. Choichoro 10. Persona 11. Urikkot 12. Anseong Chukje 13. Saeroungangja 14. Yuseongjeil

A word too for apprentice jockey Lee Hyeok. In race 3 at Seoul today, he won for the very first time as he partnered 9/1 Damas Ruler to victory. An hour later he was back in the winner’s circle with Exciting Runner after race 5. With his two wins today it means that all three of this year’s new jockeys are off the mark – Lee is one winner behind Lee Ah Na and Seo Seung Un who both have three.

All three look very competent. Ultimately good jockeys matter. At Busan, a bout of sickness aside, Nathan Stanley had already proven he was lucky. Today he proved he’s pretty good too. It’s great news for Korean racing.

Aussies Rule Again At Busan

Stanley And Wolsley Double

If they keep this up, I’m going to run out of Australian puns very quickly. At Seoul we have what might be considered an unconventional partnership in Korean racing terms of a female trainer and female jockey – Lee Shin Young and Kim Hae Sun – being the in-form pairing, down at Busan it’s the foreigners. Specifically the Australian combination of trainer Peter Wolsley and jockey Nathan Stanley.

Heading Out For Winners: Nathan Stanley

Having won the Busan Owners’ Cup for Wolsley in his very first ride in Korea, Stanley took his win tally to six today as he combined with Wolsley to land two wins, two second places and a third. On a phenomenal – not to mention lucrative – day for the jockey, he also grabbed another second place.

The wins were not unexpected. The first of them came in race 7 as Ghost Whisper (Gotham City-Emmy’s Lullaby) justified his hot favourite status to cruise home by nine lengths. The grey Ghost Whisper is owned by Jeju Island’s Pegasus Stables which, with its foreign management made for an all foreign success. A race later and the double was complete as three-year old colt Perfect Jilju (Paradise Creek-Field Bouquet) hacked up for his third consecutive victory.

Despite having the favourite in the feature race, the Australian pair couldn’t quite pull off a memorable treble as 5/1 Full Forest (Full Mandate-Gazella Forest) just got the better of Mighty Hero (Buddha-Pretty Pretty) to win by a length. That second place added to an earlier runner-up finish on Tiare (Ft. Stockton-Misty Cee) in race 2 and a third on filly Always Owner (Ft. Stockton-Cozzie Maxine). Stanley also picked up a second place finish in race 9 on Saetbyeol (Yankee Gentleman-Tom’s Kid) for trainer Lim Keum Man.

Six rides, two wins, three seconds and one thirds. Almost Uchida-esque.

Saturday October 1

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:10 to 17:40 including the Singapore Turf Club Trophy at 16:30
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:30

Sunday October 2

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:05 incliding the Minister’s Cup at 16:35
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:05

Not Just a G’Day – It’s a Great Day For Nathan Stanley!

Aussie Doubles At Busan / Sen Girl wins Donga Ilbo at Seoul

Nathan Stanley kept up his remarkable start to his spell at Busan this afternoon by taking another feature race and doubling his win tally. The Australian jockey has now won on four of his sixteen mounts so far at the track including a Stakes race and now, a Class 1.

Double: Nathan Stanley at Busan

The first race was very much an Australian triumph as he partnered with trainer Peter Wolsley, for whom Stanley won the Owners’ Trophy a fortnight ago on Khaosan, to bring home debut-making colt Hanbaek Finale (Giacomo-Power Pack) by four lengths. It got better later. This time, riding for the other foreign trainer, American Joe Murphy, Stanley produced a last-to-first run on 12/1 shot Deep Desire (Jump Start-Bayou Blues) to win the afternoon’s feature race.

Stanley wasn’t done yet. In the finale, he was a close second on Sagyejeol Wangja (Exploit-Thought), to winner B.B. Chant (War Chant-Bravo Bravo). B.B. Chant was ridden by Akane Yamamoto, meaning that both foreign trainers and both foreign jockeys scored winners.

Nathan Stanley has big boots to fill as he replaced Toshio Uchida, a man with almost legendary status among Korean punters. He couldn’t have had a better start though. Two of his winners have come from Peter Wolsley and now one from Joe Murphy. If he keeps this win-rate up, the local trainers won’t be able to ignore him for long. The owners won’t let them.

For Joe Murphy, it was also a milestone win. It was his second feature race win and came on the weekend marking his first anniversary of training in Korea. In that first year, he’s had just seven winners. however, he will look at Wolsley, who also spent his first year with an unenviable string and through hard-work and perseverance has made it to the top. The quality of horses in Murphy’s stable has improved and his second year should be more fruitful than his first.

Up at Seoul, the big race was the Donga Ilbo Cup and it went the way of 10/1 chance Sen Girl (Strodes Creek-Badgering Shari). The three-year old filly made up seven places in the home straight to hit the front just metres from the line and record a half-length victory over long-shot Persona. With another outsider coming third in the shape of Gyemyeongui Bit, it made for a trio payout of 1289/1.

Donga Ilbo Cup Stakes – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – September 25, 2011

1. Sen Girl (KOR) [Strodes Creek-Badgering Shari (Badger Land)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 11.2, 3.0
2. Persona (KOR) [Lethal Instrument-Desso (Jitterbug Chief)] – Kim Gui Bae – 6.3
3. Gyemyeongui Bit (KOR) [Concept Win-Our Northern Belle (Stacked Pack)] – Ham Wan Sik – 5.4

Distances: 0.5 lengths/2 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Seungniuihamseong 5. Choichoro 6. Kanui Byeol 7. Major Girl 8. Anseong Chukje 9. Isanghwa 10. Saeroungangja 11. Chukbogui Tongno 12. Babble Classic 13. Main Flower NR. Wild Cat

Next week it’s the big one. The Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the Korean Triple Crown is at Seoul on Sunday October 2. The KRA Cup Mile winner, the Derby winner and the Oaks winner will all be there.

So will we!

Toshio Uchida -The Most Popular Japanese Man In Korea – Bows Out

“Mr Pink” Lands A Double On Last Day In Korea

Toshio Uchida’s second stint in Korea ended in typical fashion as the Japanese jockey landed a pair of victories at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Uchida’s short-term Korean license expires on August 31 and the Korea Racing Authority (KRA) have decided not to renew it.

Going Home: Toshio Uchida(Pic: KRA)

Uchida, who will be 50 in October, is currently top of the 2011 Jockey Championship at Busan and since returning to Korea last autumn has ridden 69 winners from 384 mounts. It could be argued that he is the most popular Japanese man in Korea.

Taking together his two spells, Uchida rode 138 winners from 695 rides – a winning rate of 19.9%. His quinella strike rate was 32.8% and his place rate 46.3%. His biggest win came in this year’s KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown on Soseuldaemun (Meisei Opera).

So why not renew his license? In a statement, the KRA noted that racing fans here would be very disappointed with the decision. That is an understatement. “Mr. Pink” is so popular that when he made a rare appearance at Seoul, punters chanted his name and applauded him around the paddock – something absolutely unheard of in Korean racing.

Going on to explain, the KRA restated that the goal of their foreign jockey program was to expose local riders to a variety of different styles in the hope that it would be beneficial to them. With Uchida having been in Korea for a total of nearly two years and another Japanese rider Akane Yamamoto having just starting at the track, it was felt that the time was right to move in a different direction – indeed, Uchida’s replacement will be Australian Nathan Stanley.

Soseuldaemun and Toshio Uchida win the KRA Cup Mile (Picture: KRA)

However, this isn’t an explanation that all punters will buy. The program started around about the same time that the Busan track opened. Three Australians were brought over – Mark Newnham, Nathan Day and Garry Baker. Newnham and Day left quickly but Baker went on to become the top jockey at the track in its early days and, like Uchida, won the KRA Cup Mile. He stayed two years but on his departure said the words that have come to define the experience of foreign jockeys in Korea: “..you did get the feeling they didn’t particulary want you there.”

So it is today. It’s understandable, as their job is to protect themselves, but the local Jockey Union is extremely hostile to the idea of foreign riders coming across and “taking their money.” And Uchida certainly took a lot of it! However, this creates conditions that are very difficult for all but the thickest skinned rider to thrive in. Japanese jockeys have had the most success – the only non-Japanese to make a serious go of it have been Baker and South Africa’s Martin Wepner (who had his own license not renewed at the very last-minute) – perhaps due to the cultural aspects of a jockey’s job being similar. Given these barriers, it’s difficult to imagine what the KRA expects of a foreign jockey – be inspiring, but don’t win?

Uchida’s two wins today were both in his usual fashion. First up was Sarang Dream [Purge-Hurricane Warning] in race 3. What Uchida has which is rare among Korean jockeys is the ability to judge the pace of a race and this was apparent here as he manoeuvered Sarang Dream into position and then asked the colt for an effort at exactly the right time, not even needing to use his whip. Next was New Zealand bred Dangdae Champ [Falkirk-Soaring] who Uchida saw to a two-length victory in race 4.

In his final race in Korea, there was every chance of Uchida completing a hat-trick. However, after being sent off second-favourite in the second of co-feature races, Trademark [War Zone-Devil’s Dervish] had to be pulled up after suffering an injury. That race was won by Winning Perfect [Doyen-Miss Beauty] ridden by Jo Sung Gon. Jo is one of the nation’s most promising jockeys and one of those who stood to gain the most from competing with Uchida.

The reality is that only tuition from the likes of Kenny Michel, the excellent South African Jockey trainer who has been working in Korea for the past three years and is turning out some very impressive apprentices, can improve the technical ability of Korean riders. Uchida’s role was to take them out of their comfort zone. Next Friday, Jo Sung Gon is going to be very much back in his comfort zone.

* In other races at Busan, there was an eighth win in eight starts for three-year old US import Lion Santa [Lion Hearted-Santa Fe Strip]. Jockey Kim DOng Young left it until the very last moment but Lion Santa was far too good for a field that included 2008 Korean Derby winner Ebony Storm.

Up at Seoul, former Champion Filly and Mare Dongbang Rose [Volponi-Night Mary] returned to form in impressive style, taking the feature handicap.

Wright Move

After six years officiating for the KRA at its Seoul and Busan Racecourses, Australian Brett Wright is returning to his homeland to take up a position with Racing Victoria. Wright was behind the binoculars for the last time in Korea at Busan’s meeting this past Sunday.

Brett Wright (Pic: Korean Racing Journal)

After joining the Racing Office of the Australian Jockey Club in Sydney in 1979, Wright eventually became a steward and, after 21 years’ service in Australia took up a position in Macau in 2000 where he would stay for four years until coming to Korea to take up a position as stipendiary Steward and “Special Consultant on Racing Issues” with the KRA – a position that was created as part of the KRA’s “Internationalization” program.

During his time in Korea, Wright was on the panel at Seoul Race Park before transferring to Busan where he became Chief Steward in late 2008. While the rest of the internationalization program is still in its infancy, Wright – joined later on by fellow Australian, the late James Perry – has nevertheless been instrumental in a number of initiatives that have helped racing here develop.

Tangible developments such as the introduction of new equipment – pacifiers being the best example – and the production of English language stewards’ reports are the most obvious. However, behind the scenes progress in terms of welfare issues, bringing rules – including those related to use of the whip – more in line with international standards and generally assisting in raising the standard of stewarding in Korea, will perhaps be considered more important achievements of his tenure in the long-term.

With Brett Wright’s departure, it leaves James Smith at Seoul as the only foreign steward on the peninsula. However, Wright will be replaced with hiring of a new steward – most likely American this time – for Busan currently in its final stages. Busan will also recruit a foreign Handicapper.

Horse Racing in Korea wishes Brett Wright and family all the best in Australia.

Aussie Trainer Peter Wolsley Saddles 100th Korean Winner

While jockey Jo In Kwen reached 100 winners in the saddle yesterday, at Busan last Friday it was one of those doing the saddling who reached the same milestone.

Peter Wolsley (Pic: Herald Media)

Peter Wolsley became Korea’s first ever foreign trainer when he was granted a license at the end of 2007. On Friday afternoon, Wolsley’s three-year old colt King Austin grabbed a two-length win in race 7 to give the Australian his 100th Korean victory. He didn’t have to wait very long for his 101st either as his Saeroun Taeyang scored in the feature event of the afternoon two races later.

Fittingly, King Austin (Yehudi) is owned by Isidore Farm, the Jeju Island institution that has been, along with fellow foreign influenced Jeju outfit Pegasus, Wolsley’s biggest supporter. The 48-year-old has 33 horses under his care, including seven who compete at class 1, the elite level of Korean racing. It hasn’t always been this way.

On arrival in Korea from his previous posting in Dubai, Wolsley was assigned the “breakdown barn” at Busan Race Park. In common with the majority of foreign jockeys who come to ride here, he got the horses no-one else wanted. It didn’t make for a very rewarding start to his time here but the trainer stuck at it and gradually started grinding out some modest successes. Others began to take note and eventually he started to receive some better horses.

The Numbers Don't Lie: Wolsley is arguably the track's top trainer right now

Perhaps the turning point came in late 2008. Wolsley had been pushing for pacifiers (mesh eye-protectors used to prevent sand getting in the eyes of the horse) to be allowed to be fitted during races – a cause also taken up by his countryman, steward, Brett Wright – and in October of that year, they were finally approved by the KRA. The next month, his mare Gyeongcheonsa became the first racehorse in Korea to run with them and she flew home at odds of 19/1. One race later, his colt Khaosan, also decked out in pacifiers and starting at similarly attractive odds, came from last to second in the home straight.

How would the local trainers respond? To their credit, instead of trying to get them banned again, the majority realised that Wolsley knew what he was talking about and started using them with horses who hated the vicious kickback that is inevitable on the sand track. Now pacifiers, which are compulsory in some jurisdictions which race on sand, are commonplace – both Mister Park, Korea’s current best horse, and Tough Win, the second best, always wear them in their races. More and better horses started to arrive in Wolsley’s barn and winners swiftly followed.

Wolsley's Protege Park Geum Man in the Derby Winner's Circle

Wolsley has also acted as mentor, specifically to jockey Park Geum Man who was his stable jockey for two years. In that time, Park developed into one of Busan’s – and Korea’s – most tactically aware and skilful jockeys. Wolsley told the Korea Herald last year that Park’s victory on Cheonnyeon Daero in the Korean Derby in 2010 – albeit for a different trainer – is his proudest moment in Korea so far.

Wolsley and Park have now gone their separate ways and Kim Nam Sung is the latest jockey to benefit from Wolsley’s guidance.

With 100 wins in the bank there remains one more challenge for Peter Wolsley. He still needs to become the first foreign trainer to saddle a Stakes winner. He has no horse on the Triple Crown trail this year but, now he’s established as one of the track’s top trainers, it can only be a matter of time.

Peter Wolsley is an example of the KRA’s internationalization plan working. Many trainers around the world will have won more races and far more money. But few can genuinely claim to have come to a place and actually made racing better. That is what he has done.

American Steward Joins Seoul Panel

Seoul Racecourse has a new foreign steward. James Smith made his first appearance behind the binoculars this past weekend.

James Smith began officiating at Seoul at the weekend (Pic:KRA)

Smith who – if the picture to the left is anything to go by – is a man who clearly appreciates a good tie, is a fifty-six year old American and has spent most of his career officiating at tracks in Oregon, principally Portland Meadows but has also had stints at Minnesota’s Canterbury Park and Iowa’s Prairie Meadows.

He’s joined what is usually a five-man panel at Seoul but will occasionally be seen guesting at Busan and Jeju as the KRA likes its stewards to sit on different panels from time-to-time. Down at Busan an Australian, Brett Wright, is currently Chief Stipendiary Steward.

In addition to race day duties, the job description of overseas Stewards in Korea also includes being a “Special Advisor” on racing related issues, particularly with regard to the “internationalization” of Korean racing – not an easy task in Seoul.

The position had been vacant for five months since previous incumbent James Perry returned to his native Australia last September. Perry was sadly lost in the Queensland flooding last month.