Horse Racing

What have we learned from Pick Me Up?

Pick Me Up’s American sojourn was always going to be interesting and although few held out much hope of the six year old taking the US by storm, his tailing off by an average field running a slow time at Charles Town last week has caused more than a little embarrassment for Korean racing fans. Pick Me Up’s stay in the US is part of the KRA’s “Internationalization Plan”. The plan was started in 2004 with the first International Jockey Challenge and the start of a number of Trophy races. This has evolved into a once a year weekend event which this year also saw two jockeys come over from Malaysia as part of a jockey exchange, however, other than that and Busan Race Park making its Stewards’ Reports available in English, there seems to be little progress in making Korean racing truly “international”.

Go to the KRA’s English site right now and visitors are greeted with a Pop-Up window inviting overseas jockeys to apply for a licence to ride full time in Korea. Several foreign riders have done that in recent years. At the opening of Busan Race Park in 2005, Australians Mark Newnham, Garry Baker and Nathan Day were signed up although only Baker managed to make a go of it, landing 89 winners in two years. However, Baker reported on his return to Australia that “it did seem as if they didn’t really want you there”. Danny Craven put in a creditable nine month effort first at Seoul and then at Busan, however, South African Chris Taylor only lasted a few weeks before departing.

More successful have been the Japanese with the remarkable Toshio Uchida dominating Busan in 2008 while Ikuyasu Kurakane and Nozomu Tomizawa more than hold their own at Seoul. There are two more Japanese riders at Busan while another is scheduled to join Seoul in November. Maybe Pick Me Up would have been better going to Japan.

Korean fans need not be too embarrassed. Pick Me Up’s trot round Charles Town was witnessed by a grand total of 900 racegoers in attendance with total handle – both on and off course – for the entire card being about the same as what is bet on the average pony race on Jeju Island. It seems an odd way to go about “internationalization”. Pick Me Up has been a solid performer at Busan but by no means a star. He’s won seven out of his forty starts and has picked up a lot of second and third placed finishes, despite suffering over the past two years from a restrictive handicap mark, but he’s not the best Korea has to offer and he’s not 80 lengths worse than those horses he finished behind on Friday.

But this just adds further confusion to the point of the exercise. There are hundreds of overseas bred horses running in Korea but in his forty races, Pick Me Up had never encountered one. They are not allowed to compete against Korean horses except on very rare occasions with the year-ending Grand Prix race the only really big race they are allowed to enter. The truth is that to be the best in Korea, domestically bred horses do not have to be very good.

Seoul Bids a Fond Farewell to J.S. Hold

Saturday Racing Review
Racegoers paid tribute to last year’s Triple Crown winner J.S. Hold in a ceremony at Seoul Race Park this afternoon following the news that the four year old will never be fit enough to return to the track. Following a presentation, jockey Moon Jung Kyun took J.S. Hold out onto the track and down to the two furlong pole before turning and galloping past the grandstands to the winning post to a rapturous ovation.

Another to receive an unusual reception – this time a raucous one – was Japanese jockey Toshio Uchida, in Seoul to ride Rainmaker in tomorrow’s Minister’s Cup. The Busan based rider with a winning ratio of nearly 30% has become a punter’s hero since arriving in Korea earlier this year and was applauded all round the paddock on his first visit to the capital. His one mount today came in race 9, where he partnered Energetic to third place, following a dreadful start behind the improving Exzacta Runner.

On what was a beautiful afternoon for racing, it was very much Moon Se Young’s day on the track as he picked up four wins including back to back victories on promising two year olds Geumgangcheon and Nice Choice. The former took race 5 by five lengths while the latter trotted up by eight lengths in race 6. In other races, Australian import Happy Gwacheon took his fifth win from twelve starts and looks like he will soon be contesting cat.1 events while in the day’s most valuable race, Taebaek Janngun scored a solid win over favourite New Rider over 1900 metres.

Overall, today was a day when punters honoured one of the equine athletes that make the sport so great. In Korean racing it is not something that happens often. It could just be that tomorrow they have another opportunity if the filly, Jeolho Chance, can upset the odds and beat the colts to win the Minister’s Cup. She will have it tough as Gaeseon Janggun, having beaten most of the field recently, is likely to be sent off heavy favourite and Ebony Storm and Rainmaker are both also Classic Winners. That it could happen, however, is why people go racing.

Race 1 at Seoul tomorrow is at 11:20 with the Minister’s Cup off at 17:00. Busan kicks-off its six race card at 12:40 with the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup at 15:35.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Classic Winners Clash Again in Minister’s Cup

Weekend Racing Preview – Busan set to dominate fourth Classic
The final leg of the Korean Triple Crown is the highlight of the coming weekend as Sunday sees Minister’s Cup day at Seoul Race Park. A full field of fourteen will contest the year’s fourth Classic with the three previous winners – Rainmaker (KRA Cup Mile), Ebony Storm (Korean Derby) and Jeolho Chance (Korean Oaks) – all making the trip up from Busan. They are joined by five more southern raiders including Gaeseon Janggun, Lucky Dancer and Sinheung Gangja, all of whom will fancy their chances against Seoul’s disappointing 2008 crop of three year olds. Two fillies are in the race with Daehan Dolpung joining Jeolho Chance. Busan’s star jockey, Toshio Uchida will travel up to partner Rainmaker while Shim Seung Tae will be looking to repeat his Derby win on Ebony Storm.

The big race is off at 17:00 on Sunday and is the culmination of a busy weekend’s racing. The first card gets underway at Busan Race Park at 13:00 on Friday with a ten race card. Busan also hosts six races on Sunday with a 12:40 start time. Headlining Sunday’s card will be the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup. Seoul gets underway at 11:20 on both Saturday and Sunday.

Minister of Agriculture’s Cup (GII) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Oct. 12, 2008 – 17:00

1. Rainmaker (11/3/3/1) – Toshio Uchida
2. Ebony Storm (13/5/2/3) – Shim Seung Tae
3. Namchon Party (8/4/2/1) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
4. Saerounjeonseol (12/1/3/1) – Kim Dong Cheol
5. Magic Victor (13/3/2/2) – Kim Ok Sung
6. Sinheung Gangja (15/3/2/6) – Moon Se Young
7. Sammuae (16/2/1/3) – Yoo Sang Wan
8. Jeolho Chance (F) (12/6/1/1) – Cho Kyoung Ho
9. Gaeseon Janggun (9/3/3/1) – Park Tae Jong
10. Super Goliath (11/3/4/0) – Kim Hyo Seob
11. Daehan Dolpung (F) (14/2/4/3) – Ikuyasu Kurakane
12. Free Woody (12/4/3/3) – Moon Jung Kyun
13. Lucky Dancer (9/4/2/0) – Shin Hyung Cheol
14. Triple Seven (10/3/2/2) – Choi Beom Hyun

Korean trainer set for Breeders’ Cup

“So, who is Myung Kwon Cho?” asked the racing blog Foolish Pleasure on Sunday after the 2 year old colt Street Hero won the G1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita for the little known owner/trainer. It turns out that Cho is a 66 year old Korean who emigrated to the United States in 1978. He set up a clothing business and when it became successful started to own – and later train – racehorses. Read the Foolish Pleasure article here. Street Hero will go on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Video of Sunday’s race can be seen at bloodhorse.com.

Geumsuni holds on in Dong-A Cup

Myeongmun Gamun beats Good Day / Jilju Hara beaten
There was a tight finish to the Donga Ilbo Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon and it was four year old Geumsuni (13.1) who held on in the photo to win the Cup by a nose from Junior Shards (11.5). Quickest out of the stalls in the 1400 metre race was Yoo Sang Wan on Esteban but as they hit the first corner, third favourite Bonny Bee (8.0) took over the running. Always well placed, Kim Hyo Seob on Geumsuni took over with a furlong to run and just held off the fast finishes of Junior Shards and pre-race favourite Wig (2.6) to claim victory.

In other races at Seoul, Myeongmun Gamun (2.7) overcame strong favourite Good Day (1.5) in the feature handicap. Good Day, under Cho Kyoung Ho led from out of the backstretch, but Jung Ki Young on Myeongmun Gamun found more in the home straight to win by two lengths. Such was the dominance of the pair, there was a further eight lengths between them and Lee Ae Li on shock third placed Seungni Yongsa (212.4).

At Busan Race Park, there was a shock defeat for Jilju Hara. The Japanese import had strolled to victory in her first two outings and was sent off the 1.2 favourite in the JBBA race which was only for Japanese bred horses. It was second favourite, Lucky Guy (4.3), however, who went wire to wire, holding off Jilju Hara by half a length at the finish. Earlier there was a convincing return to form for three year old filly Useung Party. Last in the Oaks last month, she stepped back in distance and dominated race 2 with a seven length win.

After yesterday’s rain, it was a hot and sunny afternoon which was reflected in attendance at both tracks.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Triple Seven leaves rivals on the mat

Baekpa suffers shock defeat / Brilliant Knight wins again
Second favourite Triple Seven galloped to victory in the KRW 53Million Olympic Judo Race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Favourite Dangdanghan (2.7) bolted out of the gate under Lee Shin Young and set the pace through the back straight, leading the field as they rounded the final turn. However, Choi Beom Hyun brought Triple Seven through the field and edged in front inside the final furlong taking a length and a quarter win. Outsider Bareukaseu (34.0) recovered from a dreadful start to grab second in the final stride from Dangdanghan.

The race was run to welcome back Korea’s Judo team from the Beijing Olympics and gold medallist Choi Min Ho was on hand to present the prize. Beforehand, Choi himself was presented with KRW 250Million (about $250,000) for his exploits in Beiijing with silver-medallist Kim Jae Beom receiving KRW 100Million.

The other Choi, Choi Beom Hyun had to settle for slightly less prize-money, but nevertheless he had an exceptional day in the saddle, with Triple Seven’s win quickly followed by a battling win on Huimang Energy in the next race. The four year old gelding just held off Lucky Seven by a neck in an 1800 metre cat. 2 handicap. The 2.6 favourite has now won his last three and even though this was his first cat. 2 outing, looks likely to be facing cat. 1’s soon. The win brought jockey of the day Choi’s win tally to three having much earlier guided odds-on favourite Tiger Sox to victory in race 1.

In the feature handicap, the stage seemed set for Baekpa to continue her impressive recent form as she was sent off the 1.4 favourite. Things did not go to plan, however, as Park Tae Jong found himself slightly out of position as they turned for home in the 2000 metre race. At the same time, Ikuyasu Kurakane on Machine Gun found an explosive turn of foot to open up a six length lead. Park eventually found his run and Baekpa started to close it down but the line came too soon and the six year old gelding Machine Gun (26.2) recorded his first ever category 1 win in fifteen attempts by an impressive 5 lengths. Second favourite Natural Nine was third.

Last action of an eventful day saw exciting import Brilliant Knight extend his record to four wins from four races. The three year old gelding led from start to finish but had to work for it in the final furlong as outsider Rich Market finished strongly, Brilliant Knight [Lion Hearted – Deputy Lady (French Deputy)] eventually recording a half length win.

At Busan Race Park, the feature race was a cat 1 foreign bred handicap which saw a commanding seven length win by Dongbang Geona. The Japanese bred gelding hit the front early in the back straight and kicked on as they turned for home, the contest over well before the final furlong. It was the four year old’s eighth career win.

The feature domestic handicap was a chaotic affair. The 1800 metre cat. 2 race was delayed after hot favourite Daehan Dolpung fell inside the starting stalls bringing down Jeorin Jiyong in the next stall. Although both horses got up, both were withdrawn. When the race did get underway, new third favourite Katrina (4.1) was first over the line. However, the mare had spent most of the final furlong pushing second placed Seonggeong Gado (2.8 ) so far wide towards the stands, punters were scurrying for cover. Meanwhile, on the other side of the track, a blanket finish had the first six horses finishing within a length of each other. The inevitable Stewards’ Inquiry reversed the order of the first two home giving Seonggong Gado just his second win of a long career.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Gamadongja Sprints Home

Four winners for Moon as favourites dominate
Gamadongja dropped back in distance to land the day’s most valuable race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. In a rare non-handicap category 1 race, Gamadongja, who has never been beaten at sprint distances went wire-to-wire in the 1200 metre race 10 to take a length and a half vctory from favourite Pocketful of Money (2.2) who was running at the distance for the first time since 2006. Fly Queen (6.5) was a well beaten third.

Pocketful of Money was partnered by Moon Se Young and the day saw very much a return to form for Moon as he landed four winners. All were odds-on favourites and included a narrow win on Last Dance Buddy in race 7. The three year old colt took his second win and is yet to finish worse than second in five outings. Later on Moon also took the feature domestic bred race on Wontagui Gisa (1.7).

It was very much a day for favourites with seven of the twelve races returning odds-on winners. After last week’s perfect conditions, summer was back today with temperatures averaging thirty degrees throughout the afternoon. Sunday is expected to be cooler and cloudier with an outside chance of rain. The first race gets underway at Seoul at 11:20 and at Busan at 12:40.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Pick Me Up can’t find a race

Pick Me Up’s US debut has been delayed for the second week running as the KRA can’t find a suitable race to run him in. The six year old has been in Maryland for over a month now to take part in the KRA’s first experiment of racing domestic bred horses overseas. However, races he was entered in at Laurel Park last week did not go ahead and likewise he was withdrawn from races at Delaware Park and Philadelphia Park over the weekend. His next entry is at Penn National in a $29,000 allowance race on September 3.

Yeongung Manse beats them again

Myeongmun Gamun back winning / Miss Ecton returns with defeat / Supernatural maintains record
Yeongung Manse once again got the better of classic winners Rainmaker and Ebony Storm with a classy win in this afternoon’s feature handicap at Busan Race Park. The gelding went off 4.1 third favourite and from the gate vied for the lead with Ebony Storm (3.1). It proved to be a straight battle between these two in the stretch and having hit the front for the final time two furlongs out, Jo Chang Wook kept Yeongung Manse ahead for a half length victory. Mirae Cheonsa (8.5) came home third.

Punters had kept faith with Rainmaker despite his disappointing form since his KRA Cup Mile win and he was sent off 2.9 favourite. However, coming from the back of the field, Toshio Uchida wasn’t able to find a clear run quick enough to put in a challenge, Rainmaker eventually a fast finishing fourth. It’s four runs now without victory for Rainmaker although the quick finish would suggest that if he is better placed coming off the final turn, he may have some more in him. Conversely, Yeongung Manse how has four wins on the spin and, depending on how the handicapper treats him, will surely be favourite next time out. It was another good run by Ebony Storm, the Derby winner may even have just nicked it if given a few more metres.

Earlier at Busan, Miss Ecton made her first appearance since winning the Busan Ilbo Cup all the way back in March. Lining up in race 5, the filly finished strongly but was unable to catch wire to wire winner Passing Gear (9.8 ) and second placed Ima Firecracker (8.6). In finishing third, she did, however, manage to beat favourite White Bull (2.1). Meanwhile Kazuyuki Watase scored his second double of the weekend while compatriot Toshio Uchida suffered his first winless raceday since early July.

Fifteen handlers were required to get favourite Myeongmun Gamun into the stalls in the feature at Seoul Race Park. The recalcitrant gelding lapsed back into his bad habits on his first outing since finishing second to Baekpa in the SBS Cup. As so often in his career, connections had reason to be grateful to the handlers, however, as the seven year old went on to convincingly defeat a field of nine with 71 previous wins between them in the 1900 metre race. Jung Ki Young brought Myeongmun Gamun into contention in the back straight and the rest had no answer as he made his move on the final turn. Dashing Champ, who set the course record at this distance in June, got closest but the 2.6 favourite never looked in danger. Baengnokjeong, third in the SBS Cup, took the same position today.

It looked as though Dixie Vicar was going to end Supernatural’s 100% win record as the two battled it out in the final furlong of the 1400 metre race 9. However, Park Soo Hong asked the New Zealand bred gelding to find something more and Supernatural responded at the right time to get up by a length. The four year old Supernatural [Danske – Dance On Deck (Yachtie)] now goes three for three. Although unable to hold on, it was another good performance from the filly Dixie Vicar who was coming off the back of two consecutive wins.

The beautiful weather at both tracks ensured good attendances and although field size was disappointing in a number of races, overall both Seoul and Busan provided a good afternoon’s sport.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Busan Review

Favourites disappoint as Storm Rider takes handicap win
Florida Native and Namdo Choegang both finished well down the field as Storm Rider (6.6) won a dramatic final furlong battle in the feature handicap at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Storm Rider, under Seo In Seob, set the early pace and featured at the front of the field throughout the 1800 metre race but had to fight off a strong challenge from Jungnyeong (10.5), Cho Sung Gon bringing the six year old from the back to the front of the field in the final few hundred metres. The line just came soon enough, however, for Storm Rider to record victory by a nose.

Earlier on a wet afternoon on the South Coast, there was another win for the promising New Zealand bred gelding Dandi. The three year old battled to his third win in five races, taking victory by a nose in race 4. In the day’s feature domestic race, favourite Lucky Dancer (2.4) took his fourth win from his last five races with a comfortable three length win over Hammer Stone (21.2). It was a good day for Japanese jockey Kazuyuki Watase who landed a double to take his Korean winners tally to three.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN