Jockey Profiles

Punters’ Friend Fujii Set For Return

In what is great news for punters but less so for local jockeys, Joe Fujii is set to return to race riding this week having been passed fit after five months on the sidelines with a shoulder injury suffered in a nasty fall in early July.

Joe Fujii on Magic Dancer - he'll ride him in the Grand Prix Stakes

Joe Fujii on Magic Dancer – he’ll ride him in the Grand Prix Stakes

Fujii fell from gelding Hybrid in race 4 on July 6 and while initially it was hoped that he would only be out for up to three months, surgery and a long period of recuperation was required.

Despite being out for half the season, Fujii still lies in 7th place in the Busan Jockey Championship. Since coming to Korea in 2012, he has won a host of big races including the Korean Derby, the Oaks and the Grand Prix Stakes. He’s already booked to ride Magic Dancer in this year’s event at Seoul Racecourse on December 14.

Fujii displays the pins that had just been taken from his shoulder

Fujii displays the pins that had just been taken from his shoulder

Fujii hasn’t wasted his time off. As well as spending time in his native Japan, he toured Europe, spending time at Darryll Holland’s yard in Newmarket and also visited Hong Kong, taking in some big race meetings and even getting in the local media:

Fujii Purton

What punters care about though is his strike rate and with 29% of his mounts making the quinella and 44% in the top three, he is the go-to man for many and Singaporean punters will also get to benefit from his services when regular Friday simulcasting from Busan begins this month.

He didn't always keep the best of company during his time off (Pic: Joe Fujii)

He didn’t always keep the best of company during his time off (Pic: Joe Fujii)

Fujii will rejoin Busan at the head of what is now a sizeable Japanese contingent. Masa Tanaka is one place behind him in the Jockey Championship. Nozomu Tomizawa, who had a successful stint at Seoul five years ago recently came back to Korea and is gradually getting into the swing of things while Hitoshi Oyama has been given a license from this month. Oyama is married to Hitomi Miyashita, who had a very successful time riding at Busan five years ago.

Ikuyasu Kurakane is currently booting home winners at Seoul and the return of Fujii will be celebrated in the betting ring this coming Friday.

An injured Joe Fujii watches the races at Seoul

An injured Joe Fujii watches the races at Seoul

Jo Sung Gon Rides 6 Winners For 6 Different Trainers At Busan

Jo Sung Gon pulled off a remarkable feat at Busan Racecourse this afternoon, winning 6 of the 11 races – including 5 in a row – all for 6 different trainers and with only one slight odds-on chance among them.

Jo-nly me! Jo Sung Gon rode 6 winners at Busan today

Jo-nly me! Jo Sung Gon rode 6 winners at Busan today

Jo won Race 1 on Namdoui Yeowang, but didn’t strike at all between races 2 and 6, during which time Kim Yong Geun rode a treble of his own. From race 7 on, however, there was no stopping him as he won all of the remaining 5 races on the card.

Pick of the winners was in the class 1 feature where he guided the Peter Wolsley trained Ghost Whisper to a comfortable victory. It was the 14th win of the 6-year-old gelding’s career.

Busan’s reigning champion jockey, the 32-year-old Jo Sung Gon isn’t going to win the title this year. The main reason for this was that he gave his rivals a head start by spending the first three months of the season riding in Macau. Since his return, he has ridden 58 winners and lies 4th in the standings.

Best known among casual racing fans as being the regular jockey for Dangdae Bulpae (seen in the picture above) on whom he won an unprecedented 9 stakes races, he also has a Korean Derby and Oaks to his name and alongside Moon Se Young at Seoul, is widely considered as one of the top two jockeys in Korea.

Jo Sung Gon’s Six-Timer (with trainer name, margin and tote return):

Race 1: Namdoui Yeowang (Creek Cat), Jang Se Han – 4 lengths – 4.1
Race 7: Morning Hwiparam (Everydayissaturday), Lee Jung Pyo – 4 lengths – 3.9
Race 8: Yankee Dream (Yankee Victor), Han Sang Bok – 1.5 lengths – 3.0
Race 9: Forty Cure (Field Asuka), Choi Ki Hong – 1.25 lengths – 3.6
Race 10: Useung Radar (Student Council), Min Jang Gi – Head – 4.4
Race 11: Ghost Whisper (Gotham City), Peter Wolsley – 4 lengths – 1.9

Shinichi Bows Out Of Seoul But Nozi’s Back At Busan And Fujii Is Recovering

Shinichi Terachi has finished up his stint rising at Seoul Racecourse but there’s a familiar face back on the Korean racing scene as Nozomu Tomizawa returns to the peninsula to take up a 4-month jockey license at Busan.

Shinichi Terachi's biggest win in Korea came on Geumbit Hwanhui in the Seoul Oaks Trial (KRA)

Shinichi Terachi’s biggest win in Korea came on Geumbit Hwanhui in the Seoul Oaks Trial (KRA)

It was a challenging four months at Seoul for Terachi. The 35-year-old was able to get on plenty of horses but he wasn’t given a whole lot of quality to work with and ends with 7 winners from 159 rides. Whenever he got a horse with a chance of winning, he got the job done including two winners on his final weekend.

He also won on one which didn’t look to have a chance. Terachi’s biggest victory came in June’s Sports Seoul Cup, the capital’s main Oaks trial race, on 27/1 outsider Geumbit Hwanhui.

Nozomu Tomizawa in the Seoul paddock during his first stint in Korea (KRA)

Nozomu Tomizawa in the Seoul paddock during his first stint in Korea (KRA)

His departure leaves the remarkable Ikuyasu Kurakane, currently 2nd in the Seoul Jockey Championship, as the only foreign rider in the capital.

That’s because it’s to Busan, where Masa Tanaka has been having to talk to himself in the weighing room since the departure of Darryll Holland and long-term injury to Joe Fujii, that Nozomu Tomizawa will go as he returns to Korea five years after he finished up his first stint here.

Tomizawa arrived in August 2007 and battled away for almost two years racking up 47 winners from 722 rides at Seoul. He didn’t win any Stakes races but is best remembered for his partnership with the gelding Gamadongja – a horse that was really a sprinter – on whom Tomizawa won four Class 1 races at distances from 1200M to 2000M.

It won’t be Tomizawa’s first time at Busan. He has one win from eight mounts at the South Coast track on weekends when he visited to ride in Stakes races. The 33-year-old has spent most of his riding career in Australia and should fit in well with the similarly Antipodean-accented Tanaka, who is also committed to the track until at least the end of this year.

As for Masa Tanaka himself, the hugely personable jockey currently lies in 8th position in the Busan Championship and produced a cracking ride in Seoul this past Sunday to guide New York Blue to 3rd place in the Asia Challenge Cup.

Two days before the Asia Challenge Cup, Tanaka rode a double at Busan, one of which was for trainer Bart Rice. The South African is maintaining his superb strike rate with 21% of his starters winning since he opened his barn at the track last December.

Rice currently lies in 12th position in the Trainers’ Championship, having saddled more than 100 fewer starters than all but two of the trainers ahead of him. One of those two is Peter Wolsley, currently clear in 2nd place.

No update on foreign riders in Korea would be complete though without talking about Joe Fujii, The man who took over Toshio Uchida’s title as “the most popular Japanese person in Korea” was in Seoul last weekend to watch the Asia Challenge Cup.

While his broken shoulder is expected to keep him out for another three months, the ever-positive Fujii was in high spirits and with his license to ride in Korea having been extended despite his injury, he was looking forward to getting back to business on the track as soon as possible.

Fujii has won the Derby, the Oaks and the Grand Prix Stakes. Korean punters are looking forward to his return just as much as the man himself.

Joe Fujii watches the races at Seoul on Sunday. All punters want him back riding as soon as possible

Joe Fujii watches the races at Seoul on Sunday. All punters want him back riding as soon as possible

Magnificent Moon Se Young – 1,000 Up

Moon Se Young today went where only one Korean man has ever gone before and rode his 1000th winner.

Moon Se Young greets punters after his 1000th winner

Moon Se Young greets punters after his 1000th winner

A four-timer last Sunday had taken him to the brink and while he couldn’t quite close it out in the rain last week, it didn’t take him very long today.

Riding Cheonha Miin in race 1, a horse who under any other jockey would probably have been 2nd or 3rd favourite but under Moon was odds-on, he settled just off the pace, before finding the rail in the home straight and guiding his filly to a comfortable win.

An Hyo Ri greets Moon Se Young in the winner's circle

An Hyo Ri greets Moon Se Young in the winner’s circle

There was no overt celebration; a brief handshake with 2nd placed jockey Choi Won Joon as they pulled up was the only sign that this was anything other than another routine victory.

Indeed back in the winner’s circle, Moon tried to play it down, however, the presence of a KRA broadcast team and a large number of well-wishing punters scuppered that idea.

After a brief interview, Moon was ambushed by the several female members of the jockey colony who, just like those punters who had gathered, were determined not to let such an occasion pass without due recognition.

1,000 winners may not sound like a lot, especially for a 33-year-old. However, Korea is a little different. Moon Se Young qualified in 2001, in an age when jockeys were restricted to just 5 rides a week. Not a day, a week. Even when that restriction was lifted – and after Moon had served his time in the military – he could (and still can) only race 2 days a week; an absolute maximum of 20 rides.

An unconventional means of congratulations from Lee Ah Na

An unconventional means of congratulations from Lee Ah Na

Yet in that time, Moon Se Young has won everything. Among almost every big Stakes race, his most memorable victories came in the 2007 Grand Prix Stakes on Bally Brae in 2007 and then in a string of big races, including the Korean Derby in 2012, on the remarkable Jigeum I Sungan.

Only “President” Park Tae Jong has won more races than Moon. Park, 15 years Moon’s senior, is currently out injured but is approaching 2,000 winners. He is probably the only jockey who is a household name in Korea.

Moon Se Young, one of Korea’s great sportsmen, must soon be approaching that status. He finished the day on 1,002 winners.

Race 1 – Seoul Racecourse – 1300M – August 16, 2014

1. Cheonha Miin (KOR) – Moon Se Young – 1.9, 1.4
2. Royal Power (KOR) – Choi Won Joon – 3.3
3. Morning Heights (KOR) – Lim Gi Won – 1.2
Distances: 1.75 lengths/2.5 lengths – 7 ran

Female Korean Jockey Lee Keum Joo Wins In Morocco

Lee Keum Joo last week won the latest round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) 2014 at Hippodrome De Casablanca-Anfa in Morocco last Friday.

Lee Keum Joo and Kanzaman win in Morocco (Pic: IFAHR)

Lee Keum Joo and Kanzaman win in Morocco (Pic: IFAHR)

Riding the locally-bred and reasonably well-fancied Kanzaman, Lee finished almost a length ahead of German rider Tamara Hofer on favourite Saqr II.

Aside from professionals Lee and Hofer the majority of other riders were either local apprentices or visiting amateurs and included former British Champion Lady Amateur Serena Brotherton.

37-year-old Lee, who will no doubt appreciate the event website’s description of her as a “brilliant young rider”, debuted at Seoul in 2001 when she became only the 2nd woman to gain a jockey license in Korea.

She has had a stop-start career but returned to reasonably regular race-riding this year and is currently attached to the stable of trainer Lee Shin Young – who she qualified as a jockey with before the latter Lee went on to become Korea’s first female trainer. Lee Keum Joo now has 26 career wins.

The “World Championship” continues in Toulouse in France this week and has further global stops including Newbury in England before concluding in Abu Dhabi in November.

Full report from Sheikh Mansoor Festival website

Jo Sung Gon Gets Golden Number One Win in Macau

It’s not been an easy few months for Jo Sung Gon. Things got a little better for Busan’s Champion Jockey this weekend though as he finally made it into the winner’s circle in Macau.

Jo Sung Gon in the Macau Winner's circle (MJC)

Jo Sung Gon in the Macau Winner’s circle (MJC)

The victory came on his 42nd ride at Taipa Racecourse since taking up a 6-month license in January.

And a perfectly timed ride it was too, swooping late on Aussie bred Golden Number One (Happy Giggle) to steal the 1100 metre race 6 on Saturday right on the winning line.

The undisputed number one Korean jockey at Busan, Jo has found opportunities hard to come by in Macau – Golden Number One paid $160.50 on the Macau tote – but no doubt will benefit for the experience in the long-term.

In Korea, Jo Sung Gon has ridden 480 winners including the Korean Derby, Korean Oaks and three successive President’s Cups – Korea’s richest race – on Dangdae Bulpae. He’s currently stable jockey to Australian trainer Peter Wolsley.

Click here for race result and replay from the Macau Jockey Club.

ht: @hiromi9884

He’s Gon! Top Busan Jockey Jo In Macau For 6 Months

Jo Sung Gon has been granted a 6-month license to ride in Macau. The reigning champion jockey at Busan Race Park will have his first rides at Taipa this weekend.

Going...going...Jo Sung Gon is Macau bound

Going…going…Jo Sung Gon is Macau bound

31-uear-old Jo has won more races at Busan than any other jockey, with 480 since the track opened and has a career quinella strike-rate of 27%.

Jo’s big race wins include the Korean Derby in 2009 on Sangseung Ilro and the Korean Oaks in 2012 on Rising Glory, although he’s best known for his partnership with the recently retired Dangdae Bulpae, on who he won a Minsister’s Cup and 3 consecutive President’s Cups.

Most recently, Jo has been stable jockey to Australian trainer Peter Wolsley. He follows on from Seoul’s champion jockey Moon Se Young who also had a stint in Macau this time last year.

Jo will debut this Sunday with rides in six of the seven races on the card, including two for Korean trainer Seo Beom Seok who since the middle of last year has been simultaneously operating stables at both Seoul and Taipa.

Se Young’s Super Six

Champion jockey Moon Se Young was in imperious form at Seoul on Sunday, riding the winner in 6 or the 10 races on the card.

Moon Se Young

Moon Se Young

As has been mentioned many times on this blog, the standard of riding in Korea has been getting better and better over the past few years.

Seo Seung Un, while not the champion, was undoubtedly the jockey of the year in 2013 by virtue of his outstanding performance with limited firepower.

Lee Chan Ho, a first year apprentice is showing great potential, while Jo In Kwen pushed Moon all the way last year.

However, if there was any doubt as to who is the number one in the weighing room, it was dispelled today. All his mounts had chances and Moon brought them home with ruthless efficiency.

Those wins included both co-feature races, firstly with Brig (Menifee), a 4-year-old who was 4th in the Korean Derby last year and looks set to fulfil his potential this time around.

Then there was Bichui Wangja (Roman Ruler), a 4-year-old American import who held off two long shots to record his 5th career win. Seo Seung Un had ridden Bichui Wangja in all his previous outings before today. With Moon being available though, the ride went to him.

A smile would be nice: Even after Bichui Wangja give s him his 6th winner of the day, Moon Se Young is in no mood for celebration

A smile would be nice: Even after Bichui Wangja give s him his 6th winner of the day, Moon Se Young is in no mood for celebration

Earlier in Moon’s haul was Feel So Good (Ft.Stockton). The only Korean bred horse to win a race in the United States returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in 4 outings, winning race 6 by a nose. He’ll be in class 2 company next time out.

Down at Busan, we have some quality riders too although with Jo Sung Gon off to Macau, most of them are now foreign.

Joe Fujii and Darryll Holland both picked up where they left off from Friday by riding winners. Fujii added to his Friday four-timer by scoring a routine win on hot favourite Not Anymore (Casino Prince) in race 4. It was a 3rd win from 7 starts for the Aussie filly who has never finished worse than 3rd.

Two races later, Holland, who rode a double on Friday, landed the feature race for the 2nd time in as many meetings, guiding Grand Teukgeup (Menifee) to a comfortable win over 7 furlongs.

Joe Fujii Ton-Up At Busan

Joe Fujii became just the third ever foreign rider to reach 100 winners in Korea as he completed a double at Busan Racecourse this afternoon.

100-up : Joe Fujii

100-up : Joe Fujii

The Japanese jockey’s milestone came in race 11 as he partnered 4/1 chance Heba (Peace Rules) to victory.

That win – his second of the day – enabled Fujii to join his fellow countrymen Ikuyasu Kurakane and Toshio Uchida as century-getters in Korea.

His 100 includes some of Korea’s biggest races. He won the Grand Prix Stakes on Gamdonguibada last year and followed up with a Korean Derby and Korean Oaks double on Speedy First in 2013.

Joe – “Kanichiro” – Fujii has never ridden in his homeland of Japan, having travelled to Australia as a teenager to train as a jockey.

He narrowly missed out in the JRA exam this year and Japan’s loss is Korea’s gain as he continues to be the most in-demand jockey at Busan.

A highly professional rider, Fujii is also a highly likeable character who is a real student of horse racing.

One of very few foreign riders to have studied racing in Korea in detail before making the move here, he’s managed to not only become number 1 to Korea’s top trainer Kim Young Kwan, but also to achieve the almost impossible – to be liked by the local jockeys (although of course they would still love to see him depart).

His diligence has been reaping rewards with winners ever since he arrived and there’s no sign of it stopping.

French Jockey Jerome Lermyte Debuts At Busan Friday

There’s another addition to the foreign jockey ranks at Busan as French rider Jerome Lermyte makes his Korean debut on Friday.

Jerome Lermyte gets his Korean pose on (Pic: KRA)

Jerome Lermyte gets his Korean pose on (Pic: KRA)

The 24-year-old Lermyte may be young but he’s certainly well-travelled.

He started as an apprentice in France in 2005 and in his homeland he’s won several decent races including three “Tierce Cups”, the Derby de Lyon, the Grand Prix De Lyon and the Derby D’Angers.

Lermyte’s career also took him to Germany, Mauritius, the USA, Qatar and Kuwait before spending 2 years in Macau. Earlier this year, he had a stint riding in Western Australia.

With Ureshi Katsunori departing, Lermyte joins the Japanese pair of Joe Fujii and Masa Tanaka and Britain’s Darryll Holland as Busan’s overseas riders. Japan’s Ikuyasu Kurakane and Brazil’s Fausto Durso are the only foreign riders at Seoul.

Lermyte, who has a racing weight of 51kg, will have his first ride on Lethal Yeowang in Race 6 on Friday.