Bart Rice, who arrived in Korea at the end of last autumn, finally sent out a runner at Busan Race Park on Friday afternoon and he fond immediate success as that runner, Gyeongnam Sinhwa, won race 3.
Debut winner: Bart Rice (KRA)
The 37-year-old, who is the 3rd foreign trainer to be licensed in Korea, has put together a string of 22 horses since his arrival although – no fault of the trainer – they appear to be in varying states of race-readiness.
US import Gyeongnam Sinhwa (Keyed Entry) was himself making his racecourse debut and after being sent off at odds of 8/1, landed victory by a length under French jockey Jerome Lermyte, who was himself scoring only his 2nd win in Korea.
Rice’s other 2 runners on Friday were unplaced but his 33.3% strike rate will stand for some time. He doesn’t have any entires on Sunday and racing takes a break next weekend for the Lunar New Year holiday.
Korean Derby and Oaks winner Speedy First and Minister’s Cup winner Major King are in the United States where they will be trained and raced for at least the first part of the year.
Stateside: Korean Derby and Oaks winner Speedy First
The pair, who between them won 3 of the 4 Korean Classic races in 2013, arrived at JFK Airport last week and are currently in quarantine. They are then expected to transfer to Laurel Park in Maryland to enter training.
Speedy First [Menifee – Speedy Deedy (Victory Gallop)] is a 4-year-old filly who has won 6 of her 10 starts to date. In May last year, she became the 5th filly to win the Korean Derby and added another classic in August with a comfortable win in the Oaks at Busan.
Major King [Pico Central – Still Golden (Gold Fever)] was third in the Derby, but had his revenge in the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the Triple Crown when he scored a 2-length win. An out of sorts Speedy First finishing last that day.
He might have fluffy ears, but Major King is a Classic winner. he is also in the US
Neither finished the 2013 season especially strongly, Speedy First slumping to another defeat in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup while Major King was an also ran in the President’s Cup, the effects of a long season being blamed for both.
They are by no means the first Korea bred horses to run Stateside. In 2008, a horse called Pick Me Up went to the US and ran – extremely unsuccessfully – at Charles Town, Laurel and Delaware Park. A year later, 2007 Korean Oaks winner Baekpa also went across and ran similarly poorly.
That prompted the Korea Racing Authority to change their approach a little and to send a small group of yearlings and 2-year-olds to Florida each year in the hope of proving their belief that it wasn’t necessarily that Korean-bred horses could compete if trained the same way as their American counterparts.
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
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.
Well that was a short break. 2014 racing gets underway at Busan on Friday and the full racing calendar is now online. Be sure to check the blog every Thursday for the preview and any potential changes.
The MBC network’s “Gayo Daejun” – the annual K-Pop marathon that traditionally sees in the New Year, marked 2014 being the Year of the Horse with a special performance at Seoul Racecourse shown just before midnight last night.
CN Blue at Seoul Racecourse
The segment, which was pre-recorded, featured “pop rock” group CNBLUE performing under the floodlights on the winning line at a deserted track.
The 5-hour long live broadcast Gayo Daejun (or “Song Festival”) has been airing in some form on New Year’s Eve since the mid 1960’s.
Dangdae Bulpae, a three-time winner of the President’s Cup, has been retired.
Dangdae Bulpae in the President’s Cup winner’s circle – a place he made his own
A winner of 19 of his 32 starts, Dangdae Bulpae won a Korean record 10 Stakes victories and amassed a record KRW 2.9 Billion (around US$2.6Million) in prize money. Among those Stakes wins were three consecutive triumphs in Korea’s richest race, the President’s Cup.
By the unfashionable – and generally unsuccessful – Japanese sire Biwa Shinseiki and out of the Alydeed mare Indeed My Dear, Dangdae Bulpae debuted as a 2-year-old in 2009, running a rather inauspicious 5th place over 5-furlongs. He won his next 4 though, which was enough to allow him to take his chance in the 2010 Spring Classics.
Jo Sung Gon reacts as Dangdae Bulpae crosses the finish line (Pic: Newsis)
He could only manage 8th in the KRA Cup Mile but on his first trip to Seoul, he was an impressive 3rd in the Korean Derby behind Cheonnyeon Daero. The winner that day would spend most of the rest of his career looking at Dangdae Bulpae’s tail.
Maturing in the autumn, Dangdae Bulpae won the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup and then landed the first of his President’s Cups.
This set the tone for the next two years and although he had the occasional off-day – neither of his two attempts on the Grand Prix Stakes were successful – he and the late great Mister Park became the dominant Korean bred horses of their era.
He generally came off second-best to Mister Park, including one comical afternoon where the two found themselves facing each other with 1st year apprentice jockeys on their backs as both trainers baulked at the weights they’d been assigned in the handicap.
Most of the time though, things were serious and Dangdae Bulpae was a serious racehorse. While the 2300 metres of the Grand Pix proved out of his distance range, he did win the “Summer Grand Prix”, the Busan Mayor’s Trophy in 2012 in a another golden year that culminated in his 3rd and final President’s Cup triumph.
2013 saw him add another Stakes win – the Busan Ilbo Cup in February – but injury then intervened and it was a very different Dangdae Bulpae who lined up in Seoul last month to try for his 4th President’s Cup. He ran a shadow of his former self and retirement was immediately decided on. Dangdae Bulpae had done quite enough.
Horse racing in Korea although run on the flat, is similar to jumps racing in that its stars can have reasonably long careers on the track. From a sporting point of view, this is an overwhelming positive as we get to follow our favourites for a number of years. From a welfare point of view, it relies heavily on owners doing the right thing by their horses both before and after retirement.
Since I started writing this blog back in 2007, there have been perhaps two big “eras” of Korean racing. The first, from 2007 until mid-2010, was dominated by an American import, Dongbanui Gangja. However, the star of the second, from mid-2010 to the present, was the home-grown Dangdae Bulpae. He’ll be missed but has thoroughly earned his retirement to stud.
Jigeum I Sungan is set for retirement following his 2nd-place finish to Indie Band in the Grand Prix Stakes last Sunday.
Jigeum I Sungan
The 4-year-old colt heads off to Stud with career figures of 13 wins from 25 starts and earnings of over US$1.6 Million.
Champion jockey Moon Se Young rode Jigeum I Sungan in all his big races
After winning his debut race, Jigeum I Sungan [Ingrandire – Solmaru (Mujaazif)] didn’t return to the winner’s circle until his 8th start, which was his 2nd as a 3-year-old.
He was 5th in the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Triple Crown, but did enough to qualify for the Derby, which he went on to win by a length.
Jigeum I Sungan allows punters to pet him after he won the Jeju Cup. Try doing that with Tough Win or Dongnaui Gangja and they’d have eaten you.
He followed up in the autumn by taking the final jewel of the Crown, the Minister’s Cup, this time by a commanding 4-lengths. A month later he ran 2nd to Dangdae Bulpae in the President’s Cup but to the disappointment of punters, was kept away from the Grand Prix.
It was this year though that he hit his peak. Jigeum I Sungan began 2013 with 6 consecutive wins, among them the Seoul Owners’ Cup and the inaugural Jeju Governor’s Cup.
His run finally came to an end in the Turkey Jockey Club Cup in August although he quickly bounced back from that to record what would turn out to be his last victory in September.
He closed out his career with a 3rd place in the President’s Cup and then finally his 2nd on Sunday, both times behind Indie Band.
Jigeum I Sungan – “This Is The Moment” in English – has been one of the stand-out performers of the last few years in Korean racing and will be missed. He deserves the retirement that he’s been promised.
Ever wanted a pair of Joe Fujii’s goggles? No? Well, you should and now you can. Busan’s foreign jockeys have teamed up with Korean racing magazine “Seoul Gyongma” for their Christmas auction.
Clockwise from top left: Darryll Holland, Joe Fujii, Jerome Lermyte and Masa Tanaka
Fujii has donated the saddle he used when riding Gamdonguibada to victory in last year’s Grand Prix Stakes as well as Road To Prince’s saddlecloth.
The other foreign jockeys currently riding at the track; Darryll Holland, Masa Tanaka and Jerome Lermyte all supplied several pairs of signed goggles.
The haul up for auction at Seoul Gyongma includes Gamdonguibada’s Grand Prix saddle
Details of the auction will be in this weekend’s editions of “Seoul Gyongma” with all proceeds to charity.
While other races may carry more prize money, in terms of honour and prestige, the Grand Prix Stakes is second to none in Korea.
It’s a race that has had movies named after it and is, perhaps, the only domestic horse race to register in the national consciousness.
Gamdonguibada and Joe Fujii return to Seoul to defend the Grand Prix Stakes title they won last year
Sunday December 15 at Seoul Race Park sees the 32nd edition of the race. It’s young in international terms, but in a country where the private ownership of racehorses – and therefore prize money and big Stakes races – go back less than two decades, it is positively venerable. With race fans invited to vote on which horses they want to see in the starting gate, it is the undisputed Championship race in Korea. There is no question of the best horses trying to avoid each other as there is nowhere else to go. In the Grand Prix, the best face the best.
This is because whereas the Classics are restricted to Korean bred entrants, the Grand Prix is open to all. Indeed in the previous 30 editions, home-bred horses have ended up in the winner’s circle just four times (including Mister Park who was born in Korea after his dam was imported while in foal). Fillies or mares have won the race five times with Ka Shock Do taking back-to-back wins in 1990 and 1991.
The origin of the winners also shows the change in influence on Korean racing. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the vast majority of horses imported to Korea were from the Southern Hemisphere. This is reflected by Australian or New Zealand breds winning thirteen of the first sixteen runnings, compared with just one American. Since the turn of the century, the majority of imports have come from the USA and American breds have won seven out of the last nine editions.
As recently as 1999, a non-thoroughbred was triumphant. Saegangja was by the established sire Fiercely, however, his dam Chuk Je, was not in the studbook. That won’t happen again as year on year, Korean racing gradually becomes more mature.
Last year’s winner Gamdonguibada is likely to be among the favourites to retain her crown. 2011 champion Tough Win (Yonaguska), won the Busan Mayor’s Trophy – also known as the “Summer Grand Prix” – and while he has not looked at his best this autumn, can’t be ruled out.
Tough Win will try to regain the title he won in 2011
2012 Korean Derby winner Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire) makes his first attempt on the race while Smarty Moonhak (Smarty Jones), who was 3rd in 2011 at the age of 2, is set to complete a remarkable recovery from over a year off with tendonitis by taking his chance too.
As ever, there are one of two who will be notable by their absence. Dangdae Bulpae has tried and been found wanting in this race before with the 2300 metre distance beyond him and he didn’t even appear on the ballot paper this time around.
Also likely to swerve the race is Indie Band, who was last seen breaking Dangdae Bulpae’s three-year stranglehold on the President’s Cup last month.
One who will definitely be there though is 5-year-old mare Secret Whisper (Sea Of Secrets). Last year, Joe Fujii became the first foreign jockey to win the race and in Secret Whisper, Peter Wolsley has an opportunity to be the first foreign trainer.
One other first already assured this year is that the race will be simulcasted to Singapore – the first time a Korean race will be shown live overseas.
Next Sunday, Gamdonguibada and Tough Win will seek to join Dongbanui Gangja, Ka Shock Do and the great Po Gyeong Seon as double winners of the race and prevent a new name being added to the list of horses below who, for one year at least, can claim to have been the undisputed best.
2012: Gamdonguibada (USA) [Werblin – Radyla (Country Pine)] 2011: Tough Win (USA) [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] 2010: Mister Park (KOR) [Ecton Park – Formal Deal (Formal Gold)] 2009:Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] The now seven-year old two-time champion is a likely starter this year. 2008: Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] 2007:Bally Brae (USA) [Yarrow Brae – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] – Also has two second places to his name, in 2006 and 2008. Like his great rival Subsidy, Bally Brae too passed away this year after a short illness having been retired to the Korea Horse Affairs High School. 2006:Flying Cat (KOR) [Western Cat – Flying Wood (Tapping Wood)] 2005:Subsidy (USA) [Mr. Prospector – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] The last son of Mister Prospector died in a paddock accident earlier this year. 2004:Value Play (USA) [Mt. Livermore – Return Of Mom (Deputy Minister)] 2003:Tempest West (USA) [Silent Tempest – Westabout (Gone West)] 2002: Bohamian Butler (USA) [Patton – Circus Princess (Forli)] 2001: Tahamkke (NZ) [Dance Floor – Cantango (Danzatore)]- has gone on to become a moderately successful sire in Korea 2000: Cheolgeoun Party (KOR) [Big Sur – Party Paint (Acaroid)] – The only Korean bred filly to win. 1999: Saegangja (KOR) [Fiercely – Chuk Je] (non-thoroughbred) 1998: Sin Se Dae (AUS) [Avon Valley – Meroo Star (Starboard Buoy)] 1997: P’Ulgeurim (NZ) [Crested Wave – Evocative (Sea Anchor)] 1996: Hula-Mingo (NZ) [Broadway Aly – Zamatina (Zamazaan)] 1995: Dae Kyeun (AUS) [Northern Regent – Romantic Evening (Sunset Hue)] 1994: Ji Goo Ryeok (AUS) [Pine Circle – Perfect Choice (Lunchtime)] – The first year prize-money was awarded, Ji Goo Ryeok’s connections took home 50 Million won. This year’s winner will receive as record high of nearly 300 Million, the most in its history. The Korean Derby and the President’s Cup are both worth more to the winner. 1993: Gi Peun So Sik (NZ) [Bolak – Belserena (Serenader)] 1992: Chun Pung (NZ) [Coral Reef – Little Jo] (non-thorougbred) 1991: Ka Shock Do (NZ) [Engagement – Nursery Rhyme (Namnan)]- With her second , she became arguably the greatest filly to run in Korea. In all, she won twelve of her thirteen starts. 1990: Ka Shock Do (NZ) [Engagement – Nursery Rhyme (Namnan)] 1989: Cha Dol (USA) [Mr Redoy – Honest’N Do Right] 1988: Wang Bang Wool (AUS) [Moon Sammy – Aqua Nymph (Crepone)] 1987: Cheong Ha (AUS) [Suliman – Pigalle Wonder (Exalt)] 1986: Po Gyeong Seon (NZ) [Danseur Etoile – Leonotis (Lionhearted)] – with twenty wins from twenty-five starts, he is, along with Saegangja and J.S. Hold one of the three 1985: Po Gyeong Seon (NZ) [Danseur Etoile – Leonotis (Lionhearted)]
* Although this is the 32nd running of the Grand Prix, Korean racing records officially only go back to 1985.
* This is an updated version of a post that appeared on this blog in the build up to last year’s Grand Prix. And the year before and the year…etc.
The newest addition to the training ranks at Busan Race Park is Korea’s 3rd foreign trainer. South African Bart Rice was officially granted a license this week.
South African Bart Rice is Busan’s latest foreign trainer (KRA)
37-year-old Rice grew up in Zimbabwe and began working as an assistant trainer in South Africa as soon as he left school and worked for a number of trainers before striking out on his own in 2002.
Since then, Rice has trained at a number of tracks across South Africa and also in Zimbabwe, amassing a decent number of winners.
An all-rounder, the trainer has also moonlighted in show-jumping and as a driver in harness racing.
The arrival of Rice and his wife Pam, who will be his assistant, has taken longer than expected due to the lengthy process required to secure a visa. Now that they are here, the task of getting horses into their barn begins.
Isidore Farm, always great supporters of the foreign trainers here, have sent Rice his first two with Ecton Lass and North Sky moving across from Peter Wolsley.
Wolsley is the role-model for any frougn trainer coming here although it took the Australian two years to get established. However, two years was all that American Joe Murphy, the only other overseas trainer to try his luck here, was given.
Horse Racing in Korea 