News

President’s Cup Countdown: Dangdae Bulpae Is On His Way

Dangdae Bulpae [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] has won more Stakes races and more prize-money than any other Korean horse in history. This coming Sunday, fitness permitting, he comes back to Seoul Race Park to attempt to win the President’s Cup, the nation’s richest race, for the 4th consecutive time.

2012

2012

2011

2011

2010

2010

It’s going to be his toughest challenge yet as he faces Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire), a Korean Derby winner 2 years his junior, for the very first time.

This is going to be a good one. We’ll have plenty more build-up over the next few days.

Kim Hae Sun Becomes First Korean Woman To Ride 100 Thoroughbred Winners

Kim Hae Sun made a little bit of Korean racing history on Saturday as she became to first woman to ride 100 thoroughbred winners here.

Ton-up: Kim Hae Sun drives another one home

Ton-up: Kim Hae Sun drives another one home

Her victory in race 2 at Seoul on 65/1 shot Dixie Bonny brought up the 100 and she quickly made it 101 by landing race 7 on Holiday Punch.

Kim Hae Sun graduated from the Jockey Academy in 2009 and quickly established herself as a competent rider with an aggressive style similar to that of Lee Shin Young – who scored 90 wins before becoming Korea’s first female trainer – but with better timing and technique.

Kim Hae Sun

That aggressive style has landed her in whip-trouble with the stewards but has helped her become popular among punters and connections alike.

She became the quickest woman to ride out her apprentice claim and then the first woman to finish in the top 10 of the jockey championship. On the sidelines for much of this year with injury, she currently lies 13th in the 2013 standings.

The history of female jockeys in Korea is surprisingly long but has too often been marred by tragedy. Down on Jeju Island, the remarkable Na Yu Na is closing in on her 250th winner, but she rides ponies, not thoroughbreds.

All weather winner: Kim Hae Sun

All weather winner: Kim Hae Sun

Things are looking good at Seoul now though with Lee Ah Na and Ahn Hyo Ri 2 and 3 years behind Kim respectively.

Both are riding plenty of winners and looking as though they have what it takes to make a successful career in the top rank of jockeys here.

As for Kim hae Sun, she’s riding freelance, which is a brave move for all but the very top jockeys. She’s yet to win a Stakes race and still rarely gets the top rides but keeps on bringing the winners home. It’s unlikely this milestone will be her last.

Audit Time

National Assembly Audit season, a 20-day showpiece of men-in-suits shouting at each other, is often a highlight of the year for political watchers.

Every governmental or quasi-governmental organisation from the Army to Electricity Board has to send its top brass to Yeouido to face those fierce protectors of the public interest, otherwise known as the lawmakers of the National Assembly.

Kim Yong Man (centre) of the KRA faces the audit (Pic: Yonhap)

Kim Yong Man (centre) of the KRA faces the audit (Pic: Yonhap)

Somewhere between the Army and the Electricity comes the Korea Racing Authority and Executive Director Kim Yong Man was up before the panel last week for the ritual grilling. And a dull affair it was too.

On the agenda were a number of subjects although the main focus was on the financials; operating profit was down to a mere KRW250 Billion (that’s about $240 Million). Meanwhile, in the least surprising news of the year, salaries throughout the organisation, from the Chairman down, are high – the hearing heard that the average KRA staffer now makes an annual salary of around KRW 90 Million – equivalent to the likes of Samsung Electronics.

Inevitably the proximity of Off-Track-Betting plazas to schools was also raised. In the wake of strong local resistance to an ongoing attempt by the KRA to relocate its OTB in Yongsan in Seoul to a site a block away from its existing one, this has been an issue seized upon by anti-gambling groups recently.

Horse racing didn’t come up.

Fly Top Queen, Watts Village, Full Moon Party To Represent Korea In Japan

Fly Top Queen, unbeaten in all of her 4 lifetime starts, heads the line-up Korean-trained horses who will go to Tokyo next month to compete in the 2nd-leg of the Korea Vs Japan Challenge. The race will be held at Tokyo-Ohi Racecourse on November 26.

Fumio Matoba and Tosen Archer in the SBS Korea Vs Japan Cup Winner's Circle at Seoul in September

Fumio Matoba and Tosen Archer in the SBS Korea Vs Japan Cup Winner’s Circle at Seoul in September

The first leg was won by Japanese raider Tosen Archer at Seoul Race Park on September 1. The Ohi race will be run over 1200 metres.

The undefeated Fly Top Queen (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Fly Top Queen (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Fly Top Queen (USA) [Henny Hughes – Cape Discovery (Cape Town)]

The 3-year-old filly was the most expensive racehorse ever imported into Korea when she arrived in mid-2012.

However, after suffering setback after setback, it took her over a year to reach the racecourse. She’s been worth the wait with all of her 4 victories coming in crushing style and all over the 1200 metre distance she will compete in here.

She’ll get her first proper test at Ohi. If she is good as she promises to be, she may very well come through it. 4 Runs 4 Wins

Watts Village

Watts Village

Watts Village (USA) [Forestry – Edey’s Village (Silver Deputy)]

A 3-year-old colt who was 2nd to Tosen Archer in the 1st leg at Seoul last month.

In doing so, he earned an official rating of 100 from the Singapore Turf Club handicapper who rated the race.

This ensured an invitation to the Dubai Carnival which remains an option (albeit unlikely). Many in Korea felt the rating to be slightly on the high side for a horse who had just finished 2nd to a 9-year-old Japanese sprinter (you’ll not see Tosen Archer in Dubai) but Watts Village is a talented competitor who could surprise again. 12 Runs 6 Wins 2 Seconds 1 Third

Trainer Lee Shin Young with Full Moon Party in the TJK Winner's Circle (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Full Moon Party(Pic: Ross Holburt)

Full Moon Party (KOR) [Vicar – Platinum Wildcat (Forest Wildcat)]

Set to be the only Korean-bred horse to take part in either “Korea Vs Japan” race, the 4-year old filly got her first Stakes win in the Turkey Jockey Club Cup in August but was very disappointing on her class 1 debut earlier this month.

That was over a much longer distance but while she’ll appreciate the sprint, she’ll still be very much the outsider. (17 Runs 7 wins 0 Seconds 3 Thirds 3)

With Ohi, located between Haneda Airport and downtown Tokyo, racing on dirt as opposed to the Korean style sand and, moreover, running clockwise, the home-team will be favourite to complete a double over Korea. However, don’t rule out an upset.

We’ll have plenty more on the build-up to the big race over the next month.

Durso Debuts With Winner

Fausto Durso enjoyed a good start to his time in Korea, riding a winner, a 2nd and a 3rd at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Fausto Durso returns after winning on his first mount as a full-time jockey in Korea

Fausto Durso returns after winning on his first mount as a full-time jockey in Korea

The Brazilian Jockey was in the Winner’s Circle on his only previous visit to Seoul, when he won the YTN Cup while taking part in the International Jockey Challenge in August this year.

It didn’t take him long to get back in there as his first ride today ended in a well-timed victory on 24/1 outsider Argosseon in race 6.

One race later, Durso managed 3rd on the much-better fancied Lion Galloper and was then just beaten into 2nd in race 11 on Sufficient Evidence.

Seoul’s other foreign jockey, Ikuyasu Kurakane, had another typically successful day. The Japanese rider scored 2 wins to take him up to the 50 mark for the year.

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, the track’s premier race for fillies and mares, will be the highlight. While Kurakane doesn’t have a ride, Durso will be reunited with Choichoro, who he won that YTN Cup on.

Concept Win, 3-time Leading Sire in Korea, Has Passed Away Aged 23

Concept Win, one of the most important stallions in the development of the Korean breeding industry over the last decade, has passed away.

Concept Win: 1990-2013

Concept Win: 1990-2013

The 23-year-old dislocated a hip and, having failed to respond to treatment, was euthanized at the Jangsu Stud Farm in Jeolla Province last month.

The winner of 9 races from 30 starts in the USA – all in California – from 1992 to 1996, Concept Win [Manila – Conveniently (In Reality)] was imported to Korea in 1997.

Best known for his fillies, Concept Win sired Luna, one of the best-known racehorses in Korea during the past decade and whose exploits were turned into a movie.

However, his best was perhaps Sangseung Ilro, who won the KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby in 2009 while finishing 2nd in the Oaks and 3rd in the Minister’s Cup. She went on to win the KNN Cup the following year, a race which another Concept Win filly, Yongduseong, won this year.

He sired good colts too. Among them was Namchonuijijon, Ttukseom Cup winner in 2007.

Concept Win was Leading General Sire in Korea in 3 consecutive years from 2004 to 2006 and finished among the top 5 on 6 other occasions.

Brazilian Jockey Fausto Pinto Durso Set For Seoul

Fausto Durso, who rode at the International Jockey Challenge in Seoul last month, is set to return to Korea for an extended stay after being granted a short-term license at Seoul Race Park.

Back To Seoul: Fausto Durso

Back To Seoul: Fausto Durso

The 39-year-old has spent the last few years racing mostly in Macau and was representing the Macau Jockey Club on his previous visit, during which he won the feature race of the event, the YTN Cup.

A Sao Paolo native, who racked-up over 700 wins in Brazil before coming to Asia, Durso has ridden more than 600 winners in Macau and has won the Macau Derby. He has also ridden in Dubai and Malaysia.

He he is winning the YTN Cup on Choichoro, reeling in Noel Callow on Dongseo Daeryuk:

The move is one of an increasing number of interactions between Korean and Macau. Seoul’s champion jockey Moon Se Young spent 3 months riding there earlier this year and Busan champion Jo Sung Gon is set to go soon. Additionally, Korean trainer Seo Beom Seok (also known as Kenny Seo) has set up a stable in Macau with 12 horses which he runs alongside his one at Seoul.

In other foreign jockey news, Japanese rider Ikuyasu Kurakane has been granted a 6-month extension to his license beginning October 1. Down at Busan, Britain’s Darryll Holland has also been offered an extension. Meanwhile, Joe Fujii, winner of the Grand Prix Stakes, Korean Derby and Korean Oaks during his time in Korea so far, is in the process of applying to the JRA in his native Japan.

Weekend Preview: No Racing – Happy Chuseok!

There is no racing in Korea this weekend due to the Chuseok – “Korean Thanksgiving” – holiday.

chuseok

Things get back to normal next week when the Donga Ilbo Cup will be the highlight at Seoul.

Mister Park Statue Set For Busan Unveiling

A statue honouring the late Mister Park will be officially unveiled during racing at Busan Race Park this coming Sunday.

The Mister Park statue will have its official unveiling this weekend

The Mister Park statue will have its official unveiling this weekend

Mister Park (Ecton Park) won the Grand Prix Stakes in 2010 and broke the Korean record for most consecutive victories before suffering a fatal injury in a race at Busan on June 23, 2012.

Mister Park with trainer Kim Young Kwan, jockey Yoo Hyun Myung and owner Kwak Jong Soo after winning the 2010 Grand Prix

Mister Park with trainer Kim Young Kwan, jockey Yoo Hyun Myung and owner Kwak Jong Soo after winning the 2010 Grand Prix

The life-size statue took five months to complete and Mister Park’s owner Kwak Jong Soo will attend to officially dedicate it to his horse. A special booklet “I’m Mister Park” has also been produced for the occasion.

Mister Park's final resting place in Busan

Mister Park’s final resting place in Busan

Mister Park, who was 5-years-old when he passed away, ran 22 times, winning on 19 occasions. He was Korean Horse of the Year in 2011. Read more about him here.

Charming Girl – 0 for 100 – To Be Retired This Month

Charming Girl, the 8-year-old mare who reached the somewhat questionable landmark of 100 starts with 0 victories last Sunday, will be retired later this month.

Charming Girl and Yoo Mi Ra return after another defeat

Charming Girl and Yoo Mi Ra return after another defeat (KRA)

Owner Byun Young Nam said that Charming Girl (Pacific Bounty) will make one more start at the end of September before leaving Seoul Racecourse for good, presumably with a record of 0 for 101.

She will be retired to Gungpyeong Farm in Gyeonggi Province for retraining for recreational riding or dressage.

In her 96th race in May, Charming Girl broke the Korean record for most starts without a victory. She has been ridden on 80 occasions by jockey Yoo Mi Ra.