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SBS Korea-Japan Goodwill Cup – Final Preview

The horses have arrived, the draw has been made and everything is set for history to be made on Sunday afternoon as Tosen Archer, Big Gulliver and Final Score become the first foreign-trained horses to run in Korea.

From left: Final Score, Tosen Archer and Big Gulliver

From left: Final Score, Tosen Archer and Big Gulliver

They are accompanied by three Japanese jockeys; Daisuke Mashima, Takehiro Kashiwagi and the veteran 57-year-old Fumio Matoba. Delegations from the Singapore Turf Club and the Dubai Racing Club are also in Seoul for the event.

From left: Daisuke Mashima, Fumio Matoba, Takehiro Kashiwagi

From left: Daisuke Mashima, Fumio Matoba, Takehiro Kashiwagi

Ultimately it comes down to a horse race though and it is an intriguing one. The Japanese trio have impressed all who have seen them in morning workouts since they arrived in Seoul just over a week ago.

Tough Win, seen here w Home hope: Tough Win (KRA)

Tough Win, seen here w Home hope: Tough Win (KRA)

However, the confirmation that Tough Win, considered to be the best horse in training in Korea, will run has given a huge boost to local hopes of a Korean win in the event.

Here is a full run-down on the field of 14 that will contest the big race, shown live on SBS-ESPN at 4:20pm:

SBS Korea-Japan Goodwill Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – September 1, 2013 – 16:20

1. Pureun Miso (USA) [Malibu Moon] 3 Filly (10/4/1/3) – Jun Duck Young
A nice looking filly who looks set to improve more in future. She has, however, been beaten by a number of her rivals here this year.

2. Dongbanjaui Gijeok (USA) [Half Ours] 3 Colt (9/5/2/0) – Moon Se Young
Flopped last time out over this distance in his class 1 debut. Hopefully that was a one-off as he had been showing a lot of promise up to that point. He has the champion jockey on board but it would still be a surprise if he was troubling the places.

3. Tosen Archer (JPN) [Barathea] 9 Horse (47/5/2/5) – Fumio Matoba
Looks like there is little to choose between him and Bug Gulliver as the best of the Japanese visitors, the 9-year-old has been very impressive in trackwork this week and his seemingly unimpressive 5 wins from 47 starts may not mean much.

4. Mari Daemul (USA) [Go For Gin] 4 Colt (17/5/3/2) – Shin Hyoung Chul
Well beaten when finishing 2nd to Tough Win last time out, even though this is a much shorter distance, that will probably happen again. Having said that, he won’t be far off the pace.

5. Sydney Jewelry (AUS) [Lion Heart] 4 Colt (13/6/2/1) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
The only Aussie-bred in the race has come close but has never won since reaching class 1. He should enjoy dropping down in distance and could be an outside bet for a place.

6. Celebrate Tonight (USA) [Songandaprayer] 5 Horse (24/5/2/4) – Jang Chu Youl
Not in the best of form and while he is another who should enjoy a rare opportunity at running in a one-turn race, it would be a surprise to see him challenge here.

7. Watts Village (USA) [Forestry] 3 Colt (10/5/1/1) – Seo Seung Un
Very nice looking colt, especially over sprint distances. He won’t be favourite but he will have his supporters who believe he can pull off an upset. Worth watching the tote board for some value, be it to win or to show.

8. Gold Big (USA) [Henny Hughes] 4 Colt (24/5/1/1) – Yoo Seung Wan
A solid campaigner but is unlikely to have the turn of foot necessary to compete here. Unlikely to be in contention at the business end of the race.

9. Nolbu Manse (USA) [Simon Pure] 4 Colt (22/5/4/3) – Kim Ok Sung
At one time seen as future star, he has really struggled recently and was well beaten by Watts Village over the distance last time out.

10. Remember Bulpae (USA) [After Market] 3 Horse (8/4/1/1) – Jo In Kwen
The JRA Trophy winner is in really good form and looks a really good prospect. He prefers longer distances but if there is an upset, he could be the one to pull it off. It’s unlikely but if it’s value you are looking for, he could well provide it.

11. Big Gulliver (JPN) [Tap Dance City] 5 Horse (28/8/8/2) – Takehiro Kashiwagi
Another who has really impressed in his trackwork this week, he won his last start last month over this distance and could well start favourite.

12. Tough Win (USA) [Yonaguska] 6 Gelding (29/22/2/1) – Cho Kyoung Ho
The home team’s big hope. He has won at every distance from 1000M to 2000M and given the home bias of punters, he will probably be favourite. If he runs to his best, it will take an exceptional performance from one of the visitors to beat him.

13. Indian Blue (USA) [Henny Hughes] 3 Filly (10/3/2/3) – Ikuyasu Kurakane
Her jockey is in incredible form right now and although the filly hasn’t won since landing the Segye Ilbo Cup in February, she will love this distance and is not without a chance of good finish.

14. Final Score (JPN) [Fusaichi Pegasus] 8 Horse (40/6/7/4) – Daisuke Mashima
The least impressive of the Visitors since arriving in Koreaand also on recent form. However, that is not to say he will be too far out of touch. It would be a surprise if he was to win though.

Sunday September 1

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 13:00 to 18:00 including the SBS Korea-Japan Goodwill Cup at 16:20
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 16:45 to 19:40

Smarty Moonhak Successfully Completes Race Trial At Seoul

Smarty Moonhak (Smarty Jones) has re-qualified for racing following 14 months on the sidelines.

The 4-year-old became the youngest ever horse to run in the Grand Prix Stakes when finishing 3rd behind Tough Win in 2011 before succombing to tendinitis, which was discovered after a disappointing run in the Busan Metropolitan Stakes last June. He subsequently underwent stem-cell treatment.

Smarty Moonhak comfortably won the very pedestrian 5-furlong trial at Seoul Race Park this morning under champion jockey Moon Se Young.

Ikuyasu Kurakane & Lee Chan Ho Ride High At Seoul

Lee Chan Ho shot to the top of his graduating class with a remarkable display of riding at Seoul Race Park this past weekend.

Winning: Lee Chan Ho

Winning: Lee Chan Ho

The 21-year-old apprentice, who debuted in June rode 4 winners on Saturday and added another on Sunday for a total of 5 wins from 11 rides.

He also managed 2 third-place finishes on Sunday.

Lee’s exploits take him to 10 winners from 79 rides in his short career so far and see him lose one of the 4-kilos of weight allowance that brand new apprentices are able to claim.

Still claiming the full amount are the three others who qualified with Lee. However, Kim Tea Hun, Song Jae Chul and Jo Han Beol are all also off the mark and it looks like we are seeing another good crop of young jockeys as the Seoul Jockey Academy continues to excel.

Another, altogether more experienced jockey, is also in a rich vein of form. Japan’s Ikuyasu Kurakane returned to Korea for a second spell earlier this year and a Sunday afternoon treble sees the 37-year old rise to 6th in the Jockey Championship with 37 winners.

Fellow Japanese rider Joe Fujii may be winning the big ones at Busan, but the workaholic Ikuyasu is bringing in the numbers at Seoul

Korean Apprentice Kim Hyun Joong Rides Winner At Asia Young Guns

Kim Hyun Joong returns from New Zealand with a win under his belt, having guided his mount to victory in the final race of the Asia Young Guns Challenge at Te Rapa Racecourse on Saturday.

Winner in New Zealand: Kim Hyun Joong

Winner in New Zealand: Kim Hyun Joong

Finishing among the also-rans in the first two heats of the three-race series meant Kim didn’t finish in the top three overall in the Challenge, which was won by Harry Kasim representing Singapore.

However, the Busan-based jockey made it a day to remember as he rode Aussie-bred Seams Like Magic (Duelled) to a narrow win by a head in the mile-long race.

Kim Hyun Joong qualified as a jockey last year and has ridden 16 winners at Busan from 269 rides.

It’s the second year in a row that a young Korean jockey has performed well at Asia Young Guns after Seo Seung Un’s overall third-place finish last year.

The Asia Young Guns Challenge, which brings together some of the Asia-Pacific region’s most promising young riders, will be held in Korea in 2015.

Korea vs Japan in SBS ESPN Goodwill Cup Set For September 1

Overseas-trained horses will run in Korea for the very first time as three Japanese runners will make the trip to Seoul for the SBS ESPN Goodwill Cup on September 1. In November, three Korean horses will make the return trip to Tokyo.

It's Korea vs Japan in the SBS ESPN Goodwill Cup

It’s Korea vs Japan in the SBS ESPN Cup

After what has been a long process to win government approval due to Korea’s strict quarantine rules, the Japanese entrants will arrive in Korea on August 22 and be transported directly to a special quarantine zone in Seoul Racecourse. Japanese jockeys will be in-town to ride in the race.

The visitors, 8-year old Final Score, 9-year old Tosen Archer and 5-year old Big Gulliver will line up against a maximum of 11 Korean-trained horses with Grand Prix Stakes and Busan Metropolitan Stakes winner Tough Win set to head the home challenge.

In a major coup, the 7-furlong race will be shown live on SBS ESPN, Korea’s leading cable and satellite Sports Network, who will also lend their name to the event.

The return leg, at Ohi Racecourse on Tuesday November 26 – the “Japan Collaboration Cup” – will be run over 6 furlongs and, like the first leg in Seoul, will have a prize fund approaching $250,000.

A maximum of 14 horses will run in each race. Here’s a rundown of the entrants at this stage (Name [Sire] Age, Sex (Starts/1/2/3):

SBS ESPN Korea/Japan Goodwill Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – September 1, 2013 – 16:20

Japan

Final Score (JPN) [Fusaichi Pegasus] 8 Horse (36/6/7/4)
Tosen Archer (JPN) [Barathea] 9 Horse (47/5/2/2)
Big Gulliver (JPN) [Tap Dance City] 5 Horse (28/8/8/2)

Korea

Pureun Miso (USA) [Malibu Moon] 3 Filly (10/4/1/3)
Tough Win (USA) [Yonaguska] 6 Gelding (29/22/2/1)
Sydney Jewelry (AUS) [Lion Heart] 4 Colt (13/6/2/1)
Sing Sing Cat (USA) [D’Wildcat] 5 Horse (26/10/3/1)
Maengsan Horangi (USA) [El Nino] 4 Gelding (12/5/3/1)
Nolbu Manse (USA) [Simon Pure] 4 Colt (22/5/4/3)
Dongbanjaui Gijeok (USA) [Half Ours] 3 Colt (9/5/2/0)
Murangae (USA) [Sunriver] 4 Gelding (25/1/6/4)
Celebrate Tonight (USA) [Songandaprayer] 5 Horse (24/5/2/4)
Remember Bulpae (USA) [After Market] 3 Horse (8/4/1/1)
Stradiot (AUS) [Strada] 4 Colt (14/3/1/1)
Damyang Chukjae (USA) [Good Reward] 4 Colt (15/3/2/2)

(3yo’s will carry 55Kg and 4yo’s 57Kg. Fillies & Mares receive a 2Kg allowance).

International Jockey Challenge: Day 1 Review – Callow and Moon Winners

Noel Callow won the Macau Jockey Club Trophy while the Horse Racing Ireland race went to Moon Se Young

Noel Callow Dismounts from Victory Dancer

Noel Callow Dismounts from Victory Dancer (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Noel Callow on Victory Dancer edges out Fausto Pinto on Blue Camp to win the MJC Trophy

Noel Callow on Victory Dancer edges out Fausto Pinto on Blue Camp to win the MJC Trophy (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Macau Jockey Club Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 1400M

1. Victory Dancer (KOR) – Noel Callow
2. Blue Camp (KOR) – Fausto Durso
3. Geomtan (KOR) – Raymond Danielson
Distances: 0.5 lengths/2.5 lengths
Also ran: 4. Last Mudae – You Hyun Myung (KOR) 5. Sen Tank – Jo In Kwen (KOR) 6. Daebagyeonchul – Shinichiro Akiyama (JPN) 7. Black Swan – Park Tae Jong (KOR) 8. Hayan Nuri – Niall McCullagh (IRE) 9. Changcheon – Moon Se Young (KOR) 10. McKenzie Boy – Yucel Bilik (TUR) 11. Cheolli Gisang – Seo Seung Un (KOR) 12. S-Way – Jo Sung Gon (KOR)

Eutteum Khan (far side) and Moon Se Young, win the HRI Trophy (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Eutteum Khan (far side) and Moon Se Young, win the HRI Trophy (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing's Mark O'Hanlon presents Moon Se Young with the winner's...vase (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing’s Mark O’Hanlon presents Moon Se Young with the winner’s…vase (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Horse Racing Ireland Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – Aug 10. 2013

1. Eutteum Khan (KOR) – Moon Se Young
2. Yeoui Gold (KOR) – Jo In Kwen
3. Blue Band Zet (KOR) – Jo Sung Gon
Distances: Neck/4 lengths
Also ran: 4. Suho Cheonsa – Park Tae Jong (KOR) 5. Chongal Gongju – You Hyun Myung (KOR) 6. Dangchan Miso – Yucel Bilik (TUR) 7. Chiming Vicar – Raymond Danielson (SA) 8. Bukdaepung – Fausto Durso (BRZ) 9. Victory Camp – Shinichiro Akiyama (JPN) 10. Onnuri Plaza – Niall McCullagh (IRE) 11. January Queen – Seo Seung Un (KOR) 12. Geuma Queen – Noel Callow (AUS)

The challenge concludes on Sunday when there are 14 races at Seoul from 13:00 to 19:40. On show in other races will be Jiegum I Sungan and Fly Top Queen on a massive day of racing in the capital.

Noel Callow Wins Macau Jockey Club Trophy

Noel Callow has won the first leg of the International Jockey Challenge at Seoul Race Park (Pictures: Ross Holburt)

Noel Callow Dismounts from Victory Dancer

Noel Callow Dismounts from Victory Dancer

Macao Jockey Club Cup Presentation

Macao Jockey Club Cup Presentation

Noel Callow on Victory Dancer edges out Fausto Pinto on Blue Camp to win the MJC Trophy

Noel Callow on Victory Dancer edges out Fausto Pinto on Blue Camp to win the MJC Trophy

Macau Jockey Club Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 1400M

1. Victory Dancer (KOR) – Noel Callow
2. Blue Camp (KOR) – Fausto Durso
3. Geomtan (KOR) – Raymond Danielson
Distances: 0.5 lengths/2.5 lengths – 12 ran

Seoul International Jockey Challenge 2013: The Home Team

We’ve already taken a look at the jockeys who will be visiting Korea to make up the Rest Of The World team in this weekend’s Seoul International Jockey Challenge, now it’s time to examine the home team.

Moon Se Young

Moon Se Young

Moon Se Young: The reigning champion jockey at Seoul, Moon has won just about every big race going in his 12-year career to date including the Korean Derby and Grand Prix Stakes.

Second on the all-time Korean winners’ list with nearly 900 wins. Earlier this year, Moon spent a successful 3 months riding in Macao and despite giving his rivals such a head start, is already up to 3rd in the 2013 championship at home

Park Tae Jong

Park Tae Jong

Park Tae Jong: The only jockey to have ridden more winners than Moon Se Young, Park is also perhaps the only jockey to be known by the wider Korean public.

In his 26 years in the saddle, he’s ridden nearly 2,000 winners (from just 11,000 rides) and has won pretty much all there is to win in Korea. Korean Oaks aside, if he’s not won it, no-one has.

Jo In Kwen

Jo In Kwen

Jo In Kwen: One of the new generation of jockeys who benefitted from the KRA’s improved training during the last few years, Jo In Kwen debuted in 2008 and currently leads the 2013 standing with 62 winners.

Only three Stakes wins to date but very talented and is expected to go on to become one of the dominant jockeys of the next decade in Korea.

Seo Seung Un

Seo Seung Un

Seo Seung Un: He burst onto the scene in 2011 riding 2 winners on his debut weekend. He then went to the USA for further training, riding 2 winners in the process. He participated in the Asia Young Guns Challenge in Macao last year.

Seo rode out his apprentice claim in a Korean record time and, while yet to secure the really big rides, currently lies 2nd in the 2013 championship.

Jo Sung Gon

Dangdae Bulpae and Jo Sung Gon will look for a 2nd consecutive Busan Metropolitan

Jo Sung Gon: Busan’s champion jockey will travel to Seoul for the event and when he comes to the capital, Jo Sung Gon usually wins. That’s because he’s usually partnering Dangdae Bulpae, who’s won more Stakes races than any other Korean horse.

He won’t be on him this time but Jo is considered by some observers to be the most talented local jockey at either Seoul or Busan and is currently running away with the 2013 Busan championship.

Yoo Hyun Myung

Yoo Hyun Myung

Yoo Hyun Myung: Another Busan jockey completes the home team. Yoo Hyun Myung won the Grand Prix Stakes on Mister Park at Seoul in 2010 and has been consistently among Busan’s top riders for the last few years. He comes into the event in good form.

All jockeys will compete in four races over the weekend, culminating in the YTN Cup on Sunday evening. Rides will be allocated by a draw which will take place at Declarations on Thursday afternoon at Seoul Racecourse.

Noel Callow Among 6 Riders Headed For Seoul International Jockey Challenge

While Seoul is dark this weekend, next week sees the first of two big events with an international flavour at the capital track.

On September 1, the SBS Goodwill Cup will involve 3 horses visiting from Japan – the first time foreign trained horses will have run in Korea. First up though on August 10 and 11 is the annual Seoul International Jockey Challenge when 6 visitors will take on 6 locals in the Jockey Challenge over 4 races culminating in the YTN Cup.

A strong line-up has been secured this year. Here is a run-down of the international team:

Niall McCullagh

Niall McCullagh

Niall McCullagh (Ireland) – Returning to Seoul after taking part in the 2010 event, the 44-year-old has been a consistent performer in his native Ireland for over 20 years.

Since his last trip to the Korean capital, he has secured the biggest prize of his career, guiding Royal Diamond to victory in the 2012 Irish St.Leger. Watch the race here.

Noel Callow

Noel Callow

Noel Callow (Australia – representing Malaysia) – A prolific winner whose big race victories include the 2005 Victoria Derby and the 2008 Singapore Derby, the globe-trotting Aussie Noel “King” Callow will be in Seoul to represent the Selangor Turf Club.

While successful at home, primarily on the Victorian circuit, it is in Asia where Callow is best known with a number of stints in Singapore – where he was leading Jockey in 2007 – and Malaysia. He has also ridden in Mauritius where he became something of a folk-hero among local racing fans.Here he is winning the 2008 Emirates Singapore Derby on Top Spin.

Fausto Durso

Fausto Durso

Fausto Pinto Durso (Brazil – representing Macau) – The Sao Paolo native, with nearly 700 wins in his homeland has been a long-term fixture in Macau where he has racked up over 600 winners.

His biggest triumphs came in 2010 when, among other Group 1’s, he won the Macau Derby.

He has also ridden in Dubai and Malaysia as well as the occasional weekend in Hong Kong. Here he wins the 2010 Macau Hong Kong Trophy on Viva Hong Kong.

Raymond Danielson

Raymond Danielson

Raymond Danielson (South Africa) – Qualifying in the same class as Richard Fourie and Muzi Yeni – both alumni of this event – Raymond Danielson has ridden nearly 500 winners in South Africa.

Danielson rode the winner of the Group 1 Champions Cup at Greyville in 3 consecutive years from 2009-2011.

Here he is winning the 2011 edition on The Apache.

Yucel Bilik

Yucel Bilik

Yucel Bilik (Turkey) – Turkey always sends one of its top jockeys to this event and this year is no exception.

Only last month, 29-year old Yucel Bilik landed the biggest win of his career, guiding Divine Light to victory in Turkey’s richest and most prestigious race, the G1 Gazi Derby. Watch the race here.

Shinichiro Akiyama

Shinichiro Akiyama

Shinichiro Akiyama (Japan) – This year, the JRA sends a 16-year veteran with nearly 800 winners to his name.

Lightweight jockey Shinichiro Akiyama has a number of big wins under his belt but is best known in his homeland for victories in the NHK Mile Cup and the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. Here he is winning the 2012 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on Robe Tissage

We’ll have more on the build-up to the event – including a look at the home team – over the next few days.

All jockeys will compete in 4 races; 2 on the Saturday and 2 on the Sunday. Mounts will be drawn on Thursday.

The same weekend will also see exchange races sponsored by racing authorities from Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, Ireland and Macau.