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Twenty-Nine Years of the Grand Prix

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.

Double Grand Prix Winner: Dongbanui Gangja

Sunday sees the 29th 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 28 editions, home-bred horses have ended up in the winner’s circle just three times. 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 eighties and nineties, 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 six out of the last seven 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.

Dongbanui Gangja already shares the record for most Grand Prix wins with two. On Sunday he has the chance to make it three, thereby going ahead of Ka Shock Do and the great Po Gyeong Seon. He’s got a massive task on his hands to prevent a new name being added to the list of horses who, for one year at least, can claim to have been the undisputed best.

2009: Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)]
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.
2006: Flying Cat (KOR) [Western Cat – Flying Wood (Tapping Wood)]
2005: Subsidy (USA) [Mr. Prospector – Foreign Aid (Danzig)]
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 212 Million, the same as last year but slightly down on 2008. The Korean Derby is worth in excess of 250 Million 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)]

Choi Bum Hyun will be bidding to become the first jockey to win the race twice. While the current top four of Choi, Moon Se Young, Cho Kyoung Ho and Park Tae Jong have all won the race once, Lee Sung Il, who retired in 2005 is the only other jockey to have won twice.

* Although this is the 29th running of the Grand Prix, Korean racing records officially only go back to 1985.

“Annuity Lottery” Set For Korea

Racing might be being less than gently encouraged to reduce its revenues – because gambling is bad – but the government is desperately trying to breathe new life into one of its myriad gambling rip-offs “lotteries”. Because gambling blindly on numbers is obviously good for society.

Happy Punting! Good gambling, not that nasty racetrack stuff

According to the Korea Times, lottery revenues have fallen from 3.8 Trillion won in 2003 to 2.4 Trillion won last year as punter move to more sophisticated online – and illegal – gambling platforms. To try to counter this, one government-run lottery, the scratchcard based “Speetto 2000” is offering players a salary instead of a lump-sum. While a familiar concept around the world, where most lotteries offer winners the chance to receive their prizes in installments, this is a first for Korea.

Marketed as a “Pension” in a society where the idea of a private pension is just taking off, starting next April, Speetto 2000 is offering a first prize of 5 Million won (about $4,6000) won payable every month for twenty years. Previously known for a 2006 incident where they mistakenly printed too many jackpot tickets, Speetto is also abandoning smaller cash prizes for runners-up. Instead, those who score a near-miss will receive an electric car. Which they can use to drive to the track.

Mockery aside, Gyongmaman will be purchasing his ticket come next April. 5 Million won is a pretty healthy pot to start handicapping the weekend’s form with.

Han Sang Kyu, Classic Winning Jockey, 1978-2010

There was sad news from Busan this week as jockey Han Sang Kyu passed away on Monday. The thirty-two year old never regained consciousness after being involved in a car accident in the city last Thursday.

Han Sang Kyu and Pangpang win the 2009 Korean Oaks (KRA)

Han Sang Kyu turned professional in September 2002, in the same graduating class as, among others, You Hyun Myung, Gu Min Sung and Lee Ae Li. Initially riding at Seoul Race Park, he joined the group of riders relocating to the new track at Busan upon its opening in 2005.

During his career, Han rode 129 winners from 1515 rides. He achieved his first major race win in 2008, when he partnered outsider Wonder Love to victory in that year’s Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup. The following year would see his biggest triumph as on Pangpang, he reeled in and overhauled the odds-on favourite Sangseung Ilro in the final furlong to win the Korean Oaks

Han Sang Kyu: 1978-2010

Han Sang Kyu had recently been appointed retained jockey to trainer Joe Murphy. His first rides for his new employer were set for the day after his accident. As it was, his last day of racing was October 31.

A funeral service was held for Han at the KRA’s Busan auditorium on Wednesday. In attendance were his family including his wife, sister and parents. Well liked in the Korean racing community, many jockeys, trainers and officials from both Busan and Seoul were also there.

Han Sang Kyu was married this spring and is survived by his wife, who is expecting their first child.

Here is his 2009 Oaks win on Pangpang:

Pictures from KRA via Chulgigi

It’s Seoul vs Busan In President’s Cup

Weekend Preview: Dangdae Bulpae / Cheonnyeon Daero / Triple Seven

Seoul is locked down for the G20 summit, but it’s G1 that we’re interested in here and the G1 President’s Cup, the biggest race on the calendar restricted to Korean-bred horses which will be run at Seoul Race Park on Sunday.

Favourite: Dangdae Bulpae

It brings together not only the year’s top three-year olds to face their seniors but also pits Seoul horses against their counterparts from Busan for the sixth time this year. Seoul leads three to two but it is Busan who will be favoured to come away on top on Sunday.

Dangdae Bulpae heads the field. Third in the Derby but a runaway winner of the Minister’s Cup, he’s already beaten older horses in the Gyeongnam Governer’s Cup. Cheonnyeon Daero won the Derby, but was a distant second in the Minister’s Cup and will have to find plenty more to win here. Third in the Minister’s Cup was Glory Yeonggwang, the surprise winner of the Gold Circle Trophy and improving with every race – he’ll have “Mr Pink” Toshio Uchida riding him on Sunday.

All to do: Cheonnyeon Daero

Three older horses also come up from Busan. Yeonseung Daero has been a frustrating talent over the past two years, but he ran Tough Win a very close second in the Busan Metropolitan and on his day, can beat anyway. Golden Appeal has only lost to Dangdae Bulpae in his last four outings while Lucky Dancer is likewise in good form.

For the home team, Ttukseom Cup winner Triple Seven is the biggest name, however, the five year old has been in indifferent form recently and was beaten last month by another runner, Natural Guy, who himself will need to improve a lot to have a chance to win this. Geumgani is improving, with three wins out of his last four, including the Munhwa Ilbo Cup, while Suseong TX was an impressive winner of a class 1 handicap last month. Holy Dreamer, Money Teukgeup, Baengnyeonbong and Hongji complete a field where none can be ruled out entirely.

Home Team Hope: Triple Seven

It’s set to be a great race and will be the culmination of a weekend of racing on the peninsula which begins at Busan and Jeju on Friday and moves to the capital on Saturday before both Seoul and Busan stage meetings on Sunday.

Six jockeys from Busan will be in the capital to ride in the President’s Cup. Jo Sung Gon will be joined by Lim Sung Sil, Park Geum Man, Chae Gyu Jun, Choi Si Dae and Toshio Uchida. Busan is currently mourning the death of jockey Han Sang Kyu in a car accident earlier this week.

Here’s a full list of runners and riders in the President’s Cup:

President’s Cup (KOR.GI) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – November 14, 2010, 17:00

1. Geumgangi (SEOUL) C (16/5/4/1) – Cho Kyoung Ho
2. Lucky Dancer (BUSAN) H (23/10/3/2) – Chae Gyu Jun
3. Golden Appeal (BUSAN) C (14/9/3/1) – Lim Sung Sil
4. Glory Yeonggwang (BUSAN) C (15/4/2/4) – Toshio Uchida
5. Baengnyeonbong (SEOUL) C (21/7/2/7) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
6. Dangdae Bulpae (BUSAN) C (11/8/0/1) – Jo Sung Gon
7. Cheonnyeon Daero (BUSAN) C (14/4/6/2) – Park Geum Man
8. Triple Seven (SEOUL) H (30/10/4/6) – Choi Bum Hyun
9. Natural Guy (SEOUL) G (27/5/6/2) – Yoon Tae Hyoug
10. Holy Dreamer (SEOUL) G (15/8/0/1) – Jo In Kwen
11. Yeonseung Daero (BUSAN) C (25/11/4/3) – Choi Si Dae
12. Money Teukgeup (SEOUL) C (21/6/4/4) – Park Tae Jong
13. Hongji (SEOUL) H (35/9/11/4) – Lee Sang Hyeok
14. Suseong TX (SEOUL) H (17/6/3/3) – Moon Se Young

And here’s what’s happening where and when this weekend:

Friday November 12

Busan Race Park: 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 13:00 to 17:30

Saturday November 13

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:30

Sunday November 14

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Radioactive Casino Chips

Men Reportedly Planned To Use Geiger Counter to Beat Game!

Not racing related but another insight into the shady world of illegal gambling in Korea which is evidently flourishing. The Joongang Ilbo reports that police in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province (about 30km south of Seoul) have arrested two Vietnamese men after a raid on a farm thought to be used by an illegal gambling ring.

Nothing unusual about that, but the paper goes on to report that the men were found in posession of twelve small pieces of radioactive material. These pieces were to be slipped inside small gambling chips made of paper and used in a “Vietnamese Guessing Game” – the two sides are painted different colours and the men allegedly planned to use a geiger counter to correctly determine which side would be facing up.

The news comes a day after the same paper reported on another Vietnamese gambling ring, this time in North Gyeongsang province. This one was reportedly taking illegal bets on the Vietnamese National Lottery.

* While the only radioactive things at the racecourse this weekend were Gyongmaman’s predictions, on the racing regulatory front, trials of the Electronic Card that the National Gaming Control Commission (NGCC) hopes to make compulsory for all legal gamblers, are underway. An interesting possibility was raised this weekend though in that in order to sweeten the deal for punters, the card would also act as a “mileage card” with bettors potentially getting a 1% rebate on all wagers. As of now, however, it’s pure speculation.

Mr Pink Returns To Busan

Toshio Uchida Draws a Blank on Korean Return

Ever since he left Korea at the very end of 2008, there have been constant whispers that he might return. First he was only going to be away until the end of Spring – “He’s gone to spend his money, but he’ll be back to get some more”, local jockeys muttered darkly in the Busan weighing room. Weeks turned into months and then a year. Still the speculation continued though and today Toshio Uchida “Mr Pink” – friend of the punters – made his return to Busan Race Park twenty-two months after he left.

No wins today but Mr Pink is back (Pic: KRA)

Veteran Japanese jockey Uchida arrived in Korea in May 2008. He quickly proved himself to be a class act in the saddle; able to judge the pace of a race far more effectively than the local riders – the legacy of nearly thirty years of experience in Japan. He quickly became something of a phenomenon at Busan. Throughout the rest of the year, headlines such as “Uchida Lands Five at Busan” and “Uchida Dominates Busan” became a regular Friday night ritual on this blog.

Despite giving his rivals a four-month head start, he raced away with the 2008 Jockey Title at Busan, scoring a total of 69 winners from 311 mounts. Such was his popularity that when he made his only appearance at Seoul Race Park on Minister’s Cup weekend that autumn, the capital’s punters chanted his name and thronged the paddock ten-deep to get a close up view of the man who had suddenly made them pay attention to the Busan simulcast.

Today Uchida had a quiet day. Debuting in race 4 on Joe Murphy’s Beautiful Bogo, he finished last of nine and didn’t get much closer despite a couple of reasonably well-fancied runners among his five rides; fourth place on Cheonman Yeongung being his only money finish.

Uchida is back in Korea on a short-term license. Punters will hope it’s for the long term. He joins a very strong Japanese contingent at the southern track in the shape of Yoshi Aoki and Hitomi Miyashita.

* In the feature race at Busan today, Winning Perfect was the shock 38/1 victor in the feature race. The three-year old colt held off favourite Triple Sinhwa in the ten-furlong handicap. Racing returns to Busan on Sunday when there are six races from 12:40 to 16:30. Uchida has two rides.

Subsidy, Last Son of Mr. Prospector, Retired at 10

Subsidy, Grand Prix winner and Horse Of The Year in Korea in 2005 has been officially retired at the age of 10, his owners confirmed at the weekend. One of the final foals by the late Mr. Prospector, Subsidy [Mr. Prospector – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] was born on March 29, 2000, nine months after the death of his illustrious sire.

Subsidy (KRA)

Subsidy was a late arrival to Korea, not being imported until the age of four. These days, the only horses older than two who arrive here are for breeding purposes and it is almost unheard of for a new arrival to have racing experience. Subsidy, however, was a veteran of 14 races in the US.

He made his debut as a two-year old on November 11, 2002 over 6 furlongs at a sloppy Delaware Park, finishing an encouraging second. He made one more appearance as a two-year old at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York but was a disappointing eighth. Reappearing at Pimlico the following spring, he ran second again. After a couple more outings back at Delaware Park, he was taken to Monmouth, where he scored his first – and only – victory on US soil in a 6 furlong allowance race on July 12, 2003.

At the end of his three-year old season he was sold to Korea. His US racing record was 14 runs with 1 win, 4 seconds and 1 third. In total he won $51,000. Four months after his last US appearance – a claiming race at Philadelphia Park between Christmas and New Year – he debuted in Korea on April 3, 2004 winning at seven furlongs with ease. He did enough throughout the remainder of his four-year old campaign to merit an invite to the season ending Grand Prix in December. It didn’t quite go to plan as he finished sixth. However, he was not done with this race.

2005 was Subsidy’s year. He won the Owner’s Trophy in April and, despite suffering a surprise defeat to Value Play in the KRA Chairman’s Cup the following month, harvested big handicaps throughout the summer and autumn and headed into the Grand Prix as favourite. He didn’t disappoint. Hitting the front as the field turned for home, Subsidy stretched away for a three length win, taking Korean racing’s biggest prize as well as the Horse of the Year award.

By 2006, Bally Brae was on the scene. A year younger than Subsidy, the pair would spend the next three years battling it out in big handicaps. Their connections could have avoided each other in all but the very biggest races but they would regularly meet. In the Grand Prix of that year, neither would win as Flying Cat took the honours with Bally Brae in second and an out-of-sorts Subsidy back in fourth. Only running five times in 2006, Subsidy still picked up three wins. It was Bally Brae though who picked up Horse of the Year.

In early 2007, Subsidy and Bally Brae had their most memorable battle as, despite giving the rest of the field an almost ten-kilo weight advantage, they engaged in a private duel over the last four furlongs, battling each other right up until the line. Subsidy came out on top that day in a race that, given the fondness for both of these horses, will always be special for Korean racing lovers.

However, later that year, Bally Brae would get his own back as he dominated the Grand Prix, beating Subsidy into second by place by four lengths. That Grand Prix goes down as one of the great “what might have beens” for Korean racing. 2007 was the year of J.S. Hold, but the three-year-old Triple Crown winner had already run his last race by the time the Grand Prix came around. Likewise the “white light”, Baekgwang, another star domestic-bred horse was also injured. No-one will ever know if either could have beaten Bally Brae and Subsidy, the two dominant horses of their generation.

By 2008, it was clear that Subsidy’s star was waning. He still managed three wins but, faced with a restrictive weight to carry in the big handicaps, things were getting more difficult. Subsidy’s last win came on September 7, 2008. Second in that race was Dongbanui Gangja. The margin was a nose. By the time of the Grand Prix later that year, Dongbanui Gangja was established as top horse on the peninsula.

Subsidy continued to run sporadically – and finish in the money until what has now been confirmed as his last race, the 2009 Owner’s Trophy. Dongbanui Gangja won that day with Subsidy finishing sixth. Old rival Bally Brae wasn’t there – they had said their goodbyes the previous month as Bally Brae comfortably beat him in a Saturday handicap.

He wasn’t officially retired then. Always sensibly campaigned, his owners had said that so long as he could be competitive and safe, he would run again. In July 2010, he took part in a Friday morning race trial and won easily, re-qualifying him for the real thing. The real return never happened though. Subsidy will be retired to a private farm. One of those few horses in Korea known by name rather than number, the gelding who went from being a mid-week claimer at Philadelphia Park to winning a Grand Prix in front of 80,000 passionate punters and amassing over $1Million in prize money, has earned his retirement.

Seoul Saturday Selections

It’s been a long week. Time for some punting. Here is what Gyongmaman will be losing his money on at Seoul Race Park tomorrow:

Race 1: Domestic-bred Class 6 (D6) 1200M – Dreadful fare to begin with. Of these three-year old fillies, Geumbit (Number 1) has done the least wrong and is worth a bet. Lane Green (12) will be more fancied.

Race 2: D5 1200M – Gate Shine (10) will be odds-on. If you must take him on, do so with Yeast (2).

Let's hope for more of this

Race 3: D6 1000M – A host of unraced two-year olds here. Korean punters like experience and will probably make Nicole Windsor (3), who has underachieved in her four starts, favourite. Of the debut-makers, Huimangpyeongchang (6) and Palgigun (11) take the eye.

Race 4: D6 1000M – More two-year olds in this. Arieon (12) and Huimangdaero (3) have placed before but Misocheonguk (1) is where the value will be.

Race 5: D5 1300M – Sharp Concept (9) is one for one and should still provide plenty of place value as few expect him to handle to increase in trip and class. Should they be correct, Eunbit Cheonsa (7) is the one to win.

Race 6: Foreign-bred Class 4 (F4) 1000M – The highly anticpated debut of Mass Media (1). He has the same name as his sire (his original name was Mass Media’s Tea). Should he fail to live up to expectations, Imperial Girl (3) could be the one to capitalise.

Race 7: D4 1700M – Jeongsang Cheonha (1) should have too much for this field. Twenty-one race maiden Yongwangseong (8) could be value for a place.

Race 8: D4 1800M – Small field of just seven means there’s no place value. None of these inspire much confidence although Isang (7) is interesting and Mulmangcho (3) should have a chance at a decent price.

Race 9: D3 1700M – Very competitve. A winner at this class and distance but coming off a two month lay-off and with an unfashionable jockey on board, Power Of Money (3) will offer generous odds.

Race 10: D2 1200M – The Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup – It will be a big surprise if Magic Party (2) failed to land this championship race for two-year olds. You’ll not get rich betting on her though. Smyth (4) will be second favourite for good reason.

Race 11: D2 1900M – Dongbang Rose (5) skipped last week’s Minister’s Cup for this. She’d better win it.

Race 12: F3 1400M – If you’re still in the game by this time, it’s probably a good idea to put your money back in your pocket. Moonhaksan (7) should win this but he’ll be odds-on.

* Racing at Seoul gets underway at 11:20 with the last at 17:50. There is also racing at Jeju Island with nine races from 12:10 to 17:20. Two races from Jeju will be simulcasted to Seoul.

Too Good Dangdae Bulpae Strolls Minister’s Cup

Busan Sweeps Placings In Final Leg of Triple Crown

Last week, Tough Win was crowned King of Seoul. Today, Dangdae Bulpae came up from Busan and put in a performance every bit as impressive to win the Minister’s Cup – the final leg of the 2010 Korean Triple Crown – and take his place as the year’s top Korean bred three-year old.

Dangdae Bulpae & Jo Sung Gon in the Mininter's Cup Winner's Circle

The similarities were striking. Completing the ten-furlongs just half a second slower than Tough Win did in the KRA Cup Classic, Dangdae Bulpae, like his US-bred counterpart last week, won the race with a quick burst of speed as the field entered the home straight, sewing things up with a furlong remaining. Indeed, so confortable was the win that jockey Jo Sung Gon spent the last 100 metres striking posing for the 60,000 racegoers in attendance.

And he had every right to do so. The horse who got closest to him was Cheonnyeon Daero. It was a valiant effort from the Derby winner but at no stage did he look like threatening the winner. Completing a Busan clean-sweep of the placings was Glory Yeonggwang, a further length and a half back in third.

Lost in the haze: Cheonnyeon Daero had to settle for second today

Indeed, Busan’s remaining entrant, Triple Sinhwa took fourth. It’s a remarkable achievement for the Gyeongnam track and one that should have Seoul’s trainers once again asking what they are doing wrong. In the event. Tamnaseontaek was the first of Seoul’s finishers – and in fifth, the only one to gain any prize money.

Those recriminations – and believe me, we’re going to have them here very soon – can wait. Today is about celebration and anticipation. Dangdae Bulpae, now a winner of eight races from eleven starts, has already beaten older horses in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup and today he only needed to show a fraction of what he might be capable of. Race fans can only hope that his connections prove ambitious and want to test him against foreign horses.

The biggest event on the Korean racing calendar is the season-ending Grand Prix Stakes. It’s open to all and punters vote on horses to receive invitations. Now that Busan horses are also eligible, Dangdae Bulpae’s election should be a formality. Whether the invitation will be accepted or not is quite a different matter. Let’s hope it is as waiting for him back in Seoul in December will surely be none other than Tough Win.

Minister of FAFF Cup (KOR G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – October 10, 2010

1. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.7, 1.1
2. Cheonnyeon Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat – Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship)] – Park Geum Man – 1.4
3. Glory Yeonggwang (KOR) [Didyme – Lady Sandido (Sandrigo)] – Mun Jung Won – 6.1

Distances: 6 lengths/1.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Triple Sinhwa 5. Tamnaseontaek 6. Gayabobae 7. Forest Wind 8. Best Holls 9. Bonsol 10. Andy’s Runner 11. Hey Dey 12. Medlin Speed 13. Tracker 14. Yerimi

* Thanks to Roar for the upload.

Could Be A Classic

Dongbanui Gangja vs Tough Win Part 2

It could be. This Sunday sees the re-match between double Grand Prix champion Dongbanui Gangja and the young pretender to his crown as best horse in Korea, Tough Win as they both line up for the Group 3 KRA Cup Classic at Seoul Race Park. The pair met for the first time down at Busan in July and on that day it was the three-year old Tough Win who came out on top breaking Dongbanui Gangja’s run of twelve straight victories.

However, the pair never really faced off. The notoriously hard to control Dongbanui Gangja veered wildly off course on the final turn squandering any chance of victory. Tough Win took the victory, but it was a close-run thing with Vicar Love and Yeonseung Daero both getting very very close to him. Nevertheless, he won and good horses don’t need to win by much, they just need to win and Tough Win has a perfect eight for eight.

Choi Bum Hyun will return to partner Dongbanui Gangja. Choi missed the Busan Metropolitan due to injuryand it was Moon Se Young in the saddle when the five-year old went wide. However, in his previous run with Choi on board at Seoul in April, Dongbanui Gangja had done exactly the same thing. That day, he got away with it.

Even if Dongbanui Gangja does stay straight, he will still have to contend with a back-breaking 63 kilos to carry. The younger Tough Win carries more than 4 kilos less. They both have eleven other contenders to deal with too. Larrycat and Hwanggeumjandi are young up-and-comers while Angus Empire and Baekjeonmupae have been competing at the top level for nearly three years now. Owners’ Cup winner Serendipper is the only filly or mare in the race.

The KRA Cup Classic is race 9 of an 11 race card at Seoul Race Park on Sunday. Racing gets underway at 11:20am with the big one at 5pm. Here’s a full list of the runners, weights, race records and rider:

KRA Cup Classic (KOR.G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – October 3, 2010, 5pm

1. Hwanggeumjandi (USA) – 56kg – (11/5/0/2) – Kim Young Jin
2. Baekjeonmupae (NZ) – 57.5kg – (34/10/7/2) – Yoo Sang Wan
3. Emperor Cugat (AUS) – 53kg – (17/4/4/2) – Han Sung Youl
4. Kahnui Jeonseol (NZ) – 51kg – (24/2/5/5) – Jo In Kwen
5. Free Hugs (AUS) – 58kg – (34/5/9/4) – Shin Hyoung Chul
6. Indian Secret (USA) – 53kg – (21/4/1/2) – Won Jung Il
7. Park’s Pride (NZ) – 51kg – (12/3/4/1) – Lee Gi Hweoi
8. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) – 63kg – (25/17/4/2) – Choi Bum Hyun
9. Tough Win (USA) – 58.5kg – (8/8/0/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho
10. Angus Empire (USA) – 59kg – (38/11/8/4) – Moon Se Young
11. Larrycat (USA) – 55kg – 12/5/3/2 – Park Tae Jong
12. Serendipper (AUS) – 54kg – (30/4/7/3) – Lee Sang Hyeok
13. Cheonjidolpung (USA) – 52kg – (24/5/0/4) – Boo Min Ho