Derby winning filly takes on 2008 Derby winner at Busan
This year’s KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby winner returns to the racecourse on Sunday as Sangseung Ilro makes her first appearance since missing out on completing the Triple Crown in October.
Sangseung Ilro was a dominant winner of the season’s first two classics against the colts but then was upset by Pangpang on a hot night in August at the Korean Oaks. Following the Oaks. it emerged that she was struggling with a shin problem and she didn’t reappear until her assault on the Triple Crown at the Minister’s Cup at Seoul in October. That day she finished third behind stablemate Namdo Jeap and Seoul’s top three-year old, Nice Choice.
With rest and recuperation now complete, Sangseung Ilro will line up with twelve others in Busan’s feature race this coming Sunday where she will run straight into the winner of the 2008 Derby, Ebony Storm. The four-year old is himself making his first start since June and what shape either of these two Classic winners are in will go a long way to determining the outcome of this race.
Aside from Sangseung Ilro and Ebony Storm, an interesting field will assemble for the 1800 metre handicap. Carrying top weight will be another three-year old, Top Grade. With six wins from ten starts, the colt will be stepping back a furlong after a disappointing run over 2000 metres earlier this month. Also going will be the always dangerous Sinheung Gangja.
Busan runs just four races on Sunday following on from an eight race card on Christmas Day.
After being frozen out last Sunday, the Herald Business Cup, Seoul’s top Juvenile race, has been re-arranged for this coming Saturday, December 12 to create a big race double-header this weekend, what with the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Barring any late withdrawals, all eight who were scheduled to run last week will line-up on Saturday afternoon including the top pair of Seonbongbulpae and Northern Ace. Seonbongbulpae will be the likely favourite. Click here for last week’s preview.
Meanwhile,Chulgigi has a post up over at his blog showing the farcical scenes at Seoul Race Park last Sunday as seemingly the entire KRA, including Chairman Kim Gwang Won, strolled down the home straight looking for ice, nearly two hours after the first race was due to start. If only they’d done it earlier in the morning, they might have annoyed less people.
Icecapades - A Sunday stroll with the KRA (Photo: Chulgigi)
Horse Racing and photography go well together. Each year, Gyongmaman sets a resolution to get more pictures on this site. Next year, he will manage it. Perhaps. In the meantime, it is time to announce that the 2009 Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance Photo Contest is accepting entries.
The contest, in its second year, is open to absolutely anyone and the subject is simply “horse racing”. The only restriction is that the picture must have been taken this year.
Koreans like their cameras and Gyongmaman happens to know that some of the best photographers on the peninsula are occasional visitors to the track. The closing date is Sunday December 13, so just in time for local photographers to get plenty of shots of the Grand Prix to enter into this international contest.
So the weekend is over and both Seonbongbulpae and Northern Ace retain their unbeaten records. Sadly this is not because of a thrilling dead-heat finale to the Herald Business Cup, but rather that the Sunday’s racing at Seoul was called off long before the two-year old championship race was due to go to post.
The first two races on Saturday were run in blizzard-like conditions with heavy rain and snow reducing visilibility to dangerous low levels (Chulgigi has some pictures of a romantic looking Race Park and a video of Saturday’s terrifying race 2 on his blog). After the second race, jockeys lobbied stewards to call things off, however, the snow almost instantly cleared and, following the hour break for simulcasting from Busan, there wasn’t a trace of the earlier snow and things went on as usual.
Overnight on Saturday and into Sunday morning, temperatures dived down to -10C, causing the heavy track to freeze. At trackwork on Sunday morning, trainers and riders reported it was too dangerous to race. Nevertheless, while it was cold, no more snow was forecast, the sun was out and the wind was nothing like as strong as that on Saturday so the KRA opted for a wait-and-see approach and punters began filing in at 10am.
With jockeys not wanting to race, races 1 and 2 were cancelled, however, an inspection deemed the track safe for race 3 to go ahead at 12:10pm. Jockeys Jung Ki Young, Moon Se Young and Cho Kyoung Ho (all senior enough to be able deal with any later consequences) decided not to ride and their mounts were scratched. Following the race, feedback was taken from the jockeys who did ride. They reported clumps of ice on the track and the decision was then taken to abandon racing for the day.
While the decision was undoubtedly the correct one, the timing of the cancellation once again – with thousands of punters on site was not very popular. The Pari-Mutuel screens were switched over to the afternoon card at Busan where things were much warmer, but punters would have wanted an earlier decision.
If past experiences are anything to go by, entry to the track will be free next weekend. As yet there is no word on whether the Herald Business wil be rescheduled. An extra day’s racing on Sunday December 27 is already planned to make up for the one cancelled for the funeral of ex-President Kim Dae Jung.
Racing at Seoul today was abandoned due to an unsafe track brought on by icy conditions. With a track full of punters, races 1 and 2 were delayed after jockeys expressed safety concerns that the high level moisture in the track had frozen.
The track was deemed safe for race 3 to go ahead as planned at 12:10pm. However, prominent jockeys Moon Se Young, Cho Kyoung Ho and Jung Ki Young who were booked to ride in the race, did not appear and their horses were scratched.
The race went ahead and was won by Boo Min Ho on two-year old Bonsol. Immediately after the race the decision was made to abandon racing for the day. This is the third time in recent years that controversy over the safety of the track in cold weather has forced a very late abandonment.
Two-Year Olds Get Down To Business
Last week, Night Moves landed the Champion Juvenile title at Busan. This Sunday it’s the turn of Seoul to award its prize as eight two-year olds go to post for the Herald Business Cup.
And it is a race that punters have been looking to since the summer as the two outstanding juveniles Northern Ace and Seonbongbulpae go head-to-head for the first time. So far both have been flat-track bullies, Seonbongbulpae racking up three wins from three and Northern Ace winning both of his starts by ridiculous margins whilst barely breaking into a canter.
However, Northern Ace now holds the five furlong track record, putting away Ace Galloper, who has gone on to record some impressive wins himself, by ten lengths in the process. Seonbongbulpae has been equally visually impressive. Now it’s crunch time.
Northern Ace hasn’t appeared since August. On that day, he was due to be partnered by champion jockey Moon Se Young. Moon, however, suffered a bad injury in an earlier race and Cho Kyoung Ho picked up the mount. Moon will coincidentally return to the track for the first time this weekend, but it is Cho who retains the ride. Seonbongbulpae has run and won an extra race.
Among the others, Full Step looks promising, but was found out a little when facing older horses last time out. Hushtilled, Yodongjewang and Silver Mon have, like all of the runners, won at least once, but none look likely to be able to live with the two favourites.
Nevertheless, the last time we billed a top Korean contest as being a match-race, it was Areumdaun Jilju Vs Gaeseon Janggun in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup at Busan. Both were left embarrassed by unfancied Yeongung Manse.
Herald Business Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – Dec 6, 2009, 16:45
1. Slew Bubble [Field Asuka – Simple Charm (Capote)] F (6/1/1/1) – Kim Cheol Ho 2. Muhandeunggeuk [Trick Of Fate – Odelia (Canny Lad)] C (5/1/1/0) – Kim Dong Cheol 3. Full Step [Didyme – Fox Dance (Foxtrail)] C (3/2/1/0) – Oh Kyoung Hoan 4. Yodongjewang [Field Asuka – Mary Wonder (Shahrastani)] C (3/1/1/1) – Choi Beom Hyun 5. Silver Mon [Distilled – Silver Fizz (Cee’s Tizzy)] C (2/1/0/0) – Boo Min Ho 6. Seonbongbulpae [Newsprint – Jeseok (Lost Mountain)] C (3/3/0/0) – Jo In Kwen 7. Northern Ace [Didyme – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] C (2/2/0/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho 8. Hushtilled [Distilled – Miss Alwuhush (Alwuhush)] F (6/1/2/1) – Moon Se Young
* The 2008 edition of the race was won by Nice Choice who went on to become Seoul’s top three-year old this year. Narrowly missing out on winning a classic, he landed the prestigious Group 1 President’s Cup last month. Whoever wins this year’s race is likely to come up against him at some stage in 2010.
Yeongung Manse, Areundaum Jilju, Pangpang also up for Owner’s Cup
Areumdaun Jilju and Yeonsung Daero could have been in Seoul next week contesting the Grand Prix, arguably the peninula’s most prestigious race. Instead they have elected to stay home in Busan where their presence ensures a quality line-up in this coming Sunday’s Busan Owner’s Cup.
While it means the home-bred assault on the Grand Prix will be understrength, given that Yeonseung Daero and Areumdaun Jilju were both beaten in the Metropolitan by Bulpae Gisang – a horse who will be second favourite at best at Seoul next week – perhaps it is an understandable decision.
That’s not to say it will be a two-horse race. Yeongung Manse, though fifth in the Metropolitan, beat Areumdaun Jilju in September and can’t be ruled out. Top Grade makes his first appearance in elite company and is well handicapped. Meanwhile, Glory Champ has won his last two races, both over this distance.
Also well handicapped is the only filly in the race. Pangpang stunned Sangseung Ilro to win the Oaks on a hot evening in August. In her two outings since,she hasn’t troubled the placings but she’s proved she can perform. Galsaek Teukgeup looks outclassed while Conqueror, Sandeomi and Viva Canon, while proven winners, have struggled of late.
It all points to a golden opportunity for Yeonseung Daero, who underperformed in the classics and suffered a near miss in the Metropolitan, to start living up to his undoubted potential.
The race is off at 15:20 on Sunday afternoon and is race 5 of a six-race card. Busan also holds a card on Friday. Seoul will host racing on Saturday and Sunday with the Herald Business topping the bill on Sunday. We’ll have a full preview of that race tomorrow.
Owner’s Cup – Busan Race Park – 2000M – Dec 6, 2009 – 15:20
1. Glory Champ [Whywhywhy – Tapas (Sky Classic)] C 4 (16/8/2/0) 55.5kg – Yoo Hyun Myoung 2. Top Grade [Texas Glitter – Potential Storm (Cape Town)] G 3 (9/6/2/0) 53.5kg – Jo Sung Gon 3. Viva Canon [Tahamkke – Special Craft (Crafty Prospector)] C 3 (16/3/4/2) 50kg – Kim Yong Geun 4. Yeongung Manse [Sharp Appeal – Saratogasplash (Wild Again)] G 3 (18/9/3/2) 57kg – Jo Chang Wook 5. Conqueror [Revere – Model Actress (Stage Colony)] C 3 (14/4/3/0) 50kg – Martin Wepner 6. Sandeomi [Commendable – Regal Meg (Regal Classic)] C 3 (12/5/1/1) 50kg – Kim Eu Su 7. Galsaek Teukgeup [Belong To Me – Parish Land (Deputy Minister)] C 3 (10/1/3/3) – 50kg – Seo In Seob 8. Pangpang [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] F 3 (18/4/1/1) 50kg – Han Sang Gyu 9. Yeonseung Daero [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] C 3 (16/8/2/2) 56.5kg – Park Geum Man 10. Areumdaun Jilju [Didyme – Chills Of Nepal (Nepal)] H 5 (22/14/3/2) 59kg – Jo Chan Hoon
* In 2008, this race was won by one time KRA Cup Classic winner and track stalwart Luna. The eight year old mare was retired last month after a career of thirty-three outings, with thirteen wins, five seconds and two thirds. Her last race was a win over seven furlongs at class 1 on November 13.
With less than a week to go until the Herald Business Cup, the KRA has amended the English spelling of the name of one of the two favourites for the race. At last, we can now refer to the Seoul Race Park five-furlong track record holder as “Northern Ace”. It seems there was a slight mistake when it was first entered into the Studbook which rendered his name for his first two races as “Nothern Ace”.
Northern Ace [Didyme – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] is two-for-two but hasn’t raced since the last weekend of August. He will be up against fellow unbeaten juvenile Seonbongbulpae [Newsprint – Jeseok (Lost Mountain)] over six furlongs this coming Sunday afternoon.
Two year old filly Wonerful Sun remains un-spell-checked despite being rendered as “Wonderful” in Korean script. However, as her performance on Saturday was anything but wonerful or wonderful, there is perhaps less danger with her of the KRA seeing any of their marquee races being won by a typo.
Nice Choice and Yeonseung Daero-shaped holes
Let’s first get who’s not going to be there out of the way, so that when we have the final preview next week, we can focus on those who will be taking part in the race that traditionally brings the curtain down (for a few days anyway) on the Korean racing season.
Racing fans had their vote and the KRA sent out the invitations accordingly but, in the year that the inclusion of Busan horses makes the Grand Prix truly the test to find the peninsula’s top horse, a number of those who should be there won’t be.
Nice Choice was second in the poll, but he won’t be there. Neither will Areumdaun Jilju, Yeonseung Daero or Sangseung Ilro from Busan. The former two will run in the Busan Owner’s Cup on December 6, while Sangseung Ilro’s legs are not up to the rigours of 2300 metres around Seoul in winter.
Yeonseung Daero’s absence may be felt the most. Sent off favourite in the KRA Cup Mile and highly fancied for the Derby, he missed out both times but there are strong suspicions that he may be on the verge of producing something special – many punters felt that he had Choi Beom Hyun been riding him, rather than Bulpae Gisang in the Busan Metropolitan last month, the result would have been different.
Those who will skip the event may be forgiven, however. Dongbanui Gangja has been in imperious form this year. Six runs, six wins. He’s a closer rather than a front-runner and that usually leads to butterflies but he has swatted away all comers this year in dismissive fashion. Stepping back up to 2300 metres is unliklely to faze him and it is difficult to see him being beaten.
Bally Brae is back to try. A winner once and second twice, he landed a couple of win earlier in the year but has suffered recently. There was speculation that he might be given a long break but the lure of the Grand Prix has proved too much for his connections. As ever, he will give his all and if he pulls it off, there won;t be a dry eye in the house (…maybe). Of the Seoul contingent though, Dongbanui Gangja’s stablemate, Bulpae Gisang, Busan Metropolitan winner, may be his greatest danger.
From Busan, Gaeseon Janggun, winner of the 2008 Minister’s Cup will fly the flag for Korea while Crafty Louis and King Kephalos are both solid performers. Haengbok Dream has potential while Rolling On Strong is set to be the only filly or mare in the race.
Here’s the full list of confirmed entries so far (Name/Pedigree/Sex/Age/Record):
Seoul
Yaho TS (USA) [Roar Of The Tiger – Propeller (Lear Fan)] C – 3 (15/4/1/1) Bally Brae (USA) [Yarrow Brae – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] G – 7 (31/15/10/1) Ugildongja (KOR) [Dixie Dot Com – May Roses (Incinderator)] H – 5 (32/10/5/1) Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] C – 4 (21/14/4/2) Bulpae Gisang (USA) [Lightnin N Thunder – Neat Trick (Clever Trick)] C – 3 (12/7/2/0)
Busan
Haengbok Dream (JPN) [Lammtarra – Sister Slew (Slew The Dragon)] C – 3 (11/4/4/2) King Kephalos (JPN) [King Glorious – Western Edge (Woodman)] G – 4 (19/8/3/3) Gaeseon Janggun (KOR) [Duality – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] C – 4 (18/9/4/1) Rolling On Strong (USA) [Werblin – Gracie Gale (Opening Verse)] F – 3 (12/4/1/3) Crafty Louis (USA) [Louis Quatorze – Crafty Atlantic (Crafty Prospector)] G – 6 (34/13/4/2)
Here’s Dongbanui Gangja winning last year from Bally Brae in second and Myeongmun Gamun in third:
Jeju Stud Farm hosted its November Yearling sale last week. Of the 90 lots offered, just 35 sold at an average price of 45 Million won ($39,000).
Topping the sale was was a colt by Vicar out of the Australian bred mare Hurricane Havoc [Jade Robbery – Hurricane Bay (Palace Music)] who fetched 100 Million won. Second highest was a colt by Revere out of Mina De Oro (USA) [Afleet – Alas De Oro (Ack Ack)] at 85 Million won. The Vicar colt was bought by Kim Chul, who currently has nine horses in training at Seoul while Busan owner Kwak Jung Su took the Revere colt.
The highest drawing filly was by Creek Cat and out of the Korean bred Tamna Jeilbong [Lost Mountain – Scotty’s Love (First Draft Choice)], fetching 56 Million won from Seung Myoung Ho. Prominent Seoul owner Ku Ja Sun (Dongbanui Gangja) was also in action, taking home colts by Creek Cat and Exploit for a combined total of just shy of 100 Million won.
Top five lots (Sex/Pedigree/Seller/Buyer/Price in units of 10,000 won):
1. Colt [Vicar – Hurricane Havoc (Jade Robbery)] Lim Sang Yun / Kim Chul – 10,000
2. Colt [Revere – Mina De Oro (Afleet)] Lim Sang Yun / Kwak Jung Su – 8,500
3. Colt [Menifee – Angel Be Great (Notebook)] Oh Gong Hak / Choi Cheol Yi – 8,000
4. Colt [Volponi – Regal Meg (Regal Classic)] Kang Seok Ho / Lee Jong Hun – 7,500
5. Colt* [Wando – Luv Meadow (Meadowlake)] Oh Gong Hak / Daemyoung Co. – 7,400
* Luv Meadow was in foal to Wando when imported to Korea in January 2008.
