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Dongbanui Gangja Heads Trophy Field

Seoul’s top foreign bred horses will go to post Sunday for one of their biggest events of the year, the Group 3 Seoul Owners’ Association Trophy race. Dongbanui Gangja, winner of last season’s Grand Prix and currently ranked number one horse in Korea, heads the field and will carry the top weight of the thirteen runners.

Apart from last year’s winner Saerounbisul, who has been sidelined since March, the only other big name missing is Bally Brae. The seven year old’s connections opting, as they have in the past, not to subject the former Horse of the Year to the high weight he would likely have been allocated. Bally Brae’s old rival, Subsidy, will line up though. The nine year old may be past his prime but he still finishes in the money more often than not.

Also going and likely to be around at the business end of the race are Vicar Love, Baekjeonmupae and Angus Empire. While Dongbanui Gangja is likely to be favourite, outsiders have won this race in each of the last three years. Here’s a complete look at the runners and riders:

Owners Association Trophy (G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M (Hdcp) – June 21, 2009

1. Seongpacheonha (AUS) [Agnes World – House Of Chimes (Bellotto)] G 4 (24/4/2/5) 52kg – Lee Dong Kuk
A creditable fifth in the Grand Prix last December but unlikely to have more than a place chance.
2. Cash In Your Chips (USA) [Storm Boot – Le Privee (Private Account)] H 5 (17/4/5/2) 52kg – Moon Jung Kyun
Has been beaten by most of this field on various occasions so far this year.
3. Vicar Love (USA) [Vicar – Canberra (Silver Hawk)] C 4 (15/8/1/3) 54kg – Oh Kyoung Hoan
Looked set to be the top imported three year old last year until Dongbanui Gangja intervened. He’s won once this year but has since twice finished behind Baekjeonmupae.
4. Saegisang (AUS) [Commands – Constant in Opal (Lake Coniston)] C 4 (16/5/0/1) 53kg- Ham Wan Sik
His first attempt in the top tier of Korean racing – he has talent but will be hard pushed to feature here.
5. Fly Queen (USA) [Exploit – Fully Approved (With Approval)] M 6 (32/7/6/9) 52kg – Kim Young Jin
Won the KRA Classic and finished fourth in the Grand Prix last year. Second to Angus Empire last time out.
6. Subsidy (USA) [Mr. Prospector – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] G 9 (36/18/5/2) 54kg – Moon Se Young
The legendary Subsidy is reunited with Moon Se Young. It would be a fairytale ending to his career if he could do it but it is unlikely. Nevertheless, expect him to be near a money finish.
7. Angus Empire (USA) [Lion Cavern – Clever Dorothy (Clever Trick)] H 5 (29/9/7/2) 55kg – Yang Hee Jin
Has been in good form lately and will appreciate carrying less weight than usual. A big run will be required to defeat Dongbanui Gangja but he is capable of it.
8. Baekjeonmupae (NZ) [Traditionally – Star Sixty Seven (Phone Trick)] G 4 (22/8/6/1) 55.5kg – Park Tae Jong
Always there or thereabouts, he’s a threat and on a weekend when Park Tae Jong should secure his 1500th winner, he could supply the vetrean jockey with another big race win.
9. Obaek Yechan (AUS) [High Yield – Kanaka Creek (Thunder Gulch)] G 5 (33/5/5/6) 53kg – Kim Ok Sung
Well beaten over the same distance by a number of this field so far this year.
10. Free Hugs (AUS) [Fantastic Light – Woodie (Woodman)] G 4 (22/4/4/3) 53kg – Cho Kyoung Ho
The surprise winner of the JRA Trophy on Derby Day last month, it will be interesting to see how he copes with the big step up in both class and distance.
11. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] C 4 (18/11/4/2) 58kg – Choi Beom Hyun
The favourite. Unbeaten this year, and usually carried even more weight than this, last year’s Grand Prix winner should be this year’s Owners’ Trophy winner.
12. Seungyu Sinhwa (USA) [Commendable – Backroom Blues (Dixieland Band)] H 7 (35/12/5/2) 53kg – Shim Seung Tae
Winner of a lot of races in his career – but not recently. Ran second to Dongbanui Gangja in April.
13. Afternoon Dove (USA) [Afternoon Deelites – Flying Dove (Dove Hunt)] G 4 (19/4/3/2) 52kg – Yoo Sang Wan
Third in the JRA Trophy last month, he looks to be out of his depth here.

If you’re going to pretend to gamble….

…you can now only pretend to do it for ten hours a day…Not racing related but there have been some regulatory developments in the gambling sector. In the absence of legalized gambling all sorts of alternatives go on in Korea, most of them online. One of the most popular is “virtual gambling” where players take each other on at various games over the internet – Korean Poker or “Go-Stop” being one of the most popular. No money changes hands in these games.

In these games, players are given a certain amount of “virtual money” each day to play with how they choose. There’s no charge for this but when they run out, they have the opportunity to purchase more. Leftover money cannot be redeemed for real money so no actual “gambling” of any consequence takes place – in theory anyway. As with many online games in Korea, a market has sprung up for in-game items. In this case, there are reportedly instances of players selling their credit to other players in pre-arranged games where the “loser” deliberately loses all their game credit in exchange for real money.

Now the Korea Times reports that new regulations are coming in designed to limit players to ten hours each day. No doubt new ways to circumvent these rules will appear – most likely involving the exchange of even more “real” money. In Korea, only foreigners are allowed to legally lose all their money in casinos so Koreans have turned to all manner of different enterprises to get their gambling fix – indoor fishing being a particularly ingenious example before the Supreme Court got wind of it.

Baekpa Soundly Beaten at Delaware Park

In the end it wasn’t too bad – one other horse got tailed off too. However, in the slop at Delaware Park late yesterday, Baekpa finished last on her US racing debut. For any masochistic Korean racing fans, here’s the video:

Providing she came through yesterday’s experience intact, Baekpa is likely to run twice more before returning to Korea. Thanks to fpop for the video.

Jung Ki Yong Second in Malaysia

Korean rider Jung Ki Yong landed second place in the Kenilworth Cup International Jockey Invitational Race at the Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia this afternoon. Partnering four year old gelding Harlequin, Jung led home the field eight lengths behind the winner, the unbeaten three year old Perfect Pins. Full results from the Singapore Turf Club.

Jung and fellow Seoul Race Park jockey Ham Wan Sik are in Malaysia for the weekend as part of a jockey exchange. Ham’s mount in the Kenilworth Cup was scratched and he failed to trouble the placings with his other two rides. Jung also had two other rides, the best of which was finishing sixth of sixteen in race 3.

On board the Australian bred Perfect Pins was local jockey Rio Burnett, who rode at Seoul on Internatonal weekend last month. It may be noted that while Ham and Jung are both set to receive six rides over the weekend (Ham down to five after the scratching), Burnett was only given two mounts when he came to Seoul.

* Meanwhile, back in Korea, Seungundaeseung landed he afternoon’s feature event at Seoul Race Park, with a comfortable win over Huimang Energy and Free Woody over 2000 metres. Earlier, Park Tae Jong moved one closer to to his 1500th winner, taking race 7 on Happy Rider to move onto 1498. Park has four rides on Sunday.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Baekpa Set to go at Delaware Park

After nearly three months of preparation, 2007 Korean Oaks winner Baekpa is set to make her US racing debut at Delaware Park this Saturday. The five year old is entered in race 8, an allowance race for fillies and mares over a mile.

Baekpa [Revere – Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] is among six entries and will have jockey Christopher Van Hassel up. The other five contenders have won 18 races between them so Baekpa is going to have a tough job on her hands when they go to post at 4:24 local time. Here’s a full list of the runners, race records (Runs/1st/2nd/3rd) and riders:

Allowance Race – Delaware Park – June 13, 2009, 1 M, 70 Y – 4:24pm

1. Tammy’s Victress – (21/4/5/6) – J C Caraballo
2. Populist – (8/3/1/1) – T. Maragh
3. Ma. Rainey – (10/4/1/0) – C L Potts
4. High Hill – (15/4/0/2) – J Rocco, Jr.
5. Baekpa (KOR) – (22/8/5/2) – C VanHassel
6. Picker – (11/3/3/2) – L Garcia

Baekpa hasn’t run since her fifth placed finish in the Grand Prix last December. Although workouts have been promising, expectations are modest and after the chastening experience of Pick Me Up in the US last year, simply being in touch with the field at the end will be considered an achievement.

Namdo Jeap Heads Strong KNN Cup Field

Although Areumdaun Jilju, arguably Busan Race Park’s most formidable horse in 2008 won’t be there, this year’s running of the KNN Cup, which takes place at the Gyeongnam Province track this coming Sunday, still has the makings of an intriguing race.

Last year’s Derby winner, Ebony Storm goes as does this year’s best colt, Namdo Jeap. While Sangseung Ilro, the filly who defeated him in both Triple Crown legs to date won’t be there as she takes a different route to the Oaks, among those who will be lining up are Sandeomi, Mirae Cheonsa, Yeongung Manse and Sinheung Gangja.

The race is open to Korean bred horses and is the first opportunity for three year olds to take on more experienced horses for a big prize. The form guide can be downloaded here (Korean). Here’s the run-down of the runners and riders with race records (Runs/1st/2nd/3rd):

KNN Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – June 14, 2009, 15:35

1. Ebony Storm [Buster’s Daydream – Sorority Jazz (Dixieland Band)] – (20/6/4/4) – Park Geum Man
The longest shot on the board when he won the Derby, he’s pushed on to be a solid performer and won last time out.
2. Raon King [Psychobabble – Geum Seul (Roughcast)] – (15/5/0/3) – Kim Do Hyun
Graduated to the top tier of Korean racing earlier this year but has been at his best over shorter distances.
3. Wellbeing Sidae [Psychobabble – Winning Design (Beau’s Eagle)] – (34/5/3/4) – E. Nishimura
In good form this year, the experienced mare could spring a surprise.
4. Namdo Jeap [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – (7/3/3/1) – Chae Gyu Jun
But for one filly, he would be a double classic winner by now. Only Sangseung Ilro has beaten him this year.
5. Yeoin Cheonguk [Creek Cat – Ze No Evil (Pentelicus)] – (37/6/3/7) – Jung Si Won
Another experienced mare, she won last time out after a disappointing 2008.
6. Yeongung Manse [Sharp Appeal – Saratogasplash (Wild Again)] – (14/7/3/2) – Jo Chang Wook
Has never been out of the money in his 14 starts. Landed four straight victories last autumn and won over the distance in March.
7. Mirae Cheonsa [Millennium Wind – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] – (27/11/4/1/3) – Kim Tae Kyung
She was dominant as a three year old, winning eight straight races in 2006 and 2007. After a difficult 2008 she’s been winning again this year and is always liable to be in the mix in the home straight.
8. Sandeomi [Commendable – Regal Meg (Regal Classic)] – (10/5/1/1) – Yoo Hyun Myoung
The highest placed finisher in the KRA Cup Mile not to try for the Derby, Sandeomi is faster than Namdo Jeap over 1600 metres and must be considered.
9. Sinheung Gangja [Archer City Slew – Recondite (Silver Deputy)] – (22/5/3/6) – Han Sang Gyu
Disappointed when sent to Seoul for the Minister’s Cup last October but has two class 1 wins to his name. Hasn’t been showing his best form since beating Ebony Storm in January.

Three New Jockeys for Seoul

Just three new apprentices make up the class of 2009 set to join the jockey ranks at Seoul Race Park this month. Park Sang Woo, Lee Ki Woong and Kim Hye Sun graduated from the Jockey’s Academy in Wondang last month (should anybody be interested, the ceremony can be viewed here). Park joins top trainer Park Dae Heung while Lee will be attached to Son Young Pyo. Kim, who will take the number of female jockeys currently in action at Seoul to four, will join trainer Jung Ho Ik.

The standard of riding in Korea has been on the up recently. While the bringing to Korea of foreign jockeys has, by and large been botched, another aspect of the KRA Internationalization program has brought success. The addition of a South African riding instructor would seem to have had a postive effect on the training of young jockeys. Almost all of last year’s apprentices have been able to establish themselves with all seemingly respected by punters. Seven apprentices debuted last June, here’s how they’ve been getting on in order of winners:

Name – Rides/1st/2nd/3rd

Lee Sang Hyuk – 198/18/12/15
Kim Cheol Ho – 211/16/16/18
Jo In Kwen – 151/14/8/12
Park Si Cheon – 193/13/10/18
Park Byoung Yun – 194/11/16/18
Kim Dong Min – 179/9/12/14
Yoo Mi Ra – 95/0/4/3

Of course the quality of rides that they have had has varied but Lee Sang Hyuk did enough to get a ride in the Grand Prix race last December and som of the others have also found themselves trusted with big mounts. Yoo Mi Ra remains winless although on the sole occasion she has found herself riding a favourite, she was edged out by a neck by none other than Park Tae Jong.

Meanwhile, another Japanese jockey looks set to join at Seoul shortly.

Tight at the Top but Tougher at the Bottom

Top jockeys flourish but Foreign riders are still struggling
Not only did he score his 400th career winner in the process of landing a treble at Seoul Race Park on Sunday, Moon Se Young also managed to put some distance between himself and his main rivals in what has been so far a tight race for the 2009 Jockey’s Championship.

After a slow May, which yielded only 9 winners, last year’s Champion scored five winners across the weekend to take his year’s total to fifty and open up a gap of six over his closest challenger, the veteran Park Tae Jong. Cho Kyoung Ho, who reached the 400 winner milestone a week before Moon, is one behind Park on 43, while Choi Beom Hyun is the only other rider in touch, on 39.

Park Tae Jong meanwhile, remains on the verge of becoming the first Korean rider to land 1500 career victories. Park was also the first to reach 1000 wins back in 2004. While such figures may not sound impressive to those accustomed to US or European racing, where the top jockeys can amass huge numbers of winners over their careers, with racing confined to two days a week in Korea, it is not possible. Aside with limited races, another diffculty to overcome is the lack of rides.

Park is a freelance jockey, which means he may accept as many rides as he is able to secure. However, the freelance system has only been in operation in Korea since 2005. Prior to this, all jockeys were attached to a trainer and they were limited to a maximum of five race rides per week. This is still the case for all but the 21 jockeys (and a further 10 at Busan) who hold freelance status which is why all of those filling out the top places in the Jockey’s championship are freelance.

Being freelance is all very well (and all very lucrative – the KRA estimates that freelance jockeys can make four times as much money as their retained counterparts) for established riders, but for for those less known it is anything but easy. And here is the problem for overseas riders granted licenses under the KRA’s Internationalization program. In reporting the departure of Santos Chavez, an American jockey who joined in February this year and opted not to renew his four month license, the Korean Racing Journal noted that an overseas jockey at Seoul generally gets far less opportunities for rides than a brand new apprentice. With the limit on rides stable jockeys can have, apprentices are quite rightly guaranteed some rides and, while life is far from easy, they have a steady stream of horses to ride out in the mornings.

For the overseas jockeys, there are no such guarantees. South African Stephan Swanepoel debuted in March and has since ridden just 48 times. He has no winners so far but that is hardly surprising given the calibre of those 48. Swanepoel has managed to guide 17 of them to minor money finishes and gives every impression of being a talented rider. However, few would blame him if he was follow Chavez in calling it a day at the earliest opportunity. The Journal reported that there is a possiblity of him transferring to Busan where overseas riders are starting to fare a little better.

At Busan, while opportunities are not significantly greater, there has been one interesting development. Martin Wepner has just become the first foreign jockey to be retained by a trainer. Despite Wepner walking away from his Derby mount on Namdo Jeap for Kim Young Kwan after a breakdown in communication, the trainer decided that Wepner was worth keeping in Korea and offered him the opportunity to be his main rider until his contract finishes in July. Whether this will be successful or whether there is any possibility for this to be repeated in the future remains to be seen.

What is once more clear though is that in its current form the “Internalization” program benefits no-one and as more jockeys return home with nothing but bad things to say, its prospects for future success – indeed its prospects of attracting quality jockeys – diminish. Which no doubt is a source of great satisfaction for certain elements on the backstretch.

Seoul Jockeys’ Championship 2009 – Current Standings

1. Moon Se Young 50
2. Park Tae Jong 44
3. Cho Kyoung Ho 43
4. Choi Beom Hyun 39
5. Kim Ok Sung 17

Continuing the jockeys theme, later this week we’ll have a look at the newly qualified apprentices who will make their racing debuts shortly and grade the performance of those coming up to their one year anniversary in the saddle. We’ll also take a look back over the career so far of the only man in Korean racing whose name is known outside racing circles, Park Tae Jong.

Friday at Busan Cancelled for Presidential Funeral

The Korea Racing Authority (KRA) has confirmed that this Friday’s meeting at Busan Race Park has been cancelled. The funeral for former Korean President Roh Moo Hyun will take place at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul at 11am on Friday.

Roh, a Busan native, jumped to his death last Saturday morning in his home village of Bongha.

Sunday’s meeting at Busan will go ahead as planned, as will Saturday and Sunday’s cards at Seoul Race Park.

Korean Derby Countdown – The Home Team

Busan’s six challengers will be met on the sand of Gwacheon by eight horses looking to write their own name into Korean racing history and in doing so, halt Busan’s remarkable run of Classic wins.

Among Seoul’s entrants is the likely favorite. Nice Choice was champion two year old in 2008 and having been campaigned this term solely with the Derby in mind, will be the one to beat on Sunday. If Nice Choice doesn’t produce the goods, however, it would take an upset to see the Derby trophy remain in the capital.

Nice Choice [Lost Mountain – Betty’s Rhapsody (Don’t Hesitate)] – (6/4/2/0)
If he had won last time out, there would be no justification for betting against him. However, he was engaged in a stretch battle and lost. Nice Choice will still be a worthy favourite but will be worth taking on.

Triple Canon [Tahamkke – Tamna Jeilbong (Lost Mountain)] – (7/4/2/0)
He’s won over the distance and last time out beat Symphony Sonata, the highly rated – and well bred – four year old. Must be considered

Red Ball [Lethal Instrument – Wildly Magic (Pieterhof)] – (8/4/0/1)
Won three in a row before stepping up to the Derby distance and finishing well beaten.

Seokcheong [Fiercely – Miss Geology (Jade Hunter)] – (6/4/1/1)
Jockey Park Tae Jong has won more Derbys than anyone and his mount has won over the distance. A possible.

Baengnyeonbong [Al Naba – Sansovino Art (Mister C.)] – (9/4/1/1)
Has had the Derby in mind for a long time but finished behind Seokcheong last time out.

Khanui Jeguk [Sunday Well – Lucky Dip (Didyme)] – (7/3/1/1)
Has won his last three but against significantly weaker opposition than he’ll face on Sunday. Will need to improve to compete.

Khanui Huye [The Groom Is Red – Noble Michelle (Flow Technology)] – (7/2/2/0)
Ran poorly last time out and has never won at a higher level than class 5.

Money Teukgeup[Ft. Stockton – Headwork (Silveyville)] – (8/2/3/1)
One of only two Seoul horses to contest the KRA Cup Mile, there were no grounds to support him in that race and following a seventh place finish, no grounds to support him here.