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Over The Moon

2008 Review Part 1: Jockeys
Moon Se Young was yesterday crowned 2008 Champion jockey at Seoul Race Park having completed the season with a record breaking 128 winners. The 28 year old Moon finished 31 ahead of his closest rival and former record holder Park Tae Jong. Although his days as Champion may be over, it was still another solid season from Park Tae Jong. The 43 year old is approaching his 10,000th ride (no mean feat in a country where they race only twice a week) and 1500th winner. In October Park won the Seoul International Jockeys’ challenge.

Seoul Jockeys’ Championship 2008 – Final Standings

1. Moon Se Young – 128
2. Park Tae Jong – 97
3. Cho Kyoung Ho – 91
4. Choi Beom Hyun – 81
5 = Ikuyasu Kurakane; Kim Hyo Seob – 44

Yoo Seung Wan was top apprentice with 31 winners and looks set to ride out his claim soon. Of the newcomers this year, Lee Sang Hyeok finishes on top with 7 wins plus a ride in the Grand Prix race to his name.

At Busan, the remarkable Toshio Uchida only arrived in Korea in May but that was plenty of time for “Mr Pink” to comfortably take the title with 69 wins and a win rate of 22%. Uchida received a raucous reception from punters when he ventured to Seoul for the Minister’s Cup in October and there have been persistant rumours that Seoul may be his next destination. Four winners last Friday saw Chae Gyu Jun into second spot, one ahead of Yoo Hyun Myoung. Chae will have plenty of time to reflect on his success in the new year, as in just about the only race he didn’t win on Friday, he managed to pick up a six meeting ban.

Busan Jockeys’ Championship 2008 – Final Standings

1. Toshio Uchida – 69
2. Chae Gyu Jun – 55
3. Yoo Hyun Myoung – 54
4. Ahn Sun Ho – 43
5. Jo Chan Hoon – 40

It was a mixed year for overseas riders. At Seoul, the Japanese pair of Ikuyasu Kurakane and Nozomu Tomizawa, both extended their contracts to see the year out and finished on 44 and 32 wins respectively. At Busan, aside from Uchida, Kazuyuki Watase performed reasonably well in his short spell during the summer. After three months his contract wasn’t renewed, however, and Eiki Nishimura was brought in to replace him. Nishimura has four winners so far but is currently sidelined after failing a random breath test.

For the non-Japanese riders, it was not a good year. Danny Craven completed a solid nine months, returning to Australia in July, however, South African Chris Taylor returned home after only a month. Another South African, Deryl Daniels made a creditable start to his stint at Busan but left Korea for a break towards the end of November and it is looking unlikely he will return. While it was sad to see those jockeys unable to do themselves justice, no one bemoaned the loss of Willie Uys who lasted one day and is best forgotton. The KRA continues to advertise for overseas jockeys (see below) and has received some interest. However, the departing jockeys have all spoken of the difficulties faced by overseas riders, the language, the schooling of the horses and, most fundamentally for a jockey on a freelance contract, the lack of rides they received

Jeju Race Park based Na Yoo Na was the most successful female jockey, notching 24 wins, one ahead of Kim Joo Hee. Lee Shin Young at Seoul landed 9 wins early in the year before having her season ended by injury but it was a year to forget for Lee Ae Li who managed just 3. Park Jin Hee at Busan finished the year with 16.

* Overseas jockeys wishing to apply to ride in Korea can download the relevant forms from the KRA’s English website. Click Here for details and here for the application form.

Grand Prix Weekend Round-Up

Grand Prix video/ Symphony Sonata wins
Yesterday’s Grand Prix race can now be viewed online courtesy of Fallight – Click Here! While Dongbanui Gangja’s four length success in the season finale was undoubtedly the highlight, there were plenty of other things going on throughout the weekend:

– Saturday’s feature had something of an upset as favourite Natural Nine went down to a length and a half defeat at the hands of Saebyeok Achim.

– Race 2 on Saturday featured a first victory for three year old Symphony Sonata. The colt is notable for being a half brother to Dominican, winner of the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland in 2007. Symphony Sonata [E. Dubai – First Violin (Dixieland Band)] made his debut in October, running second to the impressive Something New and on Saturday led from gate to wire over 1400 metres. First Violin came to Korea in 2005, returning to the USA this year.

– After over a year out of the Winner’s Circle, jockey Kho Sung Yi managed a double on Sunday with victories on favourite Blue Pin in race 3 and outsider Chamsuri Family in race 6.

– Sunday’s feature at Busan was won by favourite Patches of Gold, the US bred gelding starting favourite and holding off Seneca Light to win by half a length.

Ten Go in Grand Prix

The Group 1 Grand Prix race which traditionally acts as a season finale will be run at Seoul Race Park on Sunday. Although the race is by no means the most valuable on the calender it is arguably the most prestigious as it pits domestic and overseas bred horses against each other, which is rare in Korea. The overseas bred horses are generally faster, but the Koreans will carry less weight. However, with only Seoul based horses competing, it means that none of this year’s Classic winners, who are all based at Busan, will be taking part. Nevertheless, a strong and an intriguing line up will assemble for race 10 at 16:35 on Sunday:

Grand Prix (G1) – Seoul Race Park – 2300M – Dec 21, 2008
(Name/Sex/Age/Record/Weight/Jockey):
1. Myeongmun Gamun (KOR) – G 7 (28/16/3) -54kg- Cho Kyoung Ho
This year’s top Seoul based horse in terms of prize money won, the seven year old finished second in last year’s race and, having behaved himself at the gate of late, won the President’s Cup last time out. Only beaten once in 2008, by Baekpa in the SBS Cup
2. Baekpa (KOR) – F 4 (20/8/4) -51kg- Moon Jung Kyun
Myeongmun Gamun’s conqueror in the SBS Cup, last year’s Oaks winner left it too late in the President’s Cup. The filly will have plenty of supporters but will need to produce the race of her life to challenge here
3. Fly Queen (USA) – M 5 (28/7/5) -55kg- Kim Hyo Seob
Fourth last year, the mare had an indifferent start to 2008 in handicaps before landing the G3 KRA Cup Classic in September ahead of top Point and Galsaem. A stayer, she went on to win over 2300 metres a month later.
4. Bally Brae (USA) – G 6 (24/13/7) -58kg- Moon Se Young
Last year’s winner began 2008 tidily winning some big handicaps before suffering an unexpected reverse and then a dismal showing in the Owner’s Association Trophy in June finishing out of the money for only the second time in his career – the other being in the corresponding race in 2007. Having a torrid time at the hands of the handicapper Bally Brae has since finished second in both his recent outings.
5. Top Point (KOR) – F 4 (16/1/1) -51kg- Shim Seung Tae
A prolific winner, her defeat by Fly Queen in the KRA Cup Classic broke a winning streak of six, however, she was quickly back to form the following month.
6. Secret Weapon (KOR) – H 5 (28/16/6) -54kg- Park Tae Jong
Dominant in 2008, Secret Weapon is on a run of five straight wins and carrying much less weight than he does in handicaps, a big run will be expected.
7. Galsaem (KOR) – M 6 (35/17/9) -51kg- Ikuyasu Kurakane
The mare has carried big weights in 2008 but finally got her first win of the year in November.
8. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) – C 3 (14/7/4) -55kg- Choi Beom Hyun
The second best three year old imported colt this year, he finished third in the Owner’s Association Trophy and hasn’t been out of the money in fourteen starts.
9. Seongpacheonha (AUS) – G 4 (18/4/2/4) -58kg- Lee Sang Hyuk
The least well known of all entrants, Seongpacheonha is yet to win at category 1 level. Apprentice jockey Lee Sang Hyuk gets his first big race ride.
10. Vicar Love (USA) – C 3 (10/7/1) -55kg- Yang Hee Jin
Impressive winner of the YTN Cup and in formidable form, the three year old colt could be the one to beat. Only one outing at 2000 metres but this finished in a comfortable win.

Secret Weapon Heads Grand Prix Vote

Voting has closed for the season ending Grand Prix race which will be run at Seoul Race Park on Sunday December 21. The field for the race, one of the few big races of the year to allow overseas bred horses, is decided by an open vote of racing fans. This year a total of 5310 votes were cast and it was the five year old Secret Weapon who came out top winning 19.5% of the vote, just ahead of Dongbanui Gangja on 19.4%. Others in the top fourteen include Vicar Love as well as last year’s winner Bally Brae and President’s Cup winner Myeongmun Gamun.

Fillies and mares are well represented with Baekpa, Top Point, Fly Queen and Galsaem all gaining entry. In total, six domestic bred and eight overseas bred horses made the cut. We’ll have a full preview once the line up has been confirmed but for now, the top fourteen in the voting was as follows:

Grand Prix (G1) – Seoul Race Park – 2300M – Dec 21, 2008
(Name/Sex/Age/Record/Votes):
1. Secret Weapon (KOR) – H 5 (28/16/6) – 19.5%
2. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) – C 3 (13/6/4) – 19.4%
3. Vicar Love (USA) – C 3 (10/7/1) – 17.9%
4. Bally Brae (USA) – G 6 (24/13/7) – 15.6%
5. Myeongmun Gamun (KOR) – G 7 (28/16/3) – 8.8%
6. Baekpa (KOR) – F 4 (20/8/4) – 5.0%
7. Top Point (KOR) – F 4 (16/10/1) – 4.4%
8. Fly Queen (USA) – M 5 (28/7/5) – 2.8%
9. Galsaem (KOR) – M 6 (35/17/9) – 2.0%
10. Seungyu Sinhwa (USA) – H 6 (31/12/3) – 1.3%
11. Obaek Yechan (AUS) – G 5 (27/5/5) – 1.2%
12. Noubeau Riche (USA) – G 4 (11/6/0) – 0.9%
13. Bandoui Byeol (KOR) – G 5 (25/6/3) – 0.6%
14. Seongpacheonha (AUS) – G 4 (17/4/2) – 0.5%

Big Names Come Out for Owners’ Cup

This year’s top three year olds will join the older horses in the Busan Owners’ Cup at Busan Race Park on Sunday. Three Classic winners are amongst them, with recent Minister’s Cup winner Gaeseon Janggun assigned top weight. Second that day, Jeolho Chance also goes, the Oaks winner the top filly in the field, as does Derby winner Ebony Storm. They are joined by the gelding Yeongung Manse, the veteran mare, Luna and others such as Boryeong Bulbit and Mirae Cheonsa

The 2000M handicap is off at 15:15 on Sunday and is the biggest of a card of six. Full list of runners, records, weights and riders:

Busan Owners’ Cup – Busan Race Park – 2000M (Hdcp) – Dec 7, 2008, 15:05

1. Yeongung Manse (10/6/1/2) – 57kg – Jo Chang Wook
2. Jeolho Chance (13/6/2/1) – 55.5kg – Yoo Hyun Myoung
3. Gaeseon Janggun (10/4/3/1) – 58kg – Jo Chan Hoon
4. Pungun Jilju (29/4/1/4) – 51kg – Choi In Deok
5. Luna (26/11/5/1) – 57kg – Park Sung Kwang
6. Janggun Sinhwa (21/6/6/1) – 53.5kg – Ahn Sun Ho
7. Ebony Storm (15/5/2/3) – 55kg – Kim Tae Kyung
8. Haneul Cheonsa (14/5/1/0) – 52.5kg – Kim Dong Young
9. Sinheung Gangja (17/4/2/6) – 54kg – Han Sang Gyu
10. Mirae Cheonsa (22/10/3/1) – 54.5kg – Gu Young Jun
11. Boryeong Bulbit (21/8/2/2) – 54.5kg – Jo Sung Gon
12. Gangjaui Beopchik (7/4/2/0) – 53kg – Chae Gyu Jun
13. Scramble (19/5/3/2) – 54.5kg – Lim Suns Sil

Gear Rules Change has Instant Impact

In late October, the KRA approved the use of pacifiers for the first time. Pacifiers, a closely knit mesh placed over the eyes, have a number of purposes. Firstly, they are intended to do what their name suggests and pacify an otherwise excitable horse as it needs to concentrate much harder to see where it is going. The other main reason for their use is that they can reduce the effect of kickback on dirt with horses who resent it as well as reducing the number of eye injuries suffered. They have opponents, however, who claim that impeding vision is dangerous and indeed although the vast majority of racing jurisdictions permit pacifiers, they are often banned in wet weather as mud can accumulate.

The first to take advantage of the rule change was Peter Wolsley, the only foreign trainer currently training in Korea. Wolsley fitted Gyeongcheonsa with pacifiers in the feature handicap at Busan on November 14 and the five year old mare went on to record her first win since 2006. Thirty minutes later in the next race, another of Wolsley’s horses, Khaosan, came from last to second in the stretch, missing out on victory by a head, also wearing pacifiers. The following week, Cherokee Morn, another five year old mare who had been in dismal form in 2008 since moving up to category 1 races, was fitted with pacifiers, and duly ran into second place at odds of 163.1. It remains to be seen if their use will catch on but right now, it is certainly worth checking the race card closely to see if there will be any first-time pacifier wearers.

Pick Me Up Unplaced at Laurel

The unsurprising news overnight from the US is that Pick Me Up’s third American outing ended unplaced. The six year old ran over a mile on dirt in race 8 at Laurel Park, a $40,000 allowance race. He finished seventh of the eight runners behind winner Kaufy Big Shot.

UPDATED: The video of the race is now available, should anyone be so inclined, courtesy of fpop.

Pick Me Up Goes Wednesday at Laurel

Pick Me Up will try to make it third time lucky – or at least a first time without humiliation – when he goes at Laurel Park in Maryland on Wednesday afternoon. The six year old, in the USA for the KRA’s internationalization experiment, will go on dirt over a mile at 3:57pm local time in race 8 on the card. The allowance race has a purse of $40,000. Pick Me Up has suffered disappointing reverses in his first two outings in the US, first on turf, then on dirt and, unsurprisingly, is rated the outsider of 10 in this race. We’ll have a full report of how he does on Thursday morning.

Seoul Stewards’ Reports in English

Following the introduction of English language stewards’ reports at Busan Race Park during the summer, Seoul Race Park has now followed suit and has added English translations of the stewards’ reports to their website. As with the Busan reports, they are currently only available on the Korean language section of the KRA website, so we will be linking to them directly from the results page of this site. While the Busan reports are generally available on the day of the meeting, what with Seoul’s race days being consecutive, it is anticipated that it will take two to three days for the reports to be published. Both Seoul and Busan Race Parks have one foreign steward on their regular panel. Click here for the first English report from Seoul.

Nine Up for President’s Cup

A small field of nine go in the President’s Cup race at Seoul Race Park this coming Sunday. The Group 1 race, over 2000 metres, is one of the biggest of the year for Korean-bred older horses with a KRW 265Million first prize. Leading the field is Myeongmun Gamun. The seven year old is without a start on two months, perhaps in part due to his notorious refusal to go in the stalls and habit of picking up suspensions as a result. Nevertheless, when he goes in, he’s one of the best in any race. Also going is Baekpa, the only filly in the field. Full list of runners, records and riders:

President’s Cup (G.I) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Nov 16, 2008 – 16:40

1. Baengnokjeong (22/7/2/3) – Hwang Soon Do
2. Natural Nine (16/7/2/2) – Park Soo Hong
3. Baekpa (20/8/4/2) – Park Tae Jong
4. Hongji (26/8/9/3) – Shin Hyoung Cheol
5. Flying Cat (70/16/6/8) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
6. Saebyeok Dongja (31/9/4/2) – Moon Se Young
7. Myeongmun Gamun (28/16/3/4) – Cho Kyoung Ho
8. Triple Seven (11/3/2/2) – Choi Beom Hyun
9. Dashing Champ (32/7/8/2) – Shim Seung Tae