Here’s what’s happening when and where over the long weekend:
Friday March 1
Busan Race Park: 11 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30
Saturday March 2
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:20
Sunday March 3
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:00
Busan hosts its first Stakes race of the year this coming Sunday as nine horses go to post for the Busan Ilbo Cup.
Stakes races usually end up with Dangdae Bulpae and Jo Sung Gon in the winner’s circle
It has attracted a high quality field with last year’s winner Yeonseung Daero set to have his work cut out to retain the trophy as three-time President’s Cup winner Dangdae Bulpae the likely favourite. Here’s a full run down of the runners with name, pedigree, sex, age, weight (Starts/1st/2nd/3rd) and Jockey:
Busan Ilbo Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Sunday February 24, 2013 – 16:15
1. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] H 6 61kg (28/18/2/2) – Jo Sung Gon
One of the best Korean bred horses there has ever been. A three-time winner of the President’s Cup and the winner of more Stakes races than any other horse in Korean history. Against Korean bred opposition he should always be favourite at any distance between 1400 metres and 2000 metres and he will be here. The only consolation for his rivals is that he has never won when carrying more than 60kg and when he’s not on form, he’s really not on form. If he’s anything close to his best, he wins.
2. Dongseo Jeongbeol (KOR) [Vicar – Rendezvous Bay (Wonderloaf)] H 5 55.5kg (21/9/3/0) – Kanichiro (Joe) Fujii
Minister’s Cup winner in 2011, he struggled for form last year although he did finish 2nd in this race and picked up a win over the distance. He ended the year in good shape but will have to improve to win here but taking into weight and jockey, cannot be ruled out.
3. Road To Prince (KOR) [Pico Central – Ransom Bay (Red Ransom)] C 4 58kg (9/6/2/0) – Lim Sung Sil
A horse who has really crept up to class 1 under the radar. This will be his debut at this level and as such is a slightly unknown quantity. Seems to have plenty of improvement in him and will like the distance.
4. Gyeongbudaero (KOR) [Menifee – Princess Lanique (Cherokee Run)] C 4 58.5kg (16/5/4/5) – Choi Si Dae
Remarkably this colt hasn’t won since he took the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Triple Crown, last April. The reason is that he only ever runs against the best. 3rd in the Derby, 2nd in the Owners’ Cup, 3rd in the Minister’s Cup, 3rd in the President’s Cup. He usually runs into just one or two who are faster. That could well be the same here.
5. Alpha Myeongjang (KOR) [Pico Central – Lend (Coronado’s Quest)] C 4 61kg (16/7/5/0) – You Hyun Myung
An out-and-out sprinter he was very exposed in the Minister’s Cup last year. If the race was 400 metres shorter, he’d be favourite. It’s not, so he is an outsider. The consitions of the race also land him with 61kg, the same as Dangdae Bulpae.
6. Born To Win (KOR) [Archer City Slew – Bayou Blues (Cure The Blues)] M 5 54.5kg (25/4/5/3) – Narazaki Kosuke
She may well be Born To Win but she doesn’t do it very often and he’ll not do it here either. A pair of class 2 victories last autumn propelled her into the elite class and she beat some useful horses when finishing second over 1900 metres last month but there’s not much in her favour here.
7. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] H 7 56.5kg (47/17/9/5) – Park Geum Man
A wonderfully game horse and the defending champion. Yeonseung Daero has been campaigned almost exclusively against foreign-bred horses, hence “only” having 17 wins to his name. Struggled for much of 2012 but was right back in form at the end of the year, he can never be written off. Stablemate of Gyeongbudaero.
8. Geumsangeo (KOR) [Volponi – Dactique’s Quest (Coronodo’s Quest)] M 5 52kg (20/3/5/3) – Chae Gyu Jun
A relative unknown who has risen to class 1 through placing more than winning. Has never faced a field of this quality before and while she does have a big weight advantage, it would be a surprise to see her involved at the business end of the race.
9. Powerful Korea (KOR) [Distilled – Bound To Score (Quick Score)] G 5 58kg (20/6/3/4) – Kim Dong Young
He spent his 2-year old season in the USA and even ran in 3 races in Florida but Powerful Korea has never really lived-up to his potential. He has just a solitary class 1 victory to his name and while he has undoubted ability, will need to find a lot of improvement to win here.
Gyongmaman’s verdict: Even taking into account the weight (which is too high – horses do not need to be carrying this kind of weight in a race that isn’t even a handicap but this is an argument for another day) it is difficult to look beyond Dangdae Bulpae for the win but there won’t be much value in that. Therefore, Gyongmaman will probably leave him alone in the betting and look for options involving Yeonseung Daero and Dongseo Jeongbeol both of whom are carrying reasonable weights, have good jockeys and are almost certain to run solid races.
Dangdae Bulpae, Gyeongbudaero, Jigeum I Sungan, Feel So Good, Gamdonguibada, Lion Santa, My Key All in action!
A spectacular weekend of racing by Korean standards is in store this weekend as a whole host of the nation’s top horses will be on show at Seoul and Busan.
Will Yoo Byung Bok be greeting Dangdae Bulpae like this ahgain on Sunday?
The feature race of the weekend is the Busan Ilbo Cup, the first Stakes race of 2013 to be run at Busan. Defending champion Yeonseung Daero (Creek Cat) will be there but it will be a tough ask for him to retain his title with competition in the shape of three-time President’s Cup winner Dangdae Bulpae (Biwa Shinseiki) and KRA Cup Mile winner Gyeongbudaero (Menifee). We’ll have a full preview of the race, including a run-down of each entrant’s chances, up on the blog on Friday.
Friday is when things start off at Busan and there will be a couple of horses worth keeping an eye on. Being the half-brother of US champion Game On Dude, My Key (Macho Uno) has had plenty of expectations placed on him. He’s just started living up to them with two consecutive wins. He goes looking for his 3rd in race 8.
Also on Friday, US import Yonggwanguijehyun (Rockport Harbor) will look for his 6th straight victory when he goes in the finale over 1600M.
Grand Prix Stakes winner Gamdonguibada and Joe Fujii will be reunited on Sunday
In addition to the Busan Ilbo Cup, Sunday at Busan sees a big class 1 handicap and it is in that race where current Grand Prix Stakes winner Gamdonguibada (Werblin) will make her 2013 debut. The 4-year-old filly won’t have things easy though as she’ll take on Lion Santa (Lion Heart) who returned to the track in style after a long lay-off last month.
He has a record of 11 wins from 15 starts and if he’s in the kind of form he’s capable of, he’ll be tough to beat. Throw the ever dependable Viva Ace (Macho Uno) into the mix as well and ou Grand Prix Champion faces a challenging start to her campaign.
His moment again…Jigeum I Sungan
Up at Seoul there is plenty to keep us occupied too. On Saturday, 2012 Korean Derby winner Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire) heads the feature race. He won his season debut last month and while he faces New Year Stakes victor Global Fusion (Menifee), as well as tough campaigners Singgereounachim (Exploit) and Geuma Champ (Vicar), he should be favourite.
On Sunday at Seoul, possibly the hottest property in Korean racing right now makes his second appearance. Feel So Good (Ft.Stockton) spent nearly 2 years in the US and was a winner at Calder in Florida last autumn before being brought back home. He won his Korean debut by 10 lengths and steps up in class and distance in race 7. He should romp it.
Check back tomorrow for the full handicap of Sunday’s Busan Ilbo Cup but in the meantime, here’s what’s happening when and where this weekend:
Friday February 22
Busan Race Park: 11 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30
Saturday February 23
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:20
Sunday February 24
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:05 including the Busan Ilbo Cup at 16:15
Stakes action returns to Seoul Race Park this weekend in the form of the Segye Ilbo Cup which offers a rare a rare chance for up-and-coming imported fillies and mares to compete for a big prize and a ticket into class 1 racing.
Kkakjaengi won this race 2 years ago and went on to win serious money later
A full field of 14 will line up for the 1400M race including two three-year olds, Pureun Miso (Malibu Moon) who has 3 wins from 5 starts, and Indian Blue (Henny Hughes) who has 2 from 5 but has never been out of the placings.
Late developers are also represented as 4-year old January Queen (Happy Jazz Band), who has won her last 4 races, also takes her chance.
The Segye Ilbo Cup is the highlight of an 11 race card on Sunday at Seoul. There’s plenty going on at all the tracks this weekend though. Down at Busan, the most valuable race of the weekend is on Friday, however, Sunday does see US import Street Event (Street Boss), who won very handily last time to take his record to 4 wins from 6 starts, step up to class 2.
Finally, with Lunar New Year out-of-the-way and just 6 weeks to go until the first Classic of the season, the KRA Cup Mile, it’s time to start keeping a very close eye on the Korean bred three-year old crop. Sunday’s race 4 at Busan and race 7 at Seoul will be ones to keep an eye on
Here’s what’s happening where and when:
Friday February 15
Busan Race Park: 11 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30
Saturday February 16
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:20
Sunday February 17
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00 including the Segye Ilbo Cup at 16:35
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:05
It’s actually been a rather pleasant week weather-wise on the peninsula and the first weekend of February is set to be the first weekend of the year where the temperature is above 0C.
Here’s what’s happening where and when:
Friday February 1
Busan Race Park: 11 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30
Saturday February 2
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:20
Sunday February 3
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:00
After a slightly warmer week. the temperature is set to plunge back way below zero as another weekend of racing gets underway in Korea.
Going to be very cold and bright again this weekend
Lion Santa (Lion Heart), who’s won 10 of his 14 starts to date returns to action at Busan on Sunday after a long spell out with injury.
The 5 year old will take on Yeonseung Daero (Creek Cat) and up and coming US import Wild Myeongun (D’Wildcat) among a full field of 14 in the first of co-feature races.
Up at Seoul the biggest name on show across the weekend is Ace Galloper (Chapel Royal). The 6 year-old, who looked to be coming back into form at the tail-end of last season, headlines Sunday’s feature race at the track. Here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday January 25
Busan Race Park: 11 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30
Saturday January 26
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:20
Sunday January 27
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:00
We didn’t have to wait too long for the big boys to come out the barn and onto the track this year as several of the country’s most well-known horses make their 2013 debuts this weekend.
Tough Win is back
Chief among them is Tough Win (Yonaguska). Now a 6-year old, he failed to successfully defend his Grand Prix Stakes title last month but should really be back to winning ways on Sunday at Seoul.
He will, however, be giving 4 kilos to Nolbu Manse (Simon Pure), who also disappointed in the Grand Prix but is a Stakes winner and did finish ahead of Tough Win in the KRA Cup Classic. What should be an entertaining race over 1800 metres is one of co-features at Seoul on Sunday.
The other co-feature sees a return to the track after 6 months of rest for former Champion Filly & Mare Top Point (Tom Cruiser). The 9-year-old will need to be close to her old best though to beat a competitive field of 14 in a handicap which, like its partner feature, will also be run over 1800 metres.
Taking on the foreigners: Gyeongbudaero (Pic: KRA)
Down at Busan, Gyeongbudaero (Menifee) is the first of last year’s Classic winners to make his 4-year-old debut. The KRA Cup Mile winner will take on a field of imported horses including consistent winner Viva Ace (Macho Uno).
Owner Jang Kwang Hwa also owns Yeonseung Daero and took a very similar approach with him when he reached 4 years old.
Korean bred horses receive a weight allowance when running against imports and, while Yeonseung Daero has won nowhere near the number of races he would most likely have done had he just raced his compatriots, he has had more than his fair share of success and his career has been a delight to watch. Hopefully we are in for more of the same with Gyeongbudaero.
Here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday January 11
Busan Race Park: 11 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30
Saturday January 12
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:20
Sunday January 13
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:00
The first racing of the year in Korea gets underway this weekend with an unusual set of cards. As Jeju Island takes the week off, Busan will host 12 races on Friday and 5 on Sunday while Seoul run 14 on Saturday and 10 on Sunday.
Still a lot of snow on the ground as 2013 begins
The big race of the weekend is the New Year’s Commemorative Stakes at Seoul on Saturday afternoon. The 1800 metre race sees Sand Jjang (Forest Camp) with 5 wins from 6 starts head a competitive looking field of 13.
On Friday at Busan, My Key (Macho Uno), half-brother to Game On Dude, makes his first appearance since breaking his maiden a month ago. He steps up in class in race 6. Busan’s feature races of the weekend are on Sunday with a pair of class 1 handicaps.
It’s been a bone-numbingly cold week on the Korean peninsula with temperatures averaging around -14C since Christmas. However, while it is still set to be below freezing throughout the weekend, it shouldn’t be quite as bad as it has been.
Here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday January 4
Busan Race Park: 12 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Saturday January 5
Seoul Race Park: 14 races from 11:00 to 17:45
Sunday January 6
Seoul Race Park: 10 races from 11:00 to 17:50
Busan Race Park: 5 races from 12:50 to 16:50
* A few people have been in touch asking about 2013 race fixtures. They have been published and I’ll be updating the fixture list as soon as I get a chance. In the meantime, the calendar can be downloaded direct from the KRA website for Seoul and for Busan.
There’s no racing in Seoul as Busan takes centre stage on the last weekend of 2012. Just like last week, the only racing in Korea on Friday is the ponies on Jeju Island as Busan runs a short 6 race card on Saturday and then a bumper 14 race program on Sunday.
Busan Racecourse can be a lonely place, but it’s the only place to be for thoroughbred racing in Korea this weekend
A few of Busan’s bigger names will be on show across the weekend. 2008 Korean Derby winner Ebony Storm, still going strong as a seven-year old, goes on Saturday, while multiple Stakes winner Yeonseung Daero makes an appearance in one of Sunday’s co-features. A host of up and coming tw-year olds, both Korean-bred and imported, will also be on show both days.
This weekend also sees American trainer Joe Murphy bow out of Korea after a challenging two years. Murphy will saddle his last runner when six-year old Atanarjuat goes in Sunday’s last race.
Friday December 28
Jeju Race Park: 12 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Saturday December 29
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:30
Jeju Race Park: 8 races from 11:00 to 17:00
Sunday December 30
Busan Race Park: 14 races from 11:00 to 17:50
Busan is the first of the tracks to take a week off for the holidays but that still leaves thoroughbreds at Seoul and ponies on Jeju for the Korean punting public to get stuck into this weekend.
As the sole track running on Friday, Jeju plays host to 12 races, both run on Sunday while Seoul is the lone attraction on Sunday with 14 races – the track’s maximum – on offer.
Ace Galloper won the KRA Cup Classic last year – he headlines Sunday’s marathon card at Seoul
There’s not really a lot to tie-up this weekend. All Stakes races are behind us and Moon Se Young has the champion jockey title sewn up. Likewise, Menifee is leading sire by an unprecedentedly huge margin.
Saturday’s card at Seoul is not especially inspiring. Aside from the Korean debut of Feel So Good, the first Korean bred horse to win in the us, there are a lot of two-year olds will be on display although the feature race is a low-key class 2 handicap. Sunday’s marathon card holds a bit more promise. Ace Galloper (Chapel Royal) head the field for a class 1 handicap.
The big five-year old. who has won 17 of his 29 starts, is without a victory since the summer and is up against a competitive looking field that includes prolific winners Magnifique (Menifee) and Tongjesa (Creek Cat).
It’s going to be another bitterly cold weekend but the sun will be out. Here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday December 21
Jeju Race Park: 12 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Saturday December 22
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 6 races from 12:20 to 16:10
Sunday December 23
Seoul Race Park: 14 races from 11:00 to 17:50
Horse Racing in Korea 