Racing Previews

Weekend Preview – February 11, 12, 13

One of the great things about living in Asia is that you get a second chance at New Year’s Resolutions. One of the bad things about living in Asia is you get to fail them a second time too. Therefore it pays to modify them and so Gyongmaman, having kicked off 2011 with the intention of backing more winners and drinking less wine, now heads into the Year Of The Rabbit with the determination to back fewer losers and drink better quality wine.

Mister Park - The Grand Prix Champion makes his season-debut on Sunday

Racing returns from its week off for the Lunar New Year holiday this weekend and it’s down at Busan where the pick of the action is as Sunday’s feature race sees Grand Prix Stakes winner Mister Park make his 2011 debut. And an intriguing season opener it is set to be as he drops back down to seven furlongs to join a full-field of fourteen.

That field contains old-timers Procyon and Areumdaun Jilju as well as sprint specialist fillies Night Moves and Mulbora, the 2008 Derby winner Ebony Storm (making his first appearance since last July) as well as the Peter Wolsley trained duo of Ganghan Yeoja and Suryeohan. Mister Park should make it his twelfth straight victory but he’ll be carrying nine kilos more than he did on that day at Seoul back in December.

Speaking of Seoul, the capital hosts another thirteen race card on Saturday as they continue to make up for the races lost to snow a few weeks ago. It’s largely egg-and-spoon quality on both days although a couple of up and comers are to be looked out for on Sunday. Mass Media’s Tea (Mass Media) will be looking to make it four wins from five when he goes on Sunday while filly Ruby Queen (Badge Of Silver) will be looking to do the same a few races earlier. Meanwhile, the weekend’s most valuable race sees Holy Dreamer look for a third straight class 1 win.

Racing at Seoul during February will start 10 minutes earlier than it did in January with a first post time of 11:10 on both Saturday and Sunday – possibly to avoid having to use the floodlights at all. Unfortunately, while we’ve had a very pleasant fortnight temperature wise, we don’t seem set to have our first non sub-zero weekend of racing. It’s getting cold again with a high of -1 predicted. Here’s when and where you can once again freeze your extremities off get out in the fresh air while losing money having a few wagers:

Friday February 11

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday February 12

Seoul Race Park: 13 races from 11:10 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:20

Sunday February 13

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 16:30

Weekend Preview: They’re Back

It’s Tough Win vs Dongbanui Gangja at Seoul while Minister’s and President’s Cup winner Dangdae Bulpae goes at Busan on what is set to be another action packed weekend of racing in Korea.

The Boys Are Back in Town: (clockwise) Dongbanui Gangja, Tough Win, Dangdae Bulpae

It’s true that 2010’s much hyped battles between double Grand Prix winner Dongbanui Gangja and young upstart Tough Win fell a little flat. Dongbanui Gangja had always been difficult to control, but in the Busan Metropolitan he ran so wide on the final turn that he was able to play no part in the finish as Tough Win triumphed. Next was the KRA Cup Classic when, while Dongbanui Gangja kept straight Tough Win soundly beat him. Finally in the Grand Prix, the unbeaten but unheralded Mister Park came up from Busan and in the season’s longest race, handed them both a thorough drubbing.

Tough Win didn’t manage to say the distance that day, but he’s back down to ten furlongs on Sunday as he meets Dongbanui Gangja again. With a two kilo weight advantage, he’ll be strong favourite to get back to winning ways.

Saturday sees a thirteen race card at Seoul with last week’s snowed off Sunday feature being re-arranged. Good Day, Cheonun, Triple Seven and Blue Pin all survive from the original line-up. In what’s now a co-feature event, Lucky Mountain and last year’s champion filly or mare Love Cat are among a full field of fourteen contesting a class 1 handicap over nine and a half furlongs.

Down at Busan, one of the peninsula’s top horses returns to action. Dangdae Bulpae also failed to stay the distance in the Grand Prix last year but did land the President’s Cup, Korea’s richest race. On Friday, he runs at his home track of Busan for the first time since last September as he takes on another full field in the feature race. He’s a class apart from any of his rivals, but will have to carry eight kilos more than any of them . Only the weight can beat him.

Also down in South Gyeongsang Province on Friday, we’ll be looking out to see how Lion Santa (Lion Heart) fares in his first outing at class 2. The three-year old was one of last year’s hottest imports and has won all of his four races to date.

With no racing next weekend because of the Lunar New Year holiday, so despite the fact it’s going to be several degrees below zero yet again….Come Racing! Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday January 28

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday January 29

Seoul Race Park: 13 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:10 to 17:10

Sunday January 30

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Last week's snow means Seoul has a double feature this Saturday. It's going to be very cold, but we should escape any more blizzards

Weekend Preview

It’s another weekend of racing in Korea – Areumdaun Jilju, Yeonseung Daero, Jumong and Triple Seven will be among those in action. Here’s what’s happening when and where this weekend:

Friday January 21

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 race from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday January 22

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:10 to 17:10

Sunday January 23

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Weekend Preview

Temperatures remain low and the early forecast for Saturday in Seoul is for a “high” of -11C. It’s not going to be very pleasant. Nevertheless, a full program of racing is scheduled to take place.

It was cold and melancholy last week. After events far away, it is set to be the same this.

Cheonnyeon Daero, 2010 Korean Derby winner is perhaps the biggest name on show. He will carry top weight in Friday’s feature handicap at Busan.

That race is one of only two class 1 races on the peninsula this weekend. The other is at Seoul on Saturday as last year’s Champion filly Dongbang Rose takes on a former holder of that title Top Point in a tough to call handicap. Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday January 14

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday January 15

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:10 to 17:10

Sunday January 16

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

* James Perry remains missing in Queensland. Many people will be thinking of him in Korea this weekend.

Weekend Preview

Busan Gets 2011 Racing Underway / New Year’s Stakes at Seoul

Time for a dull story in the third-person: Gyongmaman once worked in an office in England. Every day, he would take the same bus as a co-worker who while very pleasant, was hopelessly un-coordinated and during icy winters would cling on to Gyongmaman’s jacket while making the five-minute walk from bus-stop to office. On Gyongmaman’s last day, she asked him to think of her in winter while he was “sunning himself in Asia”. With the temperature in Seoul reaching a high of eight degrees below zero today, he did just that. In fairness to her, however, it was indeed, gloriously sunny.

Point of the story: None really, except to say that it’s cold here. But after a two-week break, the peninsula’s punting brains are about to be warmed as racing returns with a cracking set of races headed by the Herald Business New Year’s Stakes at Seoul on Saturday.

Will it be a Happy New Year ('s Stakes) for Best Holls and Lee Sang Hyeok?

Best Holls and Tamnaseontaek both took Stakes wins in 2010 and will be looking to add to them in the nine-furlong New Year’s race which also includes Classic also-rans Forest Wind and Kanui Byeol. Cheongha Eutteum was highly thought of as a two-year old but was injured after running in this race last year and makes only her third start since while Anseong Chukje finished 2010 in good form.

Two races later, Bally Brae starts off his career as a nine-year old in the feature handicap. Gradually the handicapper is giving his some respite from the crazy weights he’s had to carry of late but will still be giving at least two kilos to a field including Serendipper, K J Khan and Mr. Loving Life. It would be very sad to see the former Horse of the Year Bally Brae trail any of this lot home but given the weights, he’s still going to have an awful lot to do.

Sunday sees Ace Galloper and Jilpunggangho among the entries in a competitive handicap, while down at Busan, there are co-feature races. Look out for Aussie bred three-year old Peolpeol making his first attempt at class 1 racing in the first of them.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday January 7

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday January 8

Seoul Race Park:12 races from 11:20 to 17:50
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:10 to 17:10

Sunday January 9

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Weekend Preview

The Grand Prix may be over but there’s still one more weekend of racing on the peninsula before things wrap up for 2010 and we head into the long winter break of…oh, about three weeks.

There’s plenty going on too. At Seoul, the last big handicap of the year on Sunday afternoon will see Ttukseom Cup winner Triple Seven put in an appearance while down at Busan, there are co-features on Friday with the likes of Sangseung Ilro, Areumdaun Jilju and Night Moves all in action.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday December 17

Busan Race Park: 10 race from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday December 18

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 8 races from 12:10 to 16:40

Sunday December 19

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Grand Prix D-1: Tough To Call

Dongbanui Gangja, Tough Win, Dangdae Bulpae, Mister Park, Yeonseung Daero – This is the Big One

Something’s got to give. In fact, a lot has got to give. Will it be Dongbanui Gangja’s two-year reign as Grand Prix champion? Mister Park’s ten-race unbeaten streak? Tough Win’s lifetime unbeaten streak? It could be all three; right now the only certainty about tomorrow’s Grand Prix Stakes is that it’s going to be very cold when twelve of Korea’s best horses line up at Seoul Race Park for the nation’s most prestigious horse race.

Big Three: (clockwise) Dongbanui Gangja, Tough Win, Dangdae Bulpae

Most see it as a straight fight between Dongbanui Gangja and Tough Win. The younger Tough Win is undoubtedly faster. If this was any race other than the Grand Prix, which is run at 2300 metres, he’d be long odds-on. However, he’s untried at the distance and if he does not stay-on, Dongbanui Gangja is the most likely to take advantage and claim an unprecedented third consecutive Grand Prix. If he could do it, he will have a strong claim to be called the greatest ever in Korean racing.

However, there are three horses among the seven raiders from Busan who warrant serious consideration. Dangdae Bulpae is the outstanding Korean colt of this year and has been just as fast as Tough Win in winning the Minister’s and President’s Cups. Victory for him would be a huge step forward for the Korean breeding industry. Mister Park, though born in Korea, was sired elsewhere and therefore couldn’t run in the Classics. He’s unproven but also untested at this level and could pull off a surprise.

Then there’s Yeonseung Daero. When Dongbanui Gangja eliminated himself from the Busan Metropolitan, it was Yeonseung Daero who pushed Tough Win all the way to the line. If he’d have had a few more metres, he may have got him. Tomorrow he’ll have 300 more metres in which to do so.

Seungniuijewang gives Cho Kyoung Ho the 2nd of his 4 winners

Today, at a bitterly cold Seoul Race Park the jockeys of both Tough Win and Dongbnaui Gangja warmed up with wins. Cho Kyoung Ho landed four victories while Choi Bum Hyun took two. Neither could win the feature race, however, as Holy Dreamer was guided to his ninth career victory by Jo In Kwen.

Well back in the field was Baekpa, the 2007 Oaks winner putting in a disappointing run after being sent off favourite. Baekpa was fifth in the 2008 Grand Prix – after being allowed to trail 30 lengths off the pace on the first turn. That was her last run in Korea before a disastrous spell in the United States after which she returned a different horse. Nevertheless she remains popular. In the paddock, several punters called out her name and waved as she passed – As she has always done, she turned to look at each and every one of them.

Baekpa’s jockey today was Park Tae Jong, who will ride Larrycat in the Grand Prix. Jo In Kwen meanwhile will have his first ever Grand Prix ride on Jumong. What a story it would be if the little brother of 2007 winner Bally Brae was the one to pull off a surprise. Here’s a final rundown of tomorrow’s runners and riders:

Grand Prix (GI) – Seoul Race Park – 2300M – December 12, 2010 – 17:00

1. Mister Park (KOR) – You Hyun Myung
2. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) – Choi Bum Hyun
3. Seonnyang Yongsa (AUS) – Jo Sung Gon
4. Jumong (USA) – Jo In Kwen
5. Gunham (NZ) – Kim Dong Young
6. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) – Choi Si Dae
7. Global Champ (AUS) – Mun Jung Won
8. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) – Jo Chang Wook
9. Purely Spontaneus (USA) – Lim Sung Sil
10. Tough Win (USA) – Cho Kyoung Ho
11. Larrycat (USA) – Park Tae Jong
12. Cheonjidolpung (USA) – Boo Min Ho

Gyongmaman’s Verdict: Tough Win has answered every question put to him so far and there’s no reason why he can’t do so tomorrow. Gyongmaman will, however, be rooting for Dongbanui Gangja to make history with a third straight Grand Prix victory.

Seoul Racecourse, December 11, 2010

Weekend Preview: Grand Prix!

Tough Win, Dongbanui Gangja, Mister Park, Dangdae Bulpae all face-off in 2010 Championship Race

It’s the big one. The stars of Korean racing will assemble in the floodlit late afternoon at Seoul Race Park on Sunday for the 29th Grand Prix Stakes to decide who is the undisputed best on the peninsula.

The Real Thing: It's Grand Prix Time

If Dongbanui Gangja can win, he will become the first ever horse to claim three Grand Prix. However, he has it all to do. The young upstart, Tough Win has beaten him twice and, in his nine starts to date, has shown no inclination that he knows how to lose.

Then there is the southern challenge. Busan sends seven of the twelve entrants. Chief among them is Dangdae Bulpae. The three year-old has already won twice in the capital, claiming the Minister’s and President’s Cups in dominant style. If he could upset the favourites on Sunday, it would be a massive boost for the Korean breeding industry. Joining him on the trip up the Gyeongbu Expressway is Mister Park. The gelding has won his last ten races and is not coming to Seoul for the weather. Likewise Yeonseung Daero will be there. He pushed Tough Win all the way in the Busan Metropolitan and will be sure to do the same on Sunday.

Face Off! Again. Dongbanui Gangja vs Tough Win

It is arguably the most anticipated race in Korean history. Certainly this correspondent cannot remember a race where no matter which of the twelve entrants win, there is a special story to tell. Which story we’ll be telling come Sunday evening is anybody’s guess. Here’s a full list of runners and riders (Name/Country/Age/Sex/Weight/Race Record/Jockey:

Grand Prix Stakes (KOR.GI) – Seoul Race Park – December 12, 2010 – 17:00

1. Mister Park (KOR) [Ecton Park – Formal Deal (Formal Gold)] 3-G-51kg (11/10/0/1) – You Hyun Myung

A winner in all but his first outing, he’s won five times at class 1. Has managed to avoid the very best and has not taken on imported horses before, but he does hold a five-length win over 2009 Minister’s Cup winner Namdo Jeap.

2. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] 5-H-58kg (26/17/5/2) – Choi Bum Hyun

Looking to make history with three consecutive Grand Prix. Has been difficult to control as a five-year old but, unlike the others, he is a proven winner at this distance. If he can be kept in a straight line, he will take advantage should Tough Win fail to stay the course.

3. Seonnyang Yongsa (AUS) [Catbird – Silicon Glory (Cure The Blues)] 5-G-58kg (27/10/7/4) – Jo Sung Gon

Jo Sung Gon’s choice to ride this one instead of Dangdae Bulpae isn’t one to please the romantics. The realists though would see he has a point. A proven winner at longer distances, he had an off-day when beaten by a number of this field in the Busan Metropolitan in July.

4. Jumong (USA) [Johar – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] 3-C-55kg (14/5/3/1) – Jo In Kwen

Former Grand Prix winner Bally Brae was invited but won’t be running. However, his half-brother will be. Jumong will be an outsider here but the three-year old already has a class 1 victory to his name and looks set to improve even more.

5. Gunham (NZ) [Anziyan – Kaapture The Heart (Kaapstad)] 8-G-58kg (43/10/6/4) – Kim Dong Young

One of the Grand Old Men of Busan, Gunham has had an up and down career but roared back into the winner’s circle last month beating a host of his youngers – and supposed betters. He’ll be an outsider but deserves to cap his career with a shot at the biggest race of all.

6. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] 4-C-54kg (26/11/5/3) – Choi Si Dae

If he had timid connections, Yeonseung Daero would have a much better win rate. Instead, his owners have been sportsmen and have never hesitated to run him against the best opposition available instead of restricting him to face fellow Korean bred runners. He got closer than any horse ever has to Tough Win all the way in the Busan Metropolitan and was second to Dangdae Bulpae in the President’s Cup. This horse is a battler.

7. Global Champ (AUS) [Charge Forward – Amarocco (Brocco)] 4-C-58kg (20/4/3/4) – Mun Jung Won

An improver but has never won over seven furlongs and difficult to see him troubling the placings here.

8. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] 3-C-51kg (12/9/0/1) – Jo Chang Wook

Cheonnyeon Daero may have won the Derby but Dangdae Bulpae is the outstanding three-year old Korean colt of 2010. His Minister’s Cup win was good but his President’s Cup win superb. He comes back to Seoul in search of a hat-trick. It would be unlikely but he has the talent to pull off something special

9. Purely Spontaneus (USA) [Pure Precision – Marquet Order (Marquetry)] 4-G-58kg (22/9/2/1) – Lim Sung Sil

Has had a very impressive four-year old season. Will need to run the race of his life here but cannot be discounted from a place finish.

10. Tough Win (USA) [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] 3-G-55kg (9/9/0/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho

The one to beat in that he never actually has been beaten. The one question is will he stay the 2300 metres? While his first win over Dongbnaui Gangja was marred by the latter’s manners, the second was decisive. Yeonseung Daero got very close to him in Busan though and that extra distance is all that stands between Tough Win and, at the age of three, already being talked about among the greats of Korean racing.

11. Larrycat (USA) [Fantasticat – Tiger In My Tank (Tank)] 3-G-55kg (14/6/3/3) – Park Tae Jong

A pair of good wins in the autumn sandwiching third place behind Tough Win and Dongbanui Gangja in the KRA Cup Classic made him an obvious starter here. Difficult to see him winning but could well make a nuisance of himself at the business end of the race.

12. Cheonjidolpung (USA) [Tactical Cat – Luminate (A.P. Indy)] 5-G-58kg (26/5/0/4) – Boo Min Ho

The friends & relatives vote – and the likes of Cheonnyeon Daero staying home – has got this one in. A good, solid competitor, but out of his depth in this company.

* The Grand Prix is the highlight of three days of racing on the peninsula this weekend. Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday December 10

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 13:00 to 17:30

Saturday December 11

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

Sunday December 12

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

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.

Weekend Preview: Derby Winner Stays Home

Cheonnyeon Daero Heads Busan Owners’ Cup Field

Cheonnyeon Daero’s connections have spurned his invitation to next week’s Grand Prix Stakes at Seoul. However, punters have plenty of compensation as the 2010 Korean Derby winner will line up at his home track of Busan for the Owners’ Cup this coming Sunday. And the race, Busan’s last big event of the year, is made all the more interesting by another two Grand Prix refuseniks in the shape of Golden Appeal and 2009 Minister’s Cup Winner Namdo Jeap, as the trio join eight others in the ten-furlong Championship race.

Cheonnyeondaero poses in the Korean Derby Winner's Circle (Pic: Ross Holburt)

While the Grand Prix is the most prestigious race on the Korean calendar and the call of history has meant Dangdae Bulpae will go north to Seoul next week, joined by the game-for-anything Yeonseung Daero and the precocious Mister Park to take part in a race which will result in an undisputed Champion, realism has kept Cheonnyeon Daero home. And the Grand Prix’s loss is the Owners’ Cup gain.

Aside from the afore-mentioned three, Gold Circle Trophy winner Glory Yeonggwang will be there as will the Peter Wolsley trained pair of Lucky Dancer and Khaosan. Lucky Dancer is a new addition to the Australian handler’s barn while Khaosan is one of his stalwarts. Wolsley is putting Japanese riders on both of his horses, Yoshi Aoki will ride Khaosan, while Hitomi Miyashita will be at the controls of Lucky Dancer.

The big race is off at 15:35 on Sunday afternoon and is the highlight of a six-race Sunday card. Busan also hosts a card on Friday while Seoul runs its usual Saturday and Sunday programs. While there’s no Stakes action at Seoul this weekend, there’s a star-studded line-up in Saturday’s feature handicap as Ace Galloper is joined by Jilpungganho, Big Easy, Nice Choice and Cheonun in a 1900 metre handicap.

On Sunday, it’s Bally Brae time. The 2006 Horse Of The Year is still so fondly regarded that punters voted him an invitation to the Grand Prix. The eight-year old gelding can no longer compete with the likes of Tough Win, Dongbanui Gangja or Dangdae Bulpae so connections politely declined and instead he will go in Sunday’s feature. Such is Korea’s handicapping system he will still be top-weight by a considerable margin and so has it all to do to beat a field who on paper and at equal weights, he should make very light work of. He may be getting on but he’s still healthy and gives every impression of loving what he does. And punters love to see him.

Here’s a full list of runners and riders for Sunday’s Busan Owners’ Cup:

Busan Owners’ Cup (Handicap) – Busan Race Park – 2000M – Sunday December 5 – 15:35

1. Glory Yeonggwang (KOR) (16/4/2/4) – 54kg – Kim Dong Young
2. King Hunter (KOR) (11/4/2/1) – 53.5kg – Toshio Uchida
3. Lucky Dancer (KOR) (24/10/3/2) – 58kg – Hitomi Miyashita
4. Isidae Gangja (KOR) (22/4/6/2) – 55kg – Choi Si Dae
5. Khaosan (KOR) (23/6/5/6) – 55kg – Yoshiyuki Aoki
6. Cheonnyeon Daero (KOR) (15/4/6/2) – 55kg – Park Geum Man
7. Namdo Jeap (KOR) (24/8/6/4) – 58kg – Jo Sung Gon
8. Golden Appeal (KOR) (15/9/3/2) – 59.5kg – Lim Sung Sil
9. Sky Star (KOR) (29/5/7/3) – 53.5kg – You Hyun Myung
10. New World Record (KOR) (23/3/4/3) – Yang Young Nam
11. Gangjaui Beopchik (KOR) (28/5/8/3) – Lee Sung Jae

And here’s what’s happening when and where over the first of three racing weekends in December:

Friday December 3

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

Saturday December 4

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

Sunday December 5

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:35 to 16:30