Busan and Jeju take a break as Seoul hosts the only racing on the peninsula this coming weekend. And everything’s set for another big weekend under the lights. Sunday’s Munhwa Ilbo Stakes is the most valuable race of the weekend though the category 2 field, while setting the pulses racing, is certainly competitive with Luxury Jewang heading a full field of 14.
Another Stakes Winner Will be in the Seoul Winners' Circle on Sunday
On Saturday, Ace Galloper renews hostilities with fellow three-year old Seonbongbulpae with Lucky Mountain, Love Cat and Free Woody joining them in what looks like a cracking handicap. Meanwhile, after the Munhwa Ilbo on Sunday, Serendipper makes her first appearance since her shock win in the Owner’s Cup last month.
Korean racing’s unstoppable force collides with its immovable object at Busan Race Park this evening as Dongbanui Gangja, double Grand Prix winner and unbeaten in twelve races, meets Tough Win, two years his junior and victorious in all seven of his starts.
The Race: Busan City Mayor’s Cup (G.III Stakes Listed) – Busan Race Park – 2000M, 19:10
The Headliners
Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] Five-year old horse. 24 starts, 17 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds. Winner Grand Prix 2008, 2009; Owner’s Cup 2009. Jockey: Moon Se Young (58 kilos)
Tough Win (USA) [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] Three-year old gelding. 7 starts, 7 wins. Jockey: Cho Kyoung Ho (55 kilos)
This could be the first of a series of meetings between the pair and, all things being equal, Dongbanui Gangja should win. This time. Nevertheless, he’s only raced twice this year and last time out drifted so far wide in the home straight that he was very lucky to beat the unheralded Big Sox. Jockey Moon Se Young, stepping in for the injured Choi Bum Hyun will need to make sure there’s no repeat of that against a much classier field on Busan’s punishing and unfamiliar track.
The Others: Don’t rule out a surprise. Neither of the two favourites have run at Busan before and Seoul horses have a less than stellar record at the track. Seonnyang Yongsa is in top form while the seven-year old Crafty Louis looks back to his best. Meanwhile two domestic bred horses will take their chances. Yeonseung Daero and Yeongung Manse have both successfully mixed it with the foreigners before. Whether they can take on the likes of Dongbanui Gangja and Tough Win though is another matter.
The Busan City Mayor’s Cup is race 4 of a six race card at Busan today which runs from 4:30pm to 9pm. The big race is off at 7:10pm and will be simulcasted live at Seoul Race Park.
Baekpa will step out onto a sodden Seoul Race Park on Sunday evening returning to the race which saw arguably her greatest triumph, as she bids to regain the SBS Cup. As a four-year old in 2008, the grey came up against two-time President’s Cup winner Myeongmun Gamun, then at his zenith. She never gave him a look-in as she led from gate-to-wire.
Baekpa can land the SBS Cup
What followed for Baekpa was unfortunate. Sent to the USA as part of the KRA’s ill-judged experiment with sending domestic bred horses to the US. She looked uncomfortable and was humiliated in all her races. Lame on her return home, she was sidelined for nearly a year but, like her older brother Baekgwang a year ago, she made a remarkable return this Spring. After finishing fourth in the Ttukseom Cup, she would go on to win a big Allowance race in June which has now set her up for the SBS.
Top Ranked: Triple Seven
Winning the Ttukseom Cup that day in April was Triple Seven. Currently ranked the top domestic-bred horse on the peninsula, he will be out to stop Baekpa tomorrow. Baekpa should be favourite though. The mare has a seven kilo weight advantage and loves the dirty conditions. It is by no means a two-horse race, however. Last year’s shock winner Hallyu Star returns while Wangson, Bengnyeonbong and Khanui Jeguk are all dangers.
However, both the smart and sentimental money will be on Baekpa.
The SBS Cup is race 9 at Seoul Race Park and is off at 7:40pm. There are eleven races at Seoul on Sunday with the first at 2:30pm and the last at 9:10pm
The lights will be on at all three tracks this weekend as four weeks of “twilight” racing get underway. And Sunday especially is set to be a massive day with the SBS Cup at Seoul and the big showdown in Gyeongnam in the Busan Mayor’s Cup taking place within thirty minutes of each other just after 7pm.
The usual light shows and performances will be taking place over the four weekends of night racing, which are split by a two week break at the end of July and beginning of August. Here’s what’s happening this weekend:
Friday July 16
Busan Race Park: 11 races from 14:30 to 21:00 Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 16:30 to 21:15
Saturday July 17
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 14:30 to 21:00 Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 16:30 to 21:10
Sunday July 18
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 14:30 to 21:10 Busan Race Park: 6 races from 16:30 to 21:00
This really is the big one. Double Grand Prix winner Dongbanui Gangja, unbeaten in two years, puts everything on the line against the young challenger Tough Win, yet to be tested in seven starts. Alongside them, the supporting cast contains a number of horses rightly considered stars in their own right.
The Busan Mayor’s Cup is at Busan Race Park under the lights this coming Sunday evening and it is unquestionably, the biggest race in recent Korean history. We’ll have plenty more on it before Sunday. For now, here is the line-up in full (Name/Record/Jockey):
Busan Mayor’s Cup (G.III) – Busan Race Park – 2000M – July 18, 19:10
1. Purely Spontaneus (USA) (19/8/1/1) – Yang Young Nam 2. Captain Sir (USA) (10/5/3/0) – Chae Gyu Jun 3. Vicar Love (USA) (23/10/1/4) – Jung Ki Yong 4. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) (24/17/4/2) – Moon Se Young 5. Geumbittuhon (USA) (37/3/5/3) – Jung Pyeong Soo 6. Tiffanyuikkum (AUS) (25/5/1/2) – Shin Dae Jun 7. Kahnui Jeonseol (NZ) (21/2/5/4) – Choi Won Joon 8. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) (22/10/3/3) – Park Geum Man 9. Larrycat (USA) (10/4/3/2) – Bang Choon Sik 10. Seonnyang Yongsa (AUS) (23/9/5/4) – Jo Sung Gon 11. Yeongung Manse (KOR) (23/10/4/3) – Hitomi Miyashita 12. Tough Win (USA) (7/7/0/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho 13. Crafty Louis (USA) (39/15/5/3) – Jo Chang Wook 14. Cheonjidolpung (USA) (22/5/0/3) – Boo Min Ho
Cheonun will be the one to beat when eleven of Seoul’s best three-year old fillies line up on Sunday afternoon for the Sports Seoul Cup, the track’s premier trial race for the Korean Oaks.
With three wins, thee seconds and a third from her seven starts and having beaten decent opposition, Cheonun is likely to be a strong favourite. Nevertheless, there are several others worthy of consideration for the race which, at eight and a half furlongs, is slightly shorter than the big one down at Busan in August.
Hushtilled has the experience and is coming back from a two-month lay-off following while Magic Collar was an impressive winner over the same distance last time out. At the start of the year, Manjeomhwanhui looked a potential superstar. She has struggled in her last two races but both time she was facing older males.
Kanui Byeol has won her last two starts while Candy Gongju is the wildcard having never run more than six furlongs. Meanwhile, Dongbang Rose is likely to have supporters too. Here is a full list of the runners, their records and riders:
Sports Seoul Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1700M – Sun Jun 27, 17:00
1. Special Volpony (8/2/3/2) – Park Sang Woo 2. Cheonun (7/3/3/1) – Oh Kyoung Hoan 3. Hushtilled (11/3/3/1) – Park Tae Jong 4. Magic Collar (8/4/2/0) – Jo In Kwen 5. Dongbang Rose (6/4/0/1) – Shin Hyoung Chul 6. Euro Fighter (8/3/2/0) – Moon Jung Kyun 7. Kanui Byeol (8/3/1/2) – Cho Kyoung Ho 8. Saeroungamun (10/2/2/1) – Ham Wan Sik 9. Candy Gongju (3/2/0/0) – Jung Ki Yong 10. Blue Band Zet (5/1/2/0) – Boo Min Ho 11. Manjeomhwanhui (9/4/0/3) – Moon Se Young
* Today at Seoul, the big race resulted in a surprise win for 30/1 outsider Necromancer. The Japanese four-year old took advantage of carying significantly less weight than favourites Angus Empire, Bally Brae and Bulpae Gisang to record a narrow victory of Emperor Cugat.
Due to time constraints, full results from all meetings will be delayed a little this weekend but are available on the KRA’s website
June 25, 2010 marks sixty years since the start of the Korean War. Sometimes referred to as the “Forgotten War” a total of five million people on both sides were either killed or wounded during the three-years of struggle. That total includes over half a million South Korean civilians. 36,000 American soldiers and 1,100 British soldiers were also among 700,000 killed on the Allied side. Those suffered by the North have never been accurately calculated but they were surely even higher.
The city of Seoul today is the finest possible tribute to those who paid the ultimate price for its freedom and indeed, its very existence. Following the end of outright hostilities, South Korea went through a number of turbulent decades before finally emerging as an economic powerhouse as well as one of the world’s most vibrant democracies. Meanwhile, across the border, just thirty miles north of the city, a tragedy that has been unfolding for the past 60 years shows no signs of abating.
It is true to say though, that the main reason for the seemingly general apathy is that on Saturday evening, Korea will play Uruguay in the last sixteen of the World Cup. Korea’s recent history means that it does nationalism very well and Saturday’s game is the biggest since Korea fell to Germany in the semi-finals of the 2002 competition.
Of course, this time around, the North were in South Africa too. A creditable defeat at the hands of Brazil was followed by humiliation by Portugal and a hammering by the Cote D’Ivoire. Despite all that has happened, here in the South, the vast majority were supporting the North – after all that has happened, they are still Koreans.
Cheonnyeon Daero
Racing takes a backseat as the nation prepares for the encounter. Nevertheless, it’s a big weekend in prospect. Cheonnyeon Daero makes his first appearance since winning the Derby last month in Busan’s feature race on Sunday. Meanwhile, Seoul hosts its Oaks trial, the “Sports Seoul Cup, where the likes of Dongbang Rose and Hushtilled will be looking to put themselves in the frame for the Classic at Busan in August.
Saturday June 26
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 18:00 Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:20
Sunday June 27
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10 Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30
Korea were well and truly beaten by Argentina this evening but not to worry; it’s Thursday evening and a weekend’s punting is almost upon us! Having said that, Gyongmaman’s bank balance has taken a bit of a battering during the World Cup (7/1 Korea to beat Argentina sounded like good value at the time) so he may have to sit a few races out.
Punting or not, there’s something interesting to watch. After four months sidelined through injury, Nice Choice, winner of the 2009 President’s Cup returns to action at Seoul this Sunday. However, the four-year old will have some tough competition when he lines up for the ten-furlong handicap, which is the feature race of the weekend.
Ace Galloper will take on Nice Choice
Also going will be Ace Galloper, winner of six of his nine starts today. Born in Korea but conceived elsewhere, the three-year old wasn’t eligible for the classics and, after a two-month lay-off of his own, looks set compete for some big prizes later in the season. Free Woody and New Rider are amongst the others making up the ten strong field.
Here’s what’s happening where and when this weekend:
Friday June 18
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00 Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 13:30 to 18:00
Saturday June 19
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 18:00 Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:30
Sunday June 20
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00 Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30
What a weekend in prospect! First let’s get the important things out-of-the-way:
Yes, the World Cup gets underway on Friday and the South Korean team will be in action against Greece on Saturday evening. Seoul Race Park will stay open after Saturday’s last race for a pop concert followed by the whole game live on the two giant screens at 8:30pm.
Baekpa
Prior to that there will have been a full day’s card of twelve races with the highlight being the very last at 6pm when one time track heroine Baekpa – winner of the 2007 Korean Oaks and the 2008 SBS Cup – makes her second appearance since her long lay-off after returning from the US last year. She carries the lowest weight in an intriguing race that also features the likes of Gi Ra Seong, Good Day and, significantly, top three-year old Seonbongbulpae.
Racing will begin at Busan on Friday but it is Sunday which sees the pick of the action with a double-header of Stakes races at Seoul and Busan. Down on the South Coast, it’s the KNN Cup and a tasty clash of the track’s top four year-olds featuring a host of names from last year’s Classic trail – with one or two older and younger horses thrown in. Cup Mile and Derby winner Sangseung Ilro will be there, as will the runner-up in those races and ultimate Minister’s Cup winner Namdo Jeap. Late developer Yeonseung Daero also goes as do 2008 Cup Mile winner Rainmaker and 2009 Champion Juvenile Night Moves.
Once the KNN Cup is over with, the focus switches to Seoul where it’s the Owners’ Cup. This year restricted to fillies & mares only, it features the likes of Love Cat, Soseono, Lucky Mountain, Pocketful Of Money and last month’s JRA Trophy winner Gippeumnuri in what should be a cracking contest.
Soseono is among the fillies & mares going for the Owners' Cup
We’ll try to put up a full preview of both races – probably between football matches – on Saturday evening.
Here’s what’s happening where and when:
Friday June 11
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 and 18:00 Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30
Saturday June 12
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 18:00 Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:30
Sunday June 13
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10 Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30
G20 Finance Ministers are meeting in Busan this weekend. Some could hardly do worse than to pop down to the track where there are ten races on Friday followed up by six more on Sunday which culminates in young upstarts Captain Sir and Useung Geotap taking on Busan stalwart Crafty Louis in the feature.
Key To Success goes on Sunday
Up in the capital it’s getting hot. Not too hot but pleasantly summery. Put simply, it’s perfect punting weather. This should make up for a less than inspiring feature race on Saturday when Natural Nine – a horse who hasn’t won for going on two years – carries top weight among a small field of just seven
Sunday is a little more promising with Bulpae Gisang, Seoul Teukgeup, Torpedo Mast, Free Hugs, Noubeau Riche and a rare British-bred runner in Key To Success, do battle over ten furlongs.
Here’s what’s happening:
Friday June 4
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00 Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30
Saturday June 5
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 18:00 Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:30
Sunday June 6
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00 Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30
Horse Racing in Korea 