Yeonseung Daero, Bally Brae, Dongbanui Gangja in action

Dongbanui Gangja, Korea’s best horse, will make his first appearance of 2010 at Seoul Race Park on Sunday afternoon. The double Grand Prix winner will face the horse he took that title off when Bally Brae lines up alongside him in the ten furlong test. Despite carrying 62 kilos – the largest handicap weight awarded for some time, Dongbanui Gangja will likely be heavy favourite to get the better of a full field of fourteen.

Down at Busan, Yeonseung Daero makes his highly anticipated four-year old debut. The nearly horse of 2009, great things are expected of him in 2010. He’ll take on foreign bred horses in Sunday’s feature including such luminaries as King Kephalos and track stalwart Golding over nine furlongs.

Friday at Busan and Saturday at Seoul are relatively low-key affairs although Japanese rider Kunihisa Hirase will debut at Busan on Friday. Of interest, however, will be the appearance of three-year olds Money Car and Great True at Seoul. The former is a Derby contender, the latter an import that we could see running for big prizes later in the year.

Friday January 29

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday January 30

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 12:30, last 17:10

Sunday January 31

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15

Dongbanui Gangja wins the 2009 Grand Prix:

Sangseung Ilro, Nice Choice, Bulpae Gisang, Tough Win

It’s set to be a star-studded weekend as some of the peninsula’s hottest properties take to the track at both Seoul and Busan.

Busan and Jeju get things underway on Friday and the Gyeongnam Province track hosts two class 1 contests to finish the day. The first gives the track’s top horses a rare chance to compete for a big prize over just seven furlongs and Sinjin Gangja and Top Grade will be among those looking to claim it. That race is immediately followed by a nine furlong test for overseas bred runners. Crafty Louis tops the weights but faces interesting competition from the likes of lightly raced four-year old Dandi and from the Korean bred Impeccable.

On Saturday the focus moves up to Seoul and Bulpae Gisang, winner of last year’s Busan Metropolitan and second in the Grand Prix, makes his first appearance of 2010. Regular rider Choi Beom Hyun is suspended so Champion jockey Park Tae Jong gets the mount for what should be a straightforward win although Bulpae Gisang will be giving weight to both Angus Empire and Baekjeonmupae, both horses with plenty of wins to their name.

Sunday is set to be a treat at both Seoul and Busan. Down South, last year’s Derby winner Sangseung Ilro faces Pangpang, the filly who beat her in the Oaks, in the feature. Don’t be surprised if neither of them win, however, as also going is Yeongung Manse, winner of the Governer’s Cup in 2009.

Up in the Capital meanwhile, President’s Cup winner Nice Choice makes his début as a four-year old. He should have the beating of a field including Machine Gun and the still slightly unknown quantity of Holy Dreamer. Sunday’s race 9 also sees the seasonal début of the current highest rated three-year old on the peninsula in the shape of Tough Win. The American import in three for three and will attempt two turns for the first time.

Friday January 22

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park (Pony Racing): 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday January 23

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 12:30, last 17:10

Sunday January 24

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15

It’s cold. The temperature is yet to rise above zero in Seoul in 2010 and it’s getting tiresome. The snow from a fortnight ago is still on the ground and riding out these past few mornings must have been horrific. Nevertheless, there’s a full set of race-cards to look forward to this weekend.

While hopes have been dashed that last year’s champion three-year old Nice Choice would make his season debut, we have an even more intriguing entry at Seoul Race Park this weekend. Seonbongbulpae, Champion Juvenile in 2009 steps up to nine furlongs in race 7 on Sunday afternoon as he launches his three-year old campaign.

The colt is unbeaten in four races but laboured in winning the Herald Business Cup back in December. He’ll face an array of older horses in the class 3 test.

The big race of the weekend at Seoul is on Saturday. As mentioned above, there’s no Nice Choice but Gi Ra Seong will be there and the six-year old will be fancied to overcome a field that includes the likes of Symphony Sonata and Hwangnyongsaji.

Busan Race Park

Friday January 15: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Sunday January 17: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15

Seoul Race Park

Saturday January 16: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Sunday January 17: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45

Jeju Race Park (Pony Racing)

Friday January 15: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30
Saturday Janaury 16: 9 races, first post 12:30, last 17:10

Seoul is getting back to normal after the heaviest snowfall in the city’s hitory was recorded earlier this week. Normal being that it’s still plenty of degrees below zero and that snow remains on the ground, turning progressively uglier by the day.

As of now though, the 2010 season at Seoul Race Park is expected to get underway as planned on Saturday. Today they raced at a chilly Busan, with Jo Sung Gon winning the year’s first race on Widaehan Dojeon, while Jeju also ran its first regular Friday pony card. The rest of the weekend looks like this:

Saturday:
Seoul: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 18:05
Jeju: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:25

Sunday:
Seoul: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Busan: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15

As always, the feature event of the opening day of the year at Seoul is the New Year’s Commemorative Race. A full field of fourteen will contest the nine furlong event, among them Winner Prince, Guard Blue and Wangsan. The top horse on show on the day, however will be Vicar Love who lines up in race 11.

Gyongmaman is in the mood for some punting so here is what he will be losing his money on tomorrow:

Race 1: Pretty dreadful stuff to get us underway, Bon Rising might be the least slow.
Race 2: Mr Lucky will be odds-on to do just that.
Race 3: Kkonnuri has been third and fourth in his two outings to date and could score
Race 4: A lot of unknown quanities as a lot of young three year olds go for the first time. Of those who have raced before, Defcon and Golden Impact look the most likely to break their maidens.
Race 5: A tough one, Little Dreamer won last time out but Pilseung Korea may be the better option.
Race 6: Haengbokhan Party should not be beaten under Cho Kyoung Ho. His odds will reflect that.
Race 7: Gippeumnuri has won at this level and distance and could well do so again, Jangta under Moon Se Young might be worth a chance though.
Race 8: Anything could win this as the whole field steps up to eight and a half furlongs for the the first time. Bichui Adeul won’t be favourite, but could win.
Race 9: Jangbi Sarang could be another winner for Moon Se Young.
Race 10: The New Year’s race features a lot of improving young four-year olds. Wangsan and Fundahigh could provide the value.
Race 11: Vicar Love won’t be worth a bet to win. He should but he’s had off days in the past. All nine of his challengers though have dismal recent form.
Race 12: Champion jockey Park Tae Jong should be winning this comfortably on Grand Money.

Baekgwang / Sangseung Ilro / Jockey Title Race
If the story of the first half of the Korean racing year was Sangseung Ilro, the filly who claimed the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the story of the second half was Baekgwang. With the help of stem-cell therapy, the six-year old grey overcame two years of injuries to make an unlikely return to the top-tier of racing and gave Nice Choice a run for his money in the President’s Cup.

It is fitting then that both Sangseung Ilro and Baekgwang should run on the day that brings the 2009 season to a close. Sangseung Ilro will be the main draw of a short four race card at Busan on Sunday while Baekgwang will tackle one of the co-feature races at Seoul on the same day.

Also at Seoul, the Leading Jockey Title is on the line. With last year’s Champion Moon Se Young missing three months of the season due to injury, the race opened up. Cho Kyoung Ho looked to have victory secured until he was hit with a suspension last week which allowed veteran Park Tae Jong to swoop in and take the lead. Park leads Cho by one wins with Choi Beom Hyun a further victory behind. All three have nearly full books of rides and it could go any way.

Busan Race Park
Friday December 25: 8 races, first post 11:30, last 16:00
Sunday December 27: 4 races, first post 12:30, last 16:20

Seoul Race Park
Saturday December 26: 10 races, first post 11:10, last 17:40
Sunday December 27: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:50

Jeju Race Park (Pony Racing)
Friday December 25: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:00
Saturday December 26: 9 races, first post 13:35, last 17:30

Jeju moves this week to racing on Friday and Saturday – this will be its regular schedule in 2010. After a few warmer days, the cold snap is likely to be back over the weekend. Wrap up warm!

Gyongmaman is currently in the UK for Christmas but will have his spies at the track over the weekend and wishes all punters a very Merry Christmas!

The peninsula has been shivering several degrees below zero for the past few days and there’s no let up in sight as the weekend’s racing gets underway:

Busan Race Park

Friday December 18: 10 races, first post 13:00, last 17:30
Sunday December 20: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15

Seoul Race Park

Saturday December 19: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:30
Sunday December 20: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:55

Seoul Vs Busan Part 6
It’s the race that brings the curtain down on the racing season at Seoul – in theory anyway, in practice they’re racing again next weekend – and Dongbanui Gangja is set to become only the third horse to retain the prestigious Grand Prix at Seoul Race Park on Sunday afternoon.

The four-year old is unbeaten this year having won the Owners’ Cup as well as a selection of cherry-picked handicaps and goes in the odds-on favourite. He’ll have nine horses out to stop him, four from Seoul and five from Busan as the season long rivalry between the two tracks also reaches its conclusion.

Busan dominated the Classics, but Seoul won the only race open to older foreign bred horses, the Metropolitan at Busan last month. That winner, Bulpae Gisang, will likely be the biggest threat to his stablemate Dongbanui Gangja.

Bally Brae is back for his fourth Grand Prix having been second in 2006 and 2008 and a winner in 2007. The ever-popular gelding has struggled in his last two races but is re-united with champion jockey Moon Se Young for another assault on his favourite race.

The pick of Busan’s five entrants is Gaeseon Janggun, winner of the Minister’s Cup at Seoul last year and the only Korean bred horse in the race likely to be able to challenge the big guns from overseas.

The race will be off at 4:45pm. Click here for past performance information (in Korean). Here is a full run down of runners, pedigrees, records, track and riders:

Grand Prix (KOR. G.I) – Seoul Race Park – 2300M – Dec 13, 2009, 16:45

1. Yaho TS (USA) [Roar Of The Tiger – Propeller (Lear Fan)] C – 3 (15/4/1/1) – Seoul – Yoo Sang Wan
A first attempt at class 1, let alone a Grand Prix. Has potential, but shouldn’t trouble the placings.
2. Haengbok Dream (JPN) [Lammtarra – Sister Slew (Slew The Dragon)] C – 3 (11/4/4/2) – Busan – Hitomi Miyashita
Consistent and with an in-form jockey but would have to run better than ever before to place.
3. Bulpae Gisang (USA) [Lightnin N Thunder – Neat Trick (Clever Trick)] C – 3 (12/7/2/0) – Seoul – Park Tae Jong
Could be the one to challenge Dongbanui Gangja. Beat Busan’s finest last month and may have a surprise in store for his stablemate.
4. Bally Brae (USA) [Yarrow Brae – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] G – 7 (31/15/10/1) – Seoul – Moon Se Young
The grand old statesman of the Grand Prix, a Bally Brae victory would bring the house down. Hasn’t been right in his last two outings. If he’s better, he’ll challenge for a place.
5. King Kephalos (JPN) [King Glorious – Western Edge (Woodman)] G – 4 (19/8/3/3) – Busan – Yoo Hyun Myoung
A consistent winner and may enjoy the Seoul track. A chance of a place.
6. Ugildongja (KOR) [Dixie Dot Com – May Roses (Incinderator)] H – 5 (32/10/5/1) – Seoul – Ham Wan Sik
Third behind Baekgwang in October, Seoul’s only Korean representative looks outclassed here.
7. Rolling On Strong (USA) [Werblin – Gracie Gale (Opening Verse)] F – 3 (12/4/1/3) – Busan – Cho Kyoung Ho
The only filly in the race, this will be her first outing in top class company.
8. Gaeseon Janggun (KOR) [Duality – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] C – 4 (18/9/4/1) – Busan – Jo Chan Hoon
Last year’s Champion three-year old was second to Bulpae Gisang in the Metropolitan. He’s Korea’s best chance.
9. Crafty Louis (USA) [Louis Quatorze – Crafty Atlantic (Crafty Prospector)] G – 6 (34/13/4/2) – Busan – Jo Chang Wook
Has won three out of his last four and is one of Busan’s top handicappers.
10. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] C – 4 (21/14/4/2) – Seoul – Choi Beom Hyun
The odds-on favourite, Dongbanui Gangja is unbeaten since his Grand Prix win last year.

Apropos of nothing, here’s a run-down of Saturday’s card at Seoul Race Park:

Race 1: Super Missile (Number 4) should be favourite but for an outsider, look for Devils’s Win (No.7) to give Hitomi Myashita a win on her first ever ride at Seoul.
Race 2: Persona (No.6)
Race 3: Gaya Bobae (No.8)
Race 4: Blondie Queeca (No.3)
Race 5: Chandra (No.4) will likely be long odds-on favourite.
Race 6: Difficult to call but Jingyeok Bulpae (No.11) ran second last time and has Cho Kyoung Ho taking over in the saddle today.
Race 7: Ace Galloper (No.7) is likely to be another short-priced favourite.
Race 8: Ilgan Sports winner Khanui Jeguk (No.5) should return to winning ways.
Race 9: Triple Seven (No.7) was third in the President’s Cup but Hwangnyongsaji (No.4) is reunited with Moon Se Young and can get back in form.
Race 10: Seonbongbulpae (No.2) can only lose if he falls. In the absence of Northern Ace the quinella market is a little more open than it would otherwise have been but Full Step will be favoured to be leading the chasing group of four home – many lengths behind the winner.
Race 11: Jumong (No.6) will be fancied but he steps up to a class where Black Cat Dancin’ (No.2) has form
Race 12: Under the lights, Never Lose (No.1) shouldn’t.

The first race at Seoul is at 11:10 and the last is at 17:55. The feature race, the re-arranged Herald Media Cup is race 10 and is off at 16:45. It is forecasted to be a bright weekend with temperatures mercifully, the right side of zero.