Mister Park runs at Busan, Japanese jockey Maokoto Noda debuts at Seoul and it’s the Jeju Ilbo Stakes on Jeju Island. Here’s what’s happening when and where this weekend:

Friday June 17

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

Saturday June 18

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17:30
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:50 including the Jeju Ilbo Stakes at 16:05

Sunday June 19

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:05

Grand Prix Champion Mister Park runs at Busan on Sunday

KNN Cup at Busan / Owners’ Trophy at Seoul

It’s set to be a Super Stakes Sunday as the KNN Cup at Busan and the Seoul Racehorse Owners’ Association (SROA) Trophy headline a busy weekend of action on the peninsula.

Yeonseung Daero and Choi Si Dae will go for the KNN Cup

Down south, the KNN brings together a pair of Derby Winners in Cheonnyeon Daero and Ebony Storm as well as President’s Cup Champion Dangdae Bulpae and Governor’s Cup winner Yeonseung Daero.

Classic placed Triple Sinhwa and prolific winner Lucky Dancer also join a star-studded line-up who will race over a mile in one of the most eagerly anticipated contests of the year (see blow for a full list of runners and riders).

Up at Seoul, it’s the Owners’ Trophy which is one of the biggest races of the year for foreign bred fillies and mares. Having said that, plenty of Korean bred fillies will be taking their chance including well-known names such as Love Cat, Cheonun and recent Stakes winner Raon Glory. We’ll have a full preview of the race – in which young jockey Kim Hae Sun will get her first Stakes ride – on the blog on Saturday.

Mai Beppu returns this weekend

Also this weekend sees a welcome return to action for jockey Mai Beppu.

The Japanese rider suffered an injury exiting the starting gate on just her second day of racing in Korea back in March after just five rides. She has several chances this weekend.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday June 10

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

Saturday June 11

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17:30
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:30

Sunday June 12

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:10 including the SROA Trophy at 16:45
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:15 including the KNN Cup at 16:15

* And here is a full run-down of the field for the KNN Cup – all are Korean bred and the race is a handicap:
(Name (Pedigree) – Age, Sex, Weight to Carry – Races/1sts/2nds/3rds) – Jockey

KNN Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Sunday June 12, 16:15

1. Annika Queen (Ft. Stockton) – 7,M,50Kg (46/6/7/0) – Hwang Jong Woo
2. Super Chocolate (Silent Warrior) – 4,G,50Kg (24/4/2/3) – Kim Tae Kyung
3. Pick Me Up (Time Star) – 9,H,50Kg (71/8/13/9) – Jo Chang Wook
4. Ebony Storm (Buster’s Daydream) – 6,G,54.5Kg – (32/8/5/5) – You Hyun Myung
5. Dangdae Bulpae (Biwa Shinseiki) – 4,C,58.5Kg – (16/11/1/1) – Jo Sung Gon
6. Triple Sinwha (Capital Spending) – 4,C,55.5Kg – (16/6/6/0) – Chae Gyu Jun
7. Lucky Dancer (Fiercely) – 6,H,56.5Kg – (28/11/3/3) – Toshio Uchida
8. Cheonnyeon Daero (Creek Cat) – 4,C,57.5Kg – (21/7/8/3) – Park Geum Man
9. Crown Flag (Volponi) – 4,F,50Kg – (22/2/3/7) – Kim Myoung Sin
10. Coming Through (Bon Vivant) – 4,C,50Kg – (16/3/6/1) – Jo Chan Hoon
11. Yeonseung Daero (Creek Cat) – 5,H,58.5Kg – (32/14/6/5) – Choi Si Dae
12. Gangjaui Beopchik (Fortitude) – 6,G,50Kg – (33/6/3/4) – Kim Do Hyun

Three Horse Of The Year Winners Clash at Seoul on Saturday

The first races of June get underway imminently at Busan and after last week’s low-key cards, there’s plenty to keep us occupied racing wise on the peninsula this weekend. There are no Stakes races – we have to wait until next week’s Owners’ Trophy for that – for big name value, Saturday’s feature race at Seoul is hard to beat.

It's Dongbanui Gangja vs Tough Win again

We have the double Grand Prix Champion and one time Horse of the Year, Dongbanui Gangja. Difficult to control as he gets older, he hasn’t won for over a year. However, a change of jockey and carrying significantly less weight (this race not being a handicap) than usual means that if he runs in a straight line, he cannot be discounted. However, that’s a big “if.” Then there’s Tough Win. He dethroned Dongbanui Gangja in the Busan Metropolitan last year and has won eleven of his thirteen starts. He’ll be favourite.

Also going in the same race is another past Grand Prix champion and Horse of the Year, Bally Brae. The nine-year old is in good form and renews his competition with Jumong, half-brother of his erstwhile rival Subsidy. The four top stars will be joined by six others in the nine and a half furlong race which is off at 17:00 on Saturday.

Here’s what’s happening when and where this holiday weekend:

Friday June 3

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

Saturday June 4

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17:30
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:30

Sunday June 5

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:00

It’s been a busy week and we’re a long way behind – there’s jockey news, stallion news, and (joy of joys) regulatory news all to catch up on. We’ll do that over the next few days, meanwhile, the weekend’s racing gets underway in just a few minutes. There’s no Stakes action but still plenty to keep us occupied. Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday May 27

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

Saturday May 28

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17:30
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:30

Sunday May 29

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17:30
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:00

Just a week after Gwangyajeil’s triumph in the Korean Derby, the Stakes race Winner’s Circle at Seoul Race Park will be back in use again this weekend for the 22nd running of the Sports Chosun Cup.

Luxury Jewang in last year's Sports Chosun Winner's Circle

It’s one of Korea’s longest running sponsored Stakes races and a full field of fourteen will contest the event, run over the Derby distance of nine furlongs, on Sunday afternoon.

The race is open to class 2 Korean bred horses aged 4 and upwards so therefore, while there won’t be any stars on show, it makes for one of the most open betting races of the year. All are proven winners without having made the big step up to class 1. One of the fourteen will do that on Sunday. See below for a full list of runners and riders.

Away from the Sports Chosun, a number of big names will be in action over the weekend. Triple Seven headlines Seoul’s feature race on Saturday while 2008 Derby winner Ebony Storm goes in Busan’s Sunday main event.

The forecast is unfortunately for rain for most of the weekend, however, it was today too and that never materialised so fingers crossed for a fine weekend of punting! Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday May 20

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

Saturday May 21

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17:30
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:30

Sunday May 22

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:05
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:00

* Here’s the full line-up for Sunday’s 22nd Sports Chosun Cup at Seoul (Name / Sire / (Runs/1st/2nd/3rd) / Jockey:

Sports Chosun Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – May 22, 2011 – 16:35

1. Forest Wind [Capital Spending] (13/4/0/2) – Won Jung Il
2. Suseong Equus [Exploit] (25/3/6/3) – Park Byeong Yun
3. Tamnaseontaek [War Zone] (15/4/2/3) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
4. Saebyeogi [Archer City Slew] (18/3/6/3) – Park Tae Jong
5. Namchonuichukje [Volponi] (10/4/2/3) – Jung Ki Yong
6. Super Rich [Osumi Jet] (14/4/2/3) – Moon Se Young
7. Jeumeundeungi [War Zone] (13/4/2/1) – Moon Jung Kyun
8. The Almighty [Capital Spending] (16/5/3/0) – Ham Wan Sik
9. Yeongtap [Sunday Well] (14/4/3/0) – Yoo Sang Wan
10. D. Day Plus [Osumi Jet] (21/4/3/1) – Choi Bum Hyun
11. Jangbi Sarang [Distilled] (21/4/3/1) – Cho Kyoung Ho
12. Yodongjewang [Field Asuka] (11/3/4/1) – Jo In Kwen
13. Anseong Chukje [Exploit] (13/4/1/3) – Boo Min Ho
14. Badasin [War Zone] (27/4/4/4) – Kim Ok Sung

* Gyongmaman’s pick: 6. Super Rich

This could turn out to be a very Japanese weekend. This afternoon at Busan Race Park, jockey Toshio Uchida was victorious in five of the nine races on the card, including a seven-length triumph in the feature race on Mupae Star.

Toshio Uchida - Five Timer today

On Sunday, Uchida will be at Seoul to ride Soseuldaemun in the Korean Derby. Soseuldaemun, by the Japanese sire Meisei Opera, won the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Triple Crown at Busan last month and, while the Derby will be a very different prospect, few would fancy betting against Uchida to pull it off.

While the Derby is on Sunday, Saturday has its own feature in the form of the twentieth running of the Japan Racing Association (JRA) Trophy at Seoul Race Park.

Open to class 2 foreign-bred horses, the race attracts a mixture of young up and comers as well as those who have never quite made it to the big time. There’s no Japanese bred runners in the race – there’s not that many in Korea in fact – but it is nevertheless an intriguing race.

It’s the younger ones who’ll be fancied. Such is life. Celebrate Tonight has won three of his six starts and should find the six furlongs perfect. Baekhomujeok, Ppoppai, Mass Media’s Tea and Magic Party are also three-year olds with impressive strike rates. Of the older horses, Fortunata may have the best shot. Here is a full list of the runners with pedigree, sex, age, race records and riders:

JRA Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – May 14, 2011 – 16:30

1. Fortunata (USA) [Eurosilver] F 4 (15/2/1/3) – Cho Kyoung Ho
2. Celebrate Tonight (USA) [Songandaprayer] C 3 (6/3/1/1) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
3. Es Four (USA) [Smarty Jones] C 3 (6/3/0/0) – Jung Ki Yong
4. Baekhomujeok (USA) [Sharp Humor] C 3 (5/3/1/0) – Choi Bum Hyun
5. Bichui Jeonsa (USA) [Thunder Gulch] H 5 (29/1/1/6) – Jun Duck Yong
6. Magic Party (KOR) [Artie Schiller] F 3 (8/5/1/0) – Jang Chu Youl
7. Imperial Girl (USA) [Imperialism] F 3 (10/2/0/3) – Jo In Kwen
8. Dream Heart (USA) [Dream Run] G 5 (35/0/4/7) – Lee Keum Joo
9. Kkochyeol (USA) [Essence Of Dubai] F 3 (8/1/5/0) – Jung Pyeong Soo
10. Mass Media’s Tea (USA) [Mass Media] C 3 (6/3/1/0) – Moon Se Young
11. Ppoppai (USA) [Rockport Harbor] C 3 (7/4/0/1) – Park Tae Jong

We’ll be back tomorrow with a review of the JRA and a final look forward to Sunday’s Korean Derby.

It’s set to be a beautiful weekend in Seoul. Come Racing!

Saturday May 14

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17: 40 (JRA Trophy at 16:30)
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 18:00

Sunday May 15

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:05 (Korean Derby at 16:35)
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:00

Jumong vs Bally Brae Part 3, Larrycat, Mister Park

Back when he had a full head of hair and only one stomach and chin, a pre-teen Gyongmaman used to complain to his parents that while there was a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day, there was no “Children’s Day.” Invariably the response came back that “Every day is Children’s Day”.

It was Childrens' Day in Korea today. This chap will no doubt have stayed home to study the weekend's form

Well here in Korea today actually was “Children’s Day” and it meant a public holiday. Seoul Race Park’s infield was open and hosting the usual brand of Korean family oriented daftness that these occasions call for. No racing though. That begins on the peninsula tomorrow.

While in the US it is Derby weekend, here in Korea, we’re still a week away from the big one. However, while it might be expected to be a low-key weekend of racing, it’s anything but. We have an absolute belter of a main event at Seoul Race Park this Saturday while the “best horse in Korea” runs at Busan on Sunday.

Four weeks ago, Jumong (Johar) levelled things up with his older brother Subsidy’s great rival Bally Brae (Yarrow Brae) after the older horse had beaten him earlier this year. At the time we said a decider was necessary, and that is what we’re going to get in the nine furlong feature race. However, there’s a problem for the two of them and his name is Larrycat (Fantasticat). Second in the Grand Prix Stakes last year, the four-year old will be carrying top weight in the handicap but on his day, could have the beating of both.

Mister Park

Speaking of the Grand Prix, the current champion and de-facto holder of the title of best horse in Korea, Mister Park (Ecton Park) makes his third appearance of 2011 in the feature race at his home track of Busan on Sunday. And for the first time, except of course for the Grand Prix, he’ll take his chance against exclusively imported horses. While in theory it’s a tougher challenge, it also means he’ll have to carry less weight (although this race is actually an allowance or conditions race, rather than a handicap).

Mister Park will be looking for hs fourteenth straight victory and jockey Lee Dae Yeon, who surprisingly gets the ride, has the biggest opportunity of his career when the race comes under orders at 17:00 on Sunday.

There’s also big action for the ponies at Jeju in the shape of the “Seongsan Ilchul” or “Sunrise Stakes” on the Island on Saturday.

Here’s what’s happening when and where around the peninsula this weekend:

Friday May 6

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

Saturday May 7

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 17:30
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:30

Sunday May 8

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:00

Youth and Experience Clash at Busan

An unbeaten colt will be joined by two other outstanding three-year olds, a host of proven winners and one track legend as some of Busan’s best foreign horses line up for the Kookje (Gukje) Sinmun Stakes this coming Sunday.

Lion Santa (Lion Heart) has won all five of his starts to date in impressive style and puts his perfect record on the line against another recent import Viva Ace (Macho Uno) and three-year old filly Royale Embrace (Chapel Royal) who have both racked up impressive win records of their own in their time here. Top weight in the handicap will be carried by Aussie bred Seonnyang Yongsa (Catbird) while fellow antipodean Dudeurim (Delago Brom) also has claims in the seven-furlong sprint.

Then there is Admiral Reigart (General Royal). At nine years old, the Admiral is three times the age of the young pretenders. He’s been a stalwart of the track since its opening in 2005 and while his win record of nine from sixty-seven starts is more creditable than outstanding, he’s in the best form of his life with two wins and to second place finishes from his last four starts. Remarkably, Sunday’s race will be his first outing at a sprint distance since April 2005 and he can’t be discounted from shocking the young upstarts.

The Kookje Sinmun – named for a Busan Newspaper – is the highlight of a busy weekend of racing on the peninsula. The Derby is just two weeks away so none of the contenders for that race are in action however, there’s still plenty to be going on with both at Busan and Seoul.In the capital, the feature race is on Sunday when Ace Galloper headlines a competitive handicap.

It’s been an odd week weather-wise with a few downpours mixed in with generally sunny skies. That’s set to continue over the weekend although there’s the chance of a thunderstorm in Seoul on Saturday. Come Racing…but bring a jacket. Here’s what’s happening when and where this weekend:

Friday April 29

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

Saturday April 30

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

Sunday May 1

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:30 to 17:10

Here is a full run-down of the Gukje Sinmun Stakes (Name/Pedigree/Age/Sex/Weight/Race records/Jockey):

Kookje Sinmun Stakes (Hdcp) – Busan Race Park – 1400M – Sunday May 1, 2011 – 16:15

1 Mystery Boy (USA)[Ecton Park – Mysterious Moll (Bates motel)] 4-C-54kg – (10/5/3/0) – Jo Chang Wook
2 High Best (USA) [Domestic Dispute – Sunday Thunder (Thunder Gulch)] 5-H-50kg – (20/5/1/2) – Kim Nam Sung
3 Hudson River Line (USA) [Not For Love – New Years Eve Gala (Slavic)] 4-C-52kg – (17/7/2/0) – Kim Tae Kyung
4 Hey Sexy (USA) [El Corredor – Miss Royal Spirit (Royal Academy)] 5 -G-50kg – (23/3/4/1) – Jo Chan Hoon
5 Global Champ (AUS) [Charge Forward – Amarocco (Brocco)] 4-C-54kg – (24/5/3/4) – Mun Jung Won
6 Lion Santa (USA) [Lion Heart – Santa Fe Strip (Phone Trick)] 3-C-52.5kg – (5/5/0/0) – Kim Dong Young
7 Viva Ace (USA) [Macho Uno – Dancing Lake (Meadowlake)] 3-G-52kg – (7/4/3/0) – Song Keong Yun
8 Isidae Gangja (KOR) [Lost Mountain – Angel (Land Rush)] 5-G-52kg – (27/5/7/3) – Choi Si Dae
9 Peolpeol (AUS) [Barely A Moment – What’s The Buzz (Brocco)] 3-G-50kg – (12/5/1/1) – Park Geum Man
10 Field Tripping (USA) [Trippi – Lilly’softhefield (Struggler)] 4-C-50kg – (12/3/3/3) – Kim Young Min
11 Admiral Reigart (USA) [General Royal – Entoria (Stop The Music)] 9-H-56.5kg – (67/9/14/7) – You Hyun Myung
12 Royale Embrace (USA) [Chapel Royal – Embracing Krissy (Kissin Kris)] 3-F-51.5kg – (7/5/1/0) – Chae Gyu Jun
13 Seonnyang Yongsa (AUS) [Catbird – Silicon Glory (Le Glorieux)] 5-G-58kg – (31/10/7/5) – Jo Sung Gon
14 Dudeurim (AUS) [Delago Brom – Ravissante (Rechabite)] 3-C-55kg – (13/4/6/1) – Toshio Uchida