There are so many stories to write up. We’re only just over a week away from the KRA Cup Mile – the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown – looking at the line-up, it’s set to be a fascinating race and yet I haven’t done a preview yet! This is most remiss of me and will be addressed shortly but real life has rudely intervened recently.

This week is therefore very much the calm before the storm, but there’s still plenty going on this weekend to keep race fans occupied:

Friday March 25

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

Saturday March 26

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

Sunday March 27

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

Mai Beppu debuts at Seoul / Larrycat Vs Dongbanui Gangja

It’s one of the biggest fillies races of the season at Busan while Seoul gets its first ever foreign female jockey on a big weekend of racing in Korea.

The Busan Ilbo Stakes brings together some of the track’s highest rated imported fillies as well as some local hopefuls. Royale Embrace and Sangseung Geotap, both with four wins from five starts head the fourteen-strong field while of the Korean breds, the Pegasus Stables owned duo of Secret Whisper and Jungle Love could offer a strong challenge. See below for a full list of runners and riders.

Friday also sees a pair of hig class races at Busan. In the first of co-features, 2010 Derby winner Cheonnyeon Daero should pick up antoher win while a race later, Yeonseung Daero once more looks set to bully a field of imports.

In the capital, the feature race is on Sunday as Larrycat faces Dongbanui Gangja over ten furlongs. With the race not being a handicap, double Grand Prix champion Dongbanui Gangja will for once not carry top weight. If he can run in a straight line, he has every chance of returning to the winner’s circle for the first time in nearly a year. It is, however, a big “if”.

Also at Seoul, young Japanese jockey Mai Beppu makes her debut. Beppu, who rode in the International Lady Jockey Invitational at Busan in 2009, becomes the track’s first foreign female jockey. She debuts in race 9 on Saturday.

Here’s what’s happening when and where at Korean tracks this weekend:

Friday March 18

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

Saturday March 19

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

Sunday March 20

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

And here is a full list of runners and riders (with sire and race records) for Sunday’s Busan Ilbo Stakes:

Busan Ilbo Stakes – Busan Race Park – 1400M – Sunday March 20, 2011, 15:35

1. Queen Of Rain (USA) [Lion Heart] (6/2/1/2) – Jo Sung Gon
2. Myeongmun Bobae (AUS) [Footstepsinthesand] (20/2/2/6) – Kim Tae Kyung
3. Secret Whisper (KOR) [Sea Of Secrets] (7/4/0/2) – Park Geum Man
4. Jungle Love (KOR) [Entrepreneur] (8/3/2/2) – Kim Nam Sung
5. Sangseung Geotap (USA) [Indian Charlie] (5/4/0/0) – Toshio Uchida
6. Allie’s Premo (USA) [Alex’s Pal] (10/2/2/3) – Jo Chang Wook
7. Lovely Woman (AUS) [Lion Heart] (10/4/2/1) – Hitomi Miyashita
8. Crown Flag (KOR) [Volponi] (20/1/3/7) – Kim Myoung Sin
9. Royale Embrace (USA) [Chapel Royal] (5/4/1/0) – You Hyun Myung
10. Geungnak Seonnyo (AUS) [Johannesburg] (25/1/4/3) – Yoshi Aoki
11. Gayatansaeng (NZ) [Elusive City] (10/2/3/3) – Chae Gyu Jun
12. Amateras (JPN) [Silver Charm] (29/1/7/1) – Choi Si Dae
13. Ecton Legacy (USA) [Ecton Park] (18/1/6/2) – Jo Chan Hoon
14. Saetbyeol (USA) [Yankee Gentleman] (16/2/2/4) – Lee Sung Jae

Gyongmaman doesn’t have much time these days – which is most annoying. It will all be sorted out very soon, however, and then we can get back into the normal routine of picking plenty of losers before the weekend begins.

For those with time, there’s plenty going on this weekend. Friday’s feature at Busan features a pair of Classic winners; 2008 Derby winner Ebony Storm and 2009 Minister’s Cup winner Namdo Jeap, while Saturday at Seoul has last year’s Ttukseom Cup winner Triple Seven in action. On Sunday, old favourite and former Horse of the Year, Bally Brae makes a quick return to action as he takes on Subsidy’s little brother Jumong, five years his junior. Jockey Moon Se Young opts for the younger horse.

After a chilly week it’s set to be a clear, bright and mild weekend. Come Racing! Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday March 11

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

Saturday March 12

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

Sunday March 13

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

Tough Win is at Seoul on Saturday and Grand Prix winner Mister Park is at Busan on Sunday. Here’s what’s happening when and where on the first weekend in March:

Friday March 4

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

Saturday March 5

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

Sunday March 6

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

Not much time this week but but look out for race 9 at Seoul on Saturday where Derby hopefuls Gwangyajeil and Ophelia (yes, despite the name, he’s a he) both try their luck around two turns of the racecourse for the first time. The winner – if it is either of them – will be installed among the favourites for the first Classic of the season, the KRA Cup Mile, at Busan in early April.

Sunday sees old favourite Bally Brae dropping back to six furlongs in goodness knows how many years – and not being forced to carry top weight for goodness knows how many more – in one of co-feature races.

Haven’t checked the weather but it’s been a great week in Seoul…surely it will be the same at the weekend too…Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday February 25

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

Saturday February 26

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

Sunday February 27

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

Florida Sox To Defend Crown / Larrycat, the “Daero’s”, Ace Galloper all in action!

One year ago this weekend, Florida Sox stormed to victory in the Segye Ilbo Cup. No-one expected then that today she would be able to return to defend her title in 2011.

Florida Sox in the Segye Ilbo Winner's Circle last year

Defend it she will, however, as injury ensured that much of the rest of her 2010 would be spent on the sidelines making her unable to make what looked like being smooth progress out of class 2 racing.

Returning from her long lay-off in with a win in December, Florida Sox (Woke Up Dreamin) has had another two months to prepare for a tilt at a second Segye Ilbo at Seoul Race Park this coming Sunday and improve on her career record of four wins from six starts.

She’ll face thirteen rivals in one of very few Stakes races specifically for overseas bred fillies and mares. Some experience mares will take on some up and comers such as Geumbi (Ecton Park) who has four wins from seven starts and Kkakjaengi (Put It Back) and Blueband Mama (Purge).

Larrycat - not Larry the Downing Street Cat...(Pic: KRA)

Saturday at Seoul sees Larrycat (Fantasticat) make his season debut. Now four, he’s not been a prolific winner but finished third behind Tough Win and Dongbanui Gangja in the KRA Cup Classic and then beat them both when running second to Mister Park in the Grand Prix. 2011 could be his year and he goes up against the likes of KJ Khan and Jumong in Saturday’s feature race.

Classic possible Double Light goes in race 10 on Saturday while after the Segye Ilbo is over and done with on Sunday, Ace Galloper, with ten wins from fifteen starts, will head the field for a big class 1 handicap. Former Champion mare Lucky Mountain will join old-timers Gi Ra Seong and Hongji as well as New Year’s Stakes winner Andy’s Runner in trying to beat him.

Some stars will also be on show at Busan this week. 2010 Korean Derby winner Cheonnyeon Daero will be looking for three straight wins in Friday’s feature event while on Sunday the other “Daero” (it means “Road”), the fearless Yeonseung Daero once again takes on the overseas imports in the big race.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday February 18

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

Saturday February 19

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

Sunday February 20

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

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

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

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