Racing Previews

Eleven Contest International Lady Jockey Race

Eight overseas visitors will join three local riders for the 2009 International Lady Jockey Invitiation Race which will be run on the undercard of the Korean Oaks this coming Sunday at Busan Race Park.

With Lee Ae Li, Park Jin Hee and Yoo Mi Ra representing Korea, riders from Japan, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa will also be in town to contest the reasonably tasty looking class 1 race. Additionally, most of the jockeys will also take one ride in a race on Busan’s Friday evening card.

The International riders are:

Jennifer Stisted (USA) – Maryland based and often riding for trainer husband Scott Lake, Stisted has landed over 250 winners in her career.
Rides: Friday R8: Shingwang Cheonji; Sunday R3: Florida Native

Catherine Gannon (Ireland) – Rides mainly in the UK and is having her best season ever with 26 winners so far in 2009.
Rides: Sunday R3: Gangcheol Nabi

Laura Cheshire (New Zealand) – Currently based on Australia’s Gold Coast, she’s ridden 22 winners over the past year.
Rides: Friday R3: Fresh Dancer; Sunday R3: Miss Ecton

Nadine Rapson (South Africa) – The Eastern Cape rider has over 150 wins to date.
Rides: Friday R5: Queen Of Moonstone; Sunday R3: Yongwonhanhaengbok

Linda Meech (Australia) – Anther having her best ever season, Meech has already reached a century of winners in 2009 riding mainly in Victoria.
Rides: Friday R9: Gold Love; Sunday R3: Max Is Cruisin

Mai Beppu (Japan) – Kochi based Beppu shared the NAR Grand Prix Best Female jockey award of 2008
Rides: Friday R2: Seondu Jeongsang, Sunday R3: Dongbang Geona

Hitomi Miyashita (Japan) – Riding out of Aichi, Miyashita shared the NAR award with Beppu.
Rides: Friday R7: Tamna Kwaegeol; Sunday R3: Ima Firecracker

Chiaki Iwanaga (Japan) – Winner of over one 100 races in Japan.
Rides: Friday R9: Raon Champion; Sunday R3: Oreumak

And the Koreans…

Lee Ae Li – Based at Seoul. Riding in pink silks and boots has earned her the nickname “Ae Li Gongju” (Princess Ae Li). Former winner of Seoul Race Park’s “MVP” award, while not a prolific winner, Ae Li is one of the track’s reliable performers.

Yoo Mi Ra – Only debuted in 2008 and only recently scored her first win. Mi Ra has been steadily improving.

Park Jin Hee – On current form the most successful female thoroughbred jockey in Korea.

Sunday’s Invitation race is race 3 on the card and is off at 18:10. The plumb ride of Namdo Jeap, currently rated Korea’s top three year old colt, went the way of Park Jin Hee. Stablemate and top danger Miss Ecton will be ridden by Laura Cheshire. Here’s a run down of the runners and riders, with pedigree, race records, sex and age:

Class 1 (Foreign bred) Invitation Race – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Aug 9, 2009

1. Namdo Jeap (KOR) [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] C3 (9/4/3/1) – Park Jin Hee
Runner up in the KRA Cup Mile and the Derby he took on and beat foreign bred horses last month and there’s no reason why he can’t do so again.

2. Florida Native (USA) [Kissin Kris – Bindiana (Jose Binn)] H5 (29/7/5/3) – Jennifer Stisted
Struggled of late but may appreciate dropping back to a mile.

3. Miss Ecton (USA) [Ecton Park – Miss Lion King (Lion Cavern)] F4 (16/5/2/6) – Laura Cheshire
A consistent performer. A mile is her best distance and last year’s Busan Ilbo winner should be in contention. She’ll carry top weight.

4. Yeongwonhanhangbok (USA) [El Corredor – Media Power (Red Ransom)] F4 (19/3/3/3) – Nadine Rapson
Some good performances over the winter put her into the top tier of Korean racing. Struggled last time out at the same distance.

5. Dongbang Geona (JPN) [Paradise Creek – Hanashinju (Leo Castelli)] G5 (29/9/4/3) – Mai Beppu
A prolific winner as a two year old, and has consistently been in the money since. Won three consecutive class 1 races last autumn.

6. Oreumak (AUS) [Favorite Trick – Vigne Vierge (Diesis)] H7 (55/6/5/10) – Chiaki Iwanaga
The oldest horse in the race, Oreumak hasn’t monied for five races, but every now and then springs a surprise.

7. Gangcheol Labi (AUS) [Fusaichi Pegasus – Beffy (Danehill)] F4 (14/5/1/0) – Catherine Gannon
Made a promising step up to class 1 last month finishing fourth behind Namdo Jeap. Still improving.

8. Winter Invitation (USA) [Take Me Out – Winter Crown (Cox’s Ridge)] H6 (39/3/7/8) – Lee Ae Li
A consistant placer who scored a very good third in the Busan Mayor’s Trophy last October. Wins are few and far between and there’s no reason for that to change on Sunday

9. D M Merch (USA) [Langfuhr – Personally Yours (Personal Flag)] G7 (49/5/7/9) – Yoo Mi Ra
Win in June for the first time in two years, the seven year old has had a good 2009 placing in all but one of his five other outings.

10. Max Is Cruisin (USA) [Max’s Pal – Starlite Cruisin (Star De Naskra)] C4 (23/4/2/1) – Linda Meech
A sprint victory took him up to class 1 in June. Well beaten by Miss Ecton and Dongbang Geona last time out

11. Ima Firecracker (USA) [Hold That Tiger – It’s Destiny (Red Ransom)] F4 (20/4/4/2) – Hitomi Miyashita
Third place last time behind Namdo Jeap was an improvement. Will need to improve again to trouble the placings.

Sangseung Ilro Heads Oaks Entries

There are twelve remaining entrants with a week to go before the Korean Oaks at Busan Race Park. The remarkable Sangseung Ilro, winner of the KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby already this season, heads the field and it will be a brave punter who bets against her come next Sunday.

Rose Cat is the only entrant from Seoul – the capital track seemingly accepting that it is going to be a sixth straight Classic win for a Busan horse.

Oaks day is set to be one of the biggest days of racing held at Busan since the track’s opening in 2005. Also on the card is the International Lady Jockey’s Invitation Race and we’ll have a full preview of both that and the Oaks this coming Wednesday. In the meantime here is the current Oaks line up with pedigree and race records:

Korean Oaks (G.II) – Busan Race Park – 1800M – August 9, 2009

Lady In Gala [Didyme – Phlox (Just Like Jo)] – (10/2/1/)
Naechingu [Creek Cat – Roberto’s Flame (Green Dancer)] – (7/1/1/4)
Rose Cat [Creek Cat – Rose Bouton (Somethingdifferent)] – (9/2/2/1)
Leading Velocity [Fiercely – Barefoot Runaway (Strike Gold)] – (11/3/2/1)
Suryeohan [Commendable – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – (9/2/2/2)
Hanmoe [Tahamkke – Wolmunsabang (Didyme)] – (12/1/2/3)
Solar City [Ft. Stockton – Taeyangsan (Mujaazif)] – (9/0/1/4)
Haneul Gisang [Duality – Birrali (Rutland)] – (7/2/3/0)
Sangseung Ilro [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – (7/5/1/1)
Hero Age [Buster’s Daydream – No Dle Seum (Brave Regent)] – (10/0/2/0)
Pangpang [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] – (15/3/1/1)
Hwangjeui Seonmul [Social Charter – She’s A Bridesmaid (Chromite)] – (13/2/2/0)

Whatever happens next Sunday, Sangseung Ilro will remain on course to follow J.S. Hold in completing the Triple Crown when, all being well, she returns to Seoul in October for the Minister’s Cup. Here is her win in the KRA Cup Mile:

And the Korean Derby:

Second in both those race, Namdo Jeap, will be the plumb ride in the International Lady Jockey’s Challenge race on the Oaks undercard.

Weekend Preview

It’s week two of night racing in Korea and Busan kicks things off on Friday with a twilight card beginning at 4:30pm. Seoul and Jeju run on Saturday with all thre having cards on Sunday.

The Munhwa Ilbo Cup at Seoul on Sunday is the highlight of the weekend (see full preview) but there is other action worth watching too. Last year’s champion three year old filly Mexicali Blues goes in a competitve handicap at Seoul on Sunday while
Secret Weapon, one of Seoul’s best Korean bred horses goes on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, Supernatural, an import from New Zealand makes his first start of 2009. The five year old made a prmising start to his career last year with three wins before injury hit at the end of the year.

Busan Race Park

Friday July 24: 10 races, first post 16:00, last 21:00
Sunday July 26: 6 races, first post 16:20, last 20:50

Seoul Race Park

Saturday July 25: 12 races, first post 14:30, last 21:00
Sunday July 26: 11 races, first post 14:30, last 21:00

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday July 25: 10 races, first post 16:30, last 21:30
Sunday July 26: 10 races, first post 16:30, last 21:30

The monsoon has been quiet throughout the week and sunshine and showers are predicted for the weekend.

Nice Choice Leads Munhwa Hopefuls

It’s been another disappointing year for three year olds at Seoul but one of them may have the chance to step up on Sunday as four of the best of the crop are among the entries for the Munhwa Ilbo Cup.

The Munhwa brings together a group of three year olds and also older horses who haven’t quite made it into the big time yet. However, with winners in recent years including Myeongmun Gamun and Baekgwang, who went on to become two of the track’s biggest stars, there is the potential for a champion to emerge.

Nice Choice is the one many will be looking to. He’s won five of his eight races to date and was last year’s champion two year old. The one race he’s dissappointed in was the Derby. Ahead of him that day, Baengnyeonbong slipped into third place and following a smart win last month, he’s also back. Khanui Jeguk also disappointed in the Derby, but he too won last time out. The final three year old is Event. Kept off the classic trail, the colt has quietly amassed six wins from his ten starts.

Among the older horses, Lhotse Shar has been in good form this year and won at this level last time out. All the others have wins in their history but only Super Jet and Hallasinbi have been in winning form recently.

The race will be run under the lights on Sunday evening with post time at 7:35pm. Click here for past performance information (Korean) and see below for a full list of runners, records and riders:

Munhwa Ilbo Cup – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – July 26, 2009

1. Nanjeongseo [Psychobabble – Caroful (Sportful)] – (22/4/1/3) – Ham Wan Sik
2. Lhotse Shar [Revere – Leave It To Mama (Pappa Riccio)] – (16/5/1/1) – Shim Seung Tae
3. Baengnyeonbong [Al Naba – Sansovino Art (Mister C.)] – (11/5/1/2) – Shin Hyoung Cheol
4. Taegeuk Musa [Walkslikeaduck – Bae Gil Gi Do (Salmon Leap)] – (47/3/2/5) – Yang Hee Jin
5. Super Jet [Archer City Slew – Tae-Eulbong (Road Of War)] – (12/5/0/1) – Kim Young Jin
6. Khanui Jeguk [Sunday Well – Lucky Dip (Didyme)] – (9/4/1/1) – Choi Beom Hyun
7. Hallasinbi [Duality – Gamble On Jill (Spare Card)] – (21/4/4/1) – Lee Gi Hwoi
8. Challanhanbit [Psychobabble – Naha (Silver Buck)] – (21/5/1/1) – Moon Jung Kyun
9. Event [Creek Cat – Forget Me Dot (Citidancer)] – (10/6/0/0) – Moon Se Young
10. Nice Choice [Lost Mountain – Betty’s Rhapsody (Don’t Hesitate)] – (8/5/2/0) – Cho Kyoung Ho
11. Grandzif [Mujaazif – Knight Blues (Knight’s Choice)] – (18/3/5/3) – Park Tae Jong

Weekend Preview – Night Racing Begins

After a year’s break, night racing returns to Korea this weekend. High oil prices were blamed for last year’s decision to abandon the usual four weeks of late starts and late finishes but this year, it goes ahead. This year the four weekends are interrupted by a two week total break from racing.

It is a weekend capped by two big races within thirty minutes of each other on Sunday evening: The Gyeongnam-Do Min Ilbo Cup at Busan (preview) and the SBS Cup at Seoul (preview).

Busan will get things underway with a ten race card on Friday. The first will come under orders at 4pm and the last will be at 9pm. Seoul and Jeju take over on Sunday and as usual, all three tracks host cards on Sunday.

Busan Race Park

Friday July 17: 10 races, first post 16:00, last post 21:00
Sunday July 19: 6 races, first post 16:20, last post 20:50

Seoul Race Park

Saturday July 18: 12 races, first post 14:30, last post 21:00
Sunday July 19: 11 races, first post 14:30, last post 21:00

Jeju Race Park (Pony Racing)

Saturday July 18: 10 races, first post 16:30, last post 21:30
Sunday July 19: 10 races, first post 16:30, last post 21:35

It’s been a monsoon filled week on the peninsula with Tuesday seeing the largest amount of rainfall on any one day for many years. It hasn’t rained since but more storms are predicted for Friday and Saturday.

Baekgwang Comes Back

Former Champion Heads SBS Cup Field
Baekgwang will be the star attraction on Sunday as the SBS Cup crowns this year’s first weekend of night racing at Seoul Race Park. In a week when live televised horse racing was outlawed in Korea, it is perhaps a little ironic that the first big race after the ban is sponsored by one of the country’s three main broadcasters and is the only race of the year to usually be shown on that channel.

And with the presence of Baekgwang, champion three year old of 2006, the race has become one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year. Whether the “White Wave” (see full profile) will be anything like his former self will go a long way to determining the outcome and a tough field of nine rivals will assemble to try to prevent him from achieving the fairytale comeback in winning the race his little sister Baekpa did last year.

Namchonuijijon will be there. Though dreadful last time out, he was second in the Ttukseom Cup and must always be considered. Third in that race back in April was Triple Seven and he returns on Sunday also. Winning last time out, he was a close second to Secret Weapon last month. Stepping up to the top level for the first time will be Wangson. Making his first appearance since winning the Sports Chosun in May, the four year old will be a dangerous contender.

A perennial placer of late has been Natural Nine. One of those who may have won a Classic were it not for J.S. Hold in 2007, he’s been involved at the business end of all of his races over the past year. Daehyo ran third to Top Point last monthand while Lucky Seven, Hallyu Star, Seungni Yongsa and Geumbit Gangja may look to be making up the numbers, all are proven winners.

The race, over nine and a half furlongs, is off at 7:35pm on Sunday. Click here to download past performance info (in Korean) and see below for a full list of runenrs, records and riders:

SBS Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – July 19, 2009

1. Lucky Seven (KOR) [Didyme – Agent Flirt (Double Agent)] – (24/5/5/1) – Lee Sang Hyuk
2. Geumbit Gangja (KOR) [Didyme – Fleein Snow (Snow Chief)] – (25/4/7/1) – Ham Wan Sik
3. Daehyo (KOR) [Happy Jazz Band – Jasmine Douglas (Reference Point)] – (24/5/3/7) – Moon Se Young
4. Triple Seven (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Impudence (Grand Lodge)] – (18/5/3/5) – Choi Beom Hyun
5. Seungni Yongsa (KOR) [Our Poetic Prince – Jane Lauren (Snow Chief)] – (49/5/4/7) – Won Jung Il
6. Baekgwang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – (17/9/5/3) – Park Tae Jong
7. Hallyu Star (KOR) [Sharp Appeal – Angel (Land Rush)] – (36/5/6/3) – Choi Won Joon
8. Natural Nine (KOR) [Revere – C. Bop (Aly Dark)] – (21/7/4/4) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
9. Wangson (KOR) [Distilled – Eastern Tide (Far Out East)] – (11/5/3/0) – Kim Young Jin
10. Namchonuijijon (KOR) [Concept Win – Intriga (Lord At Law)] – (22/6/8/3) – Cho Kyoung Ho

Areumdaun Jilju Goes For The Min

A big weekend for Korean racing is coming up as the first of four weeks of evening racing gets underway. There are co-main events on Sunday with the SBS Cup at Seoul and the Gyeongnam-Do Min Ilbo Cup at Busan. The Min Ilbo is for imported horses and a full field of fourteen will contest the 1800 metre race.

Continuing the theme of recent weeks of locally bred horses running against the imports at Busan, Korean bred Areumdaun Jilju is entered. Last year’s most feared horse, has only run twice this season, but has won both of those and will, as ever, be hard to beat.

Among those trying will be a host of frequent winners such as Crafty Louis, who won over this distance last month. 2008 Busan Owners’ Trophy winner Hardride will be there, as will King Kephalos, winner of two out of his last four. Angle Slam prefers shorter distances but is always likely to be around the front of the field in the home straight while the filly Miss Ecton has been in strong form this year.

The race is off at 19:05 and is race 4 of 6 on Busan’s Sunday card which gets underway at 16:20. Full past performance information can be downloaded here (Korean) and a full list of runners and riders is below:

Gyeongnamdo Min Ilbo Cup – Busan Race Park – 1800M – July 19, 2009

1. Hardride (USA) [Colony Light – Lametta] – (21/6/5/1) – Han Sang Gyu
2. Wonder Love (USA) [Wild Wonder – Love Spanish] – (43/5/9/7) – Kim Tae Kyoung
3. Jewang (USA) [Precise End – Chap Slewy] – (21/1/6/1) – Eiki Nishimura
4. Winter Invitation (USA) [Take Me Out – Winter Crown] – (38/3/7/8) – Kim Dong Young
5. Crafty Louis (USA) [Louis Quatorze – Crafty Atlantic] – (31/11/4/2) – Jo Chang Wook
6. Power Captain (AUS) [King Charlemagne – Green Band] – (25/5/4/2) – Kim Young Min
7. Haengbok Dream (JPN) [Lammtarra – Sister Slew] – (7/3/2/1) – Jo Chan Hoon
8. Miss Ecton (USA) [Ecton Park – Miss Lion King] – (15/5/2/5) – Martin Wepner
9. Phasmes (USA) [Parker’s Storm Cat – Madelaine] – (10/4/1/4) – Jo Sung Gon
10. King Kephalos (JPN) [King Glorious – Western Edge] – (15/7/2/2) – Kim Eu Su
11. Gyeoncheonsa (USA) [Slew Gin Fizz – Jika] – (23/6/2/0) – Park Geum Man
12. Angle Slam (USA) [Gold Case – Platinum Code] – (40/8/7/8) – Gu Min Sung
13. Saeroun Bulpae (USA) [Northern Afleet – Really Appealing] – (17/5/1/4) – Chae Gyu Jun
14. Areumdaun Jilju (KOR) [Didyme – Chills of Nepal] – (19/13/3/0) – Lim Sung Sil

Tomorrow we’ll have a full look at the rest of the weekend’s cards including a run down of the contenders for Seoul’s SBS Cup.

Weekend Preview

Gamadongja at Seoul / Gaeseon Janggun at Busan
The weekend is almost upon us once more and racing returns to the peninsula on Friday when the action will be at Busan. Seoul and Jeju take over on Saturday, before all three tracks host a card on Sunday.

Namdo Jijon and Sinheung Gangja head Friday’s feature race at Busan. Annika Queen and Rainmaker will also be lining up alongside them. On Sunday, another of last year’s Classic Winners, Gaeson Janggun will be in action, taking on a field of foreign bred horses including Bugyeong Choegang. Namdo Jeap took on the imports last week and won and the field that Gaeseon Janggun will face is less than intimidating.

Seoul’s feature race is on Sunday and it features a number of the track’s best imports. Seoul Teukgeup tops the weights and will be up against Dankee’s Pal, who beat Bally Brae last time out. Also going are Gamadongja and Brilliant Knight, as well as last year’s top imported two year old, Bulpae Gisang.

Busan Race Park

Friday July 10: 11 races, first post 12:30
Sunday July 12: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday July 11: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday July 12: 11 races, first post 11:20

There is racing at Jeju Race Park on Saturday and Sunday with the first coming under orders at 12:10 on both days.

Thursday saw some crazy rain across the Korean peninsula which has stopped now in Seoul and should hold off for Friday and Sunday. Currently the monsoon is forecast to be back with a vengeance on Sunday. Come racing – but bring an umbrella!

Weekend Preview

Myeongmun Gamun Returns
Myeongmun Gamun doesn’t run very often, but he is still considered the best Korean bred horse at Seoul. One of the reasons the eight year old appears so infrequently is that he spends most of his time banned. Notoriously badly behaved at the gate, the gelding more often than not delays the start of his race and picks up a two month suspension in the process.

Myeongmun Gamun winning the President's Cup (Sports Munhwa)

Myeongmun Gamun winning the President's Cup (Sports Munhwa)

Nevertheless, Myeongmun Gamun has still managed to gain seventeen wins in his four year career and coming back off his latest ban, will be the one to beat in Sunday’s feature race. That ban was picked up in the Ttukseom Cup in April when he finished a disappointing fifth.

Going up against him will be Mighty Runner, who was victorious that day, as well as Free Woody and Hwangnyongsaji. Mighty Runner was also beaten last time out, and at 2000 metres, Myeongmun Gamun must be fancied to record his first win of 2009.

At Busan, the major races on Friday and Namdo Jeap, second in both the Cup Mile and the Derby this year will, intriguingly, line up against foreign bred horses over 1400 metres. It is unusual for a Korean horse to take on the imports and, carrying a low weight, Namdo Jeap will be well worth watching among a field where Sinjin Gangja is his best known opponent.

Busan Race Park

Friday July 3: 11 races, first post 12:30
Sunday July 5, 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday July 4: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday July 5: 11 races, first post 11:20

On Jeju Island, there are 10 races of both Saturday and Sunday, first post 12:10. Alternate spells of thunder, Sunshine and monsoon downpours have been a feature of the weather across the peninsula this week and there is no reason why that shouldn’t continue over the weekend.