The Korean Oaks has only been run at Busan for two years but in that time, the southern track has taken something of a stranglehold over both it and the other three-year old Classics. On Sunday, fourteen fillies will line up for the 2010 edition of the race. And in Cheonun, Seoul has an excellent chance of taking the crown back to the capital. Here are the runners and riders:

Korean Oaks (KOR.GII) – Busan Race Park – 1800M Aug 29, 2010 – 15:45

1. Crown Flag (13/1/2/3) – Kim Myoung Sin (Busan)
Despite an encouraging second last time out, it would be a major surprise if she was to trouble the placings.
2. Heukgun Jilju (9/3/1/2) – Kim Dong Young (Busan)
Has two wins from her last four starts. If the visitors from Seoul don’t enjoy the Busan track, she has an outside placing chance.
3. Kanui Byeol (9/3/1/2) – Cho Kyoung Ho (Seoul)
Finished well behind Cheonun and Dongbang Rose in the Sports Seoul but may benefit from the slightly longer distance and she will appear in many punters’ quinellas.
4. Saeroun Gongju (9/2/1/2) – Choi Si Dae (Busan)
Has really struggled since moving up to class 2. Not completely without hope, but an outsider nonetheless.
5. Sanbang Plus (12/2/2/1) – Mun Jung Won (Busan)
Won last time out to break a string of disappointing performances but not expected to challenge here.
6. Euro Fighter (9/3/2/1) – Moon Jung Kyun (Seoul)
Not many give her a chance but she was third in the Sports Seoul and is one of very few in the race to have won a two-turn race.
7. Cheonun (8/4/3/1) – Choi Bum Hyun
The favorite. Never finished worse than third, she was a 5-length winner of the Sports Seoul Cup. If she’s on form, she will win.
8. Selah (11/4/1/1) – Yoo Sang Wan
In great form with two wins and a second in her last three outings which has made a run here possible. If she keeps that form going, she must be considered for a place.
9. Dongbang Rose (7/4/1/1) – Shin Hyoung Chul
One of the stars of her year group so far, she’s finished behind Cheonun in each of her last three starts. It would be no surprise if they were to be first and second here.
10. Saeroungangja (9/3/2/0) – Lee Dong Kug
Another who didn’t look a Classic prospect until good recent form changed things. She’ll have supporters but a place looks the extent of her ambitions.
11. Shining Champion (13/1/0/7) – Hitomi Miyashita
Likes finishing third. She’ll have the only lady jockey in the race on board but there’s little suggest she’ll be anything other than an also-ran.
12. Harue (6/2/2/2) – Park Tae Jong
An intriguing entrant. Won convincingly at 1700 metres last time and is worth taking a plunge on at what should be generous prices.
13. Namgang (10/2/2/2) – Kim Yong Geun
If a Busan filly is going to win, this one has as much chance as any. She’ll have to improve a lot though to beat Cheonun.
14. Hushtilled (13/3/3/1) – Jung Ki Yong
Hasn’t really live up to her early promise to date but she’s the only filly in the race to hae won over the distance and a surprise is possible.

International Jockey Challenge: Day 1 Preview

Saturday sees the first two races of the Sixth Seoul International Jockeys’ Challenge. Their mounts were randomly drawn so let’s take a look at the prospects for the six visiting riders:

Race 6 (17:00): Domestic bred Class 4 (Allowance III-B) – 1400M

Moon Se Young - On the favourite?

They picked this race well as it is unusually open with at least seven of the thirteen starters having valid claims for consideration (although only twelve jockeys are involved in the challenge, the races are open to up to fourteen entrants). Gangho Tansaeng (Yoo Sang Wan) has won two of his six starts but was disappointing at both class and distance last time. Meanwhile Wonder Heart (Moon Se Young) is a persistant placer but hasn’t won any of his fifteen races. Both will attract serious money though. Let’s run down the rides of the visitors:

Scott Seamer (Australia) – Yongho Yakjin (18starts/1win/2seconds) – Has had three races at this level without impressing but drops back to seven furlongs and has a chance of moneying.

Oliver Castillo (USA) – Tachys (14/2/0) – Dropping back to seven furlongs for the first time since joining this division. Well worth a place bet.

Niall McCullogh (Ireland) – Super Taepung (12/1/2) – Perhaps a half furlong too far for this colt who struggled at the distance last time However, connections seem to think he can cope and an outside punt must be considered.

Akin Sozen (Turkey) – Chowonui Hyanggi (19/1/2) – Second at the distance last time means she will be a short price this time. Not that she’s done anything to suggest she’s a winner, but the filly will have a lot of supporters.

Muzi Yeni (South Africa) – Golden Cat (19/1/1) – Finally broke his maiden last time but is in better company now. Will struggle to make an impression.

Syu Ishibashi (Japan) – Perfect Line (19/1/0) – Has nothing in her form that suggests she can make an impression here.

Race 10 (20:00) : Domestic bred Class 2 (Handicap) – 1400M

Potentially there’s one outstanding horse here. Big Easy, a three-year old gelding has won five of his six starts. Korean Jung Ki Yong picked him in the draw. Unproven at this level though, Big Easy won’t necessarily find it er…easy. Jaemi Best (Choi Bum Hyun) also looks dangerous and a few of the visitors are not without a chance either.

Scott Seamer (Australia) – Gancheorwang (32/3/4) – Third placed last time out and like a number of others, is dropping significantly in distance. Being placed would be a tremendous result.

Oliver Castillo (USA) – Red Sky (31/4/1) – Worth an outside bet. A decent sprinter who has been running at far too long distances recently. Will relish the drop back to seven furlongs.

Niall McCullogh (Ireland) – Jayeongwang (20/4/1) – Won an all fillies race in May to put her in this class. Should be outgunned tomorrow.

Akin Sozen (Turkey) – Happy Hero (32/1/7) – This persistant placer has trouble winning. Neither look likely.

Muzi Yeni (South Africa) – Battle Commander (24/4/3) – Another who should enjoy the drop down in distance. Accustomed to racing in this class, he has a chance.

Syu Ishibashi (Japan) – Smart Galloper (36/4/0) – Unfortunately for Ishibashi, again it’s difficult to see how this one has any chance at all.

Gyongmaman’s verdict: In both races, a Korean is likely to be on the favourite; It’s time for Wonder Heart to finally win in race 6 and Big Easy has done nothing to suggest he shouldn’t claim race 10. However, neither is nailed on and it’s not impossible that a visitor could claim both races.

We’ll have a round up of Day 1 of the challenge plus a preview of Sunday’s conclusion tomorrow.

Other than Muzi Yeni and Oliver Castillo getting mounts in Sunday’s race 10, none of the visiting jockeys – despite being granted a regular short-term racing license – will ride in any but the challenge races. Naturally, Gyongmaman would never suggest that this rather surprising state of affairs has absolutely anything at all to do with the Seoul Racecourse Jockeys’ Union. No, never would he make such a statement, because it er…obviously…couldn’t be true…could it…?

2008 Oaks Winner Set For Shock Return This Sunday

Well this came out of nowhere. After nearly two years away, 2008 Oaks winner Jeolho Chance will return to racing this Sunday in the feature event at Busan Race Park.

The outstanding filly of her year, Jeolho Chance was able to blunder badly on the first corner of the Oaks but still recover in order to win without breaking into a gallop. She went on to finish second in the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup up at Seoul, beaten by Gaeseon Janggun, who had previously finished second in both the KRA Cup Mile and the monsoon-afflicted Korean Derby and went on to have a successful season as a four-year old before being retired to stud last winter.

It looked like Jeolho Chance’s future lay in the breeding shed too. She only had one more outing after that Minister’s Cup race before she suffered a seemingly career-ending injury. Intensive therapy and recuperation has, like Baekgwang at Seoul before her, brought about a remarkable recovery and she will line up in race 5 at Busan on Sunday evening.

It’s a tough ask for her. Up against her will be the horse with perhaps the most boring name – but arguably the most exciting prospects – at the track. Mister Park, a three-year old gelding, made a creditable but hardly noteworthy debut last November finishing third of twelve in a maiden race. Since then he’s run six more times and has been untouchable.

All is set for a massive weekend of racing on the peninsula. Up at Seoul it is not only YTN Cup weekend but also the International Jockey Challenge. Scott Seamer of Australia and Oliver Castillo of the United States are among six overseas riders in town to take on the Koreans in the annual event. We’ll have a full preview of the challenge tomorrow.

Tough Examination Ahead For Dongbanui Gangja

Dongbanui Gangja (right) and Tough Win - Pic:KRA

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