Subsidy vs Vicar Love & Baekjeonmupae / Triple Seven vs Tu Won
It’s Busan Ilbo Cup weekend and while the big race is on Sunday afternoon (see preview below), there’s plenty of other action to look forward to.

As usual, Busan gets things underway with ten races on Friday afternoon. The feature will see Hwanggeumbit Taeyang look to get back in form after a disappointing start to the year. Wonder Love and King Kephalos will be amongst those out to stop him. In addition to the the Cup race, Sunday’s Busan card also features a clash of two 2008 Classic winners as Gaeseon Janggun and Ebony Storm face other over 2000 metres. They’ll have the back in form mare Mirae Cheonsa for company.

At Seoul Race Park, Saturday’s highlight sees Vicar Love taking on Baekjeonmupae and Subsidy. Top sprinter Gamadongja joins them and will have a significant weight advantage in the 2000 metre test. Subsidy got the better of Baekjeonmupae last month when both were soundly beaten by Playing Politics and with Vicar Love back in form after his Grand Prix disappointment, it looks an intriguing race.

On Sunday, Triple Seven and Tu Won will meet again in the feature race. Dashing Champ will also be among those lining up for race 10. Also on Sunday, Shaving Points, who began his racing career so impressively this time last year before being blighted with injury, makes his first appearance of 2009.

Busan Race Park

Friday March 20: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday March 22: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday March 21: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday March 22: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park hosts cards on Saturday and Sunday with first post at 12:10. A wet weekend is forecast. Busan should escape rain on Friday but showers are expected on Saturday and Sunday.

* Not taking any part in the weekend’s action is jockey Choi Jung Seob. The 29 year old has been suspended for three months and trainer Lee In Ho fined KRW 2 Million under the non-triers rule following Choi’s ride on Lhotse Shar in race 10 at Seoul last Saturday. Lhotse Shar finished a close fourth in the race which can be viewed here. The horse in question breaks from stall 10.

The weekend is almost upon us and that means that after a four day break, racing returns to the peninsula. Busan will start things off on Friday, Seoul and Jeju race on Saturday and all three tracks will host cards on Sunday.

Headlining the weekend’s action is Saturday’s showdown between Mighty Runner and Namchonuijijon over 2000 metres at Seoul. A late developer, five year old Mighty Runner has won his last five outings and will still have a two kilo advantage over Namchonuijijon. Last year’s Ttukseom Cup winner struggled after his big race win, but was second last time and returns after more than two months off. Busan’s main event is on Friday with Luna and Pick Me Up among a field of twelve going over nine furlongs.

With just three weeks to go until the first leg of the Triple Crown, it’s possible that the the future KRA Cup Mile winner has already had their last outing before the big race, but nevertheless there remain some three year olds to look out for. At Seoul, Red Ball steps up in class in race 10 on Saturday in a bid to make it three straight wins while on Sunday, Seokcheong, who suffered his first reverse last time out, will appear in race 8. Busan hosts a three year old race on Sunday with Namdo Jeap looking the pick of a small field of eight.

Busan Race Park

Friday March 13: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday March 15: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday March 14: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday March 15: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park hosts nine races on Saturday and ten on Sunday with first post at 12:10 both days. At Seoul, Saturday should be dry and bright but cold, Sunday should be warmer but with a chance of rain. Rain is also forecast at Busan on Friday but it’s expected to be mild and dry by Sunday.

Bally Brae headlines card / Impeccable steps up
After four consecutive second place finishes, Bally Brae will be looking to be back in the Winner’s Circle at Seoul Race Park on Saturday afternoon. The seven year old older brother of the stricken Playing Politics should be favoured as he takes on a field of just seven rivals over 2000 metres. Among those up against him are Seoul Teukgeup and Angus Empire.

Sunday’s main event at Seoul is a low profile domestic affair. Machine Gun tops the weights of a 2000 metre handicap. Busan will get things underway on Friday with a ten race card. Yeongung Manse headlines a competitive domestic field in the first of two feature races while Golding, Florida Native and Boryeong Bulbit are among those going in the race for foreign bred horses.

There are a number of three year olds to look out for over the weekend. Chief among them is the Peter Wolsley trained Impeccable [Distilled – Bellebreezy (Foolish Pleasure)]. The colt is three for three, cantering to a ten length victory last time and steps up in class in race 6 at Busan tomorrow. Also on Friday, Geumbit Sesang [Duality – Shawnee Sunset (True Colors)] looks to recover from a disappointing last outing in race 7. At Seoul the colt Event [Creek Cat – Forget Me Dot (Citidancer)] goes in the last on Sunday.

Busan Race Park

Friday March 6: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday March 8: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday March 7: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday March 8: 11 races, first post 11:20

Weather in Seoul is forecast to be dry and mild with the only trace of the current rain being a wet track. At Busan, rain is forecast for Sunday. Jeju Race Park hosts cards on Saturday and Sunday with a 12:10 start on both days.

Wepner debuts with nine rides / Dongbanui Gangja goes Sunday
It’s almost the weekend once again and Busan Race Park will get racing underway on Friday afternoon. South African jockey Martin Wepner will make his Korean debut in race 1 with the first of nine rides. Wepner will follow this on Sunday with a further three mounts on the six race card. In Friday’s feature race, Pick Me Up starts for the second time since returning from the US. On Sunday, Hwanggeumbit Taeyang will carry top weight in the feature handicap.

Grand Prix winner Dongbanui Gangja headlines Seoul’s Sunday card and should be able to see off a field including K J Khan, Serendipper and Haengun Daewang. One race earlier, Love Cat will make a remarkably early step up to class 2 company. The three year old filly has won her last four and will go over the Derby distance of nine furlongs.

Saturday’s card at Seoul will see Secret Weapon look to get back into the Winner’s Circle. The six year old followed up his bad run in the Grand Prix with a second placed finish behind Top Point but ahead of Myeongmun Gamun last month and will give at least five kilos to field of twelve.

Busan Race Park

Friday February 27: Ten races, first post 13:00
Sunday March 1: Six races, first post 12:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday February 28:Twelve races, first post 11:10
Sunday March 1: Eleven races, first post 11:10

Jeju Race Park will host nine races on Saturday and ten races on Sunday with the first going to post at 12:30 on both days and racegoers on the island will be hoping for better weather following last week’s abandonment for fog. Busan could have some rain on Friday but the forecast for Seoul is dry, bright and relatively warm all weekend.

Segye Ilbo Cup / Subsidy, Playing Politics, Noubeau Riche
This weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan Race Park on Friday but it’s Seoul where the main action will be with the Segye Ilbo Cup headlining Sunday’s card. The seven furlong race, which in recent times has been for three year old fillies is this year open to older foreign bred filles and mares. A full field of fourteen will line up. Among them there will be only two three year olds, one of them being the well thought of Jangjagang. Also going and likely to be in contention are Meni Cherry, Mexicali Blues, U Seung Man Se and Angel Pegasus. The race is off at 16:45 (see below for full list of runners, form and riders).

Next up on Sunday, Good Day will head a class 1 field over 2000 metres in search of his fourteenth win. Out to stop him will be Tu Won, stepping up to the highest level for the first time and looking to bounce back from his third place in the New Year Commemorative race last month, which ended his six race winning streak.

Saturday also sees a summit meeting at Seoul as Subsidy will attempt to reach the billion won prize money mark for the third time. He’ll be up against it again as Playing Politics steps up to 2000 metres having been beaten only once in his six races to date. Also going is the New Zealand bred gelding Baekjeonmupae as well as Noubeau Riche who beat a number of this field, including Subsidy and Seongpacheonha last time out.

Busan Race Park hosts cards on Friday and Sunday and Jeju Race Park on Saturday and Sunday. Weather at Seoul is likely to be cold but just on the right side of freezing with a chance of snow. Busan will be a few degrees warmer with a chance of snow.

Busan Race Park

Friday February 20: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday February 22: 6 races, first post 12:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday February 21: 12 races, first post 11:10
Sunday February 22: 11 races, first post 11:10

Segye Ilbo Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – Feb 22, 2009, 16:45

1. Hwanggeum Dwaeji (AUS) (18/1/5/3) – Cho Kyoung Ho
2. Mexicali Blues (USA) (15/4/2/1) – Kim Ok Sung
3. Rising Winner (AUS) (21/2/2/2) – Yoo Sang Wan
4. Extreme Girl (USA) (28/0/4/2) – Lee Sang Hyuk
5. Ginny’s Delight (USA) (21/1/2/5) – Lee Joon Chel
6. Why A Duck (USA) (41/3/4/3) – Lee Shin Young
7. Jangjagang (USA) (7/2/1/2) – Park Tae Jong
8. Cheonsangcheonha (USA) (30/2/3/3) – Moon Jung Kyun
9. Beautiful Sky (AUS) (14/2/3/2) – Kim Young Jin
10. Angel Pegasus (USA) (10/3/2/0) – Ham Wan Sik
11. Exclusive Offer (USA) (17/3/2/0) – Park Eul Woon
12. Meni Cherry (USA) (9/3/0/2) – Kim Hyo Seob
13. U Seung Man Se (USA) (11/2/4/0) – Moon Se Young
14. Passage To Glory (USA) (16/3/2/1) – Jun Duk Young

Gaeseon Janggun / Namchonuijijon return
Three class 1 races headline the weekend’s action which will get underway at Busan Race Park tomorrow afternoon. Busan will host two of those big handicaps and Friday’s feature will see a host of big names including Crafty Louis, Florida Native, Hardride, Dangdae Star and Bugyeong Choegang. Racing will return to Busan on Sunday when 2008 Minister’s Cup winner Gaeseon Janggun makes his first appearance as a four year old.

Namchonuijijon will headline Seoul’s big race of the weekend which comes on Saturday afternoon. The five year old will be up against Natural Nine, Saebyeok Dongja, Best Condition and Hwangnyongsaji amongst a field of eleven.

Busan Race Park

Friday February 13: 10 races, post time 13:00
Sunday February 15: 6 races, post time 12:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday February 14: 12 races, post time 11:10
Sunday February 15: 11 races, post time 11:10

Jeju Race Park hosts eight races on Saturday and ten on Sunday with first post at 12:30 on both days. It is forecast to be remarkably warm for the time of year in Busan Friday with temperatures as high as 17, however, this is likely to be accompanied by rain. Seoul is forecast to be cool and dry.

Areumdaun Jilju, Golding, Bally Brae in action / Chavez debuts

Areumdaun Jilju makes his 2009 debut in Busan’s feature on Sunday giving a full six kilos to a field of ten including Procyon, Boryeong Bulbit and Luna. Aremundaun Jilju has won 12 of his 18 career starts. Heading Friday’s card will be Golding, the now seven year old gelding going over 1600M. Meanwhile, up at Seoul, 2007 Grand Prix winner Bally Brae will be the biggest name appearing, in a compeitive field with Vicar Love, Seoul Teukgeup and Saerounbisul in race 11 on Saturday.

American jockey Santos Chavez will make his Seoul debut on Saturday. The 47 year old will be the oldest jockey at Seoul and has a six month license. Chavez has career figures of 7623 rides, with 894 wins and 910 seconds. Despite a career which has taken him to the UK, Belgium, France, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Peru as well as the US, he appears to have been relatively inactive in recent years. Chavez, who will be known as “Santos” on the race card will have two rides on Saturday.

Busan Race Park

Friday February 6: 10 races with the first at 13:00
Sunday February 8: 6 races, first post at 12:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday February 7: 12 races, first off at 11:10
Sunday February 8: 11 races, first off at 11:10

Jeju Race Park hosts cards on both Saturday and Sunday with nine races on each day. Weather conditions in both Seoul and Busan are forecast to be mild and dry all weekend.

Season Debuts for Dongbanui Gangja, Myeongmun Gamun, Pick Me Up
A host of big name horses will take to the track this weekend as racing returns after the Lunar New Year break. Grand Prix winner Dongbanui Gangja makes his first appearance of 2009 at Seoul Race Park on Sunday and will be giving four kilos to Brilliant Knight, the gelding with five wins from his first six starts stepping up in class. On Saturday, Myeongmun Gamun, the top Korean bred horse at Seoul also makes his season debut, going head to head with Secret Weapon who’ll be looking to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Grand Prix.

Down at Busan, Pick Me Up will run for the first time since returning from the US. The seven year old will carry top weight in the feature handicap on Friday, a race that also features last year’s Derby winner Ebony Storm.

Busan Race Park
Friday January 30: 10 races, first post time 13:00
Sunday February 1: 6 races, first post time 12:30

Seoul Race Park:
Saturday January 31: 12 races, first post time 11:10
Sunday February 1: 11 races, first post time 11:10

Jeju Race Park will host 9 races on both Saturday and Sunday.