Bally Brae at Seoul, Sangseung Ilro at Busan

Both Bally Brae and Sangseung Ilro will be bidding for back-to-back wins on Sunday as the two star names headline the feature events at Seoul and Busan respectively. Bally Brae put in a commanding performance to see off Baekjeonmupae, three years his junior, back in February to claim his first win in nearly a year. However, the younger horse will be back on Sunday, this time carrying two kilos less than Bally Brae and with another half a furlong to run. Bally Brae will also have to do without the services of regular jockey Moon Se Young, who misses the weekend through suspension.

Sangseung Ilro, last year’s KRA Cup Mile and Derby heroine, has always been fragile but she was back in the winner’s circle for her first run as a four year old in January and now, after two months of rest, she’s back in the Busan feature on Sunday. She’ll be giving at least three kilos to the rest of the eleven strong field – all bar one of whom are male.

Also at Busan on Sunday, highly rated young US imports Aju Joa, Scit Scat Cat and Useung Geotap face each other in the Busan Ilbo Cup race over seven furlongs.

Friday March 19

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park (Pony racing): 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday March 20

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Jeju Race Park (Pony racing): 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10

Sunday March 21

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Northern Ace is Back

It’s been a full six months of setback after setback but on Sunday, Northern Ace, possibly the most exciting two-year old of last year finally reappears at Seoul. On his debut, he broke J.S. Hold’s five furlong track record leaving Ace Galloper – a horse who has developed into one of Seoul’s brightest three-year olds – trailing far behind.

His next run came a month later when he cantered away from a woefully outclassed field over six furlongs. That was on August 29. Earlier that day jockey Moon Se Young, who was set to ride him, suffered an injury that would keep him out until December and Cho Kyoung Ho took the mount. Few realised then that the champion jockey would be back on the track before the likely champion juvenile.

Northern Ace was due to face Seonbongbulpae in the Herald Business in early December but racing was called off at the last minute due to a frozen track. When the event was rescheduled for the following weekend he, along with several others, didn’t appear.

There’s a little longer to wait though until we find out if Northern Ace is anything like the horse he threatened to be last year. He goes in the very last race of the weekend at 6pm on Sunday.

Racing gets underway at Busan on Friday although the biggest race at the Southern track is on Sunday when Crafty Louis will put in an appearance. Saturday sees a low-key day of racing at Seoul while Sunday has co-features with Mighty Runner and the recently returned to form Good Day – a horse with fifteen wins from twenty-three outings to his name – among those in action.

Friday March 12

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday March 13

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10

Sunday March 14

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Vicar Love, Lucky Mountain, Seonbongbulpae at Seoul, Namdo Jeap, Yeonseung Daero at Busan

The first racing of March on the peninsula gets underway at Busan on Friday and as ever, it’s set to be a busy weekend.

At Seoul the most valuable races are on Saturday. Vicar Love, Soseono and Lucky Mountain will all be in action.

Namchon Party - faces Seonbongbulpae on Sunday

On Sunday at Seoul, Seonbongbulpae will have another crack at turning round two corners after disappointing in his last two outings. With Moon Se Young riding for the first time, last year’s champion juvenile will need to perform in race 10 if he is to put himself back in the Classic picture. The rejuvenated Namchon Party will be among those out to stop him.

At Busan, the big race is on Sunday as two of last year’s top three-year olds Namdo Jeap and Yeonseung Daero meet once more. They’ll take on a field of overseas-bred runners including Busan legend Golding over nine furlongs.

Friday March 5

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday March 6

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10

Sunday March 7

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Tough Win, Money Car, Ace Galloper all starters

Three year-olds are very much to the fore at Seoul Race Park this Holiday Weekend as several Classic hopefuls – and others who can’t run for the Triple Crown but will be in line for other big prizes – take to the track.

Money Car will aim to take a fifth straight win on Sunday while Bonsol, Kkonnam and Full Step all go in the last on Saturday. Ace Galloper, while not Classic bound, will be going for six straight wins when he goes in race 9 on Sunday.

They could all be upstaged by potentially the best of the lot, US import Tough Win, who is yet to break into a gallop in his four wins to date. He is unlikely to be troubled by any of thirteen rivals in race 10 on Saturday.

Although upstaged by the younger horses, the likes of Bulpae Gisang, Symphony Sonata and Love Cat will all be running in valuable handicaps over the weekend.

At Busan, where if recent history is anything to go by, the Classic winners are likely to come from, promising three-year olds Baekjeom Manjeom and Saeroun Taeyang will face each other on Friday.

Friday February 26

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park (Pony racing): 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday February 27

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Jeju Race Park (Pony racing): first post 12:10, last 17:10

Sunday February 28:

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Segye Ilbo Stakes / Bally Brae

Seoul Race Park sees its first Stakes action of the year this coming Sunday in the form of the Segye Ilbo Cup, a seven furlong test for foreign bred fillies and mares. Three-year olds Florida Sox, Gwacheon Geojang and Gippeumnuri look among the most exciting entrants and we’ll have a full run down of the runners and riders over the next couple of days.

Bally Brae has a chance on Saturday

On Saturday, Bally Brae takes centre stage as the much-loved gelding who returned to form with a third placed finish behind Dongbanui Gangja last month, looks to have a winning chance in the feature handicap. Baekjeonmupae could provide the biggest danger. On the Classic trail, Korean bred three-year old fillies Secret Woman, Hushtilled and Manjeomhwanhui are in action.

Friday February 19

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday February 20

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10

Sunday February 21

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Baekgwang is the feature attraction of another big weekend of racing on the peninsula. The former Horse of the Year goes in Saturday’s feature at Seoul Race Park where he’ll face stiff competition from the likes of Secret Weapon and Triple Seven and Lucky Mountain.

Also in action over the weekend will be the fast improving US import Jumong, while Seoul Teukgeup, Yodongseong and Galsaem go in Sunday’s feature.

Down at Busan, Namdo Jeap heads up Friday’s card, giving at least five kilos to field of thirteen.

Friday February 5

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday February 6

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10

Sunday February 7

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Yeonseung Daero, Bally Brae, Dongbanui Gangja in action

Dongbanui Gangja, Korea’s best horse, will make his first appearance of 2010 at Seoul Race Park on Sunday afternoon. The double Grand Prix winner will face the horse he took that title off when Bally Brae lines up alongside him in the ten furlong test. Despite carrying 62 kilos – the largest handicap weight awarded for some time, Dongbanui Gangja will likely be heavy favourite to get the better of a full field of fourteen.

Down at Busan, Yeonseung Daero makes his highly anticipated four-year old debut. The nearly horse of 2009, great things are expected of him in 2010. He’ll take on foreign bred horses in Sunday’s feature including such luminaries as King Kephalos and track stalwart Golding over nine furlongs.

Friday at Busan and Saturday at Seoul are relatively low-key affairs although Japanese rider Kunihisa Hirase will debut at Busan on Friday. Of interest, however, will be the appearance of three-year olds Money Car and Great True at Seoul. The former is a Derby contender, the latter an import that we could see running for big prizes later in the year.

Friday January 29

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday January 30

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 12:30, last 17:10

Sunday January 31

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15

Dongbanui Gangja wins the 2009 Grand Prix:

Sangseung Ilro, Nice Choice, Bulpae Gisang, Tough Win

It’s set to be a star-studded weekend as some of the peninsula’s hottest properties take to the track at both Seoul and Busan.

Busan and Jeju get things underway on Friday and the Gyeongnam Province track hosts two class 1 contests to finish the day. The first gives the track’s top horses a rare chance to compete for a big prize over just seven furlongs and Sinjin Gangja and Top Grade will be among those looking to claim it. That race is immediately followed by a nine furlong test for overseas bred runners. Crafty Louis tops the weights but faces interesting competition from the likes of lightly raced four-year old Dandi and from the Korean bred Impeccable.

On Saturday the focus moves up to Seoul and Bulpae Gisang, winner of last year’s Busan Metropolitan and second in the Grand Prix, makes his first appearance of 2010. Regular rider Choi Beom Hyun is suspended so Champion jockey Park Tae Jong gets the mount for what should be a straightforward win although Bulpae Gisang will be giving weight to both Angus Empire and Baekjeonmupae, both horses with plenty of wins to their name.

Sunday is set to be a treat at both Seoul and Busan. Down South, last year’s Derby winner Sangseung Ilro faces Pangpang, the filly who beat her in the Oaks, in the feature. Don’t be surprised if neither of them win, however, as also going is Yeongung Manse, winner of the Governer’s Cup in 2009.

Up in the Capital meanwhile, President’s Cup winner Nice Choice makes his début as a four-year old. He should have the beating of a field including Machine Gun and the still slightly unknown quantity of Holy Dreamer. Sunday’s race 9 also sees the seasonal début of the current highest rated three-year old on the peninsula in the shape of Tough Win. The American import in three for three and will attempt two turns for the first time.

Friday January 22

Busan Race Park: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Jeju Race Park (Pony Racing): 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30

Saturday January 23

Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 12:30, last 17:10

Sunday January 24

Seoul Race Park: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Busan Race Park: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15

It’s cold. The temperature is yet to rise above zero in Seoul in 2010 and it’s getting tiresome. The snow from a fortnight ago is still on the ground and riding out these past few mornings must have been horrific. Nevertheless, there’s a full set of race-cards to look forward to this weekend.

While hopes have been dashed that last year’s champion three-year old Nice Choice would make his season debut, we have an even more intriguing entry at Seoul Race Park this weekend. Seonbongbulpae, Champion Juvenile in 2009 steps up to nine furlongs in race 7 on Sunday afternoon as he launches his three-year old campaign.

The colt is unbeaten in four races but laboured in winning the Herald Business Cup back in December. He’ll face an array of older horses in the class 3 test.

The big race of the weekend at Seoul is on Saturday. As mentioned above, there’s no Nice Choice but Gi Ra Seong will be there and the six-year old will be fancied to overcome a field that includes the likes of Symphony Sonata and Hwangnyongsaji.

Busan Race Park

Friday January 15: 10 races, first post 12:00, last 18:00
Sunday January 17: 6 races, first post 12:30, last 16:15

Seoul Race Park

Saturday January 16: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Sunday January 17: 11 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45

Jeju Race Park (Pony Racing)

Friday January 15: 9 races, first post 13:30, last 17:30
Saturday Janaury 16: 9 races, first post 12:30, last 17:10