Racing Previews

Namdo Jeap Heads Strong KNN Cup Field

Although Areumdaun Jilju, arguably Busan Race Park’s most formidable horse in 2008 won’t be there, this year’s running of the KNN Cup, which takes place at the Gyeongnam Province track this coming Sunday, still has the makings of an intriguing race.

Last year’s Derby winner, Ebony Storm goes as does this year’s best colt, Namdo Jeap. While Sangseung Ilro, the filly who defeated him in both Triple Crown legs to date won’t be there as she takes a different route to the Oaks, among those who will be lining up are Sandeomi, Mirae Cheonsa, Yeongung Manse and Sinheung Gangja.

The race is open to Korean bred horses and is the first opportunity for three year olds to take on more experienced horses for a big prize. The form guide can be downloaded here (Korean). Here’s the run-down of the runners and riders with race records (Runs/1st/2nd/3rd):

KNN Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – June 14, 2009, 15:35

1. Ebony Storm [Buster’s Daydream – Sorority Jazz (Dixieland Band)] – (20/6/4/4) – Park Geum Man
The longest shot on the board when he won the Derby, he’s pushed on to be a solid performer and won last time out.
2. Raon King [Psychobabble – Geum Seul (Roughcast)] – (15/5/0/3) – Kim Do Hyun
Graduated to the top tier of Korean racing earlier this year but has been at his best over shorter distances.
3. Wellbeing Sidae [Psychobabble – Winning Design (Beau’s Eagle)] – (34/5/3/4) – E. Nishimura
In good form this year, the experienced mare could spring a surprise.
4. Namdo Jeap [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – (7/3/3/1) – Chae Gyu Jun
But for one filly, he would be a double classic winner by now. Only Sangseung Ilro has beaten him this year.
5. Yeoin Cheonguk [Creek Cat – Ze No Evil (Pentelicus)] – (37/6/3/7) – Jung Si Won
Another experienced mare, she won last time out after a disappointing 2008.
6. Yeongung Manse [Sharp Appeal – Saratogasplash (Wild Again)] – (14/7/3/2) – Jo Chang Wook
Has never been out of the money in his 14 starts. Landed four straight victories last autumn and won over the distance in March.
7. Mirae Cheonsa [Millennium Wind – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] – (27/11/4/1/3) – Kim Tae Kyung
She was dominant as a three year old, winning eight straight races in 2006 and 2007. After a difficult 2008 she’s been winning again this year and is always liable to be in the mix in the home straight.
8. Sandeomi [Commendable – Regal Meg (Regal Classic)] – (10/5/1/1) – Yoo Hyun Myoung
The highest placed finisher in the KRA Cup Mile not to try for the Derby, Sandeomi is faster than Namdo Jeap over 1600 metres and must be considered.
9. Sinheung Gangja [Archer City Slew – Recondite (Silver Deputy)] – (22/5/3/6) – Han Sang Gyu
Disappointed when sent to Seoul for the Minister’s Cup last October but has two class 1 wins to his name. Hasn’t been showing his best form since beating Ebony Storm in January.

Weekend Preview

Park Tae Jong closing in on milestone
The first races of June come under orders at Busan Race Park on Friday afternoon before the action moves to Seoul and Jeju on Saturday, with all three tracks hosting cards on Sunday.

Focus at Seoul will be on jockey Park Tae Jong who is just four winners away from becoming the first Korean rider to secure 1500 career victories. Currently on 1496, Park has a number of rides over the weekend with more than a passing chance. Among them in Brilliant Knight, who goes in Saturday’s feature race along with a host of proven winners including Gamadongja, Noubeau Riche and Segye Cup winner Mexicali Blues.

On Sunday, Park takes the mount on Secret Weapon, the six year old heading the weights against the likes of Namchonuijijon, Natural Nine and Triple Seven.

Busan Race Park
Friday June 5: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday June 7: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday June 6, 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday June 7: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park holds pony races on Saturday and Sunday with a first post time of 12:10 both days. Weather on the peninsula has been unpredicatable all week – currently the weekend forecast for Seoul is hot, wet and humid.

Weekend Preview

It’s been a turbulent week on the peninsula. With the suicide of former President Roh Moo Hyun last Saturday morning shortly followed by North Korea’s nuclear test forty-eight hours later, as well as “Swine Flu” finally making its way into the news, even in a country where there is scarcely a quiet week, this one has been different.

As reported yesteraday, the regular Friday racing at Busan is off so as not to clash with President Roh’s funeral. The rest of the weekend’s cards will go ahead as planned, however, and horses will be running at Seoul Race Park from 11:20 on Saturday morning.

Bally Brae is the biggest name on show over the weekend. The seven year old former horse of the year is looking for his third straight win and has the beating of his ten rivals in Saturday’s feature race. However, he will be conceding at least six kilos to all of his rivals, a handicap that could let in the likes of Dankee’s Pal and Seungyu Sinhwa.

Busan Race Park

Sunday May 31: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday May 30: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday May 31: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park hosts cards on Saturday and Sunday with first post at 12:10 both days. The weather is forecast to be dry, bright and hot.

Weekend Preview

Sports Chosun Cup / Gaeseon Janggun / Mighty Runner
After the the excitement of Derby weekend it’s back to normal this week as racing once again returns to the peninsula. Big race of the weekend is the Sports Chosun Cup at Seoul Race Park on Sunday afternoon, but both Friday at Busan and Saturday at Seoul also have some interesting races.

Last year’s top Korean-bred three year old, Gaeseon Janggun headlines Busan’s Friday card. The Minister’s Cup winner faces seven opponents over 2000 metres in race 10. He’ll be favourite but will be giving at least five kilos to a host of proven winners such as Mirae Cheonsa, Boryeong Bulbit, Sinheung Gangja and even Pick Me Up. Sunday at Busan sees two of the southern track’s most prominent overseas bred horses face off as Golding goes up against Admiral Reigart.

While the Sports Chosun Cup is Seoul’s feature race of the weekend (full preview to follow), Saturday sees a fascinating feature race as Ttukseom Cup winner Mighty Runner faces among others, Hongji, Machine Gun and Ugildongja over 1900 metres.

Busan Race Park

Friday May 22: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday May 24: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday May 23: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday May 24: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park will host pony racing cards on Saturday and Sunday with a first post time of 12:10 on both days. Sunday sees the Jeju Owner’s Cup, one of the island’s top races of the year. Established winners Mansokchum and Medaljeonseon will come up against three year old filly Cheonjibusa, who has six wins from eight outings in the race, which is run over a mile.

The current wet weather is predicted to continue throughout the weekend with showers likely at both tracks.

Korean Derby Weekend – Saturday Preview

STC, AJC and HRI Trophies up for grabs
Not only is the Korean Derby being run on Sunday, it’s also International Weekend at Seoul Race Park. Across the two days, there are four trophy races sponsored by overseas racing authorities. While the biggest of the four is the JRA Trophy on Sunday, the race immediately preceding the Derby, the three on Saturday offer plenty of interest.

Selengor Turf Club (STC) Trophy – Class 3 (Foreign bred) Fillies & Mares – 1300M – Race 7

Two jockeys from Malaysia will guest in this race which has attracted a full field of fourteen. Likely favourite will be Soseono, half sister to Subsidy, Korea’s horse of the year in 2005. Also in contention should be Sky Center, Nandanara and Rose Cat. The race is off at 3pm.

Australian Jockey Club (AJC) Trophy – Class 3 (Korean bred) Fillies & Mares – 1400M – Race 9

Another full field of fourteen for the AJC Trophy. It’s an open race with no stand-out favoruite although there will be plenty of support for Bandoui Kkum. Yeonjikkot and Hera have both won at this level before and must also be considered.

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) Trophy – Class 3 (Korean bred) – 1800M – Race 10

The only trophy race on Saturday open to mae horses, the HRI Trophy is perhaps the most interesting of the three as Symphony Sonata, the well bred and highly rated four year old seeks to gain a fourth win from six races. Hacing been beaten narrowly by Derby contender Triple Canon last time out, he’ll be the likely favourite. He’ll be up against Super Jet, who last time out beat another Derby contender, Seokcheong over the same distance as the trophy race. Also in the mix should be Luxury Jewang, Excacta Runner and Haedong Jewang.

There are twelve races in total on Saturday at Seoul, with the first getting underway at 11:20. There is also racing at Jeju Race Park with the first at 12:10. Sadly, just like Derby weekend last year, the weather forecast is not good with umbrellas likely to be necessary throughout the day.

Check back tomorrow for full reports on Saturday’s trophy races plus final previews of The JRA Trophy and, of course, the Korean Derby.

* Areumdaun Jilju returned to action after a five month lay-off in this afternoon’s feature race at Busan Race Park. Although punters failed to send him off as favourite for the first time in many outings, it was as if the five year old – who has never finished worse than fourth and before his lay-off was arguably Busan’s most feared horse – had never been away. Under Jo Chan Hoon, the gelding came through late to stretch away from the field for a five length win. Racing returns to Busan on Sunday.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Weekend Preview

The weekend’s racing is almost upon us and things will get underway at Busan Race Park on Friday afternoon. The action moves to Seoul and Jeju on Saturday, before all three tracks run their usual cards on Sunday.

The main events of the weekend will be at Seoul where, with a week to go until the Derby, the winner of the 2005 edition of the race, Saebyeok Dongja, will make an appearance in the feature race on Saturday. The seven year old will be up against nine rivals over 1900 metres including Triple Seven and Free Woody.

Sunday’s feature race is for overseas bred horses and features a host of big names. Sprinter Gamadongja tries his luck at 1800 metres in a race where Angus Empire and Seoul Teukgeup will be the most fancied.

Busan Race Park

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

Seoul Race Park

Saturday May 9: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday May 10: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park hosts its regular weekend pony racing card with nine races on Saturday and ten on Sunday, with the first going to post at 12:10 on each day. Race 3 on Sunday is one of Jeju’s signature two furlong dashes. Temperatures across the peninsual have shot up during the week and could reach as high as 30C on Saturday at Seoul. Nevertheless, it is currently predicted to be unsettled. Busan should have perfect conditions with clear skies and temperatures in the low twenties.

Korean Derby – First Preview

With less than two weeks until the big day, Korean racing is gearing up for the 2009 Korean Derby which will take place at Seoul Race Park on Sunday May 17.

A maximum of fourteen will line up for the race and at this stage, exactly fourteen remain entered. Sangseung Ilro will venture north from Busan in an attempt to keep her Triple Crown effort on course. The filly was the surprise winner of the first leg of the Triple Crown, the KRA Cup Mile at Busan in April. Stablemate Namdo Jeap, who she duelled with in the home straight of the Cup Mile, will join her in shipping up from Busan as will Yeonseung Daero, who started as favourite that day and finished third. However, following his disappointing run in the Cup Mile and a lacklustre performance in a handicap a week ago, the one time highly fancied Impeccable will not travel to Seoul.

Busan based horses swept all the Classics in 2008 and Seoul will be looking to regain some much needed pride. They have a good chance of doing so in the shape of the likely favourite, Nice Choice. Last year’s top juvenile didn’t travel down to Busan for the Cup Mile, his connections giving up the chance of going for the Triple Crown in order to focus solely on the Derby. His two races so far this year have both been at the Derby distance of nine furlongs and ended in a comfortable win and a narrow second against older horses.

A host of others will also fancy their chances and we will take a closer look at all of the contenders over the coming days. For now, here is the full list of entries with race records (Runs/1st/2nd/3rd), [B] = Busan, (F) = Filly:

Nice Choice [Lost Mountain – Betty’s Rhapsody (Don’t Hesitate)] – (6/4/2/0)
Triple Canon [Tahamkke – Tamna Jeilbong (Lost Mountain)] – (7/4/2/0)
Love Cat (F) [Creek Cat – Love Cue (Curia Regis)] – (9/5/0/2)
Red Ball [Lethal Instrument – Wildly Magic (Pieterhof)] – (8/4/0/1)
Seokcheong [Fiercely – Miss Geology (Jade Hunter)] – (6/4/1/1)
Baengnyeonbong [Al Naba – Sansovino Art (Mister C.)] – (9/4/1/1)
Khanui Jeguk [Sunday Well – Lucky Dip (Didyme)] – (7/3/1/1)
Khanui Huye [The Groom Is Red – Noble Michelle (Flow Technology)] – (7/2/2/0)
Money Teukgeup[Ft. Stockton – Headwork (Silveyville)] – (8/2/3/1)
Sangseung Ilro [B] (F) [Concept Win – Miss Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – (6/4/1/1)
Yeonseung Daero [B] [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] – (8/5/1/2)
Namdo Jeap [B] [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – (6/3/2/1)
Sky Star [B] [Tahamkke – Blue Lark (Ravenwood)] – (10/5/1/0)
Pangpang [B] [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] – (11/3/0/1)

In 2008, the race was run following a downpour and 90/1 outsider Ebony Storm shocked the favourites to claim the victory. See race video here.

Sunday Preview – Gukje Sinmun Cup

With the Kentucky Derby scheduled to be over by 7:30am Sunday morning Korean time, it means there’s plenty of time to get to the tracks for a Sunday of racing. Seoul Race Park goes to post at 11:20 while at Busan Race Park they’ll line up for the first race of Gukje Sinmun Cup day at 12:40.

One of Busan’s most valuable races for overseas bred horses, the Gukje Sinmun is run over seven furlongs and has this year attracted a full field of fourteen. With most class 1 races being held at distances of nine furlongs or greater, the race is a rare chance for the top sprinters to compete for the big prizes.

In what should be an open betting race, last year’s winner, Angle Slam, returns to defend his title while there will be plenty of support for Gunham, the seven year old who only raced three times last season, having his best efforts over this distance. Others likely to feature near the top of most punters’ tickets are Crafty Louis, Cheonseungmanseung and the filly Mighty Hero. Full list of runners, records and riders:

Gukje Sinmun Cup – Busan Race Park – 1400M – May 3, 2009 – 15:35

1. Gunham (NZ) – (28/8/4/0) – Kim Tae Kyoung
2. Crafty Louis (USA) – (29/10/3/2) – Jo Chang Wook
3. Angle Slam (USA) – (39/7/7/8) – Gu Min Sung
4. Heukjanggun (USA) – (7/3/0/2) – Han Sang Gyu
5. Saeroun Bulpae (USA) – (16/5/1/4) – Chae Gyu Jun
6. Miss Ecton (USA) – 13/4/2/4) – Martin Wepner
7. Hwanggeumbit Taeyang (AUS) – (40/8/11/5) – Gu Young Jun
8. Gyeongcheonsa (USA) – (21/6/2/0) – Park Geum Man
9. Seneca Light (USA) – (31/7/6/2) – Jo Chan Hoon
10. Dahlonega (USA) – (13/3/4/1) – Yoo Hyun Myoung
11. Spruiker (AUS) – (8/3/2/1) – Eiki Nishimura
12. Cheonseungmanseung (AUS) – (11/4/2/3) – Jo Sung Gon
13. Mighty Hero (USA) – (8/5/0/0) – Kim Eu Su
14. Gangsan Jijo (NZ) – (47/4/7/7) – Oh Young Il

* Saturday’s card at Seoul Race Park had co-feature races, one for domestic bred and one for overseas. In the overseas, there was another disappointing performance by Shaving Points, the four year old finishing eleventh of twelve behind Captain Cugat. Five year old gelding Sesemanse took the domestic feature by two and a half lengths from three year old filly Crown Carla. Favourite Rich Family was unplaced.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Holiday Weekend Preview

Gukje Sinmun Cup / Gayasanseong returns
With May Day on Friday, Buddha’s Birthday on Saturday and Children’s Day on Tuesday, Korea is gearing up for what for many will be a five-day weekend. May Day isn’t an official public holiday but most companies take the day off for “International Labour Day”. With most of this year’s holidays falling on weekends, for many this will be the longest holiday of the year.

While the first Saturday in May is one of the biggest days on the World Racing calender, Sunday will see the peninsula’s feature races of the weekend with the Gukje Sinmun at Busan while at Seoul, Gayasanseong – former winner of the President’s Cup – returns after a year on the sidelines. Now eight years old, he’ll take on a strong field including Top Point, Dashing Champ and Natural Nine.

Busan should benefit from May Day being a Friday and get a large crowd in. Impeccable will be seeking to bounce back from his disappointing run in the KRA Cup Mile, stepping back to seven furlongs in race 8. Meanwhile, in the feature race, mares Luna and Annika Queen head the weights over nine furlongs.

Sunday’s big race is the Gukje Sinmun Cup. For Class 1 foreign bred horses, it is run over seven furlongs and attracts a full field of fourteen including Miss Ecton, Hwanggeumbit Taeyang, Crafty Louis and Angle Slam as well as Mighty Hero, the filly with five wins from her first eight outings. The big race is off at 15:35 and will be simulcasted to Seoul.

Busan Race Park

Friday May 1: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday May 3: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday May 2: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday May 3: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park hosts ten pony races on both Saturday and Sunday with a first post time of 12:10. While Busan is forecast to be fine for both its days of racing, Seoul is looking likely to be unsettled. Nevertheless, it’s holiday weekend so come racing!

Weekend Preview

Bally Brae, Subsidy, Baekjeonmupae, Vicar Love – all in one race!
Two of the biggest names in Korean racing will find themselves up against each other once more at Seoul Race Park on Sunday afternoon as Bally Brae and Subsidy renew hostilities for the first time in a year.

They will have it all to do, however, as they will face a stiff challenge from the younger pair of Vicar Love and Baekjeonmupae. With Bally Brae landing victory in his last outing, the seven year old will carry top weight in the 2000 metre race which goes to post at 17:30. Bally Brae has a record of fourteen wins and nine second places from twenty seven outings.

Race fans will have to wait a little longer for the return of Gayasanseong. the eight year old who has been out with injury for a year won’t go in Saturday’s feature. In his place, Balhae Janggun and Machine Gun will share top weight.

Busan Race Park

Friday April 24: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday April 26: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday April 25: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday April 26: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park hosts pony racing cards on Saturday and Sunday with 12:10 the first post time on both days. Weekend weather is forecast to be chilly and unsettled with the likelihood of rain throughout.