Racing Previews

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.

Weekend Preview

Another week draws to a close and that means it’s time for racing on the peninsula to get underway once more. Busan gets things started on Friday, Seoul and Jeju run on Saturday and all three tracks host cards on Sunday.

Dongbanui Gangja, winner of the 2008 Grand Prix and possibly the top horse in training at Seoul at the moment, will make an apeearance on Saturday. He will be giving his rivals a minimum of eight kilos but will still be the likely favourite in race 11 in a race where he will have the likes of Brilliant Knight and Mexicali Blues for company.

Meanwhile on Sunday, a possible contender for this year’s Grand Prix, US import Gangho, will bid to go four for four as he steps up to class 2 in race 9. Also on Sunday, two of the top locally bred horses in the shape of five year old Good Day and six year old Secret Weapon will go head to head over 1900 metres in race 10.

Busan’s main action will be on Sunday. Golding heads the field in the feature race but many eyes will be on race 5 where promising filly Haste will be going up against an interesting field including KRA Cup Mile also ran Sandeomi.

Busan Race Park

Friday April 17: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday April 19: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday April 18: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday April 19: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park will get its pony racing cards underway at 12:10 on both Saturday and Sunday. Weather has been unpredicatable for much of the week but is forecast to be dry throughout the weekend. Come Racing!

Weekend Preview

The cherry blossoms are out, temperatures are in the low twenties and three days of unbroken sunshine are forecast – with Spring very much underway, there’s no better place to be this weekend than the racecourse. It’s Ttukseom Cup weekend at Seoul Race Park with the big race off at 5pm on Sunday (see full preview) and there’s plenty of other action too.

As usual, Busan kicks things off on Friday with the action moving to Seoul and Jeju on Saturday before all three tracks host cards on Sunday.

Busan Race Park

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

Seoul Race Park

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

Jeju Race Park has nine races on Saturday and ten on Sunday with first post time 12:10 on both days. The current weather forecast is looking fantastic across the whole peninsula all weekend. Come Racing!

* Indian jockey Rahul Shinde will make his Korean debut at Busan on Sunday. We’ll have a full profile of the latest addition to the overseas jockey ranks next week.

Namchonuijijon set for Ttukseom Cup Defence

Seoul Race Park’s biggest race of the year so far comes under orders on Sunday afternoon as the Park Dae Heung trained pair of Namchonuijijon and Myeongmun Gamun head the field for the Group Three Ttukseom Cup.

Horse of the Year in 2008, the eight year old Myeongmun Gamun will be dropping down to seven furlongs for the first time since the corresponding race in 2006 when he finished fifth – his worst ever finish in a career spanning thirty one races so far in which he has never been out of the money. Nevertheless, Myeongmun Gamun’s only outing this year ended in a surprise defeat and he hasn’t raced since January.

Winner of this race in 2008, Namchonuijijon didn’t kick on after last year’s race but opened his 2009 account with a smart win last month. In that race he finished ahead of two of his rivals here, Free Woody and Mighty Runner, the latter suffering his first defeat in five races.

Also going are the “three sevens”; Triple Seven, Lucky Seven and the impressive but untried at this level so far Seven Card, as well as mares Seonju Jangsu and Geumsuni. The race is off at 17:00. See below for a full list of runners, records and riders (Races/1st/2nd/3rd):

Ttukseom Cup (G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – Apr 12, 2009

1. Highway Star – (71/5/5/9) – Jung Pyeong Soo
2. Myeongmun Gamun – (31/17/3/6) – Cho Kyoung Ho
3. Seonju Jangsu – (40/6/11/3) – Yang Hee Jin
4. Seven Card – (9/5/3/0) – Yoo Seung Wan
5. Mighty Runner – (19/6/3/4) – Kim Hyo Seob
6. Saebyeok Dongja – (34/10/5/2) – Shin Hyoung Cheol
7. Lucky Seven – (21/5/5/1) – Lee Sang Hyuk
8. Free Woody – (17/5/5/3) – Moon Jung Kyun
9. Triple Seven – (15/4/2/4) – Choi Beom Hyun
10. Taebaek Janggun – (25/7/3/0) – Park Tae Jong
11. Namchonuijijon – (20/6/7/3) – Jung Ki Young
12. Geumsuni – (21/6/4/2) – Han Sung Yeol

Weekend Preview

It’s the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown and KRA Cup Mile Weekend gets underway at Busan Race Park on Friday afternoon with a ten race card. Seoul then takes over on Saturday before both tracks run a card on Cup Mile day on Sunday. The big race is off at 15:45 on Sunday at Busan (see full preview) and will be simulcasted to Seoul.

Busan Race Park

Friday April 3: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday April 5: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

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

Jeju Race Park hosts nine races on Saturday and ten on Sunday. The weather is forecast to be warm, dry and bright. Come Racing!