Racing Previews

YTN Cup tops Holiday Weekend Cards

Playing Politics heads field / Shaving Points withdrawn / Hongji & Galsaem face-off again
It’s a holiday Friday and Busan Race Park stages its usual nine race card with the first off at 13:00. Friday’s highlight is a category 1 (foreign) handicap over 2000 metres. Hangye Geukbok (33 runs/12wins) heads the field along with Bugyeong Choegang (15/7). Busan also runs a six race card on Sunday when a similar category 1 (domestic) race with a competitive field including Janggun Sinhwa (17/5) and Annika Queen (17/6). Also on Sunday, The Bee Keeper (5/4) makes his first outing since his unexpected defeat last time out.

Seoul Race Park runs its usual cards on Saturday and Sunday with the feature race of the weekend being the KRW 63Million YTN Cup. Disappointingly, Shaving Points, one of the two outstanding imports of 2008 so far, doesn’t go, but the other, Playing Politics, does and shares top weight with the interestingly spelled Noubeau Riche (8/5). The YTN Cup is race 10 on Sunday with a post time of 17:30. See below for full list of runners, riders and weights.

The YTN is a category 2 but both Saturday and Sunday also see category 1 races with Angus Empire heading the weights in Saturday’s race 11 and Hongji and Galsaem facing off again in race 9 on Sunday.

YTN Cup, Cat. 2(Foreign) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – Aug 17, 17:30

1. Samson’s Echo (US) (15/3/3/1) – 52.5 – Park Soo Hong
2. Princess Thumb (US) (20/2/2/3) – 52 – Moon Se Young
3. Milwaukee Special (Can) (12/3/4/2) – 57 – Ham Wan Sik
4. Nice Friend (Aus) (27/1/3/4) – 52 – Ikuyasu Kurakane
5. Vicar Love (US) (7/4/1/1) – 56 – Shim Seung Tae
6. Storming Colors (US) (11/4/0/1) – 53- Kim Hyo Seob
7. Playing Politics (US) (3/3/0/0) – 57 – Choi Beom Hyun
8. Serendipper (Aus) (10/3/2/1) – 54 – Cho Kyoung Ho
9. Julgisepo (US) (25/4/1/3) – 52 – Shin Dae Jun
10. Big Guy (Aus) (16/3/2/0) – 55.5 – Kim Dong Kyun
11. Entro (NZ) (9/4/1/2) – 54.5 – Nozomu Tomizawa
12. South Darby (US) (12/4/0/1) – 52.5 – Kim Ok Sung
13. Noubeau Riche (US) (8/5/0/1) – 57 – Oh Kyoung Hoan

Oaks Weekend Preview

While the Korean Oaks, the third Classic of the season is undoubtedly the weekend’s main event (see below for a full preview of the big race) the remainder of the card at Busan is a competitive one and there are also the usual Saturday and Sunday programs at Seoul Race Park. 

Busan kicks things off with nine races on Friday, the first ay 13:00.  There’s a double main event with handicaps for both domestic and overseas bred horses. The domestic one is up first with the weights headed by Areumdaun Jilju who has been in imperious form in 2008. The four year old will be bidding to make it 9 wins from 14 outings and will be carrying a full 7.5 kilos more than his rivals.  The foreign-bred field is headed by Golding, the six year old back in winning form last time out after three consecutive seconds.  Hwanggeumbit Taeya and Angle Slam will be among those looking to prevent Golding from taking a sixteenth career win. Sunday’s six races at Busan are dominated by the Oaks which is race 5 at 15:45. 

Seoul takes a back seat this weekend but there are 12 races on Saturday and 11 on Sunday with an 11:20 start both days.  The only category 1 race is the very last on Sunday when Good Day will meet Best Condition over 2000 metres.  The Oaks will be one of the Busan races simulcasted back to Seoul. In addition to Seoul and Busan, Jeju Race Park will run its usual program on Saturday and Sunday getting underway at 12:20 both days.

Jeolho Chance heads Oaks field of fourteen

A full field of fourteen will contest the Korean Oaks which will be run Sunday at Busan Race Park. Only two Seoul based horses have made the journey to South Gyeongsang province with the capital’s hopes resting on Baram Queen and Gate Way to break Busan’s stranglehold on this year’s classics.

They will have their work cut out, however, with the likes of Jeolho Chance and Gaya Gongju having already proved themselves over the distance and against older horses. In addition to being run at Busan for the first time, this year’s Oaks has seen an almost doubling of prize money with the winner taking home KRW 228Million.

The Oaks is race 5 of a 6 race card on Sunday August 10 with a post time of 15:45. Full list of runners and riders:

Korean Oaks (G II) 1800M – Busan Race Park – Aug.10, 15:45

1. Arch Racer – (9/2/2/1) – Toshio Uchida
Won over 1200 metres last time and has been improving with every race. Uchida’s booking will ensure she has some support.
2. Gate Way – (13/3/3/0) – Lim Sung Shil
One of the two Seoul entrants, Gate Way has had a good early summer winning two from her last three and, albeit against lesser opposition.
3. Gaya Gongju – (10/4/3/1) – Kim Eu Su
One of only two in the field to have achieved category 1 status already, Gaya Gongju finished eigth in the KRA Cup Mile, winning and running second in a handicap since.
4. Jakjunmyeongnyeong – (9/2/2/1) – Chae Kyu Jun
Her two wins have come in sprints and she has struggled in all three outings greater than 1200 metres.
5. Teukgeuphaegyeolsa – (11/3/1/2) – Gu Young Jun
Finished 11th of 12 in her only category 2 outing last time but had shown steady improvement up until then.
6. Myeongpumjilju – (11/1/4/3) – Choi Si Dae
A consistent placer if not winner, led a category 2 handicap last time until being overtaken by two older colts in the final 100 metres.
7. Galsaek Geotap – (7/3/1/0) – Jo Chang Wook
Struggled in her only race at a distance over 1200 metres so far, but beat Myeongpumjilju last time the pair met when the latter started hot favourite.
8. Useung Party – (4/3/0/0) – Yoo Hyun Myoung
Won her first three races before stepping up in class and being found wanting over 1600 metres, finishing sixth.
9. Jeolho Chance (11/5/1/1) – Jo Chan Hoon
A third place finish in the KRA Cup mile caused her to start the Derby as second favourite. She finished ninth but back in Busan scored a wire to wire five length win in a category 1 handicap over 2000 metres. Finished 4th in a similar race last time and is the one to beat.
10. Sunpunge Dotdanbae – (10/3/1/2) – Kim Tae Kyung
A steady performer with 2 of her 3 wins coming against decent opposition.
11. Baram Queen – (11/2/3/2) – Nozomu Tomizawa
Seoul’s other entrant, her last run was an impressive 3rd in the Sports Seoul Cup behind two fillies who don’t make the journey down, Samsinyeonsarand and Daehyo. Nozomu Tomizawa has ridden her in every race and will take the ride in Busan too.
12. Daehan Dolpung – (13/2/4/3) – Kim Tae Jun
Landed a smart win over a tough field just two weeks ago over 1800 metres and has been very consistent in 2008.
13. Achim Noeul – (7/3/0/0) – Kim Myoung Shin
Has run once a month in 2008 and has alternated brilliance with mediocrity.
14. Bugyeong Sarang – (11/2/2/2) – Jo Seung Gon
Her two wins were over 1200 metres and she had a hard time in her last race against category 2 horses.

Weekend Preview – Munhwa Ilbo Cup

Thirteen go in Cup / Subsidy and Secret Weapon head handicap fields
Racing is back at Seoul Race Park this weekend and the highlight is the Munhwa Ilbo Cup, a category 2 test for domestic bred horses over 2000 metres with a first pize of KRW 58Million. There’s a field of thirteen colts and geldings with three year olds Sichuseon, winner of the Netizen’s Day Race, and Cheonnyeonbulpae, fourth in this year’s Derby up against older horses including second and third in the Sports Chosun Cup, Nice Champ and Mansebose. Also running is last year’s runner-up, Samdobong and Top Value, who had a promising three year old season last year. The race is off at 17:00 on Sunday. Full list of runners and riders (Stall/Name/Record/Sex/Age/Jockey):

1. Tough Energy (31/4/2/5) – C, 5 – Ji Ha Ju
2. Top Value (11/4/2/3) – C, 4 – Park Tae Jong
3. Yeongshil Jeonggi (29/3/4/2) – G, 5 – Lee Shin Young
4. Mansebose (21/5/3/1) – G, 5 – Kim Seok Bong
5. Nice Champ (15/4/3/4) – C, 4 – Kim Hyo Seob
6. Cheonnyeonbulpae (8/2/4/0) – C, 3 – Cho Kyoung Ho
7. Borkhan (34/2/4/7) – C, 5 – Shin Hyoung Cheol
8. Proud Boy (30/4/3/3) – C, 6 – Kim Dong Cheol
9. Wonju Jangsa (16/2/3/2) – G, 5 – Choi Beom Hyun
10. Eoullimnyeongung (18/4/4/0) – G, 4 – Park Soo Hong
11. Sichuseon (10/3/0/2) – G, 3 – Oh Kyoung Hoan
12. Samdobong (16/4/4/3) – C, 5 – Jung Ki Young
13. New Rider (28/4/2/2) – C, 5 – Ikuyasu Kurakane

Sunday also sees a category 1 foreign bred handicap with 2005 Horse of the Year Subsidy looking to bounce back from disappointment in the Owner’s Association Trophy. The eight year old will be top weight, carrying 60kg ahead of Haengun Daewang. Unusually Subsidy won’t be the oldest horse in the race as nine year olds Daiwa Arazi and Value Play also go.

Saturday’s card is headed by Secret Weapon (25runs/13wins) taking on seven challengers over 2000 metres in race 11. Racing on both Saturday and Sunday gets underway at 11:20 with twelve races on Saturday and eleven on Sunday. Jeju also holds a card both days while Busan will follow up its Friday card with a six race card on Sunday beginning at 12:40.

Busan Preview

After last weekend off, racing returns to the peninsula on Friday when the usual nine race-card at Busan Race Park gets underway at 13:00. Feature race is the last, a category 1 handicap with Widaehan Bonneung topping the weights. Earlier there is a useful category 2 race involving some of the more exciting three year old foreign bred horses such as King Kephalos who has three wins and a second from his six outings so far. Also lining up will be Sarounbulpae, who has placed in all but two of her nine races, as has the American bred Namsanui Jeonggi.

Sunday will see a six race card at Busan beginning at 12:40 with no category 1 races. Focus on Sunday, however, will be more on Seoul Race Park and the Munhwa Ilbo Cup of which we will have a full preview tomorrow.

Weekend preview – No Racing!

Racing takes a break this weekend to mark midsummer – although it’s not shaping up to be anything like the hottest weekend of the year with heavy rain and thunder predicted.  However, with no evening racing this year, the KRA has opted to take a one week summer break. That means there will be nothing to report on this weekend so instead we’ll be having a lookat some upcoming races, including the Korean Oaks, scheduled for August 10 at Busan Race Park.

SBS Cup Weekend Preview

Natural Nine vs Baekpa vs Myeongmun Gamun / Saerounbisul goes on Saturday
Sunday sees ten line up for the SBS Cup at Seoul Race Park. Second in the Derby in 2007 and winner of this year’s Sports Chosun Cup, four year-old Natural Nine (13 runs/6 wins) heads the field but faces two big name threats in Baekpa (18/7) and Myeongmun Gamun (25/14). The dominant filly of 2007 and the only female horse here, Baekpa was back to winning ways last time out, defeating Namchonuijijon while the seven year old Myeongmun Gamun has won more prize money than any other horse currently racing in Korea despite a fear of the starting stalls. Also lining up is Dashing Champ (29/7), the gelding who set a track record over this 1900 metre distance only last month and 2006 Derby winner Baengnokjeong (19/7). The race is off at 17:00.

Saturday’s highlight is a 2000 metre handicap for foreign bred horses in which Saerounbisul (17/6) will make his first appearance since winning the Owner’s Trophy last month. The four year old will start the marginal top-weight over Seoul Teukgeup (11/4). Racing gets underway on both Saturday and Sunday at 11:20.

Rainmaker takes on Procyon at Busan

KRA Cup winner and subsequent disappointment Rainmaker is back in action at Busan Race Park on Friday, lining up for a 1600 metre handicap against a host of well known domestically bred horses. Heading the weights is Procyon (15 runs/9 wins), the gelding suffering his first defeat of 2008 last time out in the KNN Cup a race won by Annika Queen (17/6) who also goes here. The first of nine races at Busan on Friday gets underway at 13:00. Sunday sees its usual six races with the first off at 12:40, the highlight being a foreign-bred handicap with Bugyeong Choegang (14/6) topping the weights.

Weekend Preview – July 11-13

Golding looking for form at Busan / Gamadongja, Top Point and Playing Politics go at Seoul
The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan Race Park on Friday afternoon with a nine race card starting at 13:00. There’s a double feature with seperate handicaps for foreign and domestic bred horses. The foreign one is up first where Golding (29 runs/14 wins) seeks to return to winning ways after three consecutive second placed finishes. The six year old is going to have it all to do, however, as at 61.5 kilos, he’ll be carrying seven kilos more than the rest of the field. In the domestic handicap, Sinjin Gangja (18/8 ) heads the field along with Boryeong Bulbit (16/7). There will also be six further races at Busan on Sunday with the first off at 12:40.

Seoul Race Park has cards on both Saturday and Sunday with the start time 11:20 both days. Saturday sees a small field contest the feature race of twelve, a category 1 handicap for foreign bred horses with Gamadongja (10/5) heading the weights. On Sunday there’s eleven races with a similarly small field contesting the feature where Top Point (13/8 ) is the biggest name on show. Earlier in the day the three year old hot property, New Zealand bred Playing Politics (2/2) will make his third outing, stepping up to 1700 metres in race 6, three weeks after breaking the track record over 1300 metres. Jeju also has racing on Saturday and Sunday starting at 12:20.

The second weekend of July is usually the start of evening racing at Seoul Race Park when, to avoid the worst of the heat, racing would start in the middle of the afternoon and continue until late into the evening. This year, however, for the first time since racing moved to Gwacheon twenty years ago, the KRA has decided not to hold night racing, citing the need to save energy as its reason. Post time for the first race will therefore continue to be 11:20am

Weekend Preview

Racing gets underway at 11:20 at Seoul Race Park on both Saturday and Sunday with twelve races on Saturday and eleven on Sunday.  Highlight of the weekend is the Sports Seoul Cup, one of the year’s biggest races for three year old fillies which is race 9 on Sunday.  Also on Sunday, Ttukseom Cup winner Namchonuijijon makes his first appearance since his surprise defeat at the hands of Baekpa last month.  There’s racing at Busan on Sunday starting at 12:40 and Jeju will be hoping for a better weekend after last week’s cancellation with cards underway on both Saturday and Sunday at 12:20.