The fears of those of us who suspected that Smarty Moonhak would never again be competitive in the top-tier of Korean racing were allayed in fine fashion as the 4-year-old colt produced a burst of late speed to win the feature race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Moon Se Young is delighted with Smarty Moonhak in this screengrab from Seoul Racecourse today
Making his second start since being away from the track for over a year with tendonitis, Smarty Moonhak (Smarty Jones) was made a warm favourite for the 6-furlong event that saw up-and-comer Samjeong Bulpae make his first class 1 appearance.
The latter made the early running but the final furlong was all about Smarty Moonhak as, under Moon Se Young, the former phenom, who finished 3rd in the Grand Prix Stakes aged just 2, swept by to win by half a length from Dongbanjaui Gijeok.
It’s still early days in his return. This was by no means an especially strong class 1 event and it remains to be seen how he will take to the longer distances he will need to cover if he is to start competing for big Stakes prizes again. For now though, Smarty Moonhak is back.
Class 1 (Open) – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – November 17, 2013
1. Smarty Moonhak (USA) [Smarty Jones – Madeira M’Dear (Black Tie Affair)] – Moon Se Young – 2.9, 1.3 2. Dongbanjaui Gijeok (USA) [Half Ours – Feisty Cherokee (Cherokee Run)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.4 3. Dangdae Jeonseung (CAN) [Put It Back – Diamond Heirloom (Pembroke)] – Lee Sang Hyeok – 2.3
Dangdae Bulpae’s three-year reign as President’s Cup champion came to an end as Indie Band scored an emphatic victory in Korea’s richest race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Indie Band may have won the President’s Cup, but he was in no mood to pose for a win picture!
Jigeum I Sungan was sent off as the slight favourite ahead of the only once beaten Gwanggyo Bisang with punters doubting Dangdae Bulpae’s fitness as he sought his fourth consecutive victory in this race.
In hindsight, those doubts seem well-founded. Although he showed at the front for the opening stages of the race, once the field turned for home, there was none of the familiar kick from Dangdae Bulpae that had so often before left his rivals trailing.
Beaten: Moon Se Young looks to see who finished where as he dismounts from Jigeum I Sungan
He wasn’t alone. All six of the leaders entering the home straight faded with just over a furlong to go.
Among the closers, 2012 Derby-winner Jigeum I Sungan and Busan Owners’ Cup winner Gyeongbudaero made their moves first, but it was Indie Band whose sprint was the sharpest.
Still with six horses ahead of him as they entered the final furlong, under the urging of jockey Lim Sung Sil, he sailed past them all, hitting the front in the final 50 metres and going clear for a two-length win.
Of the foreign interests, Joe Fujii was 5th on Indie Band’s stablemate Road To Prince, one place in front of Ikuyasu Kurakane on Naejangsan. Masa Tanaka was 8th on Major King while there was disappointment for Darryll Holland who came home 15 of 16 on Peter Wolsley’s My Winner.
With the victory, Indie Band moves on to 7 wins from 11 starts. It was his 2nd Stakes victory, with the other coming in the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Cup back in July. By all accounts he’s a dreadful worker in the mornings. Dangdae Bulpae was very much the same but it was Indie Band who brought his best to the track this afternoon.
Beaten: Jo Sung Gon chats with punters after Dangdae Bulpae’s President’s Cup streak came to an end
There’s another similarity with the former champion.
The past few Stakes winners at Seoul; Jigeum I Sungan, Gwanggyo Bisang and Major King have all been so docile in the winner’s circle that punters have been allowed to pet them.
Dangdae Bulpae never allowed that (although he was, for the most part well-behaved). Today, Indie Band threw a proper tantrum to the extent that the post ceremony photo session had to be called off.
He’ll be back at Seoul for the Grand Prix Stakes in December. Last year’s winner Gamdonguibada was in winning action down at Busan today but on this form, Indie Band has to be in with a chance.
Jigeum I Sungan should be given a run too although it is questionable whether Gyeongbudaero will get the distance. As for Dangdae Bulpae, he’ll almost certainly not run, nevertheless, the likes of Indie Band still have a very long way to go to match his achievements. Today was a good start though.
President’s Cup (KOR G1) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – November 10, 2013
1. Indie Band (KOR) [Ecton Park – Plie (Dixieland Band)] – Lim Sung Sil – 6.1, 2.2 2. Gyeongbudaero (KOR) [Menifee – Princess Lanique (Cherokee Run)] – Choi Si Dae – 1.9 3. Jigeum I Sungan (KOR) [Ingrandire – Solmaru (Mujaazif)] – Moon Se Young – 1.8
Distances: 2 lengths / 2 lengths Also ran: 4. Singgereounachim 5. Road To Prince 6. Naejangsan 7. Gwanggyo Bisang 8. Major King 9. New And Best 10. Dangdae Bulpae 11. Super Rich 12. Special Win 13. Geuma Champ 14. Gumanseosk 15. My Winner 16. Tamnaseontaek
Next weekend the Stakes action moves to Busan with the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup, the final leg of the Queens’ Tour to determine the nation’s champion filly or mare. Derby and Oaks winner Speedy First is set to go along with big name stars Secret Whisper and Joy Lucky. Look out for a full preview this coming Wednesday.
Tough Win’s attempt to reclaim the KRA Cup Classic crown that he last won as a 3-year-old in 2010 fell flat as Mari Daemul ran out a convincing winner at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Mari Daemul waits in the KRA Cup Classic winner’s circle
Finishing in 6th place, it was only the second time in his 31-race career to date that Tough Win returned without any prize-money. Sent off the odds-on favourite, he seemed ideally placed, just behind the leaders, as the field turned for home.
In the home-straight though, the 2-time Busan Metropolitan winner could find nothing while Mari Daemul, who had been in 2nd place throughout, sprinted into a clear lead and comfortably held off late closers Indian Blue and Bichui Wangja.
Mari Daemul, a $5,500 from Fasig Tipton’s mid-Atlantic Mixed sale in December 2010, was recording his 7th win from 20 career starts and his first in a Stakes race. He now must be considered a potential entrant in the season-ending Grand Prix Stakes. Regardless of today’s lacklustre effort, Tough Win will probably be there too.
KRA Cup Classic (KOR G3) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – October 27, 2013
1. Mari Daemul (USA) [Go For Gin – Token Beauty (Gold Token)] – Shin Hyung Chul – 13.4, 2.4 2. Indian Blue (USA) [Henny Hughes – Gamblers Passion (Prospectors Gamble)] – Ikuyasu Kurakane – 1.4 3. Bichui Wangja (USA) [Roman Ruler – Quiet Delight (Grindstone)] – Seo Seung Un – 1.6
Joy Lucky emphatically won the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon to be crowned the track’s Champion filly & mare or 2013.
Joy Lucky and Seo Seung Un win the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (Pic: KRA)
Joy Lucky came into this race as favourite having been controversially defeated in last month’s Donga Ilbo Cup when she was the victim of accidental interference entering the home straight when looking set to win.
This time jockey Seo Seung Un took no chances as aboard the 3-year-old filly, he tracked the early pace-setter Yeoui Gold throughout the early parts of the race. When the former ran out of steam, there was clear track ahead and nothing capable of launching a challenge.
Joy Lucky flew home to win by 7-lengths with Seo if anything a little too exuberant with his use of the whip in the closing stages when under no pressure at all.
Chowon Yeoje was the well-beaten 2nd while Seungniuihamseong was 3rd. YTN Cup winner Choichoro, with Fausto Durso on board, was net home in 4th.
Joy Lucky has now won 6 of her 8 career starts. Aside from her unlucky defeat last time, her only other reverse came in the Korean Derby when she was a disappointing 9th. After that, connections kept her off the Classic trail and she missed the Korean Oaks and the Minister’s Cup.
However, it is to be hoped that with the Seoul title in the bag, owners will be tempted into trying her luck against the best fillies & mares on the peninsula in the Queens’ Tour final in Busan next month. On this form, she would give them a very good run for their money.
Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – October 20, 2013
1. Joy Lucky (KOR) [Vicar – Proper Gun (Prosper Fager)] – Seo Seung Un – 2.5, 1.5 2. Chowon Yeoje (KOR) [Forest Camp – Navigation (Big Sur)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.5 3. Seungniuihamseong (KOR) [Vicar – Hug And Kiss (Commander In Chief)] – Moon Se Young – 1.8
Distances: 7 lengths/1.25 lengths – 11 ran
Down at Busan, there was disappointment for Peter Wolsley and Darryll Holland. The Aussie trainer and British jockey had combined last month to win the Gold Circle Trophy with My Winner (Vicar) and the 4-year old was heavily favoured to make it 5 wins in a row in his reappearance in the feature race today.
It wasn’t to be, however, as 11/1 shot Goryeodaejang (Sunday Break) pulled off the upset, My Winner having to settle for 2nd. My key (Macho Uno), the half-brother of Game On Dude, finished in 3rd under Joe Fujii.
Next week Stakes action returns to Seoul again with KRA Cup Classic.Tough Win is expected to headline the field, while at Busan, current Grand Prix champion Gamdonguibada is among those expected to get a a run-out with this year’s edition of the season-ending race less than 2 months away.
Fausto Durso enjoyed a good start to his time in Korea, riding a winner, a 2nd and a 3rd at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Fausto Durso returns after winning on his first mount as a full-time jockey in Korea
The Brazilian Jockey was in the Winner’s Circle on his only previous visit to Seoul, when he won the YTN Cup while taking part in the International Jockey Challenge in August this year.
It didn’t take him long to get back in there as his first ride today ended in a well-timed victory on 24/1 outsider Argosseon in race 6.
One race later, Durso managed 3rd on the much-better fancied Lion Galloper and was then just beaten into 2nd in race 11 on Sufficient Evidence.
Seoul’s other foreign jockey, Ikuyasu Kurakane, had another typically successful day. The Japanese rider scored 2 wins to take him up to the 50 mark for the year.
Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, the track’s premier race for fillies and mares, will be the highlight. While Kurakane doesn’t have a ride, Durso will be reunited with Choichoro, who he won that YTN Cup on.
With the Korean Breeders’ Cup, the nation’s most important 2-year-old race, just over a month away, Seoul and Busan decided their own champions this weekend.
At Seoul, a front-running performance did the business for Raon Morris (Yankee Victor) in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup on Saturday. The colt came into the race with 2 wins and a 2nd in his 3 previous starts and never looked like being troubled as he took victory by a length.
Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – October 12, 2013
1. Raon Morris (KOR) [Yankee Victor – Thunder By Night (Thunder Gulch)] – Moon Se Young – 4.0, 1.5 2. Gamunui Chukje (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Gamun N’Yeonggwang (Concept Win)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 3.3 3. Forever Daemul (KOR) [Exploit – Charming Roman (Gadabout)] – Park Tae Jong – 2.1
Distances: 1 length/1 length – 10 ran
At Busan this afternoon, fillies were in charge as Jungang Gongju (Menifee) won the battle of the closers in the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup with Queen’s Blade.
The two fast-finishers came late on either side of Yonggwanguichampion, who finished 3rd. Leading sire Menifee was responsible for all 3 place-getters.
Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup – Busan Race Park – 1200M – October 13, 2013
Juveniles take centre-stage this weekend as both Seoul and Busan hold their respective Championship races for 2-year-olds. The best performers in each race will then meet in Seoul next month to decide the peninsula’s overall best up-and-coming young horse.
The weather has been beautiful this week and should remain so over the weekend for the Champion Juvenile races
As has been the case for the past few years, Busan looks to have the edge in terms of quality. A total of 14 runners – 7 colts and 7 fillies – will line up for the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup on Sunday afternoon, only 2 of whom are yet to win. Yeonggwanguichampion and Cheonha Ullim have perhaps been the most impressive coming into the race but anything could happen in what looks a very competitive field.
Up at Seoul just 8 colts and 2 fillies will take their chance in Saturday’s Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup. Nubi Queen, Cheonwang Dungi and Raon Morris have been the stand-out performers among them so far.
In the week that it was announced that US 2011 Breeders’ Cup winner Hansen would be coming to Korea, there is plenty of diversity among the stallions represented in both races, unlike the Menifee and Forest Camp dominance of the past 2 years. Freshman sires here One Cool Cat and Peace Rules both have runners in Korean Stakes races for the first time.
The weekend’s other race of note is the last at Seoul on Saturday as Fly Top Queen (Henny Hughes) makes her 4th appearance. The 3-year-old filly – Korea’s most expensive ever imported racehorse – has won her first three races in dismissive fashion and will be heavily favoured to make it 4. If all goes to plan, she will travel to Tokyo next month to represent Korea in the 2nd leg of the Korea vs Japan Challenge races.
Down on Jeju, Saturday’s short 5-race pony card forms part of the Jeju Horse Festival and includes the Jeju Open and Jeju Classic, the track’s 2 richest races of the year.
Here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday October 11
Busan Race Park: 13 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Saturday October 12
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00 including the Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup at 16:30 Jeju Race Park: 5 races from 12:20 to 16:00
Sunday October 13
Seoul Race Park: 13 races from 11:00 to 18:00 Busan Race Park: 4 races from 12:50 to 15:20 including the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup at 14:30
Major King led from gate-to-wire to land the Minister’s Cup as the 2013 Korean Triple Crown wrapped up at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
He might have fluffy ears, but Major King is now a Classic winner
Korean Derby and Oaks winning filly Speedy First was sent off as the short-priced favourite but she was never in the race and faded in the home straight to finish a tailed-off last.
Third in the Derby on this track in May, the grey Major King was a 9/1 chance at the start and was immediately sent into the lead by jockey Jo Sung Gon. When the expected challenges from Speedy First and Derby-second Unhae failed to materialise, it was left to outsider High Five and Gyeongnam DoMin Ilbo winner Indie Band to apply the pressure.
They didn’t come close. Instead, Major King kicked on for victory, leading his fellow Busan visitors home by 2-lengths on the line.
Major King is by the late Brazilian sire Pico Central, who died earlier this year. The victory is his 6th from 10 career starts to date. For trainer Kim Sang Seok, it was a 3rd Classic winner, having won both the Korean Derby and Oaks in 2008 with Ebony Storm and Jeolho Chance respectively. For jockey Jo Sung Gon, Busan’s current champion, it was a 4th Classic and his 2nd in this race, having previously won it in on Sangseung Ilro in 2009.
As for the favourite, Speedy First returned with no obvious sign of injury, although fellow disappointment Unhae was found to be lame.
So, after Jigeum I Sungan upset the order of things by winning two Classics for Seoul last year, normal service has been resumed this with Busan horses winning all 4 Classics. When the two tracks collide again in the Gyeongnam Governor’s and President’s Cups over the next few weeks, it seems unlikely that this will change.
Minister’s Cup (KOR G2) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – October 6, 2013
1. Major King (KOR) [Pico Central – Still Golden (Gold Fever)] – Jo Sung Gon – 9.1. 2.4 2. High Five (KOR) [Creek Cat – Nam’s Gulch (Gulch)] – Choi Si Dae – 5.5 3. Indie Band (KOR) [Ecton Park – Plie (Dixieland Band)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.5
Distances: 2 lengths/0.5 lengths Also Ran: 4. K Tap 5. Brig 6. Geumbin Mannam 7. Sting Ray 8. Last Mudae 9. Best Captain 10. Unhae 11. Rising Joy 12. Speedy First
* There was no fairy-tale return to the track today for Smarty Moonhak (Smarty Jones). The 4-year-old, returning to racing for the first time since successful treatment for tendinitis which had kept him sidelined for 15 months, could only manage 6th in the class 1 race 13.
The event was won by the improving Watts Village (Forestry), who was 2nd in the Korea vs Japan race last month and who will travel to Tokyo for the return leg next month. The old Smarty Moonhak would have made short work of the likes of Watts Village but, while he was 5-lengths behind the winner, he was just 2 lengths adrift of 2nd and the run showed some promise.
* Down at Busan, Darryll Holland was the star of the show for the 2nd time this week. The British jockey notched up 4 winners on Thursday and added another 2 during the short 4-race card this afternoon. His haul included the feature race, where he partnered Peter Wolsley’s Perfect Jilju (Paradise Creek) to a very comfortable victory.
Cheonnyeon Dongan took full advantage of hot favourite Joy Lucky’s misfortune to win the Donga Ilbo Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Cheonnyeon Dongan and Cho Kyoung Ho in the Donga Ilbo Cup winner’s circle
Joy Lucky came into the race with 6 wins from her 7 starts to date, her only defeat having come in the Korean Derby. She skipped the Korean Oaks and was entered here instead of in the much more valuable Minister’s Cup next week. She started at odds of 1/3.
She looked good to win too. Rounding the final turn Joy Lucky, under Seo Seung Un, was about to make her move when suddenly the horse in front of her, Wild Cat, carried her wide. She recovered but her momentum was gone and she could only manage 4th.
Meanwhile the always handily placed Cheonnyeon Dongan cruised to the front and, having picked off longtime leader Eutteum Khan, went clear for victory by just under 2 lengths.
Cheonnyeon Dongan (Ecton Park), a 3-year-old filly, was 3rd behind Joy Lucky in the Sports Seoul Cup and 4th in the Korean Oaks at Busan last month. Today’s win was her 5th from 11 starts.
Joy Lucky and Cheonnyeon Dongan may meet again in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup next month. as good as Cheonnyeon Dongan was today, if Joy Lucky gets a clear run, few will bet on a repeat of this result.
Donga Ilbo Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – September 29, 2013
1. Cheonnyeon Dongan (KOR) [Ecton Park – Honeycakes (Hennessey)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 6.1, 1.4 2. Eutteum Khan (KOR) [Ingrandire – Dangdae Eutteum (Pro For Sure)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 4.2 3. Happy Field (KOR) [Field Asuka – Taeheuimang (Happy Jazz Band)] – Ikuyasu Kurakane – 2.5
Distances: 1.75 lengths/3 lengths – 14 ran
* Yesterday at Seoul, Jigeum I Sungan returned to form with a comfortable victory in the feature race.
The 2012 Korean Derby winner, who suffered a shock defeat in the TJK Trophy on international weekend last month, handed Ace Galloper a comfortable 2 length beating to re-confirm his position as the top Korean-bred horse in the capital.
* Racing returns quicker than usual next week as Busan’s regular Friday card is brought forward a day to Thursday to coincide with the public holiday. Then all racing eyes will be on Seoul for the weekend and the Minister’s Cup, the final leg of the 2013 Korean Triple Crown.
British jockey Darryll Holland and Australian trainer Peter Wolsley combined to reach personal milestones as My Winner emphatically won the Gold Circle Turf Club Trophy at Busan Race Park this evening.
First Korean Stakes Win: Darryll Holland
For Holland it was a first Korean Stakes win. For Wolsley it was a second, but more significantly, it marked his 200th training winner in Korea.
A 4-year-old gelding, My Winner started as the favourite and under a calm ride from Holland, steadily made ground around the home turn before cruising away from the field in the final furlong and a half to record a 6-length winning margin.
Since arriving in Korea in March, Darryll Holland has been everything that the KRA’s overseas jockey program intended. Although today’s win was just his 18th overall, he has a 28% quinella strike rate achieved while riding in a manner that the local jockeys would do well to emulate. Active on social media, Holland has also helped bring Korean racing to a wider audience.
As for Peter Wolsley, his story has been told before – and you can bet your bottom Korean Won that this website is going to tell it again – but it gets no less impressive.
Wolsley is a master of preparing and entering his horses so as to get the best out of them. He does his work in the mornings and at the computer and is rarely to be seen at the track on racedays among the other trainers who mostly wish he would simply go away and leave them to their old ways.
Peter Wolsley
As the first foreign trainer to receive a license in Korea, he was arguably set up to fail but through talent and hard work, Peter Wolsley has become the second most sought-after trainer at Busan.
It can only be viewed as a compliment that it isn’t unknown for those owners who want their average horses to join the barn of (Busan’s top trainer) Kim Young Kwan, to send them to Wolsley to get them good enough for Kim to accept.
He is currently 2nd in the 2013 Busan Trainer Championship (Kim has already won it) and lies in 12th place in the track’s all-time list. It’s an achievement unthinkable in the days after he first arrived in Korea and was given the “breakdown barn”. Also remarkable is the fact that Busan’s best Korean jockey Jo Sung Gon, is now his retained rider.
Jo, a talented rider who needs to expand his horizons beyond the confines of Busan, is bound for foreign shores soon.
And who could possibly be better to replace him than a 41-year-old former British Champion Apprentice from Manchester?
Gold Circle Turf Club Trophy – Busan Race Park – 1400M – September 8, 2013
1. My Winner (KOR) [Vicar – Bridlingbride (Unbridled’s Song)] – Darryll Holland – 2.7, 1.3 2. High Five (KOR) [Creek Cat – Nams Gulch (Gulch)] – Choi Si Dae – 2.8 3. Segye Cheogo (KOR) [Ecton Park – Rising (Is It True)] – Kim Dong Young – 3.8
Distances: 6 lengths/1.75 lengths – 10 ran Winning Trainer: Peter Wolsley
