There was a surprise of sorts at Busan Race Park this afternoon as Beolmaui Kkum handed a comprehensive defeat to Gamdonguibada to win the Gujke Sinmun Stakes.
With three-time President’s Cup winner Dangdae Bulpae (Biwa Shinseiki) a late scratching after being found lame this morning, Grand Prix Stakes winning filly Gamdonguibada (Werblin) was left as the overwhelming favourite in what was now just a seven-horse race.
However, it was 3-year old US import Beolmaui Kkum (Put It Back) who despite veering wide coming out of the stalls, took the honors in emphatic style, leading from gate to wire and crossing the line a full 5 lengths clear of the field.
Gamdounguibada couldn’t even manage second as the always game Viva Ace (Macho Uno) put in another strong performance.
Beolmaui Kkum is a full-brother of multiple Korean Stakes winner Kkakjaengi. He was bought for just $20,000 at the 2011 Fasig Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearlings sale.
In his 8 runs to date, he has won 6 of them and finished 2nd in the other 2, banking over 300 Million won in the process. He was expected to be challenging for top honours at some point this year but not this early.
Gukje Sinmun Stakes – Busan Race Park – 1800M – May 5, 2013
1. Beolmaui Kkum (USA) [Put It Back – Wild Dixie Gal (Wild Event)] – Choi Si Dae – 6.3, 1.5 2. Viva Ace (USA) [Macho Uno – Dancing Lake (Meadowlake) – Seong Keong Yun – 1.6 3. Gamdonguibada (USA) [Werblin – Radyla (Country Pine)] – Kanichiro Fujii
Distances: 5 lengths/0.5 lengths Also Ran: 4. Prince Kingdom (USA) 5. Dehere Queen (USA) 6. New Record (NZ) 7. Isidae Gangja (KOR). NR: Dangdae Bulpae (KOR)
Useung Touch, winner of last month’s Ttukseom Cup in Seoul returned to action at her home track of Busan this afternoon with some style as she defeated a field full of imported horses to win the first of co-main events.
Useung Touch
The 2011 Korean Oaks winner had a solid if unspectacular 4-year old season last year, always managing a money-winning finish but generally finding one or two too quick for her.
However, her year ended with a big jump up in performance when she finished 2nd to another filly, Gamdonguibada in the Grand Prix Stakes.
Returning to the capital she dominated the Ttukeseom Cup, the first leg of the “Queens’ Tour” that will decide Korea’s champion filly and mare.
Today, Useung Touch (Menifee) was sent off the hot favourite, despite being one of only three Korean-bred runners in the mile-long race. In the end, she fought out a tough finish with US-bred colt Wild Myeongun (D’Wildcat), getting the better of him by just over a half a length on the line. The rest of the field trailed in a full eleven lengths behind the leading pair.
Useung Touch now has 8 wins from 22 starts – but with a further 7 seconds and 2 thirds to her name and over 1 Billion won in prize money in the bank, she currently just edges Gamdonguibada (who has 8 wins but from just 12 starts) as the most successful filly or mare on the peninsula right now. Jockey Choi SI Dae felt he should have won the Grand Prix when Useung Touch started at 100/1. A rematch between the two could be very interesting.
In the other co-feature at Busan, 4-1 chanceBaekho Janggun (Pico Central) took a narrow win by a neck from Peter Wolsley’s old-stager Khaosan (Sunday Well). Wolsley also saddled the 3rd horse home, Ghost Whisper (Gotham City).
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Japanese jockey Joe Fujii continued his excellent form. He landed races 1 and 2 to take his tally to the weekend for 6. Fujii’s countryman Ureshi Katsunori was also on the board again but Darryll Holland’s best finish was the second on Wild Myeongun.
Also at Busan, My Key (Macho Uno), a half-brother to US champion Game On Dude, recorded his 3rd career win on his 7th start. He won the 1500 metre race 4 by a comfortable 5 lengths.
Up at Seoul, the feature race also went to a filly. 2012 Nonghyup Chairman’s Stakes winner Speedus (Menifee) found her way back to the winner’s circle for the first time in 2013 with a 2-length victory in the 1800 metre main event.
Next week, Busan is the focus again with a small but top class field set to compete for the Gukje Sinmun Cup. Three-time President’s Cup winner Dangdae Bulpae (Biwa Shinseiki) and the afore-mentioned Gamdonguibada (Werblin) are among those currently set to run.
Feel So Good Fades as Derby Winner Adds Owners’ Trophy to Collection
Jigeum I Sungan stormed to a dominant victory in the Owners’ Association Trophy at Seoul Race Park this afternoon in the process cementing his place as the top Korean-bred horse at the track and handing a first defeat on Korean soil to Feel So Good.
Jigeum I Sungan and Moon Se Young win the Owners’ Cup
The 2012 Korean Derby winner, Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire) has shown improvement with every run and today was no exception. Despite dropping back to 1400 metres and facing Feel So Good (Ft.Stockton), the first Korean-bred horse to win a race in the United States and who had won his first 3 Korean starts without breaking into a gallop, Jigeum I Sungan was sent off the heavy favourite.
Jigeum I Sungan and Moon Se Young Return
While Feel So Good was quick out of the gate and into an early lead there was never a stage when the result looked in doubt.
As they entered the home straight, Moon Se Young brought Jigeum I Sungan around the outside of the field and into contention while Kim Ok Sung got no response from Feel So Good.
After that it was just a matter of how much he would win by, jockey Moon spending most of the final furlong contemplating how he would pose for the cameras on the finish line.
7 lengths was the ultimate margin. Behind him, two rank outsiders got the closest. New And Best (Trick Of Fate) was guided into 2nd by Japanese jockey Yukio Abe at odds of well over 200/1 while coming in third was 125/1 Jeumeundeungi (War Zone). Feel So Good trailed over the line in 10th and was later found to be lame in his left foreleg.
Jigeum I Sungan now has 10 wins from 19 career starts – with 8 of those wins coming in his most recent 11 starts. The last horse to beat him was Dangdae Bulpae as the Busan superstar romped to his 3rd consecutive President’s Cup last November. Next time the face each other, the younger horse should be much more competitive.
Winning jockey Moon Se Young spent the first 3 months of this year riding in Macau, notching 7 winners. The 2012 Champion has given his rivals a big head start but, having grabbed 5 winners over the course of the weekend and 10 in total since returning, it would be a brave man who’d bet against him grinding his rivals down over the rest of the season.
Japanese jockey Yukio Abe (right), who rode New And Best to a shock 2nd place, congratulates winner Moon Se Young
He had missed 3 wins on this horse while in Macau but Moon showed his delight on being back on him with the kind of celebration he used to reserve for his former favourite mount, Bally Brae.
Bally Brae became one of the best horses of his decade. If Jigeum I Sungan – his name means “This Is The Moment” – keeps up this form, it is very possible he may end up remembered as one of the best of his.
Owners’ Association Trophy (KOR GIII) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – April 21, 2013
1. Jigeum I Sungan (KOR) [Ingrandire – Solmaru (Mujaazif)] – Moon Se Young – 1.6, 1.0 2. New And Best (KOR) [Trick Of Fate – Yongunch’Eon (Phizam)] – Yukio Abe – 24.3 3. Jeumeundeungi (KOR) [War Zone – Taraxacum (Meadowlake)] – Lee Joon Chel – 20.4
Distances: 7 lengths/1.25 lengths Also Ran: 4. Geuma Champ 5. Special Win 6. Global Fusion 7. Jangbi Sarang 8. Sobaengnyeong 9. Yeongung Icheon 10. Feel So Good 11. Yacheonsaryeongbu
Sting Ray, the odds-on favourite, swept to a convincing victory in the KRA Cup Mile at Busan Race Park this afternoon.
Sting Ray and Kim Dong Young win the KRA Cup Mile
The race, known informally as the Korean 2000 Guineas, was the first leg of the 2013 Korean Triple Crown.
Sting Ray (Forest Camp), who came into the race off the back of 2 consecutive impressive wins was always travelling well under Kim Dong Young as Harley (Menifee) set the early pace. As they entered the home straight and spread across the track, Sting Ray hit the front and never looked like being caught as he stretched away for a 4-length win.
Raon Boss (Pico Central) showed that his last outing, where he finished 13 of 14 was an aberration by finishing a strong second, giving British jockey Darryll Holland a great result in his first Korean Classic race.
The Peter Wolsley trained Fantastic Jazz (Menifee) was a close 3rd. Wolsley’s other-runner, the slightly better fancied Amell’s Atom (Menifee) finished 4th.
Sting Ray is a half-brother of 2012 Korean Oaks winner Rising Glory, through their dam Straight Cash. Straight Cash herself was a top class filly who ran in Korea and won the 2005 JRA Trophy race. With 2 Classic winners, she has already established herself as among the top broodmares too.
The result was another disappointment for Seoul based trainers as Busan-trained horses dominated the placings. Rapide Bullet (Revere), back in 5th, was the best placed finisher from the capital. It’s difficult to see how this is going to be reversed when the country’s top three-year olds reconvene in Seoul on May 19th for the Korean Derby.
Sting Ray has already won at 1900 metres – further than the Derby distance and looks like he’s only going to get better.
KRA Cup Mile (KOR GII) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – April 7, 2013
1. Sting Ray (KOR) [Forest Camp – Straight Cash (Straight Man)] – Kim Dong Young 2. Raon Boss (KOR) [Pico Central – Ivy’s Jewel Stone (Forestry)] – Darryll Holland 3. Fantastic Jazz (KOR) [Menifee – Sorority Jazz (Dixieland Band)] – Park Geum Man
Distances: 4 lengths/1.75 lengths Also Ran: 4. Amell’s Atom 5. Rapide Bullet 6. Rising joy 7. like The Sun 8. Last Mudae 9. Yapung 10. Heungnyeong Bisang 11. Cheonneyon Dongan 12. Global Gangja 13. Harley 14. Ruby Canter. Scratched: Pureun Energy, Energy Cell
Racing might be traditionally a very conservative sport off the track, but change can come very quickly on it. A year ago, what the racing media here dubbed the “troika”; Grand Prix Champion Tough Win and the 2 horses that finished closest to him in that December 2011 showdown, Mister Park and Smarty Moonhak were set to dominate racing on the peninsula for the forseeable future.
Joe Fujii and Gamdonguibada win the Grand Prix Stakes (KRA)
Only Tough Win (Yonaguska) remains and now, there are signs that he could be part of a new “troika” forming. All were in action this past weekend.
Gamdonguibada (Werblin) a 4-year old American bred filly took Tough Win’s Grand Prix crown off him at the end of last season. She started this year in good form and continued it at Busan last Friday, winning the 1900 metre feature handicap in convincing fashion from Prince Kingdom (Roar Of The Tiger) and Viva Ace (Macho Uno). It was her 4th straight victory and her 8th in total from 12 career starts.
Feel So Good: 3 from 3
One horse yet to taste defeat yet – at least not in Korea – is Feel So Good (Ft.Stockton).
The 4-year old spent a year training in the United States and won a race at Calder last autumn. He made his 3rd Korean appearance at Seoul on Sunday afternoon and, despite moving up in class again, scored his 3rd very easy victory by 9 full lengths.
Feel So Good is now just 2 races away from qualifying for the elite level where he should finally come up against horses capable of testing him.
Tough Win
Gamdonguibada is one of those who could test him although being based at different tracks, their opportunities to meet will be limited. One he will likely face sooner is Tough Win. While Feel So Good is a Korean bred and therefore can avoid running against foreign bred horses, the temptation to put him in against the best will be hard to resist.
And Tough Win showed that at Seoul at least, he still he is the best in Sunday’s feature race at Seoul with a routine victory over a class 1 field.
The prospect of Tough Win, Gamdonguibada and Feel So Good racing each other, joined perhaps by the likes of last year’s Derby winner Jigeum I Sungan is what makes racing so fascinating. Hopefully all will stay sound.
Next Sunday, the process of finding this year’s 3-year old champion begins with the KRA Cup Mile – the Korean 2000 Guineas – the first leg of the 2013 Triple Crown, at Busan. We begin our build-up to the big race this Wednesday.
The 2013 Korean Triple Crown is about to begin but today punters were treated to stirring performances from two heroes of Classics gone by as Derby winners Ebony Storm and Jiguem I Sungan took out the feature races at Busan and Seoul.
Ebony Storm wins the 2008 Derby in a downpour (KRA)
Back on an appropriately stormy day in Seoul in May 2008, Ebony Storm (Buster’s Daydream) pulled off a shock win in the Korean Derby when starting as the longest shot on the board.
He did nothing in the remaining leg of the Triple Crown and, at 4-years-old, found himself gelded. He then embarked on a Class 1 handicap campaign that has continued to this day, regularly finishing in the money and occasionally winning.
Today, on his 50th career start, Ebony Storm was sent off as a 33/1 outsider for Busan’s 7-furlong feature race. Steadily making-up ground the entire race, the 8-year old passed favourite All Su (Perfect Vision II) in the final furlong to record his 11th victory by just over a length.
Up at Seoul, we had to wait until the very final race of the weekend to see Jiegum I Sungan (Ingrandire), winner of the 2012 Derby, do his thing. The 4-year-old still looks to have his best days ahead of him and he was in good form as he casually dismissed his rivals by 6 lengths over 9 and a half furlongs.
Jigeum I Sungan was the 2012 Korean Deby winner (KRA)
The President’s Cup – and possible Grand Prix Stakes – will be Jigeum I Sungan’s target this year as he seeks to supplant Dangdae Bulpae as Korea’s top domestic-bred horse. Ebony Storm won’t be in either of those races, however, not many horses in Korea have won class 1 races in 5 consecutive years. If Jigeum I Sungan can emulate that one day, he will be a truly special horse.
Also impressing at Busan today was US 3-year old Yeonggwanguijehyun (Rockport Harbor). The colt cruised to an 8 length win over fellow highly rated import Bathsheba Park (Harlington) in the 9-furlong race 5. The win – his 6th from 9 starts – qualifies him for class 1 racing next time out.
Useung Touch struck the first blow in the race to become Champion filly & mare of 2013 by cruising to a remarkable 7-length victory in the Ttukseom Cup, the first leg of the 2013 Queens’ Tour, at Seoul Race Park Sunday.
Hold On! Connections and jockey Choi Si Dae struggle to hold Useung Tocuh in the Ttukseom Cup winner’s circle
Now 5-years-old, the 2011 Korean Oaks winner Useung Touch (Menifee)announced her return to form with shock 2nd place finish to Gamdounguibada in the Grand Prix Stakes in December. Today, re-united with jockey Choi Si Dae for the first time since she was a 3-year-old and dropping down to 7 furlongs, she was sent off as second-favourite behind Segye Ilbo Cup winner Indian Blue.
Always travelling well, Useung Touch hit the front with just over a furlong to run and powered away from the field, still stretching her lead on the line. Fellow Korean bred filly Grand Teukgeup (Menifee), 3rd in last year’s Oaks was closest to her in 2nd, while Indian Blue’s effort was too little and far too late as she finished in 3rd.
Useung Touch now has 7 wins from her 21 starts with 7 2nd place finishes and prize money of over 1 Billion Korean Won. A star of the 2011 Triple Crown trail, in addition to winning the Oaks, she was 2nd in the Derby and Minister’s Cup. While she only recorded one win in 2012, she’s now firmly established back among the Korean racing elite.
It’s another triumph for Korea’s top stallion Menifee. In siring the 1st and 2nd home, he extends his lead at the top of the Leading Sire race with more than double the prize money of his closest rival.
Ttukseom Cup (KOR G3) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – March 17, 2013
1. Useung Touch (KOR) [Menifee – Jenny Tudor (Gulch)] – Choi Si Dae – 3.2, 1.4 2. Grand Teukgeup (KOR) [Menifee-Saratoga Campaign (Mt. Livermore)] – Chae Gyu Jun – 3.6 3. Indian Blue (USA) [Henny Hughes – Gamblers Passion (Prospector’s Gamble)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.5
* There is Listed race action at Seoul next weekend. 2012 Korean Derby winner Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire) heads the entrants for the Sports Donga Cup.
Tenth Stakes Win For Busan Star / Gamdonguibabda Makes Successful Return / Feel So Good Wins At Seoul
Dangdae Bulpae keeps on making history. Recording an unprecedented 10th Stakes win under an unprecendented weight for a Stakes winner and taking his earned prize money to an unprecendented 2.9 Billion won, the 6-year-old cruised to victory in the Busan Ilbo Cup this afternoon.
Pre-race, the weight was an issue. The three-time President’s Cup winner had never been successful when carrying more than 59kg but, as soon as the gates opened, any doubts disappeared.
Jo Sung Gon took Dangdae Bulpae (Biwa Shinseiki) straight to the front and there they stayed. A passenger for most of the race, Jo needed to work a little to keep his mount going straight in the final two furlongs but there was never any question of him not winning.
At the line, the margin of victory was 3 lengths, with Dongseo Jeongbeol and Gyeongbudaero, Classic winners both, filling the placings.
Because of the weights he needs to carry in handicaps, we;ll likely only see Dangdae Bulpae a couple more times before this summer target; successfulyy defending the Busan Metropolitan City Stakes. After that, it may be that an attempt on a 4th straight President’s Cup is on the cards. It would take a brave punter to take him on.
One of very few horses who does have a recent victory over Dangdae Bulpae to her name is Gamdounguibada. And the 2012 Grand Prix Stakes winner was back for her season debut in the finale at Busan.
And it proved to be the easiest winner Joe Fujii will ever ride as
Gamdonguibada (Werblin) recorded a 5 length victory over the always game Viva Ace (Macho Uno). The Champion filly & mare and Champion foreign horse of 2012 is going to be one of the horses to watch in 2013 too.
Perhaps the most exciting – and certainly the most intriguing – horse in Korean racing was on show up at Seoul this afternoon. Feel So Good (Ft.Stockton) was bred in Korea but spent his early years in the US and won a race at Calder Racecourse last year. He returned home last autumn and was an easy winner on his Korean debut.
Feel So Good returns a winner
It was equally easy today as Feel So Good romped to a 6 length win over 1700 metres without seeming to get out of second gear. This year is going to be an interesting one.
Busan Ilbo Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – February 24, 2013
1. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.7, 1.1 2. Dongseo Jeongbeol (KOR) [Vicar – Rendezvous Bay (Wonderloaf)] – Joe Fujii – 1.3 3. Gyeongbudaero (KOR) [Menifee p Princess Lanique (Cherokee Run)] – Choi Si Dae – 1.6
Distances: 3 lengths/Neck Also Ran: 4. Alpha Myeongjang 5. Road To Prince 6. Born To Win 7. Yeonseung Daero 8. Powerful Korea 9. Geumsangeo
Jigeum I Sungan strode to another impressive win as he claimed the feature race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Jigeum I Sungan and Seo Seung Un return after their easy victory
The 2012 Korean Derby winner got better with every run last year and always looked as though he would excel over longer distances.
Today did nothing to change that as, having sat comfortably in the middle of the pack for most of the 2000 metre race, jockey Seo Seung Un took Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire) to the front with a furlong to run and accelerated away for a 7 length win.
It was his 8th win from his 17 career starts and perhaps the easiest to date. New Year’s Stakes winner Global Fusion and the very capable Geuma Champ were beaten out of sight. Indeed, he looked as though he could have gone round again.
Relieving Dangdae Bulpae of the President’s Cup crown that he has held for the last 3 years is the ultimate aim for Jigeum I Sungan this year. Korea’s richest race is not until October though. In the meantime, Dangdae Bulpae himself makes his 2013 debut in the Busan Ilbo Stakes down on the south-coast tomorrow afternoon.
Sunday February 24
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00 Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:05 including the Busan Ilbo Stakes at 16:15.
Dongbanui Gangja Retirement Ceremony / Segye Ilbo Stakes / Treble For Fujii At Busan
Dongbanui Gangja was in typically combative mood as he passed into Korean racing history with a retirement ceremony at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Dongbanui Gangja was in mischeivous mood at Seoul Race Park
The 8-year-old looked as though he’d rather be anywhere else than the Seoul Race Park winner’s circle that he graced so many times over the years after big race wins.
Although eventually coaxed into posing for photographs for the hundreds of well-wishers who crowded around, he made clear his displeasure by bucking and kicking his way through a canter down the home-straight accompanied by a track pony.
For jockey Choi Bum Hyun it must have been a reminder of the grief and the brilliance he got from Dongbanui Gangja as the pair won back-to-back Grand Prix Stakes and an Owners’ Cup among 20 career victories. Yet when he lost, he tended to do it in style with some monumental displays of petulance over the years costing him victories.
He will be greatly missed. Dongbanui Gangja [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)], who was bought for $20,000 at OBS in 2007 retired with career earnings of $1.3 Million. He will go to stud at a private farm on Jeju Island.
On the track, Indian Blue produced an impressive come-from-behind run to sweep to a convincing victory in the Segye Ilbo Cup.
Indian Blue and Yoo Seung Wan, both in the Stakes winner’s ciircle for the first time
The 7 furlong race, one of few big races specifically for foreign-bred fillies and mares, saw 3-year-old Indian Blue (Henny Hughes) make up 11 places in the penultimate furlong before stretching away to win by 8 lengths from Dashing Platinum (Macho Uno) and Pureun Miso (Malibu Moon).
Indian Blue, a $26,000 purchase from Fasig Tipton last May, now has 3 wins from 6 starts and has never finished worse than 3rd.
Segye Ilbo Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – February 17, 2013
1. Indian Blue (USA) [Henny Hughes – Gamblers Passion (Prospectors Gamble)] – Yoo Seung Wan – 2.2, 1.2 2. Dashing Platinum (USA) [Macho Uno – Forbidden Kiss (Tocuh Gold)] – Lee Hyeok – 3.0 3. Pureun Miso (USA) [Malibu Moon – Marina De Chavon (Exploit)] – Jun Duck Yong – 2.0
Distances: 8 lengths / 0.5 lengths Also Ran: 4. January Queen (KOR) 5. Seocheonha (NZ) 6. Daehwahap (USA) 7. Big Power (USA) 8. Raonjena (USA) 9. A Wanted Affair (USA) 10. Yaho Dolphins (USA) 11. Golden Socks (USA) 12. Winner Trophy (USA) 13. Silent Dashing (USA) NR: Happy Dancer (USA)
* At Busan it was a great day for Joe Fujii. Since finishing 2012 on a high with his Grand Prix Stakes win on Gamdonguibada, the Japanese jockey has had a quiet start to 2013 with suspension ruling him out of the first few meetings.
It all came right today, however, as Fujii notched up a treble, all for trainer Kim Young Kwan. First up was filly Raon Bally (Pico Central) in race 3, quickly followed by Raon Boss (Pico Central) for the same owner in race 4. His final triumph came in race 6 on Myeongun Jewang (Forest Camp).
Narazaki Kosuke was also among the winners today meaning 4 out of the 6 races on the card at Busan were won by Japanese riders.
Next week sees the first Stakes action of the year at Busan in the shape of the Busan Ilbo Cup. Dangdae Bulpae and Gyeongbudaero are set to be among a very strong field.
Horse Racing in Korea 