Racing Reviews

Filly Is Seoul’s New Year Darling

Favourite Darling Vision swooped to win the New Year Stakes on opening day at Seoul Race Park.

Darling Vision and Cho Kyoung Ho in the New Year's Stakes winner's circle

Coming into the race on the back of a strong end to her three-year old season, the four-year-old filly was always travelling well under jockey Cho Kyoung Ho and the pair came wide to win by a length from rank outsider Bon Rising, who led the rest of the field home by a nose.

It was Darling Vision’s fifth win in four starts and marked a very quick return to the Stakes winner’s circle for jockey Cho Kyoung Ho who ended last season in the best possible way with victory on Tough Win in the Grand Prix Stakes. Darling Vision is no Tough Win, but she won handily enough to suggest that she cause problems in tougher races than this later in the year.

Also winning handily was three-year-old colt Viva Cat (Creek Cat), who got the race to the Triple Crown underway with a smart victory in race 7. Racing around two turns for the first time, Viva Cat posted his fourth win from five career starts to date. There’s a long way to go until the first of the Triple Crown races, the KRA Cup Mile on the first Sunday of April, but things are off to a good start.

The afternoon’s feature handicap was a very open betting race and it was US five-year-old Jumong (Johar-Foreign Aid) who got the better of top filly Kkakjaengi (Put It Back) to take the spoils over nine and a half furlongs.

Herald Business New Year Stakes – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Jan 7, 2011

1. Darling Vision (KOR) [Perfect Champion-Groom’s Darling (Runaway Groom)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 3.2, 1.5
2. Bon Rising (KOR) [Volponi-Shadaroba (El Prado)] – Lee Gang Seo – 18.1
3. Summit Runner (KOR) [Capital Spending-Zeppelin Zu (Night Zeppelin)] – Jang Chu Yeol – 7.6

Distances: 1 length/Nose
Also Ran: 4. Kakamega 5. King Fighting 6. Prime Galloper 7. Fly Energy 8. Seoul Jeongsang 9. Forest Wind 10. Palgigun 11. Storm Troop 12. Manjeomhwanhui 13. Beongaegangho 14. Seungniuihamseong

Racing returns to Seoul on Sunday with 12 races from 11:10 to 17:30. There is no racing at Busan.

Lion Santa Delivers A Gift To Jeonseong Sidae

Low-Key Closing Day At Seoul And Busan

Just over a week ago, two formidable unbeaten records were intact. Now, as we head into the Christmas break, both are gone. Last week Mister Park saw his unprecedented 17-race winning streak come to a valiant end at the hands of Tough Win in the Grand Prix Stakes. This week a horse who skipped the Grand Prix Lion Santa, was looking to make it a perfect 10 at Busan.

The lights were on as they paraded at Seoul for the last time in 2011

He came unstuck. Maybe because it was the break before an extended break or maybe it was because Nonghyup’s sponsorship had added a few million won to the purse but this handicap attracted a stronger field than usual. Nevertheless, Lion Santa was still sent off as the odds-on favourite. He may have won it too, had he not been left in a poor position rounding the home turn. By the time jockey Kim Dong Young had found a way through, second favourite Jeonseong Sidae was uncatchable. Lion Santa rallied for second but the record was gone.

Australian bred three-year old Jeonseong Sidae (Stromberg Carlson-Jessie’s Journey) is no mug. This was his sixth win from nine starts. As for Lion Santa (Lion Heart-Santa Fe Strip) the future is still bright, but connections may be wishing they’d taken the chance to go out in a blaze of glory at Seoul last week instead of with a whimper at Busan today.

Up at Seoul it was also a quiet closing day. The feature race was won by Magnifique (Menifee-Miss Beauty) who was making his debut at class 1. Kept off the classic trail, Magnifique was a late developer but may well turn to be the best of what has been a disappointing three-year old crop in Korea his year.

So that’s it for racing in 2011. While racing returns to the Korean peninsula on the first weekend of January, there’s an awful lot of news to catch up on before that which we’ll start to do this week.

Tough Win Grabs Grand Prix Glory

Tough Win Beats Mister Park & Smarty Moonhak to Win Korean Racing’s Showcase Race

Tough Win ended the seventeen run unbeaten streak of defending champion Mister Park as he took victory in a thrilling renewal of the Grand Prix Stakes at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

The four-year old gelding was sent off third in the betting but made no mistake with a perfectly timed run as he came through late to overtake Mister Park in the final furlong and win by just over half a length.

As expected, Tamna Ace made the early running but it was Akane Yamamoto and Mister Park who quickly took over at the front. In the backstraight there was excitement as Shim Seung Tae brought the two-year old prodigy, Smarty Moonhak up alongside the leader and these two were neck and neck as they rounded the home turn.

Tough Win in the Grand Prix winner's circle

Behind them though, Tough Win and Cho Kyoung Ho had begun to make their move. In the home straight, Mister Park managed to shake Smarty Moonhak but on the outside, Tough Win was always closing and when he went by, Mister Park had no response.

It was a 14th win from 18 lifetime starts for Tough Win, a $12,000 purchase at the June 2009 Ocala Two-year old Sales. He suffered his first loss in this race last year and was out of the money for the only time in his career in this summer’s Busan Metropolitan. Today, however, everything came together as he scored the win his talent has always promised to deliver.

Mister Park - Unbeaten run came to an end

Mister Park’s front-running style means he always runs the risk of not having enough left in the home straight. Akane Yamamoto managed to control his pace well but he simply couldn’t hold on.

Completing the first three was the wildcard, Smarty Moonhak. In the build-up to the race, few people were talking about anything other than the first two-year old in the Grand Prix’s 30 year history to take his chance. Although he didn’t win, he proved he is the real deal.

Smarty Moonhak - Big run in third

There’s no disgrace in being beaten by a pair such as Tough Win and Mister Park and, having stayed the distance, he was six lengths clear of the fourth horse home. Provided he stays sound, at this moment in time, it is hard to see anything beating him next year. Tomorrow morning, updated rankings will be published and Smarty Moonhak will find himself the first two-year old ever to be promoted to Class 1, the highest level of racing here.

As for the others, 2010 Korean Derby winner Cheonnyeon Daero went quietly into retirement in 9th place while KRA Cup Classic winner Ace Galloper was a disappointing 11th. Peter Wolsley’s first attempt at a Grand Prix was not a happy one with the grey Gyeongkwaehanjilju tailing the field home in 14th.

Today though was about three top horses. One has the Korean racing world abuzz with his potential and ran today like no two-year old should; one met with no disgrace as he saw his record-breaking winning streak come to a battling end. The other, Tough Win, is Korea’s Champion Racehorse of 2011.

Grand Prix Stakes (KOR G1) – Seoul Race Park – 2300M – December 11, 2011

1. Tough Win (USA) [Yonaguska-Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 5.2, 1.7
2. Mister Park (KOR) [Ecton Park-Formal Deal (Formal Gold)] – Akane Yamamoto – 1.3
3. Smarty Moonhak (USA) [Smarty Jones-Madeira M’Dear (Black Tie Affair)] – Shim Seung Tae – 2.0

Distances: 0.75 lengths/1.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Tamna Ace (KOR) 5. Dongseo Jeongbeol (KOR) 6. Triple Sinhwa (KOR) 7. Queen Of Rain (USA) 8. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) 9. Cheonnyeon Daero (KOR) 10. Gippeun Sesang 11. Ace Galloper 12. Jumong 13. Yodongjewang 14. Gyeongkwaehanjilju

Tough Win wins the Grand Prix in front of a packed house at Seoul Racecourse (Pic: E-Today)

Dongbanui Gangja and Dongteuja Keep Maremaid’s Memory Alive

Siblings Win At Seoul & Busan

December is a month when punters expect to see Dongbanui Gangja [Broken Vow-Maremaid (Storm Bird)] in the winner’s circle. In 2009, he became the third horse – after 1980’s and 1990’s greats Po Gyeong Seon and Ka Shock Do – to win consecutive Grand Prix Stakes, Korea’s most prestigious race. This year, he wasn’t nominated and instead came to Seoul Race Park this weekend and comfortably dismissed a class 1 field by three lengths despite giving the whole lot of them a minimum of six kilos.

Back winning: Dongbanui Gangja and Choi Bum Hyun (Pic: KRA)

Just one week before his first Grand Prix triumph on the weekend before Christmas in 2008, Dongbanui Gangja’s dam, a then fourteen-year-old mare named Maremaid [Storm Bird-Isayso (Valid Appeal)] arrived in Korea having been bought by the Korea Horse Land breeding operation.

Dongbanui Gangja himself was a $20,000 purchase from the OBS Spring Two-year olds in Training sale at Ocala in 2007. He quickly established himself as a high-class performer and went unbeaten for twelve consecutive races between October 2008 and July 2010, during which time he won hs two Grand Prix’s and an Owners’ Trophy.

The rest of 2010 was a disappointment though. As a five-year old he had become increasingly difficult to control and he started to drift very wide in his races. There was talk of retirement. However, with a lot of training and a pair of pacifiers fitted, this year he has begun to show a little of his old form. It is great to have him back.

Apart from Dongbanui Gangja, Maremaid had produced six other foals who raced in the US. The best of them was a filly, Glitter Maid, by Glitterman, who won six of twenty-eight starts in the early 2000’s. When she arrived in Korea, she was heavily in foal to Montbrook. Sadly, she suffered complications while giving birth to a filly on February 12, 2009.

The filly survived, however, and this afternoon at Busan Race Park, Dongteuja [Montbrook-Maremaid (Storm Bird)] maintained her 100% record as she strolled to her fourth consecutive win since her debut in August. She has a long way to go before emulating her big brother but so far, she’s doing just fine.

Dongteuja was today ridden by Japanese jockey Akane Yamamoto. Akane went on to finish second by a head in the feature race on Goni (Wando) to hot favourite Champion Belt (Exploit). Champion Belt should have been ridden by Nathan Stanley, however, calamity struck for the prolific Australian rider on Friday as he picked up a three-month ban – an unusually strong punishment for in-race incidents in Korea that don’t involve non-trying – for his ride on Cheonjae Bogo in race 6 on Friday.

The suspension, which potentially ends Stanley’s time in Korea given his license expires at the end of December, means he will miss next week’s Grand Prix Stakes at Seoul. Akane will be there though riding Mister Park, last year’s winner as he attempts to emulate none other than Dongbanui Gangja and retain the biggest prize in Korean racing.

Dongbanui Gangja’s second Grand Prix in 2009:

Such A Good Time

Busan Colt Crowned Champion Juvenile

16/1 outsider Good Time became the shock Korean Champion Juvenile of 2011 as Busan horses scored a 1,2,3 in the Breeders’ Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Chae Gyu Jun & Good Time in the Breeders' Cup Winner's Circle

Seoul filly Cheoneun was sent off favourite and it was she who took an early lead in the six and a half furlong sprint. She kept the lead until the final furlong but, just as she had in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup a month ago, faded badly. This time, it wasn’t just one horse who passed her but many as the closely bunched field swept by.

On the line, it was Good Time and Chae Gyu Jun who just got the better of Choi Si Dae on 33/1 Sing A. To complete the unlikely placers, 30/1 Dream Tower grabbed third.

Breeders’ Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1300M – November 27, 2011

1. Good Time (KOR) [Yehudi-A Little Poke (Pleasant Tap)] – Chae Gyu Jun – 16.5, 3.9
2. Sing A (KOR) [Fortitude-Seollimwon (Wheaton)] – Choi Si Dae – 5.6
3. Dream Tower (KOR) [Forest Camp-Hurricane Warning (Thunder Gulch)] – Kim Dong Young – 7.6

Distances: Head/1 length
Also Ran: 4. Dolpung Gangho 5. Dolpung Jilju 6. Jigeum I Sunga 7. Cheoneun 8. Mallu Homerun 9. Daedong Jeil 10. Black Dia 11. Jeongsang Yechan 12. Nuriui Bit 13. Sincheon Gongju 14. Bukdaepung

Foreign Jockeys Dominate Friday At Busan

Akane Yamamoto & Nathan Stanley Score Five Between Them

It was a bad day for the local Jockey Union at Busan Race Park this afternoon as between them, two of the track’s foreign riders hoovered up five of the ten races on the card.

Nathan Stanley: Feature race winner today

Australian Nathan Stanley and Japanese Akane Yamamoto have established themselves as, political issues aside, two of the most sought-after riders at the track and today, on a chilly afternoon, they showed why. Yamamoto started things off, winning race 2 on young colt Predict (The Groom Is Red), who put in an impressive performance winning by seven lengths.

She followed up two races later on 16/1 shot Silver Tiger (Volponi), beating out Stanley on Sangseung Bulpae by a nose. Any punters playing the foreign jockey quinella angle got a 58/1 payout on that finish. Stanley had to wait until race 8 to get in the winner’s circle himself with a four-length win on New Zealand import Dangdae Champ (Falkirk).

The Australian had good reason to hold high hopes of scoring a late treble. Races 9 and 10 would see him partner first Ghost Whisper (Gotham City) and then Secret Whisper (Seas Of Secrets), both owned by Pegasus Stables and trained by Peter Wolsley and both set to be odds-on favourites.

Treble: Akane Yamamoto

It didn’t quite turn out as planned as Yamamoto, on second favourite Baramui Jeonsa (Menifee) pipped Stanley and Ghost Whisper to the line by a length to complete her treble. There were no such problems in the feature race, however, as Secret Whisper did the business, albeit only by a neck, to secure his sixth win from twelve starts. Yamamoto finished a very productive day in third place on filly Night Moves (Proud Accolade).

With their wins today, Stanley moves on to seventeen winners in Korea and Yamamoto twenty-three. While Yamamoto will have a number of opportunities to add to her tally at Busan on Sunday, Stanley will only have one chance in Seoul, where he travels to partner Peter Wolsley’s Nuriui Bit in Sunday’s Breeders’ Cup, Korea’s premier Juvenile race. He’ll join Busan’s third foreign jockey, Eiki Nishimura, who is already in the capital preparing for the race.

* Also of note today was the second win in two starts by two-year old colt Baekdu Daejangun (Didyme-Indeed My Dear (Alydeed). Baekdu Daejangun is the half-brother of double President’s Cup winner Dangdae Bulpae.

Cheonun Cruises To Filly Crown

Cheonun became the capital’s Champion Korean bred filly or mare as she swept to a comfortable win in the NACF Chairman’s Cup at Seoul Race Park on Sunday.

The hot favourite in a field of thirteen, Cheonun came through in the final furlong to lead home outsider Golden Rose by two lengths.

The four-year old Cheonun was a Stakes winner at three, taking victory in the Sports Seoul Cup, before heading down to Busan for the Korean Oaks where she finished second to shock winner Euro Fighter (who was a distant last here).

This year, she was fourth in the Owners’ Trophy – Seoul’s top Stakes race for fillies and mares that isn’t restricted to Korean bred runners – before taking a very creditable second to High Point in the SBS Cup under the lights in August.

2011 Chairman of NACF Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – November 20, 2011

1. Cheonun (Ft. Stockton-Restless Patricia (Born Restless)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.6, 1.1
2. Golden Rose [Buster’s Daydream-Pop’s Apple (Digangi’s Grinder)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 6.1
3. Special Volpony [Volponi-Marc’s Girl (River Special)] – Jo In Kwen – 1.6

Distances: 2/5 lengths/1.5 lengths – 13 ran

* Down at Busan, 2008 Korean Derby winner Ebony Storm [Buster’s Daydream-Sorority Jazz (Dixieland Band)] scored an upset win in the feature race, surprising favourite Triple Sinhwa. Minister’s Cup winner Dongseo Jeongbeol failed to bounce back from his President’s Cup disappointment finishing in a disappointing fifth.

Aussie jockey Nathan Stanley was victorious in race 1 on Peter Wolsley’s Heukdancer (Vicar) and in race 2 on two-year old Grand Teukgeup (Menifee) to give him three wins for the weekend while Akane Yamamoto was also amongst the winners, scoring in race 5 on debut making US filly Gamdonguibada (Werblin). Stanley now has 15 winners from 65 rides (with a 40% quinella strike-rate) while Akane is on 20 from 133.

Seoul Takes Top Points In Governor’s Cup

Top Point Wins the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup

Top Point regained her crown as Korea’s top racemare by winning the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup at Busan Race Park this afternoon. The seven-year old led home Seoul-based fillies Geumbi and Kkakjaengi to secure a clean-sweep of the placings by visitors from the capital.

Top Point in the Winner's Circle again

Sent off the 6/4 favourite, the former KRA Cup Classic winner was settled into the middle of the pack by jockey Jo In Kwen as Bulkkot Gisang and Gippeumnuri made the early pace. As they turned for home, however, the three favourites came to the front. First it was Kkakjaengi and she and Top Point locked up to duel two furlongs from home. It wasn’t until 100 metres from the line that Top Point saw her off and Kakakjaengi faded to third as Geumbi finished quickly on the outside.

Ultimately Top Point wasn’t extended. She moves onto a record of eighteen wins from thirty-two starts. Had she not missed most of last year due to injury, that record would surely be even better. Her only time out of the money was in the 2009 Grand Prix. Sooner or later, she will be retired but today proved that she still has plenty to offer.

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (KOR.G3) – Busan Race Park – 2000M – November 13, 2011

1. Top Point (KOR) [Tom Cruiser-Mooncello (Northern Baby)] – Jo In Kwen – 2.5, 1.3
2. Geumbi (USA) [Ecton Park-Lady Justine (Lit De Justice)] – Ham Wan Sik – 1.8
3. Kkakjaengi (USA) [Put It Back-Wild Dixie Gal (Wild Event)] – Lee Sang Hyeok – 1.5

Distances: 2 lengths/0.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Queen Of Rain (USA) 5. Money Tree (KOR) 6. Fortunata (USA) 7. Gippeumnuri (USA) 8. Blueband Mama (USA) 9. Dongbangmiin (KOR) 10. Wonder Unicorn (KOR) 11. Crown Flag (KOR) 12. Bulkkot Gisang (KOR) 13. Onsaemiro (KOR) 14. Tango Step (KOR)

Up at Seoul, the feature race was the Sports World Trophy and unlike in Busan, there was a surprise. 26/1 Ppoppai [Rockport Harbor-Fair And Lively (Lively One)] got the better of a tight finish over Captain Cugat (King Cugat) and Ecton Cat (Ecton Park). While it was a sixth win in twelve starts for the US bred three-year old, it also capped off a remarkable weekend for apprentice jockey Lee Gang Seo.

Lee, recently returned from a month of training in Australia, rode two winners yesterday and had already added another before picking up the ride on Ppoppai from the indisposed Yoon Tae Hyoug. Evidently the time abroad has done him some good.

Next week the Stakes action returns to Seoul in the shape of the Nonghyup Chairman’s Cup

Dangdae Bulpae Wins His Second President’s Cup

Dangdae Bulpae won his second consecutive President’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Dangdae Bulpae and Jo Sung Gon back in the President's Cup Winner's Circle

There wasn’t the confidence in him that one might expect. Choeonyeon Daero was sent off as favourite but it was Dangdae Bulpae who was sent off into an early lead. For a moment punters were wondering if it would be the same suicidal early lead that Dangdae Bulpae shared with Tough Win in the Busan Metropolitan. But any worries they may have had faded quickly once the field entered the home straight.

Jo Sung Gon prompted Dangdae Bulpae into action and the pair streaked away from the field recording a six length win at the wire ahead of Cheonnyeon Daero. Race Terror was a further two lengths back in third while Nathan Stanley partnered old-stager Khaosan to the race of his life in fourth.

President’s Cup (KOR.G1) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – November 6, 2011

1. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki-Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] – Jo Sung Gon – 4.2, 2.1
2. Cheonnyeon Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat-Doneitmyway (Nothern Flagship)] – Park Geum Man – 1.4
3. Race Terror (KOR) [Duality-Starship Adventure (Dare And Go)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 3.8

Distances: 6 lengths/1.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Khaosan 5. Real Victor 6. High Point 7. Useung Touch 8. Yeonseung Daero 9. Money Teukgeup 10. Cheot Insang 11. Dongseo Jeongbeol 12. Suseung TX 13. Love Cat

After two disappointing appearances, Dangdae Bulpae moves onto thirteen wins from twenty starts. He had questions to answer today. He doesn’t anymore.

Turkey Shoot For Smarty Moonhak

Two-year Old Could Be a Star In The Making As He Breezes to Turkey Jockey Club Trophy

Well that was impressive. Two-year old Smarty Moonhak (Smarty Jones) brushed aside thirteen older rivals to win the Turkey Jockey Club Trophy at an unseasonably warm Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Smarty Moonhak and Shim Seung Tae in the Winner's Circle - this may not their last visit

It’s very rare in Korea for a two-year old to race nine furlongs and even rarer for them to compete in a Trophy race against older horses. However, such was Smarty Moonhak’s reputation coming in – and a less than intimidating line-up of rivals – that punters made him the long odds-on favourite.

He didn’t disappoint. Drawn in gate 11, jockey Shim Seung Tae sent Smarty Moonhak fast out of the gate to take up a position just behind early leader Yaho Cat. They stayed in this order until entering the home straight when Shim asked his colt to shift up a gear. This he did and the pair cruised away from the field to win, easing down, by eleven lengths.

Smarty Moonhak now has four wins from five starts. His only loss came in his very first outing when he was second behind another highly rated import, Mister Captain. Since then, he’s breezed through all his races. Next year could be a big one for him.

Smarty Moonhak Speeds to Victory in the TJK Trophy

Turkey Jockey Club Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – November 5, 2011

1. Smarty Moonhak (USA) [SMarty Jones-Madeira M’Dear (Black Tie Affair)] – Shim Seung Tae – 1.2, 1.0
2. Yaho Cat (USA) [Concerto-Irma (Wild Again)] – Shin Hyoung Chul – 2.0
3. Royal Khalife (USA) [Cozzene-Glissand (Forestry)] – Lee Joon Chel – 4.0

Distances: 11 lengths/1.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Pildu (USA) 5. Haeranjanggun (KOR) 6. Gwanakteukgeup (USA) 7. Sun Viking (NZ) 8. V Train (USA) 9. Sky Center (USA) 10. Home For Dinner (CAN) 11. American Revival (USA) 12. Jisang Mujeok (KOR) 13. Jindubong (USA) 14. Manchester Miss (USA)

Action returns to Seoul tomorrow in the shape of the President’s Cup, the most valuable prize on the Korean racing calendar. Dangdae Bulpae is set to be slight favourite to retain the crown he won last year but there will be plenty of support for his fellow raiders from Busan; Cheonnyeon Daero, Yeonseung Daero, Useung Touch and Dongseo Jeongbeol – Classic winners all. It should be a great race.

Sunday November 6

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:10 including the President’s Cup at 16:35
Busan Race Park: 7 races from 12:30 to 17:05