Busan Friday Review

In English, his name means “Beautiful Racing” and even though it’s thoroughly coincidental, the Busan Racecourse has a publicity song which has his name in the chorus. Not that anyone involved with that most likely has a clue who he is but today, Areumdaun Jilju returned after an eleven-month lay-off to win the feature race at Busan.

Back: Areumdaun Jilju (Pic: KRA)

Sent off second favourite in a mile-long race which was led for its early stages by a loose horse after Black Scorpion had thrown his jockey when leaving the starting gate, Areumdaun Jilju stalked leader Mupae Star before reeling him in and overtaking him in the final furlong while favourite Deep Desire closed strongly to grab second.

For Areumdaun Jilju [Didyme – Chills Of Nepal (Nepal)] it was a fifteenth win from twenty-five starts. Now six, he has never finished outside of the money and his return means a welcome addition to the contenders for big honours among Korean-bred horses at Busan.

While most of the country shivered today, down at Busan it was reasonably pleasant as Japanese jockey Toshio Uchida, who had been very quiet since returning to Korea two weeks ago, got back among the winners. “Mr Pink” grabbed race 5 on Good Dream and then the class 1 race 6 with a narrow win on Night Moves (Proud Accolade). The filly, who was champion juvenile with her Breeders’ Cup win last year, got up to beat Tamna Hero and Mulbora by a neck in a blanket finish. Meanwhile, Yoshi Aoki ensured there was a third Japanese victory today as he partnered Real Winner to victory in race 9.

The most visually impressive performance of the day came in the 1300-metre all-foreign bred race 3. Two-year old American born gelding Viva Ace (Macho Uno) was sent off long odds-on favourite and didn’t disappoint as he led wire-to-wire to record a twelve length victory. It was his second win from three starts.

Saurday’s thoroughbred action is at Seoul Race Park where there are twelve races from 11:20 to 17:50 including the Selangor Turf Club Trophy. There is also pony racing on Jeju Island with ten races from 12:10 to 17:30.

* The KRA produces English language Stewards’ Reports for all meetings at Busan – today’s can be downloaded by clicking here.

Second in the Sports Seoul Cup and third in the Korean Oaks, today Dongbang Rose finally landed a big Stakes prize as she snatched victory with a late run in the Nonghyup Chairman’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Dongbang Rose and Cho Kyoung Ho return as Nonghyup Cup Winners

Sent off the odds-on favourite, the three-year old was kept at the back of the field by jockey Cho Kyoung Ho as outsiders Babble Classic, Magic Collar and Oaks winner Euro Fighter set a fast early pace. Entering the home straight, Cho made his move and he and Dongbang Rose were always travelling well enough to be able to comfortably hold off the challenge of Meotjin Segye and Anseong Chukje in the final furlong

Dongbang Rose now has six wins from ten starts. With Euro Fighter’s unlikely Oaks win looking more and more a flash in the pan and Sports Seoul winner Cheonun currently out of action, she can conceivably claim to be the nation’s top three-year old filly.

For jockey Cho Kyoung Ho, it was a fourth stakes win of the year and his second consecutive win in this race, after his victory on Lucky Mountain last year.

10th career winner - Kim Hae Sun

While Cho scored three wins today, there was a milestone of sorts for apprentice jockey Kim Hae Sun. Kim scored the tenth winner of her career with an emphatic victory on two-year old filly Cara Line in race 4.

In that race, three of the five licensed female jockeys at Seoul had rides. Like the others, Kim has never really been given the rides that alllow her to show her talent. When she gets them though, she doesn’t let anybody down.

Winning Again: Peter Wolsley and Yoshi Aoki

Down at Busan there were no feature races but there was another win for the burgeoning partnership of Australian trainer Peter Wolsley and Japanese jockey Yoshi Aoki.

The pair combined to win race 1 with the debut-making filly Brave Cougar to continue their recent hot run of form together. Aoki, who is quickly establishing himself as one of the top riders at Busan also recorded two further second-place finishes while fellow Japanese rider Hitomi Miyashita was also amongst the winners with highly rated US-bred filly Queen Of Rain (Lion Heart) scoring in race 3.

NACF Chairman’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – November 21, 2010

1. Dongbang Rose (KOR) [Volponi – Night Mary (Strike Gold)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.7, 1.2
2. Meotjin Segye (KOR) [Concept Win – Ch’eon-Goju (Centro)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.7
3. Anseong Chukje (KOR) [Exploit – Perdido Wood (Woodman)] – Shin Hyoung Chul – 2.9

Distances: 0.75 lengths/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Special Volpony 5. Selah 6. Babble Classic 7. Rose Cat 8. Manjeomhwanhui 9. Magic Collar 10. Beomtti 11. Choedayeonseung 12. Euro Fighter 13. Ganghan Speed 14. Wind Crown

That was impressive. First it was the Gyeongnam Governor’s Trophy, then the Minister’s Cup now Dangdae Bulpae has completed a hat-trick of big Autumn victories by claiming the President’s Cup and in doing so, re-affirming his status as the top three-year old – and arguably the top domestically bred horse in Korea.

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

This afternoon, taking on older horses, he was outstanding. Sent off as odds-on favourite over a star-studded field, Jo Sung Gon took the colt into an early lead. By the time they were into the back straight, they were leading the rest of the field by three lengths. They slowed as they began the long turn for home, allowing the field to come back together, however, Dangdae Bulpae was barely out of first gear. Jockey Jo went to work as they entered the home straight and with a furlong to go, the race was won.

President's Cup(s)

Behind him was Yeonseung Daero. The four-year old winner of last year’s Busan Owners’ Cup was two-and-a-half lengths adrift. It might as well have been ten lengths given the way the winner eased up. In third was another four-year old from Busan, Golden Appeal. Triple Seven was the highest placed horse from Seoul, the Ttukseom Cup winner was fourth, one place ahead of Busan’s Derby winning Cheonnyeon Daero.

A disappointing eighth in the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown, Dangdae Bulpae was third in the Derby. Since then though, he’s been unbeatable and has amassed overall career figures of nine wins from twelve starts. Significantly, since the Derby, four of his five wins have come against older horses.

Dangdae Bulpae’s victory also means that in the races where Seoul and Busan horses have faced each other this year, the two tracks have three wins apiece. There is one more race to come (well, two if you count the Breeders’ Cup which is for two-year olds only). The Grand Prix Stakes, the biggest race in the Korean calender takes place next month. Entry to the race is by invitation-only, with the invitations decided by an online vote of punters. Dangdae Bulpae is sure to be voted in, however, the Grand Prix isn’t restricted to Korean bred horses. The best imports will be there too, including Tough Win. In the last ten years, only one Korean bred horse has won the Grand Prix. Dangdae Bulpae has the talent to make it two. Let’s hope he goes for it.

President’s Cup (KOR.GI) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – November 14, 2010

1. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.5, 1.1
2. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat -Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance) – Choi Si Dae – 1.7
3. Golden Appeal (KOR) [Shaep Appeal – Golden Image (Dancer’s Image)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.6

Distances: 2.5 lengths/1.25 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Triple Seven 5. Cheonnyeon Daero 6. Suseong TX 7. Baengnyeonbong 8. Money Teukgeup 9. Holy Dreamer 10. Glory Yeonggwang 11. Lucky Dancer 12. Hongji 13. Natural Guy
Non Runner: Geumgangi

In other races, there was a surprising return to form for five-year old Yodongseong (Payne’s Bay). This was a horse who, two years ago looked set to challenge the likes of Bally Brae and Dongbanui Gangja as he arrived on the class 1 scene with five wins from nine starts. Remarkably, he hadn’t won since. Today, at his fifteenth attempt at class 1, he finally came out on top, beating out Cheonji Jangsu and Jumong by a neck.

Hemiltonia and Moon Se Young take race 8

It was a cold day at the track, the official temperature of 9C not reflecting the windchill which made it seem much chillier. It was a taste of things to come as it’s going to get a lot colder over the weeks and months ahead. However, a performance like that of Dangdae Bulpae is enough to make a punter forget the cold and instead, think about what that horse can possibly achieve over the months ahead.

* Down at Busan, the combination of Australian trainer Peter Wolsley and Japanese jockey Yoshiyuki Aoki struck again. Today they combined for two winners and two second place from the six races run at Busan. Pegasus Farm’s two-year old filly Secret Whisper (Sea Of Secrets) has much expected of her and she scored her second win from five starts in race 2 today. Aoki and Wolsley followed it up with two second place finishes with Jungle Love and Miss Bella in races 3 and 4, before Heukbaram (Exploit) landed race 5. Aoki then went on to score another second place in the last aboard Yu Chung Yeol’s Geungnak Seonnyo, who was beaten by favourite Ecton Legacy.

Bonsol, Geumbi, Lady Hazzys Step-up

It’s the President’s Cup tomorrow, but there was still a competitive afternoon of racing at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

In co-feature races, there were wins for Bonsol and Geumbi. Earlier this year, Bonsol had been talked about as a possible Classic contender. In the end, the only one of the Triple Crown races he took part in was the Minister’s Cup last month, when he finished a disappointing ninth. Today, however, he made no mistake, as he comfortably dispatched a class 2 field by a length and a half.

Flying Punch and Choi Bum Hyun hit the front in race 5 at Seoul

As for Geumbi (Ecton Park), the three-year old US-bred filly was going into her first race at class 2 with a record of three wins from six starts. She made it four from seven under the floodlights with a dominant performance, leading home second place Gippeum Sesang by eight lengths.

Simple Win: Lady Hazzys

Earlier, promising import Lady Hazzys (Lightnin N’Thunder) had made it two wins from two starts as she breezed to a half-length win from fellow highly thought of two-year old Manchester Miss (Van Nistelrooy) in race 6. On a beautiful afternoon in the Korean capital, Lady Hazzys wasn’t the only grey to win as earlier, three-year old Flying Punch (Volponi) landed his second career victory. It was also a good day for jockey Hiro Hamada. The Japanese rider picked up his third Korean win, taking victory by a nose on Daltanyang in race 7.

Tomorrow it’s the big one. The President’s Cup is underway at 17:00 and is the highlight of an eleven race card at Seoul with the first race at 11:20. Busan also hosts a card with six races from 12:40 to 16:30.

In Sunshine & Shadow: Seoul Racecourse, November 13, 2010

Former Champion Top Point Wins Again

When she won the KRA Cup Classic last year to become Seoul’s Champion Filly or Mare, few would have thought it would be fifteen months until Top Point returned to the Winner’s Circle. Injury restricted her to just one more outing in 2009 and kept her off the track until August this year where a third place finish wasn’t enough to get her into last week’s Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, which this year replaced the Cup Classic as Seoul’s top race for fillies and mares.

Top Point in the Winner's Circle again

In winning the Gyeonggi Cup, Love Cat may have taken Top Point’s crown away, but the six-year old showed that she is far from done with a narrow win in the feature handicap under the lights at a dark and misty Seoul Race Park this afternoon. It was an impressive performance. The 1900 metre race included Seoul’s top-rated Korean three-year old Ace Galloper as well as prolific winners Jilpunggangho, Khanui Jeguk and Big Easy.

In the end, all three of those were beaten as it came down to a final furlong duel between Top Point and 6/1 shot Blue Pin. Under Shin Hyoung Chul, it was the big mare who got the better of it, just holding off the colt by a nose on the line. The win was Top Point’s fifteenth in a twenty-five race career. She has only been out of the money once.

It was a foggy day at Seoul Race Park

Earlier, Kanui Byeol, fourth in the Oaks back in August, got back to winning ways with a smart win in the class 3 race 9. while US bred Consistent Success (High Yield) scored a win at class 2 level which will see him elevated into the elite ranks next time out.

There was defeat, however, for the much hyped Choegoro. The three-year old gelding had strolled to victory in his last two outings and was long odds-on as he stepped up to seven furlongs in race 7. However, despite leading until well into the home straight, the favourite ran out of steam and he field swept past. Hitting the line first was 80/1 outsider Geumbit Teukgeup, the four-year old providing another winner for in-form veteran jockey Kim Gui Bae.

After last week's double, Kim Gui Bae didn't take long to get back in the winner's circle

Despite pleasant temperatures, the fog and smog – made worse by an unseasonal yellow dust storm – meant the floodlights came on much earlier than planned and gave the track an eerie, even bleak, feel. Meanwhile, in slightly brighter conditions on Jeju Island, the special race in honour of the island’s “Farmer’s Day” was won by five-year old pony Seongbulsingi, who started favourite for the race which, at 1800 metres, is one of the island’s longest of the year.

Class 1 Handicap – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – November 6, 2010

1. Top Point (KOR) [Tom Cruiser – Mooncello (Northern Baby)] – Shin Hyoung Chul – 8.7, 2.1
2. Blue Pin (KOR) [Lion Heart – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.7
3. Jilpunggangho (KOR) [Max’s Pal – Spicy Soup (Alphabet Soup)] – Yoon Tae Hyoug – 2.0
Distances: Nose/3 lengths – 14 ran

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow with eleven races from 11:20 to 18:00. Busan runs six races from 12:40 to 16:30.

Seoul Race Park - November 6, 2010

Lucky Mountain & Baekpa downed as Four-year old Wins Gyeonggi Cup

Love Cat saw off a field of Seoul’s top home-grown fillies and mares to take victory in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Love Cat

The race – the track’s most valuable of the year restricted to females – had attracted a star-filled line-up. Sent off favourite was five-year old Lucky Mountain, second in this year’s Ttukseom Cup and she was joined by a pair of Oaks winners – Baekpa, from 2007 and Euro Fighter, winner of this year’s Classic. Also there was Cheonun, who was second in the Oaks and widely thought to have the most potential of any filly in her age group, as well as Stakes winners Golden Rose and Tamnahwanhui.

It was Cheonun who set the early pace in the nine furlong race, leading until they turned for home. The filly who beat her in the Oaks then came to take things up. Euro Fighter was a 50/1 chance that day at Busan though and punters didn’t expect lightning to strike twice. It didn’t. Entering the straight, Choi Bum Hyun made his move on Love Cat while Cho Kyoung Ho did similar on Lucky Mountain. The older mare went down the rail while Love Cat was in the centre of the track and it was the four-year old who got the better of the sprint, Love Cat winning by just over a length on the line. Cheonun stayed on for third place.

Another big winner: Choi Bum Hyun

Sentimental favourite Baekpa could only manage sixth, her customary late charge deserting her this time. It was even worse for Euro Fighter, who left her race on the last bend and ended a well-beaten tenth.

For Love Cat, it was a tenth win from twenty-two career starts and a second Stakes victory following her win in the Sports Seoul last year. She has only been out of the money on three occasions and today was only her fourth race against all fillies and mares. It was another big payday for jockey Choi Bum Hyun. A week after landing his 400th career winner, he was back in the Stakes Winner’s Circle once again.

Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Oct 31, 2010

1. Love Cat (KOR) [Creek Cat – Love Cue (Curia Regis)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 5.7, 1.7
2. Lucky Mountain (KOR) [Silent Warrior – Myeonggaheui (Revere)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.3
3. Cheonun (KOR) [Ft. Stockton – Restless Patricia (Born Restless)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 1.9

Distances: 1.25 lengths/Head
Also Ran: 4. Golden Rose 5. Namchonui Yeowang 6. Baekpa 7. Choedaepungseok 8. Feel It Now 9. Baengnakgo 10. Euro Fighter 11. Centum 12. Gamdonguijumal 13. Tamnahwanhui

* Last year, Sangseung Ilro twice defeated Love Cat but the double Classic winner couldn’t find her best form in the feature race at Busan this afternoon. Many were sceptical as to how Sangseung Ilro would handle life as a four-year old but a golden summer in which she claimed both the KNN and Gyeongnam Do-Min Ilbo Cups in imperious fashion proved the doubters wrong. However, her always fragile fitness caused her to be a late scratching from the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup in September and in her re-appearance today, she was never in contention.

Even if she had been at her best, it is touch-and-go as to whether she would have beaten the winner. Gimakhin Seungbu (Trippi) is a colt on the rise but he had to expend every last ounce of energy to defeat Sky Star by a nose on the line. Sangseung Ilro was just beaten out of third place by Yoshi Aoki on Money Tree.

There had been some talk of Sangseung Ilro joining Dangdae Bulpae, Cheonnyeon Daero, Namdo Jeap and Yeonseung Daero on the trip to Seoul in two weeks time as part of Busan’s challenge for the President’s Cup. That’s probably not going to happen now, but she will surely be back to fight another day.

Today though belonged to Love Cat. Seoul’s Champion Korean bred filly & mare of 2010.

G20? The track is the place for GI, II & III, not G20!

The oldest and the youngest jockeys in the weighing room both had an enjoyable day in the autumn sunshine at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Veteran Kim Gui Bae landed a rare double, while apprentice Kim Jeong Jun recorded his first ever race win.

Kim Gui Bae returns after the second of his winners

Kim Gui Bae has never been a prolific winner or even rider. He rode his first race in 1979 at the old Seoul Racecourse at Ttukseom and it was there where he had his biggest win, riding Po Gyeong Seon to victory in the 1986 Grand Prix. One of Korean racing’s most famous names, Po Gyeong Seon won twenty of his twenty-five starts and had already won the 1985 Grand Prix. Kim would win on him six times.

Four of the jockeys behind Kim and Po Gyeong Seon that day are now trainers but Kim remains one of a dwindling few – Park Tae Jong and Shin Hyung Chul the only others – to have begun their riding careers at Ttukseom and still be in the saddle today. Winners have not been easy to come by for Kim. Today he guided home Pungnim in race 6 and Race Terror in race 9 to take him, after 31 years of work, to 279 career victories. Punters,

Racing in Korea has changed a lot since Kim Gui Bae started out. He rode in his first race at the age of 17 which, while common around the world, can’t happen in Korea any more. Now all potential jockeys must graduate from the KRA’s jockey academy which means a young jockey won’t be granted a license until they are in their early to mid twenties. The academy, which includes foreign trainers, is designed to improve the standard of riding in Korea and seems to be working. The likes of Jo In Kwen and Lee Sang Hyuk are both, with only two years of experience, established big race riders.

This year there were four graduates from the academy. While Lee Gang Seo and Jang Chu Yeol had already tasted victory, today it was the turn of a third, as Kim Jeong Jun guided US-bred filly Skiff’s Chic (With Distinction) to a three-length triumph in race 2.

Kim Jeong Jun, 2nd left won for the first time today (Picture: KRA)

* Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when it is the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup – Seoul’s richest race of the year for fillies & mares. In action among full field of fourteen are Baekpa, Lucky Mountain, Euro-Fighter and Cheonun.

Longshot Wins Over Grand Prix Distance

While the inaugural Korean Grand Prix took place in torrential rain in Jeolla Province, up at Seoul Race Park there wasn’t a cloud in the sky as Ecton Cat pulled off an unlikely victory in the Turkey Jockey Club Trophy.

It was Turkey Jockey Club Trophy Day at Seoul

The longest shot on the board, five-year old Ecton Cat was at the back of the twelve strong field for much of the race which at 2300 metres is the same length as the real “Grand Prix”, the longest of the Korean racing year. However, under jockey Won Jung Il, the gelding picked off his rivals in the straight to claim victory by just a head from KJ Khan. With those two finishing first and second, some lucky punter was cashing a 2798/1 exacta.

In a close finish, pre-race favourite Victory Town was a length back in fourth. For Ecton Cat it was a first win since January and only the sixth from his thirty lifetime starts.

Moon Jung Kyun Wins Again

Victory Town’s jockey was Cho Kyoung Ho who, with rivals Park Tae Jong and Moon Se Young out of action this weekend, would have been looking to make in-roads into the Jockeys’ Championship. Instead, however, it was Moon Jung Kyun, erstwhile partner of J.S. Hold, who had a lucrative weekend. Following on from his three winners yesterday, he added a further four today.

Chief among them was victory on four-year old Cheongha Eutteum, the horse making his first appearance since January to just hold off odds-on favourite Balhaemyeongjang. Cheongha Eutteum has had an injury-ravaged career but now has five wins from nine starts spread out over two-and-a-half years. Moon’s other victory of note came on debut-making Daesan Champ [Five Star Day – Stormy Alliance (Storm Creek)] in race 6. The young US import was a confortable six length winner.

Turkey Jockey Club Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 2300M – October 24, 2010

1. Ecton Cat (USA) [Ecton Park – Fiery Miss (Mountain Cat)] – Won Jung Il – 92.9, 20.1
2. K J Khan (JPN) [Squirtle Squirt – Bulge (Assatis)] – Lee Go Hweoi – 3.1
3. Kahnui Jeonseol (NZ) [Howbaddouwantit – Flash (Jetball)] – Jo In Kwen – 2.2

Distances: Head/1 length – 12 ran

Brilliant sunshine bathed the track today

Wink Win Brings Up Milestone / Suseong TX Lands Feature

Choi Bum Hyun was the toast of Seoul today as the jockey secured his 400th career victory. While in world racing terms, it’s not many, he joins just a select few Korean riders to have achieved the figure.

In a blur: Choi Bum Hyun wins on Wink to score his 400th career win

Choi’s 400th came in race 8 on a beautiful afternoon at Seoul Race Park. The 31 year old guided favourite Wink to a narrow half-length victory over Nice Keeping. It was his only winner from ten rides on the card.

No Pictures! Choi Bum Hyun after winning his 400th race

In recent times, Choi has been a freqent visitor to the Winner’s Circle in the big races. As regular jockey of Dongbanui Gangja, he has won back-to-back Grand Prixs as well as last year’s Owner’s Cup. Triple Seven gave him the Ttukseom Cup earlier this year while he picked up last year’s Busan Metropolitan on Bulpae Gisang. He is, however, yet to win a classic.

Choi’s 400 wins have come from just over 3400 rides. He has an 11% win and 32% place record for his career. In terms of absolute winners, he is behind only Park Tae Jong, Moon Se Young, Shin Hyoung Chul and Cho Kyoung Ho. Park, who along with Moon is out of action this weekend, is more than a thousand winners clear of almost anyone else in Korean racing history.

In the feature race, Suseong TX, at five-years old a late entrant to the class 1 ranks, won a very competitive handicap. Under Cho Kyoung Ho, Suseong TX comfortably led home Janggun Bada and Free Woody by four lengths.

Earlier, there was a win for New Zealand-bred Super Yongwang (Ekraar) in race 9. The four year-old has been a money winner in each of his ten races, but today was just his second victory. Also scoring a second victory – although just from three starts – was two-year old colt Hwanggeum Bolt [Congaree – Tilly’s Pulpit (Pulpit). He eeked out a narrow win over Giroksangseung and Sun Best in race 6.

Hwanggeum Bolt and jockey Jo In Kwen win race 7

Winning for the first time today were US import Broadcaster (Mass Media) and the debut-making filly Prete Ingran (Ingrandire) who landed race two and four respectively. Meanwhile, while the riding focus was on Choi Bum Hyun’s 400 winners, Moon Jung Kyun was jockey of the day, notching three winners.

* Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when the 2300 metre Turkey Jockey Club Trophy is the highlight. There are eleven races from 11:30 to 18:10 in the capital while down at Busan, there are six races from 12:40 to 16:30.

Seoul Racecourse - October 23, 2010

Filly Wins Gyeongnam Sinmun / Jumong Wins at Seoul

Yesterday it was Seoul, today it was the turn of eight of Busan’s top two-year olds to compete for a big prize in the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup. And at the end of the six furlongs, it was Bulkkot Gisang, who emerged with her unbeaten record intact and her reputation enhanced after leading wire-to-wire for a one-length win.

Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup – Busan Race Park – 1200M – October 17, 2010

1. Bulkkot Gisang (KOR) [Langfuhr – Attendance (A.P. Indy)] – Lim Sung Sil – 4.6, 1.5
2. Beongae Bolt (KOR) [Bellamy Road – Silk Stole (Pulpit)] – Kim Yong Geun – 1.1
3. Secret Whisper (KOR) [Seas Of Secrets – Generals Passion (General Meeting)] – Park Geum Man – 1.7

Distances: 1 length/4 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Heukdujjangun 5. Here The Lady 6. Myeongmun Power 7. Lucky Chief 8. Butterfly

Beongae Bolt was sent off favourite and although the colt finished much the quicker, it was too late to catch Bulkkot Gisang. Pegasus Farm and Peter Wolsley’s Secret Whisper was four lengths back in third.

Just like yesterday at Seoul, we are no closer to learning anything about next year’s classics; all three place-getters were sired overseas and therefore will not be eligible for the big three-year old races. There will still be plenty of opportunities for them to show their talent though Will Bulkkot Gisang be able to go more than 6 furlongs? Will Beongae Bolt avenge this loss? Will Secret Whisper turn out to be better than both of them? Will another, currently unheard of emerge? Those are the wonderful questions we can ponder as the year starts to draw to a close.

A smile would be nice: Moon Se Young and Jumong return to scale after winning Seoul's Sunday feature

Up at Seoul on a beautiful afternoon, the feature race, containing all US-bred horses, was won by three-year old Jumong. Under Moon Se Young, Jumong [Johar – Foreign Aid (Danzig)], a half-brother to Korean superstar Bally Brae, hit the front as the field entered the home straight and kicked on to win by two lengths from Mr. Loving Life and Cheonji Jangsu. It was Jumong’s first win in six attempts at class 1 and his fifth overall from thirteen starts.

In other races, there was an impressive debut for debut-making two-year old Haengun Party (Broken Vow), who landed race 4 while there was a maiden victory for Prime Galloper, one of the last foals by the late sire Strodes Creek, in race 6.

Red Monster and Park Sang Woo stretch away in race 5

Also winning were the improving Red Monster (Biwa Shinseiki), who made all the running in race 5, and Super Jet who was successul in race 9. Despite winning the HRI Trophy last year, the now five-year old Super Jet (Archer City Slew) has always been somewhat under the radar. Yet with victory today he has now amassed seven wins from twenty starts, sixteen of which have ended in the money.

Meanwhile, back down at Busan, Golden Appeal gave the field a six kilo weight advantage, but still had little difficulty cantering to a four-length victory in the feature handicap. One of the best horses at the track, Golden Appeal (Sharp Appeal) has a record of nine wins from fourteen starts.

So concludes another weekend of racing on the peninsula. There’s more action next week, when the likes of Seonbongbulpae, Top Point, Nice Choice and Gi Ra Seong are slated to be in action at Seoul, while Mister Park, Namdo Jeap, Night Moves and Ganghan Yeoja are entered at Busan.

Seoul Racecourse, October 17, 2010