Segye Ilbo Champion Returns a Winner / Mass Media’s Tea beaten

Last time she appeared on the track, she got so upset by other runners, she panicked and collided with the rail, injuring her leg and keeping her out of action for eight months. Today though, there were no such nerves as Florida Sox returned to the track and the Winner’s Circle at Seoul Race Park.

Bootiful job: Boo Min Ho & Florida Sox return to the Winner's Circle

The three-year old filly looked set for great things when she won the Segye Ilbo Cup by seven lengths in just her fourth outing in February. That win stepped her up in class for her next race and, unaccustomed to being challenged on the final turn, she took fright. Today, jockey Boo Min Ho took no chances. Gunning Florida Sox straight into the lead coming out of the gate, they stayed there all the way. Wonerful Sun got closest, trailing home the winner by four lengths with Green Empire third. Florida Sox (Woke Up Dreamin) moves on to four wins from six starts and will be one to look out for as she steps up in class again next time.

Victory on Florida Sox was the first leg of a double for jockey Boo Min Ho. The second leg was a lot more unlikely as 220/1 outsider Yamang (Pleasantly Perfect) scored a two-length win over one of the year’s hottest two-year old imports Mass Media’s Tea (Mass Media). The favourite, was looking for his third straight win but, stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time and having established a lead, faded badly in the straight to allow the grey Yamang – who had failed to win any money at all in seven previous attempts at class 3 – to steal the victory. Mass Media’s Tea wasn’t the only one to disappoint in that race. Pildu (Silver Train) and I’d Rather Be Lucky (Gobson County) – the most expensive imported two-year old of the year – were also well beaten.

Steaming: Maono made it two out of two

Some two-year olds did live up to their reputations, however. Three fillies to be precise. Ruby Queen (Badge Of Silver) became the fist juvenile this year to win at a distance greater than seven furlongs, when she claimed the nine-furlong race 8 to take her overall record to three wins from four starts. A race earlier, Grand First (Salt Lake) scored a narrow victory over seven furlongs to also put herself on three from four while Maono (Menifee) now has a perfect two-from-two after winning race 5.

Sons of Menifee cleaned up in the Breeders’ Cup, Korea’s biggest Juvenile race, last weekend. It seems he is going to be well-represented in terms of fillies too as his first Korean crop head for the three-year old Classics in 2011.

Today’s feature race went the way of Ace Galloper. The three-year old got the better of a final furlong tussle with Blue Pin to claim the class 1 handicap. Jilpunggangho was third. Ace Galloper (Chapel Royal) was scoring the ninth win of his fourteen race career.

Seoul Racecourse: Saturday December 4, 2010

Racing returns to Seoul on Sunday with an eleven race card from 11:20 to 18:00, however, race of the day is at Busan where it is Owners’ Cup Day. Derby winner Cheonnyean Daero faces tough opposition from Namdo Jeap and Golden Appeal in the highlight of a six race card which runs from 12:35 to 16:30.

Sun Hero is Champion Korean Juvenile / Clean Sweep for Sire Menifee in Breeders’ Cup

They were supposed to be the second-string from owner Lee Shin Keun and trainer Seo Beom Seok. Instead, Sun Hero ran out the length and a half winner of the Breeders’ Cup at a frozen Seoul Race Park this afternoon to become the peninsula’s champion Juvenile of 2010. In second place was stablemate – and pre-race favourite – Sun Blaze.

Sun & Moon: Sun Hero and Moon Se Young in the Winner's Circle

Shrewd punters would have noticed that jockey Moon Se Young received a five-day riding ban last weekend but had asked for it to be deferred by one week to allow him to ride today. In doing so, he ruled himself out of a chance to ride in the Grand Prix Stakes, the nation’s most prestigious race in a fortnight’s time. Clearly he believed Sun Hero wasn’t there just to make up the numbers.

And Moon, whose ban means he will almost certainly fall short in his quest for the jockey’s championship, was at his imperious best as he kept Sun Hero just off the lead early in the 1300 metre race, bringing him to the front inside the final furlong and holding on as Sun Blaze and Park Tae Jong came challenging down the centre of the track. As they returned to scale Moon celebrated with the exuberance of a man for whom a plan – and a gamble – had paid off.

The Breeders’ Cup race was an amalgamation of Busan’s Breeders’ Cup and Seoul’s Herald Business which in previous years had been the two tracks’ Juvenile championships. Significantly, today’s race was restricted to colts and fillies who will be eligible for next year’s Triple Crown races and was the first time that colts and fillies from Seoul and Busan could face off against one another prior to the three-year old Classics. Seoul today took first and second place but in third was Busan’s 150/1 outsider Useung Touch.

Sun Hero and Sun Blaze not only have the same trainer and owner but also the same sire, Menifee. Indeed Useung Touch meant a clean sweep for the stallion who arrived in Korea in 2006 and whose first crop of two-year olds look destined for great things.

Disappointments of the race were Busan’s highly rated pair of Heukdujanggun and the previously undefeated Hwallyeok Energy. They finished eleventh and last respectively. Recently Busan has dominated the Classics, today will give Seoul heart but a lot could happen between now and next April when the best of the generation will convene in Busan for the KRA Cup Mile.

One race later on a bitterly cold day, five-year old Kahnui Jeonseol, produced a surprise win in the afternoon’s feature handicap. The New Zealand bred gelding edged out K J Khan and Owners’ Cup winner Serendipper by half a length. For Kahnui Jeonseol (Howbaddouwantit), it was his first win for nearly two years, his first at class 1 and only his third overall. Meanwhile, joining him at Class 1 in future will be Balhaemyeongjang. The three-year old edged out Cheongha Eutteum for a narrow win in race 8.

You Hyun Myung was the only visiting Busan jockey to score a winner

While five jockeys from Busan were in town for the weekend, only one of them, You Hyun Myung, rode a winner. You partnered filly Gyemyeongui Bit to an easy victory in race 7. Back home on the South Coast, those jockeys missed out on a six-race card, the star of which was fast improving colt Wanggol. The three-year old Australian import took on a host of the track’s elder statesmen in the feature race. He had few problems dealing with them though as he made all to romp to a two-length win from Full Forest and Admiral Reigart. Wanggol (Jet Spur) now has a record of five wins from eight starts.

Breeders’ Cup (KOR.GIII) – Seoul Race Park – 1300M – November 28, 2010

1. Sun Hero (KOR) [Menifee – Strategic Reward (Bold Revenue)] – Moon Se Young – 14.1, 3.7
2. Sun Blaze (KOR) [Menifee – Claudia’s Secret (Crafty Prospector)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.3
3. Useung Touch (KOR) [Menifee – Jenny Tudor (Gulch)] – Yang Young Nam – 24.3

Distances: 1.5 lengths/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Dallija 5. Cheonji Horyeong 6. Haesan 7. Winette Dancer 8. Soseuldaemun 9. Absolute 10. Gaemamusa 11. Heukdujanggun 12. King Field 13. Mustang King 14. Hwallyeok Energy

Balhaemyeongjang and Cho Kyoung Ho edge Cheongha Eutteum to claim race 8

And so ends another fabulous weekend’s entertainment at the racecourse. Next week it’s the Busan Owners’ Cup and the week after it’s the biggest of them all, the Grand Prix Stakes at Seoul. We start our build-up to both of them tomorrow.

Only Korean Filly Wins STC / Lucky Mountain Scores

It was close, but up against some of the brightest young imported fillies, Korean bred Urikkot did just enough to clinch victory in the Selangor Turf Club Trophy at a bitterly cold Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Selangor Turf Club Trophy Presentation - STC Chairman Datuk Cham is next to jockey Cho Kyoung Ho

Sent off the slight favourite, Cho Kyoung Ho and the lightly raced three-year old hit the front in the home straight after early leaders Blown Sky High and Kkochyeol faded and though tiring herself, built up enough of a lead to hold off the challenge of Blueband Mama and Boo Min Ho who swept by just the wrong side of the line.

A late starter, Urikkot (Creek Cat) only debuted as a three-year old this year. She’s now won four of her six starts. This was the sixth running of the Selangor Turf Club Trophy and STC Chairman Datuk Cham was on hand to present the awards. Unfortunately, hardly anyone was around to hear his speech as the 40,000 punters in attendance had retreated to the warmth of the grandstand to escape the biting wind, long before the presentation got underway.

Urikkot and Cho Kyoung Ho in the Winners' Circle

Also in attendance were two Malaysian jockeys, Veerapan Sivan and Salleh Mutaza. Neither troubled the placings in the STC Trophy, however, Mutaza scored a third placed finish in race 5 on Daedamham.

For jockey Cho Kyoung Ho, it was a second trip to the Presentation stage in as many weeks, following Dongbang Rose’s Nonghyup win last Sunday. The day got even better for Cho as immediately after the STC, he guided Lucky Mountain to victory in the afternoon’s feature handicap. The five-year old mare scored a half-length win over Winner Prince and favourite Janggun Bada. With main rival Moon Se Young riding his last weekend of the year before a five-meeting ban kicks in, Cho is also in pole position to claim the jockeys’ championship.

Lee Keum Joo - scored the first of three winners for female jockeys today

Speaking of jockeys, it was a good day for the small contingent of female riders in Korean racing. Lee Keum Joo rarely rides these days but she made an appearance in race 1 at Seoul today and it was a winning one as she partnered Cheonguntaehu to a half-length win over favourite Yahoo Event. It was just a seventeenth win for Lee in a nine-year career. Already closing in on that figure is Kim Hae Sun. The twenty-two year old claimed her eleventh win as she got the best of a four-way photo finish to race 6 on filly Miss Nine.

Down on Jeju Island, Kim Da Young was newly licensed this year and she already looks set to follow Na Yu Na and Kim Ju Hee who are both established as top riders in the pony racing colony on the island. Today she scored her fourth winner, guiding Uryangsidae – a pony she’s won on before – to victory in race 2.

STC Trophy – Seoul Race Park – 1300M – November 27, 2010

1. Urikkot (KOR) [Creek Cat – Miswick (The Wicked North)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 2.0, 1.1
2. Blueband Mama (USA) [Purge – Meadow Bryte (Meadowlake)] – Boo Min Ho – 1.3
3. Fortunata (USA) [Eurosilver – Eleanor’s Song (Seattle Song)] – Shin Hyoung Chul – 5.0

Distances: Neck/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Worincheong 5. Milwaukee Money 6. Kkochyeol 7. Soul Legend 8. Grand Ace 9. Jangson 10. Dangmasan 11. Major Lady 12. Skiff’s Chic 13. Atlantic Queen 14. Blown Sky High

The Malaysian flag was flying at Seoul Race Park today

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when Sun Blaze and Heukdujanggun will be favourites in the Breeders’ Cup at Seoul Race Park. There are eleven races at Seoul from 11:20 to 18:10 and six at Busan from 12:40 to 16:30.

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.