Filly Cruises To Victory in Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup

It looked touch and go for a while, but those of us who doubted Magic Party were put firmly in our place as the two-year old swept to victory in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Could It Be Magic? Magic Party and Park Tae Jong

Sent off odds-on favourite on the strength of a fourteen length stroll last time out, the filly was always well placed but had a fight on her hands as early pace-setter and second favourite Smyth, refused to give way as they hit the home tsraight in the six furlong race. However, under champion jockey Park Tae Jong, Magic Party found another gear and swept past Smyth and Park Byeong Yun in the final half-furlong to take victory by just over a length.

After an impressive run, Smyth held on for third with Sun Hero, who actually holds a win over Magic Party, running into third.

Magic Party - what's next?

Magic Party looks to have a bright future ahead of her, but it won’t be won’t be in next year’s Classics. She, like second placed Smyth, though born in Korea was conceived elsewhere and therefore doesn’t qualify. Regardless, she’ll have plenty of other opportunities to show her talent.

Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – October 16, 2010

1. Magic Party (KOR) [Artie Schiller – Gigi’s Magic (Allen’s Prospect)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.3, 1.0
2. Smyth (KOR) [Consolidator – Ghostly Gal (Silver Ghost)] – Park Byeong Yun – 1.3
3. Sun Hero (KOR)[Menifee – Strategic Reward (Bold Revenue)] – Moon Se Young – 1.2

Distances: 1.25 lengths/6 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Ugilcheonha 5. Cheonjibaram 6. Queen’s Brown 7. Eocheonmansa 8. Sahara

In other races, there was an impressive debut for another two-year old. US import Mass Media [Mass Media – Tea Pot Joy (Joyeux Danseur)] was sent off odds-on in race 6 and didn’t disappoint as he overwhelmed his rivals to take a six length win without breaking into a gallop.

In the feature handicap, filly Dongbang Rose proved her connections correct in choosing to skip last week’ Minister’s Cup, as she swept to a two length victory over Chowon Dream.

Donghae Suho and Choi Bum Hyun (Number 4) hit the front at Seoul today

Tomorrow, the two-year old focus switches to Busan and the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup.

Sunday October 17

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:30 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Perfect Conditions Greet Minister’s Cup Weekend

Punters have become accustomed to the weather forecast being wrong this year, mostly to their detriment. Today, however, the promised rain never looked like arriving and Seoul Race Park basked in what was possibly the most glorious day of the year.

Choegoro (right) leads on his way to victory at Seoul today

On the track, it was low-key with tomorrow’s Minister’s Cup greatly overshadowing anything today could offer but there was still an entertaining afternoon’s sport for the 40,000 in attendance. Here are the performances of note:

* The feature race ended in victory for Geumgangi. The Munhwa Ilbo Cup winner had disappointed in the Ilgan Sports last month but led wire-to-wire to lead home Yeah Strike and Seon San in the 1900 metre handicap.

* Fourth in the Oaks, Kanui Byeol was expected to get back to winning ways in race 10 today. However, despite being sent off at long odds-on, she was edged out of it on the line as colt Real Victor just got up to claim his third career victory.

* One reputation that was enhanced was that of Choegoro [Exploit – Unzipper (Bio)]. The late starting gelding won in race 7 to take him to two wins from three races. The manner of his victory suggests we’ll be seeing more of him in future.

* Of the imports, US bred filly Lady Hazzy’s [Lightnin ‘N Thunder – Loverofmysoul (Is It True)] was a debut winner in race 6, beating fellow American two-year old filly Our Camp (Forest Camp) into second. Look out for Our Camp though – as soon as she is given an extra furlong, she’ll win.

* Down on Jeju, champion juvenile honours were awarded to Bulbitgunja. The gelding beat out seven fellow two-year old ponies to win Jeju’s most valuable juvenile race.

Sunshine & Shade: In the right places for a perfect day's sport

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow when it is Minister’s Cup day. Dangdae Bulpae will be favoured to beat Derby winner Cheonnyeon Daero when the field goes to post for the final leg of the 2010 Korean Triple Crown at 5pm. Here’s what’s happening tomorrow:

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Aussie Trainer and Japanese Jockey combine at Busan

It was a cracking Friday at Busan for Peter Wolsley as the Australian trainer saddled a remarkable four winners. To add to the international success, three of those were ridden by Japanese jockey Yoshiyuki Aoki.

Peter Wolsley (left) had 4 winners, 3 of them ridden by Yoshi Aoki

The pair combined for the first time in race 1 where Wolsley’s highly rated two-year old gelding Optimus [Fine N’Majestic – Cat Beluga (Hennesy)] was amking his racecourse debut. Punters were ready for him, backing him into an unbettable 1.1 on the tote and he duly obliged by six lengths. Indeed, Optimus was a triumph all round for Korean racing’s international contingent, his owner being the Peter Hill headed Pegasus Farm.

Improving colt Pnata Rhei (Stormy Atlantic) provided their next success, in race 3 before they paired up again with US bred filly I Am Cruising (Value Plus) to land race 8. In between those, Wolsley had another winner in the shape of the difficult to pronounce but very exciting three-year old colt Gyeongkwaehanjilju (Tapit). It was the grey’s third win from four starts.

It was Wolsley’s most successful day in his nearly three years at Busan. The fact that all four winners were sent off favourite – two of them long-odds on show the kind of quality that is now in his stable. It hasn’t always been like that. Just as new foreign jockeys generally get the no-hopers to ride, so Wolsley wasn’t awash with Grand Prix Stakes contenders. The winners started to come though and today’s quartet takes him to a total of 75 winners from just shy of 450 starters.

In his stable now, apart from today’s two up-and-comers, he has a competitive set of horses. Pegaus has four in training with him while he handles five for Isidore Farm – another foreign headed Jeju outfit. Among those is Ganghan Yeoja, the filly who has won her last three races. Other class 1 horses in Wolsley’s care are 2008 Derby winner Ebony Storm and 2009 contender Impeccable as well as stalwarts Khaosan, Suryeohan and Yeoreumbi who, to cap a magnificent day, managed a third place finish in this afternoon’s feature race.

Both Isidore and Pegasus are among those owners who’ve sent horses to Busan’s newest overseas trainer, American Joe Murphy, who has fifteen horses in training.

* To cap a bad day for the local jockey’s union, Hitomi Miyashita ensured that four of the ten races went to Japanese riders by landing race 9 on High Best.

Three year-old Effortlessly Hands Dongbanui Gangja Second Defeat

The handover is complete. If there were doubts over his first win over Dongbanui Gangja, Tough Win quashed them today by easing to victory in the KRA Cup Classic at Seoul Race Park.

The big question before the race was whether Dongbanui Gangja would run in a straight line. That combined with the 63 kilos he was assigned to carry, meant punters sent him off at 3/1 – the longest price he’s been for over two years. Tough Win was made odds-on favourite, yet the three-year old still had plenty of questions of his own to answer following his less than convincing win in Busan in July.

Answer them he did. As expected, Cho Kyoung Ho sent Tough Win into an early lead while Choi Bum Hyun kept Dongbanui Gangja a few places off the pace-setters. As they rounded the final turn, they hit the critical part of the race as Choi advanced the double-Grand Prix champion around the outside of the field and pointed him towards the finish.

The five-year old resisted for a moment or two but quickly relented and began racing. In times gone by this would have been enough to guarantee victory but today it was far too late. Tough Win, hugging the rail kicked on as they entered the straight and was out of reach. So comfortable was the victory, that Cho Kyoung Ho began easing him with half a furlong still to go and crossed the line at a canter.

Number One: Tough Win

Dongbanui Gangja was within five lengths of him at the finish but the distance meant little. Korean racing has a new King. Larrycat, widely predicted to be the one who could pounce should the favourites fail to fire, stayed on well for third, a further two lengths back.

Tough Win now has nine wins from nine starts. A third contest with Dongbanui Gangja is likely in the season ending Grand Prix in December. Although the weights will not be so much in the younger horse’s favour then, it is hard to see him getting beaten. As of today it is official. Tough Win is the best racehorse in Korea.

KRA Cup Classic (KOR.G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – October 3, 2010

1. Tough Win (USA) [Yonaguska – Maggie Mae’s Sword (Sword Dance)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.6, 1.1
2. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.4
3. Larrycat (USA) [Fantasticat – Tiger In My Tank (Tiger)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.8

Distances: 5 lengths/2 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Free Hugs 5. Angus Empire 6. Cheonjidolpung 7. Baekjeonmupae 8. Kahnui Jeonseol 9. Serendipper 10. Hwanggeumjandi 11. Emperor Cugat 12. Indian Secret 13. Park’s Pride

* Thanks to Roar for the upload

A Choi Bum Hyun ridden closer leaves himself too much to do in the home straight and just fails to catch the winner. Twenty-four hours from now we could be writing this about Dongbanui Gangja. Today, however, it was the turn of Ttukseom Cup winner Triple Seven to fail to do enough in the final furlong as Natural Guy strode to victory in the feature race at Seoul Race Park.

Triple Seven: Suffered third straight defeat

On a day which saw unforecasted torrential rain, Triple Seven finished like a train, but it was too late and the five-year old is now without a win in his last three starts.

Class 1 (Handicap) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – October 2, 2010

1. Natural Guy (KOR) [Social Charter – Rocky Stream (Reprimand)] – Yoon Tae Hyoug – 3.5, 1.6
2. Triple Seven (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Impudence (Grand Lodge)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.1
3. Baengnyeonbong (KOR) [Al Naba – Sonsovino Art (Mister C.)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 2.3

Distances: 1 length/Head – 12 ran

* As for Sunday and the KRA Cup Classic showdown between Champion Dongbanui Gangja and upstart Tough Win, it is so hard to make a case to bet on Dongbanui Gangja. He is still, perhaps the best horse in the race but going against him is the weight – he will carry over four kilos more and also the uncertainty as to whether he will even get round. We don’t usually have to worry about this in a flat race but in his last two starts, Dongbanui Gangja has veered crazily off the racing line.

Presumably his trainer has been working on little else in the two months since his last appearance and it would be wonderful if he could pull off the win and set up a final duel at the Grand Prix in December. However, the head must rule the heart. Tough Win will be favourite but look elsewhere on the board for value. Larrycat could surprise both of them.

Sunday October 3

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Dong-A Ilbo Goes With Form But Shocks in GC and MJC Trophies at Busan

Second favourite Golden Rose came out on top in the battle of the fillies & mares in the Dong-A Ilbo Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Golden Rose

After yesterday’s glorious weather, it was a dismal afternoon in the capital. It rained. A lot. It wasn’t heavy but just light, incessant drizzle that over a period of hours slowly soaked everything and everybody. Not that that mattered to Moon Se Young and Golden Rose.

After Misopia set the early pace in the seven furlong race, Tamnahwanhui hit the front with a furlong to go. Golden Rose was travelling the quicker, however and cruised past the favourite to score victory by nearly two lengths. Meotjin Segye was third. Four-year old Golden Rose was recording her fifth win from seventeen starts and her first this year.

Japanese jockey Yoshi Aoki had a brief and low-key stint at Seoul Race Park last year. This week he returned to Korea to take up a license at Busan and in his first weekend of racing, he’s already achieved more than the vast majority of visiting riders do in their entire Korean careers.

Riding 60/1 outside Glory Yonggwang, Aoki grabbed a shock victory in the Gold Circle Trophy, a race sponsored by South Africa’s Gold Circle organisation. It was a real come-from-behind performance by Glory Yonggwang who was last coming into the home straight. In the end, he came past favourite Deep Desire in the last few strides to win by half a length.

The shocks weren’t finished there at Busan. Next up was the Macau Jockey Club Trophy, which saw 33/1 shot Global Champ take the honours. The four-year old held off fellow Australian-bred colt Dudeurim to take the prize by two and a half lengths.

Front And Back: Moon Se Young and Golden Rose in the Donga Ilbo Winner's Circle

Dong-A Ilbo Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – September 19, 2010

1. Golden Rose (KOR) [Buster’s Daydream – Pop’s Apple (Digangi’s Thunder)] – Moon Se Young – 4.4, 2.0
2. Tamnahwanhui (KOR) [Al Naba – Bulbijihye (Pro For Sure)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.5
3. Meotjin Segye (KOR) [Concept Win – Ch’eon-Goju (Centro)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.9

Distances: 1.75 lengths/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Hwansanguimulgyeol 5. Chowon Dream 6. Misopia 7. Rose Cat 8. Taeyangui Yeogeol 9. Isanghwa 10. Magic Collar 11. Good Leader 12. Jayeongwang 13. Mighty Girl 14. Yeopungjudo

Gold Circle Trophy – Busan Race Park – 1400M – September 19, 2010

1. Glory Yeonggwang (KOR) [Didyme – Lady Sandido (Sandrigo)] – Yoshiyuki Aoki – 61.5, 7.4
2. Deep Desire (KOR) [Jump Start – Bayou Rules (Cure The Blues)] – You Hyun Myung – 1.4
3. Dongbangmiin (KOR) [Yehudi – Pyeonghwaroun (Kingsview)] – Lee Hee Cheon – 5.4

Distances: 0.75 lengths/4 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Uprising 5. Sagyejeol Wangja 6. Udeumji 7. Seongsanui Beongae 8. Donghae Gangho 9. Hidden Messenger 10. Thunder Clap 11. Namdo Myeongjang 12. Myeongbulheojeon

Macao Jockey Club Trophy – Busan Race Park – 1400M – September 19, 2010

1. Global Champ (AUS) [Charge Forward – Amarocco (Brocco)] – Mun Jung Won – 32.4, 7.1
2. Dudeurum (AUS) [Delago Brom – Ravissante (Rechabite)] – You Hyun Myung – 2.8
3. Field Tripping (USA) [Trippi – Lilly’softhefield (Struggler)] – Jo Sung Gon – 6.0

Distances: 2.5 lengths/1.25 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Ecton Legacy 5. I Am Cruising 6. Mystery Boy 7. Wanggol 8. Cha Cha 9. Lovely Woman 10. Seungni Cheonsa 11. Best Record 12. Payton Power DQ. Gaeseon Gangho

Download English Language Stewards’ Report from Busan

Two of Seoul’s up-and-coming stars were in action this afternoon and both Big Easy and Jilpunggangho further enhanced their ever-growing reputations.

Easy Does It: Going to use that as a headline if Big Easy keeps performing the way he has so far

First up on a beautiful early autumn afternoon in the capital was Big Easy. The three-year old colt was making his second appearance in a class 2 race and, after being sent to the front early by Jung Ki Yong, never looked in any great danger as he led the field home by a length. Big Easy [Agnes Gold – Belmont Grace (Adjudicating)] was winning his seventh race in eight total starts and will be running at class 1 level next time.

Jilpunggangho: Seventh win today

Already at class 1 today was Jilpunggangho [Max’s Pal – Spicy Soup (Alphabet Soup)]. It was a close-run thing after early pace-setter Hallyu Star faded away in the home straight. It looked for a while as though former champion mare Lucky Mountain was going to return to the Winner’s Circle for the first time since March, however, Jilpungganho and Choi Bum Hyun just did enough to get up by a nose and score a seventh win from eleven starts for the colt.

Despite both officially being Korean bred and three-years old, neither are eligible for the Classics with both their dams being imported to Korea while in-foal. Except for the Classics, however, that doesn’t matter and we could be in for some exciting performances as both progress to the elite tier of Korean racing.

Today was significant in that there were thirteen races run in a single card for the first time for several years. The additional race being run to make up for the race that was lost due to a tote board failure three weeks ago. Also significant for punters was that for the first time in goodness knows how many weeks, umbrellas weren’t required as the track basked in perfect punting conditions.

Underemployed for so long, the waterers were back at Seoul today

Tomorrow, racing returns to Seoul with the Dong-a Ilbo Cup while at Busan it is “International Day” with both the Gold Circle and Macao Jockey Club Trophies up for grabs:

Sunday September 19

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 race from 12:40 to 16:30

Three Year Olds Sweep Stakes at Seoul & Busan

In a season where three-year olds have in general been disappointing, today two of that generation overcame their older foes to land big prizes. At Seoul Best Holls was the suprise winner of the Ilgan Sports Cup, while down at Busan, Dangdae Bulpae, third in the Derby earlier this year, landed the Gyeongnam Governor’s Trophy.

Best Holls poses with Lee Sang Hyeok in the Ilgan Sports winner's circle

Punters at Seoul sent Best Holls off at 44/1 to win the Ilgan – the longest running “name” race on the Korean racing calendar. Under Lee Sang Hyeok, the colt was always showing towards the front and when long-time leader Daehanbobae began to weaken in the home straight, he took over. Suseong TX proved his strongest challenger, but he was able to hold off the five-year old by a neck to take victory. Pre-race favourite Geumgangi was the big disappointment, the Munhwa Ilbo winner finishing way back in eleventh.

Best Holls [Fiercely – Onethindime (Tactical Advantage)] was winning his fourth race in his last five starts and his fifth in total.

At Busan, Sangseung Ilro was an early scratching for the Group 3 Governor’s Trophy which reduced the field to seven. Yeonseung Daero was sent off slight favourite following his excellent performance in the Busan Metropolitan in his last outing. As ever, Minister’s Cup winer Namdo Jeap bounced out of the gate and into an early lead. Unlike in the Minister’s Cup, he couldn’t keep it as Dangdae Bulpae and Jo Chang Wook came through and took victory by two lengths.

Golden Appeal just headed Namdo Jeap to grab second. As for Yeonseung Daero, he never got going. As has been the story of his career, he’s either very good or he doesn’t show up at all. Today was the latter.

Dangdae Bulpae now has seven wins from a total of ten starts. He must surely be favourite when the leading three-year olds reconvene at Seoul in November for the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Back at Seoul two jockeys were celebrating their first wins at the track today. Japanese rider Hirotaka Hamada – tipped by some to be the foreign jockey who finally makes it big at Seoul – stormed to victory on Sun Best in race 1 to record his first win in Korea following his debut last week. It was an even bigger day though for apprentice rider Lee Gang Seo. Riding in his fourteenth race, Lee guided 47/1 outsider Gippeumui Geunwon in race 6.

Flat Out: Jockey Lee Gang Seo scores his first ever race win on Gippeumui Geunwon

After all the stakes action was over and done with, there was still a big handicap to sort out at Seoul. Bally Brae was there, however the eight-year old – with only one win this year – was assigned a preposterous 61kg to carry, 7kg more than any other horse in the race.

Jockey Moon Se Young, while not normally considered a contender for PETA membership, cares deeply about this horse and eased him in the home straight when it became obvious a place finish wasn’t on the cards. Up ahead of them, five-year old Mr. Loving Life took the honours, ahead of favourite Victory Town.

Loving it: Ham Wan Sik on Mr Loving Life (2) leads Victory Town (9) and Cho Kyoung Ho to the line in the big handicap

GyeongNam Governor’s Trophy (KOR.G.III) – Busan Race Park – 1800M – September 12, 2010

1. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] – Jo Chang Wook – 5.4, 1.8
2. Golden Appeal (KOR) [Sharp Appeal – Golden Image (Dancer’s Image)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.6
3. Namdo Jeap (KOR) [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – Yang Young Nam – 1.8

Distances: 2 lengths/Neck
Also Ran: 4. Lucky Dancer; 5. Khaosan; 6. Yeonseung Daero; 7. Mulbora
Non-Runner: Sangseung Ilro

Ilgan Sports Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – September 12, 2010

1. Best Holls (KOR) [Fiercely – Onethindime (Tactical Advantage)] – Lee Sang Hyeok – 44.8, 7.5
2. Suseong TX (KOR) [Concept Win – Oktong-I (Kyeoi Blossom)] – Moon Se Young – 1.4
3. Dansimga (KOR) [Exploit – Habidongju (Silent Warrior)] – Park Byeong Yun – 3.5

Distances: Head/2.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Daehanbobae; 5. Gayabobae; 6. Super Jet; 7. Andy’s Runner; 8. Grand Money; 9. Khanui Huye; 10. Jebe; 11. Geumgangi; 12. Luxury Jewang; 13. Tamnaseontaek

Download English language Stewards’ Report from Busan.

There was action at both Seoul and Jeju Race Parks today. Here’s what happened:

Rare Winner: Won Jung Il

* There was a surprise in the feature race as 40/1 outsider Sesemanse led from gate-to-wire to claim the 10 furlong class 1 handicap. Under jockey Won Jung I, who was also scoring a rare win, the six-year old finished two lengths clear of second placed Hongji with favourite Wangson – recent winner of the SBS Cup, dead-heating with Daesahyong for third a further five lengths adrift.

*Apprentice jockey Jang Chu Yeol, who scored his first ever winner last Sunday didn’t have to wait long to make a second appearance in the winner’s Circle. He claimed race 2 on Sobaengnyeong beating out Moon Se Young on hot favourite Sun Hero.

* A filly won the event for Korean-bred unraced two-year olds. However, the interestingly named Dynaspurt (Langfuhr) won’t be eligible for the Classics next year.

* Another two-year old filly breaking her maiden was US import Kkochyeol [Essence Of Dubai – A Star Has Risen (Rock Band)]. The heavy favourite beat out a field of fellow juveniles by a length.

* Jeju Race Park hosted one of the Island’s biggest annual pony races in the form of the KRA Jeju Cup. The prixe went to second favourite Hwangjini a filly who at three-years old, was he youngest pony in the race. It was her sixth win from eleven starts on the Island.

Full results can be found at the KRA’s website.