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

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