We already knew she was a special filly, yet today Sangseung Ilro scored arguably the most impressive win of her illustrious career as she overcame the Busan mud and a host of foreign bred rivals to win the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo (Citizen News) Cup.

One of only two Korean bred starters, Sangseung Ilro and jockey Lim Sung Sil were slow away as Jo Sung Gon – who had spurned the ride on the 2009 Derby winner – bolted for the rail on Useung Geotap. The field battled through the backstretch in driving rain and as they turned for home, Lim found himself on the rail with nowhere to go.

Useung Geotap launched into the stretch while Sangseung Ilro was turned this way and that, looking for an opening. Each time a door seemed to open though, it was immediately slammed shut. Finally, with a furlong to go, more in desperation than anything else, Lim checked Sangseung Ilro – who was still in sixth place – almost bringing her to a stop, and dragged her to the wide outside. Finally she had a clear run, but surely it was too late.

It was anything but. With Useung Geotap tiring, Sangseung Ilro relentlessly ran her down, hitting the front with thirty metres to go and remarkably pulling away for a two length win. Behind her, Brown Beauty edged out Useung Geotap for second.

Winner of the KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby, second in the Korean Oaks and third in the Minister’s Cup in 2009 and now winner of the KNN Cup and Do Min Ilbo Cup, Sangseung Ilro is rapidly becoming one of the most decorated horses in Korean racing. Whether it’s males or foreign bred horses, she has now beaten them all.

Gyeongnam Citizen News Cup – Busan Race Park – 1800M – July 11, 2010

1. Sangseung Ilro (KOR) [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.8, 1.1
2. Brown Beauty (JPN) [Jolie’s Halo – Big Paradise (Timber Country)] – Mun Jung Won – 3.0
3. Useung Geotap (USA) [Dehere – Answer To Me (Peteski)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.4

Distances: 2 lengths/Neck
Also Ran: 4. Mighty Hero, 5. Annika Queen, 6. Daejiui Yeosin, 7. Ilchul Gwangya, 8. Jilju Hara, 9. Double The Gold, 10. Ima Firecracker, 11. Smart As Me

Up at Seoul the weather was better even if the racing wasn’t. Jockeys’ Union Chairman “Comrade” Kim Dong Kyun completed a good weekend by grabbing his second winner on Complete Power, a horse appropriately named given the status of his organisation.

Complete Power: Chairman Kim Dong Kyun (3) takes the lead

Meanwhile, leading jockey Moon Se Young endured a frustrating day before winning race 9 on up and comer Thewon Thewon.

Flat Out: Boo Min Ho drives Hwa Jin to the finish

A number of long-standing also-rans finally broke their maidens. Hwa Jin was the first of two winners for jockey Boo Min Ho while Golden Cat made it nineteenth time lucky in race 6 and Cherokee Man got his first win in twenty attempts in race 8.

Cherokee Man and Yoon Tae Hyoug take race 8

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Three more for Cho / Mystery Boy easy at Busan
We’re about to embark on two weekends of top class racing on the peninsula with next week’s Gyeongnam Do-Min Ilbo Cup followed by a golden Sunday evening on July 18th with the SBS Cup at Seoul and the Busan Mayor’s Cup down South. Today was a little more low-key but there was still plenty of note at both Seoul and Busan.

Raon Chamber & Cho Kyoung Ho return to scale after victory

At Seoul, jockey Cho Kyoung Ho scored a double-header of big wins. First up he shepherded Raon Chamber to her fifth win from nine starts, the three-year old having no problems seeing off a small field of fellow fillies in race 9. Race 10 was a little less routine, but he managed to coax Suseong TX to the tightest of victories in the feature race. The favourite just edged out long-time leader Ganghan Speed as they hit the line.

Wink & you'll miss it: Cheondomalli (number 9) overcomes Wink (2)

Cho didn’t have it all his own way, however. Earlier he had been on the receiving end of a final strode turnaround as Lee Sang Hyeok and Cheondomalli got the better of Cho and favourite Wink in race 6.

Park Jong Mi parades for the first time at Seoul

In between, there was a smart win for US import Deosen over hot favourite Seoului Gangja in race 8 as well as a racing debut for new lady jockey Park Jong Mi. Twenty-five year old Park is one of four young jockeys who will make their debuts during July. She was scheduled to have her first ride yesterday but her horse was withdrawn so instead she took her bow on fillu Geumjaru in race 5. Despite showing at the front during the race, Geumjaru weakened to sixth – one place outside the money – in the home straight.

Down at Busan, there was new jockey drama as Japanese rider Ketsuya Sameshima found himself demoted to third in the last race after his mount Sunshine Halo collided with Ecton Legacy as they battled for second place. Both, however, were well-beaten by the impressive Mystery Boy [Ecton Park – Mysterious Moll (Bates Motel)] who was recording his fourth win from five starts. As well as the demotion, Sameshima picked up a three-day ban for his troubles.

There was less drama in Busan’s most valuable race of the day as favourite Daldeongi held off Gunham for a narrow win.

Won Jung Il drives Deosen into the lead

Cheonun wins Sports Seoul while Derby Winner scores successful homecoming at Busan

Favourite Cheonun was too fast and too good for her rivals as she swept to a comfortable victory in the Sports Seoul Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. In doing so, she leaped to the top of the three-year old filly ranks ahead of the Korean Oaks which will be run at Busan in August.

Sent off at odds slighty better than evens, Cheonun took up a prominent position early on in the 1700 metre trial, behind early pace-setters Magic Collar and Euro Fighter with Dongbang Rose also showing at the front.

This was how it would stay until they entered the home straight and Oh Kyoung Hoan kicked for the line on Cheonun. A short burst of energy put her in front and she extended her lead in the final furlong to win by a comfortable five lengths on the line. Dongbang Rose got closest in second with outsider Euro Fighter hanging on for a creditable third.

Second-favourite Manjeomhwanhui left her run too late and could only snatch fourth while the only others to attract serious support in the betting ring, Kanui Byeol and Hushtilled were fifth and sixth respectively.

Cheonun [Ft. Stockton – Restless Patricia (Born Restless)] now moves on to four wins from eight starts and at this stage looks to have every chance of being the first Seoul horse to win the Oaks at Busan.

Of course, Busan horses have dominated the Classics in recent times and this year’s Korean Derby victor, Cheonnyeon Daero made his first appearance since his triumph in May in the feature race at the Southern track this afternoon. It was a winning homecoming as he hit the front with a furlong to go and then held off old favourite Pick Me Up who was finishing strongly, to win by a neck.

Sports Seoul Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1700M – June 27, 2010

1. Cheonun (KOR) [Ft. Stockton – Restless Patricai (Born Restless)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – Win: 2.2, Place: 1.2
2. Dongbang Rose (KOR) [Volponi – Night Mary (Strike Gold)] – Shin Hyoung Chul – Place: 2.9
3. Euro Fighter (KOR) [Archer City Slew – Ilso Cheongun (High Yield)] – Place: 6.5

Distances: 5 lengths/2.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Manjeomhwanhui; 5. Kanui Byeol; 6. Hushtilled; 7. Magic Collae; 8. Saeroungamun; 9. Special Volpony; 10. Blue Band Zet; 11. Candy Gongju

Cho Kyoung Ho Scores Five

Nice Choice got through his comeback without any setbacks, but neither he, nor any of another eight challengers, were any match for the imperious Ace Galloper at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Ace Galloper strolls

The three-year old was coming back from a two-month lay-off to take his chance in class 1 racing for the first time and, while Free Woody did his best to make him work, Ace Galloper was simply too strong. Cho Kyoung Ho asked the colt for another gear as they entered the home straight and he cruised away from the field for a four-length win.

Nice Choice, last year’s President’s Cup winner ran into sixth and looked but a shadow of the horse who defeated Baekgwang to take 2009’s most valuable race last November. Ace Galloper meanwhile, moves on to seven victories from ten starts.

Victory Town

Ace Galloper was the fourth of a remarkable five wins for jockey Cho Kyoung Ho. He kicked things off with a maiden win on US import Haneori in race 4, before guiding two-year old gelding Skyfull to his second consecutive victory in race 6. A win on Victory Town, last seen running second in the JRA Trophy, followed in race 9 before he completed the card with a win on Raon Glory in the last.

Cho Kyoung Ho unsaddles after another winner

In other races, there was win a for improving four-year old filly Tamnahwanhui, while early on the day, Japanese jockey Toshiyuki Katoh continued his recent good form by landing race 2 on Raon Sunshine. That race saw one of today’s few setbacks for Cho Kyoung Ho as he could only manage third place on favourite Interlaken. There was also a rare win for a Canadian bred horse as
Gippeun Sesang [Behrens – Bellus (Saint Ballado)] scored in race 7.

Down at Busan, there was a second consecutive win for exciting three-year old filly Money Tree. Like Ace Galloper, Money Tree [Medallist – Money Trust (Hennessy)] was born in Korea but was conceived elsewhere and therefore isn’t eligible for the Classics. Nevertheless, her imminent entry to the class 1 ranks at Busan is eagerly awaited.

Meanwhile in the Southern track’s feature race, Australian bred Seonnyang Yongsa scored a narrow victory over Jungwon Jepae.

Tamnahwanhui drives clear of Top Myeongye

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It was supposed to rain all weekend. Instead, racegoers who took their umbrellas ended up using them as parasols as Seoul basked in perfect conditions for punting.

Toshiyuki Katoh on Dongbang Jinju - the second of his two winners

And Sunday was a very good day for Seoul Race Park’s sole foreign jockey as Toshiyuki Katoh landed a quick-fire double in races 5 & 6. Approaching the first anniversary of his Korean debut, the Japanese rider had only been successful on seven occasions before today. However, strong rides, first on filly Wink and then, a race later on Dongbang Jinju.

Like all foreign riders before him at Seoul, Katoh has struggled to get rides, let alone good ones. When he has been given horses with chances, he hasn’t let anybody down.

Down at Busan, where things have been better for overseas riders – in terms of opportunities anyway – there was more success today for the Japanese contingent. Kunihisa Hirase guided old-stager Wonder Love to a two and a half length victory in the feature race.

The now eight-year old Wonder Love made his debut in December 2004, just three months after the track opened. While the pinnacle of his career was victory in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup in 2008 his performance today, ahead of a field including King Kephalos (who returned lame), Haengbok Dream and fellow old-timer Golding, showed he still has plenty to offer.

In other races at Seoul, there was a useful win for US import Bop’s Punch – the four-year old getting the better of a photo-finish with Mistergolden to secure his first victory at class 2. Meanwhile, three-year old filly Magic Collar scored her first victory at class 3 and her fourth from eight starts overall – a tilt at the Oaks may be possible.

Mistergolden (No.4) would get to within a nose, but Bop's Punch (9) would hold on

* The most valuable race of the weekend at Seoul took place on Saturday. With likely favourite Taesanbukdu a late scratching, it was left to Ugildongja to take the honours for jockey Ham Wan Sik.

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Luxury Jewang Wins Sports Chosun / Namdo Jeap, Sangseung Ilro Go Down At Busan / Tough Win Seven-Up

Luxury Jewang held off a determined challenge from Daesahyeong to win the Sports Chosun Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The five-year old took the line just a neck ahead of his rival, giving young jockey Boo Min Ho his second big race win of the year.

Luxury Jewang in the Sports Chosun Winner's Circle

It was the lightly raced Blooming who set the early pace but in the back straight Boo Min Ho brought Luxury Jewang right from the back of the field to the front. When Blooming fell away with two furlongs to go, favourite Khanui Huye struck down the rail. Luxury Jewang was the stronger though and while Daesahyeong was the quickest of them all in the final furlong, the line came just in time.

Boo-tiful

Luxury Jewang was recording a fifth win from twenty starts. His previous best performance came in January, when he claimed the scalp of the then unbeaten Seonbongbulpae. Now he’ll be competing in the same class every outing. Meanwhile jockey Boo Min Ho adds the Sports Chosun to the Segye Ilbo Cup that he won earlier this year.

While racing at Seoul was run under slate-grey skies, the rain by and large held off. Not so at Busan where five of the six races were run in torrential rain. This made for plenty of drama in the co-feature races.

First up was the Kokura Handicap, sponsored by Japan’s Kokura Racecourse. Namdo Jeap, taking on overseas bred horses yet again, was sent off the favourite but foundered in the sloppy home straight as New Zealand bred old-timer Gunham [Anziyan – Kaapture The Heart (Kaapstad)] took advantage of a favourable handicap to record his first win in over a year.

The second co-feature saw Sangseung Ilro, last year’s Derby winner sent off the favourite but, in a topsy-turvy final furlong where the lead changed hands three times, she was beaten into second by Gangjaui Beopchik. A horse who frequently hits the money finishes but hardly ever wins – this was Gangjaui Beopchik’s first victory since September 2008. Peter Wolsley’s Khaosan filled out the placings.

Back at Seoul, three-year old American import Tough Win [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] was going for his seventh straight win, this time over ten furlongs. He duly obliged by two lengths without jockey Cho Kyoung Ho having to do much except point him in the right direction. A showdown with Dongbanui Gangja – the highest rated horse in Korea – now seems inevitable and few will be betting against the younger horse.

Sports Chosun Cup (Stakes Listed) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – May 23, 2010

1. Luxury Jewang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Integra’s Delight (Integra)] – Boo Min Ho – 9.0, 2.6
2. Daesahyeong (KOR) [Slew O’Green – Nakchodae (Kingsview)] – Lee Sang Hyeok – 2.2
2. Khanui Huye (KOR) [The Grrom Is Red – Noble Michelle (Flow Technology)] – Ham Wan Sik – 1.5
Distances: Neck/1.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Dansimga; 5. Gamdongui Sungan; 6. Seon San; 7. Top Seed; 8. Pop’s Slew; 9. Golden Rose; 10. Uri Manse; 11. Blooming; 12. Free Bird; 13. Centum; 14. Mr. Swing

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Triple Seven recorded his fifth straight win to confirm his position as the top Korean bred horse currently in training at Seoul on a damp afternoon at the racecourse.

Triple Seven parades

Making his first start since his Ttukseom Cup in last month and with Moon Se Young partnering him for the first time in the absence of regular jockey Choi Bum Hyun, Triple Seven was sent off odds-on favourite for the nine and a half furlong handicap.

It wasn’t easy. After early pace-setter Natural Guy had gotten out-of-the-way, Mighty Runner – a former Ttukseom Cup winner himself – took things up with a furlong to go. Coming late down the outside, Triple Seven just hit the front in time and had enough left to hold off the late challenge of Free Woody to win by a neck.

It was a tenth career victory for Triple Seven [The Groom Is Red – Impudence (Grand Lodge)] with his last defeat coming at the hands of currently injured Nice Choice in last year’s President’s Cup.

Bunting & Punting: The racecourse decorates itself for the movie cameras

On a thoroughly miserable afternoon weather-wise, punters found Seoul Race Park decked out in unusual flags and bunting proclaiming “Grand Prix 2010”. After checking the calendar to make sure we hadn’t skipped seven months until the actual Grand Prix which is in December, it emerged that the decorations are for the movie “Grand Prix” which is currently being shot at the track – although apparently in some disarray as its male lead Lee Jun Ki was hauled off to the Korean Army earler this month. Sadly Kim Tae Hee was nowhere to be seen. Maybe tomorrow.

Back on the track, there was an impressive run by three-year old colt Silver Way who did his late season Classic prospects no harm at all by claiming the eight and a half furlong race 8 by seven lengths.

Moon Se Young was jockey of the day with four winners while New Zealand import Call Me Tiger [One Cool Cat – Hairini (Zabeel)] scored his second victory from as many starts. Call Me Tiger arrived in Korea last December – just one day before One Cool Cat himself arrived to begin his Korean stud career.

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow with the Sports Chosun Cup and an appearance by potential superstar Tough Win. There will also be racing at Busan.

Dark, dismal & wet - a misty start to race 10

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