Soseono back to winning ways / Galsaem beaten Good Day and Namdo Jeap both went wire-to-wire to win their respective big races at Seoul and Busan Race Parks this afternoon.
Namdo Jeap, winner of last year’s Minister’s Cup was sent off only second favourite behind in-form fellow four-year old Golden Appeal. The result was never in doubt, however, as Namdo Jeap bounced out of the gate under Lim Sung Sil and cruised away from the field in the home straight for a six length victory. Golden Appeal rallied late but never got close.
Up at Seoul, Good Day had slightly more to worry about in the final stages of his ten furlong test. Balhaejanggun was finishing much the quicker and got close as the line loomed ahead. It arrived just in time for Good Day though, with the six year old having half a length in hand.
Namchonuijijon arrived late on the scene and grabbed third but there was no happy return for Galsaem. The former champion mare showed towards the front of the field early on but didn’t stay in the final furlong, eventually finishing fifth.
There was victory for one mare at Seoul today though as Soseono (no longer a filly by 10 days) scored her first win since the YTN Cup last August courtesy of a late run to overhaul outsiders Big Guy and Top Plus. Soseono’s race also saw a return to action for jockey Lee Geum Joo. Always likely to be up against it, long-shot Cheongunbaram duly finished in last place.
Soseono, seen here after the YTN Cup, was back in the winner's circle today
Soseono was ridden by Moon Se Young and provided the third of the 2008 champion’s three winners on the day. In other jockey news, Lee Geum Joo wasn’t the only rider to return today. Highly thought of young jockey Yoo Seung Wan was back in action after spending much of 2009 in the United States. Yoo finished the day with two second place finishes.
Baengnyeonbong took victory in the opening Stakes action of the year as he came from behind to win the New Year’s Commemorative Race at a cold and snowy Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
With likely pre-race favourite Wangsan a late scratching, Winner Prince was sent off the even money favourite with Baengnyeonbong and Golden Rose the joint 6-1 seconds. Indeed, it was Golden Rose who provided the early pace leading them through the opening six furlongs.
Outsider Green Jewel came to take things up as they turned for home but quickly faded in the home straight as the closers came through. Baengnyeonbong was the fastest, leading Winner Prince over the line by two lengths with Fundahigh another fast finisher in third.
Highly thought of during the early part of his three-year old campaign, the highlight of which was third place in the Korean Derby, the win today should see Baengnyeonbong gaining access to class 1 races for the rest of this season. The victory was his sixth in fifteen starts, during which time he’s only been out of the money twice.
New Year Commemorative Stakes (Herald Business) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Jan 9, 2010
1. Baengnyeonbong (KOR) [Al Naba – Sansovino Art (Mister. C)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 7.7, 2.3 2. Winner Prince (KOR) [Fortitude – Happy Power (Priceless Prince)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.3 3. Fundahigh (KOR) [Warzone – Fundamental High (High Brite)] – Lee Gong Kug – 5.8
Distances: 2 lengths/0.75 lengths – 13 ran
There was a shock later on as Vicar Love, sent off odds-on in the feature handicap could only manage fourth place as Ecton Cat took victory over ten furlongs. Vicar Love looked well placed entering the home straight but Ecton Cat, who had led wire-to-wire, was in no mood to be caught, going on to win by three lengths from Wind King and Seoul Teukgeup.
Jockey of the day was Jung Ki Yong, landing a treble withing the first eight races. Cho Kyoung Ho managed two winners while Choi Beom Hyun got one. 2008 Champion Moon Se Young scored a blank while 2009 winner Park Tae Jong had to wait until the very last to guide hot property Grand Money to victory.
Park Tae Jong Trebles to Claim Jockey Title / Sangseung Ilro beaten
At the start of this year, it would have been a brave punter who suggested that it would be Baekgwang, champion three-year old of 2006 but since lost to perpetual injury, who would be bringing the curtain down on the 2009 season by running down the field in the home straight to claim a last gasp victory like he did so many times three years ago.
Yet that is what happened in the snow at Seoul Race Park this afternoon as the brilliant grey turned for home last out of eleven in the nine and a half furlong handicap. Roared on by 40,000 punters and under Park Tae Jong, another former champion about to have his crown restored, Baekgwang picked off one after another. Natural Guy, Best Fusion and Free Woody were the last to resist, but Baekgwang swept by with plenty to spare with Blue Pin, one of the year’s better three-year olds, coming through for second.
We shouldn’t even have been here today. However, a pair of cancellations – first for a Presidential funeral and then because of an iced-up track, meant that this additional weekend was necessary to complete all the races allocated for 2009. Any regrets racegoers may have had over leaving their yuletide firesides for the snowy wilds of Gwacheon were forgotten though as Baekgwang since secured his second win since his unlikely comeback and a twelfth win in total for the six-year old. Now only Nice Choice is ahead of him in the domestic ranks at Seoul. A seven-year old season is now very much on the cards.
For jockey Park Tae Jong, the jockey with the most rides and the most wins in Korean racing history, Baekgwang was just the start of a glorious late treble that saw him wrap-up the jockeys’ championship by a surprisingly comfortable margin.
2008 Champion Moon Se Young had done his best to upstage the veteran Park early on. Moon, making up for lost time after a frustrating three month lay-off went about business with a vengeance, landing five of the first seven races. In doing so, he made Park’s lead over Cho Kyoung Ho – three going into today – almost unassailable (although Cho had taken race 2 to narrow the gap).
From race 9 onwards, it was all about Park. This is a jockey who already has an exhibit in the KRA’s racing museum dedicated to him as well as a plaque commemorating his becoming the first jockey to ride 1000 winners in Korea. That was five years ago and he’s well over 1500 now.
After Baekgwang, Park took Obaek Yechan to a commanding five length victory in race 10 and then closed out the season with an easy win on two year old Money Car – the colt breezing away from a hopelessly outclassed field to win by fifteen lengths. It’s four out of five for Money Car [Newsprint – Pinocchio (Big Sur)] and he may have a big part to play in 2010.
As 2009 wrapped up at Seoul, however, it was all about Baekgwang.
Class 1 Handicap (Domestic) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – Dec 27, 2009
1. Baekgwang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.4, 1.0 2. Blue Pin (KOR) [Lion Heart – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.4 3. Free Woody (KOR) [Social Charter – Choiseonbong (Imperial Prince)] – Lee Joon Chel – 1.8
Distances: 1.75 lengths/0.75 lengths – 11 ran
Busan Race Park also had a catch-up meeting and the eagerly awaited return to the track of Derby winner Sangseung Ilro was the main attraction. Off the track since her third place in the Minister’s Cup at Seoul in October, the filly was sent off the odds-on favourite but failed to fire in the home straight, eventually finishing fourth behind outsider Segye Jepae. 2008 Derby winner Ebony Storm was never involved, trailing home last but one.
With one day to go, Park Tae Jong scored a double to go three clear at the top of the Seoul Jockeys’ Championship at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Long time championship leader Cho Kyoung Ho stayed in the hunt with a single win but Choi Beom Hyun scored a blank and is now five behind.
Park’s first victory came with three-year old filly Jangjagang in race 7 and in the last on favourite K Two Bong. Cho, meanwhile, guided two-year old US import Tough Win [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] to his third straight win. The gelding was stepped up in class for the seven furlong race 9 but once again was cantered to victory by an overwhelming margin. Tough Win will be one to watch in 2010.
While Park Tae Jong was moving ever closer to taking the Jockeys’ Championship, there was a welcome return to action for another veteran rider as Kim Ok Sung took his first mounts since suffering a knee injury in a trackwork fall during the summer. And it was a victorious return for the “Smile Jockey” as he landed race 5 on Cheot Insang.
Finally of note on a day when the focus seemed very much on the jockeys, apprentice rider Kim Hae Sun took only her second career victory as she guided long-shot Jumalui Haengbok to a comfortable win in race 1.
Racing returns to Seoul on Sunday with an eleven race card. Baekgwang is the big name runner in race 9. Also at Seoul four races will be simulcasted from Busan where Sangseung Ilro makes her long awaited return to the track. The 2009 Derby winner faces the winner of the 2008 edition, Ebony Storm. Racing at Seoul gets underway at 11:10am.
Nonghyup Cup winner Lucky Mountain continued her rich run of recent form today by claiming the feature race on another bitterly cold afternoon at Seoul Race Park.
The four-year old overhauled long-time leader Challanhanbit in the final furlong to take victory by a length from Machine Gun and Lucky Seven.
Lucky Mountain, always a consistent money-earner, has come into her own this year. While today was just her third win since graduating to class 1 racing, she hasn’t finished any worse than third in her ten starts in 2009
Down at Busan, it was the old-stagers to the fore as Hwanggeumbit Taeyang beat off the challenge of fellow seven-year old Golding by the narrowest of margins to land the southern track’s feature race. While Heungheung Daejak, at age five comparatively youthful, took third, it was another pair of seven-year olds, Admiral Reigart and DM Merch who filled out the moneying positions.
Earlier at Busan, those punters valuing personal qualities hit a quinella as Courage, edged out Trust in race 1. Both two years old, Courage [One Nice Cat – Humorous Style (Distorted Humor)], making his racecourse debut, looks to be the one to look out for.
Baekjeonmupae held off strong late challenges from Pocketful Of Money and Angus Empire to take victory in the feature race at a frozen Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
It was a tenth win in total and second consecutively for the New Zealand bred Baekjeonmupae [Traditionally – Star Sixty Seven (Phone Trick)] who confirmed his return to form after a disappointing summer and he finishes the year with three wins from nine starts.
Hitting the front at the furlong pole, the five-year old, sent off as second favourite held on by a neck from Pocketful Of Money and Angus Empire with both horses finishing faster. Haengun Daewang and favourite Yodongseong were just a further half-length back in a blanket finish.
Two weeks after racing had to be abandoned due to a frozen track, horses and jockeys braved temperatures as low as -7C and most punters’ fingers had frozen over long before lunchtime.
There will be more shivering tomorrow as Seoul gets the first of eleven races underway at 11:10. Down at Busan, as ever they will be basking in temperatures of at least five degrees the right side of zero for their six race card which starts at 12:30.
Favourite Crushes Challengers Dongbanui Gangja produced a dominant performance to crush the rest of the Grand Prix field at Seoul Race Park this afternoon and in doing so, became only the third horse to retain the peninsula’s most prestigious race.
In a break from his usual patient style with the 2008 Champion, Choi Beom Hyun opted to take the race by the scruff of the neck in the back straight. After Ugildongja had made the early speed, Bally Brae headed for the front with Dongbanui Gangja on his shoulder. The favourite took the lead as they exited the third corner and from then on, the race was over.
As ever, he drifted to the centre of the track but the home straight was nothing more than a victory parade for Dongbanui Gangja who kicked on to win by a lazy six lengths. It could have been sixteen if jockey Choi had been so inclined.
The real battle was for second. Bulpae Gisang, winner of the Busan Metropolitan was considered to be his stablemate’s only real threat but in truth, he was in a different class. He did enough to hold off the late determined challenge of Gaeseon Janggun to take second place. Gaeseon Janggun, last year’s top Korean bred three-year old took third and had the honour of being both the best placed Korean horse and the first finisher from Busan.
Old favourite Bally Brae showed at the front in the back stretch, but his sprint legs are gone and he faded to sixth. The only filly in the race, Rolling On Strong, never featured and was eased up by Cho Kyoung Ho in the home straight.
An imposing physical presence, Dongbanui Gangja is a visually impressive animal. Big and muscular, yet handsome with it, he has a turn of speed of the type rarely seen on the Korean track. He now has ten straight wins and defeat doesn’t seem likely any time soon.
Bulpae Gisang is the second best foreign bred horse Seoul has to offer these days, while of the home-bred three-year old crop, the connections of Nice Choice and Yeonseung Daero declined Grand Prix spots, perhaps with Dongbanui Gangja’s presence in mind. Right now, it is difficult to see anything preventing him from completing an historic hat-trick this time next year.
Dongbanui Gangja in the Grand Prix Winner's Circle
Grand Prix (KOR. G.I) – Seoul Race Park – 2300M – Dec 13, 2009
1. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 1.2, 1.0 2. Bulpae Gisang (USA) [Lightnin N Thunder – Neat Trick (Clever Trick)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.2 3. Gaeseon Janggun (KOR) [Duality – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – Jo Chan Hoon – 1.9
Distances: 6 lengths/Head
Also ran: 4. Haengbok Dream; 5. King Kephalos; 6. Bally Brae; 7. Ugildongja; 8. Crafty Louis; 9. Yaho TS; 10. Rolling On Strong
The Grand Prix was the sixth and final race of the year to pit horses from Seoul against those from Busan. Busan ran out the winners by four race to two Tellingly though, Busan made a clean sweep of the Classics, involving horses born, bred, broken in and trained in Korea. Seoul’s two wins were both with imported horses. Dongbanui Gangja, the second of those, is on his way to securing his place as one of the greatest in Korean racing history.
Seonbongbulpae was eased to victory in the Herald Business Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon and was crowned Champion Juvenile of 2009.
Backed into odds of 1/5, the colt built up a lead in the 6 furlong race and coasted through the home stretch under Park Tae Jong. There were nervous moments as the field came back at him but Park knew what he was doing and was able to hold them off for a half-length win.
It was the filly Hushtilled who came the closest. Finishing much the quicker, she edged out second favourite Full Step to take second.
With Northern Ace being scratched after the race was moved from last week to this, there remains a general feeling that race fans have been robbed of a potential epic. Nevertheless, seeing how this two-year old crop develop as three-year olds is something to look forward to.
Seonbongbulpae is now four for four and the time today was just a tenth of a second off the track record for a Korean bred horse.
Herald Business Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – Dec 12, 2009
1. Seonbongbulpae [Newsprint – Jeseok (Lost Mountain)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.2, 1.0
2. Hushtilled [Distilled – Miss Alwuhush (Alwuhush)] – Moon Se Young – 2.0
3. Full Step [Didyme – Fox Dance (Foxtrail)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan
Distances: 0.5 lengths/0.75 lengths
Also ran: 4. Silver Mon; 5. Muhandeungguk
After a season of near-misses, Yeonseung Daero finally got it right. Third in the KRA Cup Mile, fifth in the Korean Derby, fourth in the Minister’s Cup and second in the Busan Metropolitan, it all came together in spectacular style for the three-year old in the Owner’s Cup at Busan Race Park this afternoon.
Sent off second favourite behind the formidable Areumdaun Jilju in the 10 furlong race, Yeonseung Daero hit the front coming off the final turn. Once he went, no-one could get close to him as he extended his lead to fourteen lengths on the line seemingly with plenty in reserve. Areumdaun Jilju came in a well beaten second with outsider Viva Canon grabbing third.
Having won several top class handicaps in between the classics and, in the process, breaking the 10 furlong track record (a mark that he was a couple of seconds outside today), Yeonseung Daero has long been suspected to be the real star to emerge from Busan this year and go on to dominate as a four-year old. Sangseung Ilro seems too fragile and Pangpang appears a one-off in the Oaks. Namdo Jeap meanwhile has been inconsistant, skipping this race and being well-beaten on Friday.
What all those had over Yeonseung Daero was a big win to their name. The Owner’s Cup is by no means the biggest date on the calendar, but in winning it – and in such a fashion, Yeonseung Daero has signalled that he is now the horse to beat at Busan.
Busan Owner’s Cup – Busan Race Park – 2000M – Dec 6, 2009
1. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] – Park Geum Man – 3.5, 1.3 2. Areumdaun Jilju (KOR) [Didyme – Chills Of Nepal (Nepal)] – Jo Chan Hoon – 1.3 3. Viva Canon (KOR) [Tahamkke – Special Craft (Crafty Prospector)] – Kim Young Geun – 10.6
Distances: 14 lengths/1.25 lengths
Also ran: 4. Yeongung Manse; 5. Galsaek Teukgeup; 6. Conqueror; 7. Top Grade; 8. Pangpang; 9. Glory Champ; 10. Sandeomi
The foxes have had their fun of late, but a lion was stalking them at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. And it didn’t take long for Moon Se Young to continue where he left off, alpha-maleing over the jockey colony at Seoul Race Park.
On his return from just over three months on the sidelines, the 2008 champion started slowly with a third place on Helmitonia in race 1, but was in the winner’s circle with Silver Way in race 4 and again with Samcheolli in race 9.
Although apprentice Kim Cheol Ho also managed a double (with both wins coming on mounts picked up from the injured Oh Kyoung Hoan), the big guns of Park Tae Jong, Choi Beom Hyun and Cho Kyoung Ho all managed just a solitary win. It’s too late for him to challenge to retain his title, but today Moon Se Young sent out a strong message that whoever takes the title, he remains the number one predator at the track.
Cho’s win was the most eye-catching, guiding highly rated US import Tough Win to his second victory in two starts. Once more, it was anything but a tough win. The two-year old was drawn in gate 14 in race 6 but was in front within 100 metres of the start and from there cruised round to score a 16 length win. His time was just three tenths of a second off the track record for 6 furlongs and Cho never had to move in the saddle.
Tough Win [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] is one to watch next year. Also in race 6, jockey Shim Seung Tae suffered a heavy fall. No word yet on his condition but it looked like a bad one.
The feature race was won by an outsider as New Rider gave Japanese jockey Yoshiyuki Aoki his biggest Korean win to date with a late run to defeat Taesanbukdu. In the same race, Symphony Sonata struggled to make the step-up to class 1 racing and old favourite Namchonuijijon continued his recent poor run of form.
It was a bitterly cold day at the capital track. Snow began falling shortly before the first race and continued until the fourth with a strong wind adding to the deeply unpleasant conditions for horses and riders. Race 3 had to be delayed due to jockey concerns about visibility. As soon as it stopped snowing, the visibility problems ceased but the biting wind meant for a challenging day.
It’s going to be even colder on Sunday although without the snow. Seonbongbulpae looks set to be favourite as he goes head-to-head with Northern Ace for the title of Champion Juvenile in the Herald Business. However, while it’s billed as a match race between the two, let’s not count out Moon Se Young on the filly Hushtilled. Meanwhile at Busan – where it is forecast to be a positively tropical seven degrees above zero, Yeonseung Daero and Areumdaun Jilju will go for the Owner’s Cup.
Horse Racing in Korea 