Manjeomhwanhui, Hustilled also win as Moon Lands Five

Bally Brae brought ten winless months to an emphatic end at Seoul Race Park this afternoon, cruising to victory in the feature handicap. In doing so, the former Horse of the Year and Grand Prix winner took his career earnings to over One Billion Korean Won.

Bally Brae is all alone in front once more

The eight-year old had shown signs of being back to his old self when staying on to finish third to Dongbanui Gangja at the end of January and today, despite being sent off only second favourite in a field of fourteen, he dominated from the off.

Bouncing out of the gate he took an early lead and never looked like being caught, accelerating away from the field as they entered the home straight. K J Khan got the closest with favourite Baekjeonmupae a further length back in third.

It was a sixteenth career win for Bally Brae. For jockey Moon Se Young, it was the fourth of five winners on the day. Two of them came on potentially classic-bound fillies as Hushtilled and in particular, the exciting Manjeomhwanhui won their respective tests. Manjeomhwanhui [Yehudi – Just A Love Tap (Two Punch)] took the Class 3 race 9 by six lengths and now has four victories from her seven starts.

Also looking good was an imported three-year old. US bred gelding Juamdaegun [Sweetsouthernsaint – Beautiful Beau (Robyn Dancer)] made his third start of his career and gained a second victory, Kim Cheol Ho not needing to do much to get him home seven lengths clear of his nearest rival in the seven furlong race 7.

Juamdaegun (Kim Cheol Ho up) was an impressive winner

After what has been a long, hard and very very cold winter, punters were basking in temperatures that were, for the first time for a long time, well above freezing. With Bally Brae, one of Korea’s most popular horses back where he belongs in the winner’s circle, it almost felt like Spring.

Racing returns to Seoul on Sunday when Moon Se Young will be expected to add to his weekend winner haul on Gippeumnuri in the Segye Ilbo Stakes. Busan also hosts a card on what promises to be another day of fascinating action on the track.

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Grey Goes Down to Triple Seven / No Success for Jumong

Baekgwang just gave himself too much to do in the big race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The popular grey slumped to defeat at the hands of Triple Seven after running into too much traffic as he tried to launch his usual home straight charge.

Baekgwang would leave his run too late

Sent off long odds-on favourite, Baekgwang dawdled as usual through the early stages as the field allowed outsider Rich Family to open up a ten length lead on them in the back straight. As they bunched together turning for home, Park Tae Jong on Baekgwang found himself having to go around too many horses before being able to sprint for home.

In the meantime Choi Beom Hyun on Triple Seven, who was given a clear run, hit the front and was able to open up a big lead. Once Baekgwang finally got running there was just a furlong to go and he still had seven horses in front of him. He got to all but one; Triple Seven holding on for the win by a length.

His fast-finishing style is part or what makes Baekgwang so popular (that and being a grey) but today it was his downfall. Nevertheless every race he runs in is guaranteed to be exciting.

Another horse running into traffic problems was US import Jumong [Johar – Foreign Aid (Danzig)]. The three-year old half-brother to Subsidy and Soseono was going for his third straight win in the class 2 race 9 but had trouble getting past the tiring front-runner Photo Map. By the time he did, he had a race well and truly on his hands and it was six-year old Key To Success who held off the young pretender to take victory.

Key To Sucess edges out Jumong - Gyongmaman makes no apology for the shaky trigger finger - he was on it at 20/1

One of very few British bred horses racing in Korea, Key To Success [Mujahid – Shining Cloud (Indian Ridge)] was recording just his second win from thirty-five starts. He’s come close plenty of times though with eleven other placed finishes to his name. Meanwhile, with better luck, Jumong – sent off at 5/1 on today – will surely be back in the winner’s enclosure soon.

Tomorrow there’s action at both Seoul and Busan. Seoul has eleven races between 11:20 and 18:00, while Busan has six events from 12:40 to 16:30.

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Money Car wins again / Yeonseung Daero beaten on season-debut

Watching the same group of horses week in, week out, it is easy to get distorted views of how good some of those horses really are. This blog has undoubtedly been guilty on more than one occasion of describing a particular performance as “great” when what has actually occurred is that an average horse has beaten sub-standard opposition by an unnecessarily wide margin as its jockey has had a restless whip-hand.

Today, however, it can confidently be written that – in Korean racing terms at least – we witnessed greatness. Forced by the handicapper to drag 62 kilos around ten furlongs of Seoul Race Park, Dongbanui Gangja barely seemed to notice the burden as he glided away from thirteen rivals to secure his eleventh consecutive win.

Usually impressive, Dongbanui Gangja looked ungainly in the paddock. Not on the track though.

The horse he wrested the Grand Prix crown from was there and it was Bally Brae who set the early pace under Moon Se Young before Dongbanui Gangja, who had dawdled out of the stalls, cruised to the front as they turned for home. Entering the home-straight, the five-year old, with Choi Beom Hyun at the controls, as usual ran excessively wide. It seemed though that this was just so he could beat his rivals again as, with minimal prompting from Choi, he loped away for a three length victory from Obaek Yechan. Bally Brae ran on bravely for third.

Dongbanui Gangja [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] is now unbeaten since September 2008 and it is no exaggeration to say that there is not a horse on the peninsula that can at present come close to him. If he stays fit, then a second Owner’s Cup in June looks a formality and at this stage, few would bet against a historic third triumph in the season-ending Grand Prix. There is one three-year old, Tough Win, who is talked of as a potential challenger. It will take a very special horse to beat Dongbanui Gangja.

Earlier in the day, Money Car did his Classic claims no harm as he led from start to finish over the Derby distance of nine furlongs in race 8. Since suffering his only defeat on his racecourse debut, Money Car hasn’t been troubled into a gallop.

Money Car would cruise to the cash

Whether connections point him towards the KRA Cup Mile at Busan or wait for the Derby at Seoul, Money Car [Newsprint – Pinocchio (Big Sur)] is likely to be making a serious drive for Triple Crown honours this year.

Down at Busan, last year’s underachiever as a three-year old started his four-year old career in a similar way. Yeonseung Daero flopped in the 2009 Classics but showed his evident class by scoring big wins late in the season and, with a big year expected of him, was sent off favourite in his first outing of 2010. Indeed, such were the expectations of the colt – and much to his connections’ credit – he was pitched in against foreign-bred runners instead of taking the safer option against fellow Korean-breds. It was not to be, however, as Seonnyang Yongsa scooped the day’s big race by a length from Hardride with Yeonseung Daero only managing fourth.

Doing better than that was Busan new-boy Kunihisa Hirase. The Japanese jockey made his debut on Friday and scored his first win at the track this afternoon taking Classc possible Baekjeom Manjeom to a narrow victory in race 2.

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Derby Winner triumphs at Busan but President’s Cup King beaten at Seoul

Last year’s top three-year old filly and colt were both in action this afternoon. And it was Sangseung Ilro at Busan who began her four-year old career on a high while up at Seoul Nice Choice faded in the late afternoon gloom to slump to a rare defeat.

Punters had much more faith in Nice Choice, sending him off long-odds on for the 1900 metre class 1 race in the capital. That seemed to be justified as Cho Kyoung Ho kept the favourite well-positioned as the field made their way through the back-stretch and around the home-turn. When he was asked to sprint, however, there was nothing.

It was a gloomy day all round for Nice Choice

Meanwhile Holy Dreamer and Machine Gun arrived to take things up but neither could match 100/1 outsider Seungundaeseung who emerged from the field to take a shock victory. Nice Choice finished fourth, two lengths behind the winner.

Now six-years old, Seungundaeseung [Buster’s Daydream – Wang-San-Mo (Eagling)], has been an inconsistant perfermer throughout his career, a pair of back-to-back victories last summer which elevated him to class 1 the highlight. Until today.

Down at Busan, Sansgseung Ilro had no such problems. Although Jo Sung Gon was forced to take the double-classic winner very wide as they entered the home straight, she relentlessly ran down second favourite Yeongung Manse, catching and overtaking the five-year old gelding in the final furlong and then running on for a comfortable two length win.

It was Sangseung Ilro’s first victory since the Derby up at Seoul last May. Injuries restricted her to only three further outings as a three-year old, all ending in battling defeat. Looking as sound as she ever has, Sangseung Ilro begins life as a four year old looking like she’s back at her best.

While Cho Kyoung Ho experienced disappointment on Nice Choice, once horse that looks sure to brighten up his year is Tough Win. In race 9, Cho partnered the three-year old to his fourth straight win in as many outings. Stepping up in distance to nine furlongs, Tough Win [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] was once more unchallenged as he cantered away from his class 2 rivals.

Tough Win lopes to the start

It’s still early days but this horse seems the real deal. Today the margin of victory was ten lengths but he was never asked to extend himself. Punters are already anticipating a possible showdown with Dongbanui Gangja later in the year.

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Namchon Party, Cheonho win

He was late arriving on the scene but Bulpae Gisang got just up in time to secure victory in the feature event at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Winner of the Busan Metropolitan and second in the Grand Prix to fellow Kim Yang Seon trained Dongbanui Gangja, Bulpae Gisang is widely considered to be behind only his illustrious stablemate on current form.

Bulpae Gisang looked underwhelming in the paddock but did the business on the track

That didn’t stop him being sent-off at slightly better than even money, however, and as Haengun Daewang led the field into the home straight, it looked as though punters had been wise to be cautious. Park Tae Jong had things under control though and brought Bulpae Gisang down the outside to hit the front just metres from the line. Baekjeonmupae came along on his inside to grab second with Haengun Daewang hanging on for third.

It was an eighth win for Bulpae Gisang [Lightnin ‘n Thunder – Neat Trick (Clever Trick)], and the American bred four year-old looks set to running for big honours later in the season.

Who’ll be joining him and Dongbanui Gangja as the top overseas-bred horses is up for debate. Tough Win [Yonaguska – Maggie May’s Sword (Sword Dance)] looks sure to be one of them. He runs tomorrow but the only horse to get close to him in his three runs to date is Cheonho. He ran this afternoon and duly picked up his second win in the seven furlong race 10.

Cheonho and Toshiyuki Katoh parade prior to their win

It was a big ride for Toshiyuki Katoh who doesn’t get the opportunity to ride good things very often. The Japanese rider made no mistake as he calmly took Cheonho [Macho Uno – Meadow Peace (Meadow Lake)] to the front turning for home and then galloped away from the field in the straight.

Earlier on yet another sub-zero day in the capital, there had been a welcome return to form for the now five-year old Namchon Party. After finishing third behind Gaeseon Janggun in the 2008 Minister’s Cup, the then highly rated three-year old colt suffered an injury that kept him off the track for over a year.

Cho Kyoung Ho drives Namchon Party clear

Returning just before Christmas, he was well beaten, but today, he was back to his best as he produced a fast final furlong to sprint away from Gwacheon Jijon and Concours in the class 2 race 8. With his record now five wins from eleven races spread over nearly three years, if he keeps fit, maybe this can be Namchon Party’s year at last.

Sunday is set to be a big day. Aside from the afore-mentioned Tough Win, President’s Cup winner Nice Choice will be on show at Seoul while at Busan, the star-turn will be the Derby winning filly Sangseung Ilro who will look to get back in the winner’s circle in the feature race for the first time since the Derby.

Hushtilled also goes down / Wepner takes big prizes at Busan

Yesterday it was Nuriyeongung, today it was the turn of Seonbongbulpae to lose his unbeaten record in the last furlong at Seoul Race Park. Winner of the Herald Business and Champion two-year old of 2009, Seonbongbulpae went down to a faster finishing Luxury Jewang in the class 3 race 7.

Luxury Jewang and Boo Min Ho parade before handing Seonbongbulpae his first ever defeat

Despite being sent off odds-on favourite, it was always going to be a tough ask for Seonbongbulpae. Stepping up not only in quality, but also in distance – to eight and a half furlongs, the three-year old was facing older horses on their terms, including not only Luxury Jewang but also the fast improving Blooming.

Seonbongbulpae, under Cho Kyoung Ho led early but in the back stretch, Boo Min Ho brought Luxury Jewang around the outside of the field to join him. As they turned for home, it was clear it was a two horse race and Boo, going down the outside found just that little bit more than Cho could from Seonbongbulpae to claim a two and a half length win.

So Luxury Jewang, a five-year old gelding, calims his biggest ever win. Fans of Seonbongbulpae [Newsprint – Jeseok (Lost Mountain)] need not be too downhearted. He stayed the distance well, which was a serious doubt, and he will be back to fight another day.

Also having a bad day was the horse who finished second to Seonbongbulpae in that Herald Business Cup back in December. Filly Hushtilled was strongly fancied to pick off a less than impressive looking field of class 4 fillies and mares over seven furlongs in race 10. It was not to be, however, as despite being well placed as the field turned for home, Hustilled was able to offer no sprint whatsoever, finishing in fourth, three lengths short of winner Ruby.

One horse who did live up to expectations was Jumong. The American import landed his third successive win. The half-brother to Subsidy and Soseono didn’t need to break into a sweat as he cantered to victory in race 6. Three-year old Jumong [Johar – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] will be one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Moon Se Young looks around but there's no danger for Jumong

While it was a pleasant day at Seoul with temperatures hovering around freezing but not going too far below, down at Busan they were luxuriating in spring-like conditions. And it was a very good day for Martin Wepner as the South African jockey took victory in both of the track’s co-feature races.

First up was the race for overseas bred horses and it was Wepner who guided Max Is Cruisin to his second win in his last three starts. Next was the domestic race and again it was Wepner who took the four-year old Muhan Daeseung to victory over 2000 metres.

Back at Seoul and on the theme of overseas jockeys, Toshiyuki Katoh has had few opportunities since arriving in the capital in the middle of last year.

Toshiyuki Katoh

Today he made the most of an unlikely one in the shape of 80/1 outsider Bicheongeom who he took to victory in the opener. It was Katoh’s fourth victory in Korea.

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Nuriyeongung beaten but Ace Galloper finds it easy / Shock from Nujindo

Ace Galloper sauntered around one circuit of the Seoul Race Park track this afternoon to claim his fifth straight win and his first as a three-year old.

Although his mount was more than capable of leading this field from wire-to-wire, jockey Cho Kyoung Ho was happy to allow outsider Ganghannara to assist with the early pace under Kim Ok Sung. Turning into the home straight, Cho asked Ace Galloper to move up a gear and the colt sped away from the rest to win to win by an eased down twelve lengths.

On making his début last summer, Ace Galloper was a little overlooked as he did so in the same race that Northern Ace broke J. S. Hold’s five furlong track record. Since then, Northern Ace has been blighted by setbacks while Ace Galloper has made great strides since breaking his maiden at the third attempt and is himself the Korean record holder over six and a half furlongs.

Ace Galloper [Chapel Royal – Explicitly (Exploit)] was conceived overseas so he won’t play any part in the Classics this year. Nevertheless, he’ll be likely to be mixing it with the very best Seoul can offer by the end of the year.

Ace Galloper strolls at Seoul

While Ace Galloper was sent off as long-odds on, there was a shock in the feature handicap as Nujindo – an old-stager who hadn’t won for almost two years and hadn’t even picked up any prize money for all of one year came through late to pull off a two length win. Left in the seven-year old’s wake as he pulled off his 90/1 upset were big names Gi Ra Seong and Hwangnyongsaji.

Nujindo capped a very good day for jockey Lee Sang Hyeok who two races earlier had partnered The Sea God as they overhauled hot favourite Nuriyeongung in the final furlong of the class 4 race 8. Though four years old, Nuriyeongung was making just his third start and, having won both his previous outings with ease, was expected to add to winnings here.

Indeed for much of the way round he was in charge but, going over eight and a half furlongs for the first time, he faltered in the last 100 metres to allow Lee and The Sea God to take the honours.

Nuriyeongung, unbeaten before today looked sure to keep his record intact

Though temperatures remained below zero, the lack of wind made for more pleasant conditions than those faced by everyone last weekend and this looks set to continue tomorrow. Seonbongbulpae will be the latest to put his unbeaten record on the line as Seoul’s Champion Two-Year Old of 2009 lines up in race 7.

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Mixed fortunes for highly-rated Busan pair
Night Moves, the filly who so impressed when winning the Busan Breeder’s Cup last November to become the track’s Champion two-year old, was beaten on her re-apperance this afternoon.

Sent off odds-on favourite, Night Moves was leading all the way but ran out of steam in the final few yards of the seven furlong race to allow four-year old gelding Molto Presto to come through and snatch victory. While the ability of Night Moves [Proud Accolade – Elania (Double Honor)] over sprint distances isn’t in question, there had been doubts over her ability to stay more than six furlongs. Today it seemed these doubts were realised.

There were no such worries for another newly turned three-year old. Captain Sir [Trippi – Fine Wine (Hooched)]. One of the most exciting imports of the last year, the US bred colt was on cruise-control as he outclassed twelve others over 1800 metres. It’s his second win over the distance and also at category 2. It won’t be long before Captain Sir is racing against the very best at Busan.

On Saturday the action moves to Seoul where one of last year’s stand-out two year olds, Ace Galloper will be hot favourite to make it five wins in a row in race 10. Meanwhile Gi Ra Seong heads up the feature handicap.

Saturday
Seoul Race Park: 12 races, first post 11:10, last 17:45
Jeju Race Park: 9 races, first post 12:30, last 17:10

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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.

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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.

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