Japanese one-two on good day for foreign jocks at Busan
On the day Hitomi Miyashita became the first foreign female jockey to take up a full time license in Korea, it was her Japanese compatriot, Eiki Nishimura who denied her the honour of landing the day’s feature race at Busan Race Park.
Riding favourite Yongdu Baram, Miyashita was unable to catch Nishimura who guided second favourite Glory Champ to a two and a half length win. As well as a Japanese one-two, both horses are trained by Kim Young Gwan, the trainer who has supported overseas jockeys more than any other.
Miyashita had earlier made her debut in race 6 with a strong ride on mildy fancied Chowolgeum, taking the three year old to second place. Two other rides didn’t trouble the placings but overall it was a successful first day on the job for Hitomi.
With the track’s leading overseas rider Martin Wepner up in Seoul for Sunday’s Minister’s Cup, Nishimura took another win earlier in the day with a win on Theres No Reason in race 5. Rounding out a great day for the foreign riders at the track, Stephan Swanepoel took an unlikely win on 100/1 outsider Stormy Run in race 1. Swanepoel went on to add two third place finishes to his haul.
The action moves to Seoul and Jeju Race Parks on Saturday before all three tracks host cards on Sunday.
Triple Crown on the line at Seoul / Gyeongnam Shinmun at Busan
Racing took last weekend off, but it’s back with a vengeance. And it’s as big as it gets in Korean racing. At 5pm on Sunday, eleven three year olds will go to post at Seoul Race Park for the Minster Of Agriculture’s Cup and one of them, Sangseung Ilro, is running for the Korean Triple Crown.
She hasn’t run since she was unexpectedly beaten in the Oaks, having already won the KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby. That reverse will be all but forgotton about, however, if she comes out on top on Sunday.
It won’t be easy and we’ll have a full preview of the big race over the next couple of days but with the Gyeongnam Shinmun Cup at Busan, as well as Dongbanui Gangja – Seoul’s top ranked horse, making an appearance on Saturday, it promises to be an exciiting weekend.
Busan Race Park
Friday October 9: 10 races, first race 13:00, last 17:30 Sunday October 11: 6 races, first race 12:40, last 16:30
Seoul Race Park
Saturday October 10: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40 Sunday October 11: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:10
Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)
Saturday October 10: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10 Sunday October 11: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10
Top Point put in a commanding performance to cruise to victory in the KRA Cup Classic at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Sent off the odds-on favourite, Park Tae Jong took the five year old into the lead straight out of the gate and there was any question of her relinquishing it as she pulled away from the field in the home straight. The winning distance on the line was five lengths, with plenty in hand.
Behind her there was something of a shock as 50/1 outsider Angel Pegasus came wide with a late run to grab second ahead of 2007 winner Pocketful Of Money. Serendipper placed fourth and YTN Cup winner Soseono took the last of the moneying positions in fifth.
For Top Point, third in this race last year, it was a validation of her position as top rated filly or mare on the peninsula and should guarantee her ticket to the season ending Grand Prix in December. She was last in that race last year, a rare setback in a career which now boasts fourteen wins from twenty two starts.
KRA Cup Classic (KOR. GIII) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Sep 27, 2009
1. Top Point (KOR) [Tom Cruiser – Mooncello (Northern Baby)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.6, 1.2 2. Angel Pegasus (USA) [Gold Case – Sahara Princess (Alphabet Soup)] – Bang Choon Sik – 10.9 3. Pocketful Of Money (USA) [Running Stag – Ms. Deep Pockets (Buckaroo)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 3.9
Distances: 5 lengths/3 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Serendipper; 5. Soseono; 6. Air Kat; 7. Kkumchaja; 8. Hwanggeum Dwaeji; 9. Badajebi; 10. Princess Thumb; 11. Ginny’s Delight; 12. Mexicali Blues; 13. Gate Way
With Championship leader Cho Kyoung Ho sidelined due to a trackwork injury sustained this morning, Park Tae Jong was dominant. Aside from Top Point, he added three more winners including on Symphony Sonata [E. Dubai – First Violin (Dixieland Band)] – the four year old winning his fifth race from nine and his first at class 2 level.
Down at Busan, King Kephalos upset Dongbang Geona to take the feature Mile Handicap, the more valuable of two races at the Gyeongnam track this afternoon sponsored by the Japan Bloodstock Breeders’ Association (JBBA).
Juveniles stake their claim Ace Galloper has been very much in the shadow of Seonbongbulpae and Nothern Ace, having been beaten ten lengths by the latter in their track debuts. Despite coming out in his second race and winning by practically a furlong, he was still thought vulnerable as he stepped up to six and a half furlongs as the only two year old in a field of twelve at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
He doesn’t look vulnerable any more. Not only did he win with plenty to spare, he took nearly a second off the Korean record for the distance – and was only a tenth of a second outside the track record held by the ill-fated Playing Politics.
On the filly side of things, there was plenty of interest in the two year old ranks as well as Oh My Sun took her third consecutive win, this time against older fillies and mares.
The feature race of the afternoon went the way of the favourite as Huimang Energy saw off Natural Nine for a two and a half length win. It was jockey Cho Kyoung Ho’s second in as many races after bringing home hot favourite Blue Pin by seven lengths in race 9. The three year old – ineligible for the classics by virtue of being Korean born but not Korean bred – now has six wins from twelve and looks ready for the top tier of racing.
* We mentioned earlier tis week that winning on Enertein last Sunday may have been what jockey Lee Ae Li needed to get back in form after a recent barren spell. Indeed, it seems to have been the case as she nursed 25/1 outsider Believe Win to victory in race 8 this afternoon when the colt looked done for in the home straight after setting a strong early pace.
Favourites go down across the peninsula but Seonbeongbulpae marches on
Dangdaeteukgeup was a comfortable five length winner of the Dong-a Ilbo Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The four year old started as second favourite and was quickly in control of the seven furlong race. Under Choi Beom Hyun, she never looked vulnerable, pulling away in the final furlong to win from Hallasinbi in second and favourite Feel It Now in third.
At Busan there were two big races. The Gold Circle Trophy had looked like being a straight fight between three year olds KO Punch and Top Grade and so it proved to be. And fittingly for the South Africa sponsored race, it was South African jockey Martin Wepner who guided Top Grade to victory by a length and a half from favourite KO Punch. Top Grade now moves onto five victories from seven starts.
While the favourites missed out in the Dong-a and GC, the ultimate winners were at least well-fancied. Not so in the Macau Jockey Club Special. Hot favourite Sweet Summertime left it too late to get seriously involved at the business end of the race and it was left to 60-1 outsider Rolling On Strong to take the win. Fellow long shot Namchee rounded out a 1000-1 exacta in a tight finish with third favorite Haegeoreum leading the rest of the pack home.
On a cool autumn afternoon at Seoul, there was one other appearance of note. Along with Nothern Ace, Seonbeongbulpae is one of the two most highly regarded two year olds at the track. Today he made his second appearance and breezed through six and a half furlongs within half a second of the track record without jockey Jo In Kwen having to move.
If Nothern Ace and Seonbeongbulpae both make it unscathed to November, then the Herald Business – the nation’s top two year old race – is going to be one to savour.
Meanwhile on Jeju Island the ponies had one of their biggest races of the year in the form of the 1700 metre KRA Jeju Cup. In what was a very open betting race, 9-1 shot Mangpouikkum took a half length win for female jock Na Yu Na. Favourite Minsokchum came in third.
Grey runs well but beaten by Gi Ra Seong
Gi Ra Seong may have won, but most eyes were on Baekgwang in the feature race at Seoul this afternoon. The great grey was making his second start since his year on the sidelines while undergoing the stem cell treatment that has rescued his career.
While connections are still being cautious, today’s second place in a tough handicap was an improvement on his fourth in last month’s SBS Cup. By the time Park Tae Jong unleashed the now six year old’s familiar stretch run down the middle of the track, Gi Ra Seong was already out of sight. For a moment, however, there was a glimpse of the Baekgwang of three years ago as he ate into the lead and even found time to revert to his old habit of drifting toward the rail.
The distance on the line though, while only a length and a half, owed more to Gi Ra Seong easing in the final few strides. The five year old is now on three straight wins and has eleven from twenty in all.
Baekgwang, Park Tae Jong up, parades
For Baekgwang, if he has come through this race unscathed and if he continues to improve in training, a shot at the President’s Cup remains an option.
While Baekgwang’s comeback continued, there were others beginning theirs today. Another grey, New Heart, won her first and only race on her debut last November. Sustaining an injury shortly afetrwards that would keep her off the track for ten months, today she finally made her first appearance as a three year old. She duly showed punters what they’ve missed by claiming race 5 with a strong late run.
Also returning today after a lengthy spell out was jockey Lee Shin Young. Korea’s top female jock didn’t take long to make an impact, winning race 7 on Sinhwacheoreom. Tomorrow she will be re-united with former regular mount Kkumcheoreom as the pair go for the Dong-a Ilbo Cup.
Class 1 Handicap (Domestic) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Sep 19, 2009
1. Gi Ra Seong (KOR) [Precise End – Dauntless Cat (Mountain Cat)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 2.0, 1.1, 2. Baekgwang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red – Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.2 3. Wontagui Gisa (KOR) [Fiercely – Grove Lady (Varick)] – Moon Jung Kyun 1.7
Distances: 1.5 lengths/3 lengths – 8 ran
Stars beaten at Busan / Vicar Love stays on
In the end Gaeseon Janggun beat Areumdaun Jilju in what was billed as “Match Race” between the two best Korean horses at Busan. However, he beat him for second place as both suffered a stunning reverse at the hands of Yeongung Manse in the G3 Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup.
After early leader Conqueror decided he’d had enough as they entered the home straight, the stage was set for the four year old Gaeseon Janggun and Areumdaun Jilju, one year his senior, to finally hook up after avoiding one another for the past year. Hook up they did and the battle was every bit as intense as expected. What was not expected was that in between them was the four year old gelding Yeongung Manse.
As punters cursed themselves for overlooking th fact that over the nine furlong distance he had recorded the fastest previous time, Yeongung Manse and Jo Chang Wook held off Gaeseon Janggun by a neck to land his ninth and biggest win of his career. Areumdaun Jilju was a further length back in third.
While Conqueror stayed on to only be beaten into fourth by a length, the major disappointment of the race was Pangpang. The Oaks winner wasn’t expected to win but neither was she expected to be a tailed off 14 lengths last. With Yeonseung Daero and Namdo Jeap being put in their place last week, the three year olds have not had a good few days.
Up at Seoul Race Park the International Jockey Invitational was the highlight (see report) but once that was over, there were still two major races on the card. Those hoping to gain some clues as to who may be able to challenge Dongbanui Gangja in the season ending Grand Prix were watching race 10 with interest. Not only was it one of very few races to be held over the Grand Prix distance of eleven and a half furlongs, but also featured a former winner in the shape of 2006 Horse of the Year Bally Brae as well as a host of those beaten last year.
The sentimental money went on Bally Brae but although the seven year old set the early pace, jockey Park Tae Jong eased him in the home straight as three months off the track and carrying over 60 kilos caught up with the much-loved gelding. In his place, Vicar Love was the surprise winner, holding off the late running favourite Bulpae Gisang. Last year’s Owners’ Trophy winner Saerounbisul snatched third.
Vicar Love [Vicar – Canberra (Silver Hawk)] struggled with the trip in the Grand Prix and had been in indifferent form this year. The handicapper will no doubt punish him for this but the Grand Prix race in December isn’t a handicap. Dongbanui Gangja’s connections will perhaps not be losing too much sleep at this stage, however.
In the final race of the weekend, Taesanbukdu won a class 1 domestic race by three lengths from joint favourite Ugildongja.
Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (G.III) – Busan Race Park – 1800M – Sep 13, 2009
1. Yeongung Manse (KOR) [Sharp Appeal – Saratogasplash (Wild Again)] – Jo Chang Wook – 8.3, 2.5 2. Gaeseon Janggun (KOR) [Duality – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.4 3. Areumdaun Jilju (KOR) [Didyme – Chills Of Nepal (Nepal)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.1
Distances: Neck/1 length
Also Ran: 4. Conqueror, 5. Pangpang
Tetsuya Kobayashi wins feature race but Ham Wan Sik overall winner
Ham Wan Sik won individual honours as Korea held onto to their overnight lead to clinch the 5th KRA International Jockey Invitational series at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
With a deficit of over 60 points to make up in today’s two races, the odds were heavily stacked against the Rest Of The World team. Nevertheless, they can claim to have won day 2. In the first of two seven furlong races, Pat Shanahan got up to rescue a dead heat on Woljeongsa when it looked as though Ham Wan Sik had the race won on Gwacheonnyeoje.
Although Choi Beom Hyun’s third place on Urim meant that the home team had won the challenge, the ROTW team came out fighting in the fourth and final race – also the most valuable of the series. In what was a very open betting race, Japanese rider Tetsuya Kobayashi came out on top, bringing second favourite Fundahigh through late for a length and a half win. The contest ended with the Koreans on top by 126 points to 81.
With one win and one dead heat, Ham Wan Sik took the Individual contest and is $20,000 richer this evening. Cho Kyoung Ho took the $10,000 runner-up prize, while Pat Shanahan will return to Ireland with $5,000 for finishing third.
Korea lead ROTW 82-20 at the end of Day 1
Korea will head into the second day of the 5th KRA International Jockey Invitational with what should be an unassailable lead after home riders dominated the first two races of the contest at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
After the jockeys had been presented to the crowd in heavy rain, the skies cleared and Cho Kyoung Ho landed the the first race of the event. The in-form rider brought six year old gelding Sintaepung home for a seven length win in the seven furlong class 3 race with Choi Beom Hyun leading the rest home on Jeoksita. Richard Fourie of South Africa was a fast finishing third on Princess Ruby to give the Rest Of The World team their first points, just ahead of the USA’s Luis Garcia on Arabian Bird.
Ham Wan Sik, Yang Hee Jin and Jim Byrne took the remaining minor points which gave the Koreans a big lead of 37-14. It was important therefore for the ROTW team to come out strong for the second race of the contest, this time a class 2 over nine and a half furlongs. However, with the Koreans getting the better of the draw, this was going to be a tough ask.
So it proved to be. Spectacularly. All six home riders finished ahead of the first visitor home. Outsiders made up the first two with Ham Was Sik coaxing 33/1 shot Badauibyeol home for a wire to wire win, half a length ahead of Bang Choon Sik on Beautiful Sky with favourite Jangjagang third for Yang Hee Jin.
Richard Fourie was the only ROTW rider to place
Korea therefore go in to tomorrow’s two races leading the contest by a massive 82 points to 20.
* Aside from Ricard Fourie’s third place, one other visitor made it into the placings today. In a non-contest race, Australian Jim Byrne took outsider Soul Warrior into an early lead and stayed on for a battling second place to Cho Kyoung Ho on Daeseungippeum.
Love Cat surprise second / Namdo Jeap, Yeonseung Daero beaten at Busan
Khanui Jeguk took the honours in the battle of the three year olds, landing the Ilgan Sports Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
With Derby third place getter Baengnyeonbong sent off the slight odds-on favourite, it was outsider Event, under Oh Kyoung Hoan, who set the early pace in the nine furlong race with fellow longshot Cheongun Jangsu following.
Cho Kyoung Ho settled Khanui Jeguk onto the rail in the back straight and was perfectly placed as the field turned for home. The early leaders faded away and Khanui Jeguk shot through into the lead as they passed the two furlong pole. Shin Hyoung Cheol brought Baengnyeonbong wide around the field but struggled to keep the colt in a straight line and his challenge never got going. It would be the filly, Love Cat, who would get closest to the winner – three lengths the distance on the line.
Khanui Jeguk in the Ilgan Sports Winner's Circle
Khanui Jeguk has only ever once been out of the money. That was in the Derby. He recovered to finish second to Nice Choice in the Munhwa Ilbo last month and confirms his place as the second best three year old at Seoul with today’s win. For Love Cat it was a fine return after two months without a race. Baengnyeonbong drifted badly in the straight – whether this accounted for the defeat he will surely be given an opportunity to prove later in the season.
The disappointment of the race was Holy Dreamer. Unbeaten in his five starts to date, he wasn’t expected to win but, despite being backed into third favourite, only managed to come home seventh.
Ilgan Sports Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – Sep 6, 2009
While the three year olds were in charge at Seoul, down at Busan they were put firmly in their place as the duo of Yeonseung Daero and Namdo Jeap fell to a late charge from Sinjin Gangja. A well positioned Namdo Jeap tired in the straight of Busan’s feature but at least clung on for third. Yeonseung Daero meanwhile attempted to make a late dash from the back of the pack, but stalled on the way and ended fifth.
Horse Racing in Korea 