Japanese rider Hitomi Miyashita came through with a blistering late run on Ima Firecracker to land the International Lady Jockey Invitation Race at Busan Race Park this evening.
Favourite Namdo Jeap with Korea’s Park Jin Hee on board bounced out of the gate and into an early lead with Jennifer Stisted of the USA on Florida Native right alongside her. Ima Firecracker was away slowly and sat right at the back of the field. Second in the betting, Miss Ecton, under Laura Cheshire also sat towards the back of the field.
As they rounded the turn and entered the straight Namdo Jeap looked ready to kick on. Meanwhile, Australian Linda Meech brought Max Is Cruisin up alongside her and Mai Beppu on Dongbang Geona looked ready to strike. Namdo Jeap kept the lead, however, as those challengers fell away.
Instead the danger ultimately came down the far outside as Ima Firecracker hit top gear bringing Miss Ecton along just inside of her. These two swept by the leaders in sight of the line, Ima Firecracker in the lead by a length on the line. Namdo Jeap’s final furlong collapse was compounded by outsider Oreumak (Chiaki Iwanaga) and Meech on Max Is Cruisin also coming by in a blanket finish for the minor placings.
Invitation Race (Foreign Bred) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Aug 9, 2009
1. Ima Firecracker (USA) [Hold That Tiger – It’s Destiny (Red Ransom)] – Hitomi Miyashita (Japan) – 13.9, 2.6 2. Miss Ecton (USA) [Ecton Park – Miss Lion King (Lion Cavern)] – Laura Cheshire (New Zealand) – 1.5 3. Oreumak (AUS) [Favorite Trick – Vigne Vierge (Diesis)] – Chiaki Iwanaga (Japan) 6.2
Distances: 1 length/Nose
Also ran: 4. Max Is Cruisin (Linda Meech – Australia); 5. Namdo Jeap (Park Jin Hee – Korea); 6. Florida Native (Jennifer Stisted – USA); 7. Dongbang Geona (Mai Beppu- Japan); 8. Gangcheol Labi (Catherine Gannon – Ireland); 9. Winter Invitation (Lee Ae Li – Korea); 10. D M Merch (Yoo Mi Ra – Korea); 11. Yeongwonhanhangbok (Nadine Rapson – South Africa)
Grey steps up while KRA wants Punters to clean up – literally
Torpedo Mast pulled off a surprise win in this evening’s feature race at Seoul Race Park. A win at class 2 last month had qualified the grey for the top level of Korean racing and at his first class 1 attempt, he comfortably held off favourite Bulpaegisang for a two length win. As usual, Gamadongja made all the running and stayed on for third place.
Four year old Torpedo Mast (USA) [Mizzen Mast – Valid Deduction (Bet Big)] has finished in the money in all but three of his twenty outings. He’s never been earmarked as a potential star but after a commanding performance over a field including not only Bulpaegisang and Gamadongja but also such luminaries as Baekjeonmupae, Angus Empire and Seoul Teukgeup, it’s unlikely he’ll be sent off at odds of 25/1 again.
In other news on a sticky afternoon and evening at Seoul, young jockey Park Sang Woo scored his first ever winner landing race 7 on Black Cat. On the way to post for that race Choi Beom Hyun was violently thrown from his mount in front of the grandstand. Although motionless on the track for several minutes, Choi emerged unhurt and, to punters’ amazement, reappeared to win race 10 on Nice Good.
A larger than usual Saturday crowd were in attendance after the blank weekend last week. To welcome everybody back, the KRA gave away a gift set to each and every one of the 50,000 in attendance. A nice touch – and quite an impressive logistical operation. However, given that the contents of the gift set comprised of soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, a razor, shower gel and various similar items, punters could be forgiven for thinking the racing authority was trying to tell them something.
Overseas jocks ride / Captain Sir debuts / Sinheung Gangja wins
Seven of the overseas jockeys in Busan for Sunday’s International Invitation Race were in action at Busan Race Park this afternoon. None troubled the placings and the highest finishers were New Zealand’s Laura Cheshire on Fresh Dancer in race 3 and Japan’s Hitomi Miyashita on Tamna Kwaegeol in race 7, both of whom guided their 40/1 shots to fourth place.
None could really have been expected to do any better on mounts that were a warm up for Sunday’s main event. Here’s how they all got on:
In other news at Busan, it was a good day for jockey Stephan Swanepoel. The South African landed his second win at the track taking race 1 on hot favourite Raon Cat.
Another hot favourite made his debut today. Two year old US import Captain Sir [Trippi – Fine Wine (Hooched)] comfortably took race 2, easing to a four length win in a fast time over 1000 metres.
Meanwhile, favourite Sinheung Gangja came through with a late run to win the feature race. Under Jo Sung Gon, the four year old overhauled second favourite Hangang Jeil in the final furlong to take victory by a length and a half. It’s a sixth career victory for Sinheung Gangja who was second in the Busan Owners’ Cup last year.
Three year olds dominate / Afternoon Dove steps up
Nice Choice continued his post-Derby rehabilitation by coming through late to get the best of a three way battle for the Munhwa Ilbo Cup at Seoul Race Park this evening.
As expected, it was the three year olds who dominated proceedings. Nice Choice was sent off the odds on favourite ahead of Baengnyeonbong and Khanui Jeguk. However, it was the other three year old in the race, Event, who made the early running under Moon Se Young and led the eleven strong field going into the home straight.
Choi Beom Hyun on Khanui Jeguk was the first of the big guns to make his move and, as Event faltered, the three favourites locked horns. It was a battle that Nice Choice and Cho Kyoung Ho would win by a neck on the line, with just a further head sealing second place for Khanui Jeguk ahead of Baengnyeonbong, who was finishing fastest of all.
With the win, Nice Choice goes onto six wins from nine starts and, with his Derby disappointment well and truly behind him, puts himself back among the main contenders to prevent Sangseung Ilro from completing the Triple Crown in October. With three year olds sweeping the placings, that particular division is looking a little brighter for the capital track tonight than it did when we filed out of Gwacheon on Derby day.
Things weren’t done after the Munhwa. Once the ceremonies were complete, Afternoon Dove recorded his first class 1 victory in a shock victory over a field containing Seungyu Sinhwa and Fly Queen. Old stagers Serendipper and Crocap rounded out an unlikely first three. Afternoon Dove shot to prominance by finishing second in the JRA Trophy on Derby day but was brought back to Earth by running ninth n the Owners’ Cup last month. Meanwhile Fly Queen, winner of last year’s KRA Cup Classic was sent immediately to the KRA’s Veterinary hospital after the race. Thoughts are with her this evening.
Khanui Jeguk wasn’t the only one of the “Khanuis” in form today. Khanui Huye, another also-ran in the Derby, took victory in a competitve race 7 ahead of fellow three year old Bulsechul. Highly rated Power Of Money sat down in the gate as they loaded and was deemed unfit to race.
At Busan,Oneurui Bobae and Admiral Reigart punished punters by taking first and second in the feature race – the four year old holding off the venerable Admiral by a length. Dongbang Geona completed a top three of outsiders.
Racing takes a break next weekend, but will be back the week after when Sangseung Ilro will be make her first appearance since winning the Derby in May. Currently the hottest property in Korea, the filly will be the one to beat in the Korean Oaks at Busan on August 9. On a big day at the Southern track, the undercard sees the International Lady Jockey Challenge race. We’ll start the build up over the next few days.
Munhwa Ilbo Cup – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – July 26, 2009
Easy for SW / Nothern Ace makes record breaking debut
Secret Weapon crowned a week in which he became recognised as the top Korean bred horse currently running at Seoul by winning the feature race under the lights at Seoul Race Park this evening.
Sent off as odds-on favourite for the 2000 metre handicap, the six year old had little trouble seeing off the rest of the fourteen strong field. Under Park Tae Jong, Secret Weapon hit the front entering the home straight and went on to record a four length victory from Jigusangwiryeok in second and Badajebi in third.
With Myeongmun Gamun slipping down to fourth in the Korean Racing Journal’s ranking of Korean bred horses, Secret Weapon takes the top spot after three consecutive victories at the top level. In second is Good Day with Top Point the highest placed filly or mare in third place.
Earlier, two year old Nothern Ace made his highly anticipated debut. He didn’t disappoint. Not only did he wire the field in race 2, he also took over half a second off the great J.S. Hold’s track record for Korean breds over five furlongs. Nothern Ace [Didyme – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] will be one to follow as the year progresses.
Race 2 was also significant as it saw the first two year old by former Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Volponi take to the track. Special Volpony was unplaced. Korean owners have clearly taken a liking to the name “Volpony” – also slated to debut soon is “White Volpony”, a grey filly.
Nothern Ace wasn’t the only horse with a curiously spelled name to find success today. Three year old colt Preety Good came into form too late to get on the Classic trail but he picked up his second straight win – and fourth from ten in total – in race 9. Meanwhile, in her third outing, filly Victoria Captin was narrowly beaten by Yaho Shani in race 6.
Tomorrow sees the Munhwa Ilbo Cup headline the last day’s racing before the two week summer break. Most seem to be predicting a two way battle between three year olds Nice Choice and Baengnyeonbong. However, nine other horses will be seeking to spoil that. Racing starts at 2:30pm with the big race at 7:35pm.
Class 1 Handicap – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – July 25, 2009
1. Secret Weapon (KOR) [Native Regent – Aheadofthetimes (Gold Alert)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.4, 1.0 2. Jigusangwiryeok (KOR) [Washington Color – Leapski (Nagurski)] – Won Jung Il – 6.4 3. Badajebi (KOR) [Mujaazif – Madonna (Avon’s Lord)] – Park Byoung Yun – 3.6
Distances: 4 lengths/Neck – 14 ran
Outsider shocks Seoul / Areumdaun Jilju takes Min Ilbo
On a glorious summer’s evening under the lights at Seoul Race Park, long shot Hallyu Star was the shock winner of the SBS Cup.
The six year old had set the early pace in the nine and a half furlong race and had opened up a lead of four lengths at one point in the back straight. With the big guns of Namchonuijijon, Triple Seven, Natural Nine and Baekgwang all gathering behind, it was inevitable that the lead wouldn’t last for long.
It didn’t. The field came roaring back as they entered the home straight and Seoul settled back to see which of the favourites would step up. There was a twist. Rather than succomb, Choi Won Joon coaxed a second wind out of Hallyu Star. Somehow they stayed in front during a pulsating final furlong that saw the first five horses within a length and a half of each other on the line. To add to the shock, the horse closest to them was Lucky Seven, the longest shot on the board. Natural Nine grabbed third while the returning Baekgwang, finishing fast, ran out of track in fourth.
It was another big race let down for Namchonuijijon while Triple Seven never fired, despite being in a good position turning for home, ultimately beating only one home. Baekgwang looked good and ran as expected – he was fourth in the betting and he finished fourth. The vet will have the final say but the signs are good that he has indeed made a full recovery.
Today, however, belongs to Hallyu Star, the old stager winning his sixth race from thirty seven starts. For jockey Choi Won Joon, who put in a sparkling ride, it is also the biggest win of his career.
In what was a sumptious half hour of racing on the peninsula, the lights were on at Busan too as Areumdaun Jilju landed the Gyeongnam-Do Min Ilbo Cup. The only Korean bred horse in the field, Areumdaun Jilju dominated the nine furlong race, taking the lead as they entered the back straight and though tiring late on, did enough to repel a challenge from outsider Haengbok Dream. Filly Miss Ecton finished third. With the win, and in landing a race for foreign bred horses, Areumdaun Jilju further embellishes his reputation.
A little later on at Busan, it was the turn of a three year old to start to repair his reputation. Yeonseung Daero was sent off favourite in the KRA Cup Mile and was well-fancied for the Derby. He flopped in both. Today he began to make amends as he made a very late run to overhaul Distance Runner in the last few strides of the mile long category 1 handicap. The domestic picture looks very bright under the lights of Busan this evening.
Finally, mention must be made of jockey Yoo Mi Ra. The apprentice made her debut over a year ago and today she finally made it into the winner’s circle as she took favourite Tamnahwanhui to victory in race 2. It was only the third time she’d ridden a favourite in over 110 mounts and while she had scored plenty of seconds, the win had eluded her until today. Next month, Yoo will join Lee Ae Li and Park Jin Hee at Busan on Oaks day for the “Lady Jockeys International Challenge” races. Among those set to compete are Australian Claire Lindop and Ireland’s Catherin Gannon. Full preview over the next couple of weeks.
After yesterday’s storm lashed card, perfect conditions and a massive crowd at Seoul in the region of 70,000 made for a wonderful afternoon and evening’s entertainment. Next Sunday will see another big night at Seoul when the Munhwa Ilbo will top the bill.
Namdo Jeap did it last week and today at Busan Race Park it was the turn of Gaeseon Janggun to take on and beat the track’s imported horses.
Second in the first two legs of last year’s Triple Crown and winner of the final one, Gaeson Janggun has now won all four of his starts as a four year old and until Sangseung Ilro takes on older horses, still has claims to be recognised as the top Korean bred horse currently in training.
Today’s win was typical as he came late and wide to defeat a field of twelve rivals by three lengths. Korean bred horses rarely take on imported horses and although this field contained no real stars – indeed Gaeseon Janggun was sent off as odds-on favourite, it is encouraging to see some of the top horses entered in open races.
There is little incentive for owners to do so, however. Prize money is generally higher in domestic races and the competition is less fierce. While the standard of imported horses in Korea is not especially high – there is, after all, a limit ($20,000 for colts $40,000 for fillies) on how much can be spent on them, their early training and conditioning tends to have been better than that which locally bred horses receive. While the KRA spends a lot of money sending horses overseas to “test” the level of Korean racing, one might think it would be a start to get them to run against the imports here in Korea a little more often.
Up at a wet Seoul Race Park, Bulpae Gisang, last year’s top imported two year old, stepped up to category 1 racing for the first time. It was winning start as the colt overhauled long time leader Gamadongja in the final firlong of the 2000 metre race to claim his sixth win from nine career starts.
Class 1 (foreign bred) – Busan Race Park – 2000M (Hdcp) – July 12, 2009
1. Gaeseon Janggun(KOR) [Duality – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.5, 1.3 2. Bugyeong Choegang (AUS) [Flying Spur – Time For Bed (Night Shift)] – Yang Young Nam – 1.6 3. Bugyeong Maru (AUS) – [Favorite Trick – Narrate (Danzero)] – Martin Wepner – 15.7
Distances: 3 lengths/Neck – 13 ran
Notes from this afternoon’s meeting at Seoul Race Park:
*Natural Guy landed the feature race, a 1900 metre domestic category 2 handicap. The four year old gelding edged out Galamasan by half a length.
* Highly rated imported filly Fly Top stepped up to 1800 metres for the first time in race 10. However, neither she nor favourite Thewon Thewon, who was coming off three straight wins, managed to stay the distance as five year old mare Cheonsangcheonha took the victory.
* Another imported filly did manage to add to her reputation, albeit at the other end of the card. Australian bred Alpha Lady [Iglesia – Star Tipper (Luskin Star)] didn’t hit the front until the final 100 metres of race 3 but by the line had opened up a six length gap between her and the rest of the field. It was Alpha Lady’s second win.
A big crowd was attracted to the track today – many punters perhaps noting that heavy rain is looking inevitable tomorrow. Sunday’s cards get underway at Seoul at 11:20, Busan at 12:40 and Jeju at 12:10.
First time out of the money for 8YO
He’s won back to back President’s Cups and has been the first domestically bred horse home in the Grand Prix races of the past two years, but it’s looking increasingly likely that 2009 is not to be the year of Myeongmun Gamun. On his first outing since a disappointing run in the Ttukseom Cup in April, the 2008 Horse of The Year put in a lucklustre performance at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
After putting up only a fraction of his usual resistance at the gate, the Myeongmun Gamun got away badly. Whereas in the Ttukseom Cup, the poor start had put paid to his chances very early on, today’s distance of 2000 metres meant that by the time the field exited the back straight, Oh Kyoung Hoan had managed to shake the eight year old around the outside and ono the shoulder of the leaders.
However, that was all the exertion Myeongmun Gamun could muster and as he sank back through the field, it was Gi Ra Seong who emerged to take an emphatic four length win. Leading the rest home was Wontagui Gisa, the longest shot on the board making for a 749.1 exacta. Ttukseom Cup winner Mighty Runner came late down the outside but could only manage third.
It was the first time in all of his thirty three runs that Myeongmun Gamun had finished out of the money. However, while today signified an unwelcome milestone in his career, for another horse there was an equally significant, but altogether more positive one.
Gi Ra Seong was last in the winner’s circle on Derby weekend in May last year. Coincidentally the race that he won was a race that Myeongmun Gamun refused to go into the gate for. Trailing behind that day was Baekpa. An injury picked up immediately after that win kept him off the track for the remainder of his four year old season. Coming back in April this year he placed fourth, and then managed a second in May. With victory today in a race in which most of Seoul’s top Korean bred horses were present, perhaps 2009 could be the year of Gi Ra Seong.
Class 1 (Korean bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M (Hdcp) – July 5, 2009
1. Gi Ra Seong [Precise End – Dauntless Cat (Mountain Cat)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 3.9, 1.4 2. Wontagui Gisa [Fiercely – Grove Lady (Varick)] – Lee Sang Hyuk – 25.1 3. Mighty Runner [Pacific Bounty – Roan All Over (Fight Over)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.2
Distances: 4 lengths/1 length – 14 ran
Unbeaten streak continues / Foreign jocks finally have their day
It wasn’t quite as easy as it could have been, but while Hanbatanguseum and Isfahan Teukgeup fought tooth and nail for second place, ahead of them Holy Dreamer took the line to make it five wins from five starts at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
The three year old Holy Dreamer [Duality – Nice Weather (Future Storm)] debuted in March and today stepped up to category 3 level for the first time. Moon Se Young kept the gelding towards the front throughout most of the 1700 metre race before heading into the lead as they entered the home straight.
The small winning margin of a length and a half owed a lot to the battle behind them as the stewards took nearly ten minutes to decide that Hanbatanguseum had dipped his head at the right time to claim second. Holy Dreamer meanwhile will have tougher challenges to face in the future.
Earlier on a day of low-key racing, Japanese rider Toshiyuki Katoh scored his first victory in Korea with just his fourth ride. Katoh guided filly Dolpunguihaek to victory in race 1. It was a good day for the small Japanese contingent at Seoul with Nozomu Tomizawa also amongst the winners, landing race 5 on Melody Again.
Indeed it has been a good weekend all round so far for the international contingent in Korea. At Busan Race Park on Friday, Stephan Swanepoel claimed what was not only his first win since moving to the southern track, but his first win in fifty mounts since arriving in Korea. That he has only been offered fifty rides since March speaks volumes about why the South African asked to be transferred to Busan, which has a reputation of being slightly more foreigner friendly than Seoul – there’s no jockeys’ union for a start. Swanepoel was a four length winner on Powerful Spark in race 6.
Holy Dreamer isn’t alone in going five for five this weekend. With Eiki Nishimura and Martin Wepner also winning at Busan yesterday, all five overseas riders have been in the Winner’s Circle over the past two days – most likely the first time this has happened. Both Nishimura and Wepner will shortly be at the end of their contracts but hopefully for Katoh and Swanepoel, these first winners will be the first of many.
Back at Seoul today there were co-feature races, one for local bred horses and one for overseas. Torpedo Mast took the overseas event while Gayawangbi was successful in the local race.
Horse Racing in Korea 