Racing Reviews

Love Cat Wins Sports Seoul

Favourite Lands Oaks Trial / Miss Ecton wins at Busan
Love Cat held off a strong late challenge from outsider Victor Hunter to land Seoul’s main Korean Oaks trial this afternoon. Coming back off a nearly three month lay-off since finishing a disappointing eleventh in KRA Cup Mile at Busan, the first leg of the Triple Crown, Love Cat was sent off favourite of a ten strong field in the Sports Seoul Cup.

Good Leader, under Moon Jung Kyun, set the pace in the early stages of the eight and a half furlong trial, with Ganghan Speed also showing early. Choi Beom Hyun kept Love Cat in the middle of the pack and made his move as they entered the home straight. Love Cat hit the front with half a furlong to go and it was the fast finishing Victor Hunter, under Kim Ok Sung, who came closest to catching them. The line arrived in time though as Love Cat secured victory by a neck.

There were disappointing performances from highly rated Isanghwa and Tummim but for Love Cat is was a sixth win from ten outings. Given her bad run in Busan last time, it is far from certain whether she will travel south in August to face the now mighty Sangseung Ilro once more. Nevertheless, with victory today, Love Cat secured her position as Korea’s second best three year old filly.

For jockey Choi Beom Hyun it was another big race win, following his victory last week on Dongbanui Gangja in the Owners’ Trophy. Throughout the rest of the day, however, it was Park Tae Jong who once more dominated. Honoured in a ceremony after race 7 for his achievement in scoring 1500 career wins, Park went on to take four more this afternoon.

At Busan Race Park, South African jockey Martin Wepner continued to repay the faith shown in him by trainer Kim Young Kwan, guiding Kim’s Miss Ecton to victory in the feature race. The US bred Miss Ecton, whose sire, Ecton Park, was recently brought to Korea won the Busan Ilbo Cup last year but was then out of action for five months. Elevated to the highest class of Korean racing, she found the going tough but now has her second win against male horses at the top level.

Sports Seoul Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1700M – June 28, 2009

1. Love Cat (KOR) [Creek Cat – Love Cue (Curia Regis)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 2.1
2. Victor Hunter (KOR) [Social Charter – Angel’s Walk (Commemorate)] – Kim Ok Sung – 30.1
3. Ganghan Speed (KOR) [Lethal Instrument – Devil’s Mama (Devil’s Bag)] – Yoo Sang Wan – 6.7
Distances: Neck/1.75 lengths
Also ran: 4. Good Leader; 5. Abigail; 6. Isanghwa; 7. Rose cat; 8. Morning Rush; 9. Jeongsang Cheonji; 10. Tummim

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Choi Jeong Seob Climbs Back on Lhotse Shar

In March this year, jockey Choi Jeong Seob was suspended for three months. Lhotse Shar was in a strong position entering the home straight of race 10 on March 14 and, with a motionless Choi on board, the four year old ran on for fourth place. The stewards were not impressed (punters even less so) and Choi was banned for apparently not trying.

That ban expired this week and the 29 year old rider was back at Seoul Race Park today where in race 11, he would be re-united with none other than Lhotse Shar. Trainer Kim Ho Ik, who was fined for his alleged part in the non-trying incident clearly having no hesitation in reinstating Choi and in his choice of race for Lhotse Shar, perhaps making a point.

Once more, Choi stopped riding long before the finish. This time, however, it didn’t matter as Lhotse Shar – starting a 27/1 outsider had the race comfortably won with half a furlong still remaining. It was a fine win for the colt in his first outing at category 2 level.

On a baking hot day in Seoul with temperatures touching 33C, the day’s feature race was won by Lucky Mountain. The filly had placed second or third in her last seven outings but, under Choi Beom Hyun got the better of Seven Card in a tight finish to the ten furlong race.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Fillies Set for Oaks Trial – Sports Seoul Preview

Ten fillies will line up when the Sports Seoul Cup, Seoul Race Park’s main Korean Oaks trial race goes to post on Sunday afternoon. Whether any of the ten will eventually travel down to Busan in August to potentially face double classic winner Sangseung Ilro at her home track is another matter but in any case, the Sports Seoul looks an entertaining race in its own right.

The most experienced filly in the race is Love Cat. Sent to Busan to race the colts (and of course, one other filly) in the KRA Cup Mile in April, she wasn’t able to do herself justice. Off the track since, she will still have plenty of backers.

She’ll be up against a number of fillies who have impressed at sprint distances but have yet to appear over anything approaching the 1700 metres this race will be contested at. Isanghwa, Good Leader, Morning Rush and Ganghan Speed fall into this category as do the lightly raced Tummim and Jeongsang Cheonji. Abigail is the only other filly with form over this distance.

The Sports Seoul is one of Korea’s longest established races with its first running in 1986. It only became restricted to female horses in 2004 and to three year olds in 2006. Baekpa won the race in 2007 before going on to land the Oaks later in the year, however, last year’s winner Samsimnyeonsarang has since failed to live up to her promise.

Full list of runners, pedigree, race records and riders:

Sports Seoul – Seoul Race Park – 1700M – June 27, 2009

1. Love Cat [Creek Cat – Love Cue (Curia Regis)] – (9/5/0/2) – Choi Beom Hyun
Hasn’t run since her disappointing eleventh in the KRA Cup Mile at Busan. Before that she won twice over this distance. Currently races several classes above anything else in this race.
2. Ganghan Speed [Lethal Instrument – Devil’s Mama (Devil’s Bag)] – (8/3/1/1) – Yoo Sang Wan
Has beaten some useful horses at shorter distances.
3. Good Leader [War Zone – Kkummaeul (Curia Regis)] – (8/3/0/0) – Moon Jung Kyun
Returned to form last time out after some poor efforts during the Spring.
4. Victor Hunter [Social Charter – Angel’s Walk (Commemorate)] – (8/0/2/3) – Kim Ok Sung
The only maiden in the race and little to suggest that she’s going to break it here.
5. Tummim [Lost Mountain – Skip The Trial (Skip Trial)] – (4/2/1/1) – Moon Se Young
Won impressively last time out and is an interesting prospect if she makes the step up in distance.
6. Rose Cat [Creek Cat – Rose Bouton (Somethingdifferent)] – (8/2/2/1) – Park Tae Jong
The other “Cat” in the race, she took on the foreign horses last time out in the STC Trophy race but finished a well beaten 10th.
7. Morning Rush [Al Naba – Ireun Achim (Psychobabble)] – (4/2/0/0) – Shin Hyoung Cheol
A smart winner last time out, she’s never gone more than six furlongs.
8. Abigail [Exploit – La Finale (Dunbeath)] – (6/1/3/1) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
A rare Korean bred winner of a race open to foreign horses in April bumped her up in class, she finished third behind the unbeaten gelding Holy Dreamer over this distance.
9. Isanghwa [Didyme – Sugar Lips (Miswaki)] – (6/3/1/0) – Ham Wan Sik
Has won three of her last four and must be considered.
10. Jeongsang Cheonji [Didyme – Gypsy Fire (Best Western)] – Jun Deok Young
She’s only run three times and won two of them. Has been off the track since early April when she breezed to a seven length victory over decent opposition.

Dongbanui Gangja Owns Them

Four year old dominates Owners’ Cup / To The Champ wins at last
It may have been inevitable, but it was still very impressive. From the moment at the end of back straight when Choi Beom Hyun shifted Dongbanui Gangja out from the middle of the pack and brought him up to tuck in just behind the leaders, the race as a contest was over.

Vicar Love had set the early pace and Subsidy had made his customary back straight charge to join as they started to make the long turn for home. However, Dongbanui Gangja was with them. Choi Beom Hyun barely had to move as the four year old moved out wide and exploded into the home straight. The track record fell and Dongbanui Gangja cemented his place as the top horse at Seoul right now.

Surprisingly the horse who got closest to him on the line was Seungyu Sinhwa. The outsider had been at the back of the field for most of the race, but finished strongly to claim second. JRA Trophy winner Free Hugs showed he belongs at the top level by finishing third ahead of both Baekjeonmupae and Angus Empire.

Dongbanui Ganga was third in this race last year – his lowest ever placing – but would win the Grand Prix in December. He becomes the first horse to win the Grand Prix and then go on to win the Owners’ Trophy in the following year (although Subsidy did it the other way round a few years ago). His record now reads twelve wins from nineteen races and his unbeaten streak is now seven. Few would bet against him successfully defending his Grand Prix title come December.

Owners’ Association Trophy (G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 10F (Hdcp) – June 21, 2009

1. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 1.3
2. Seungyu Sinhwa (USA) [Commendable – Backroom Blues (Dixieland Band)] – Shim Seung Tae – 164.1
3. Free Hugs (AUS) [Fantastic Light – Woodie (Woodman)]
Distances: 7 lengths/0.5 lengths
Also ran: 4. Baekjeonmupae; 5. Angus Empire; 6. Subsidy; 7. Vicar Love; 8. Fly Queen; 9. Afternoon Dove; 10. Seongpacheonha; 11. Saegisang; 12. Obaek Yechan; 13. Cash In Your Chips

In other races, three horses were making their first appearances since being beaten by Sangseung Ilro in last month’s Derby. And they all looked very impressive. First Khanui Jeguk dominated the category 3 race 8, Cho Kyoung Ho easing the colt with half a furlong to go.

In race 10, it was the turn of Baengnyeonbong, third in the Derby, to try his luck at category 2. Under Kim Ok Sung he rallied late to take a length and a half victory from Blue Pin.

Meanwhile at Busan, Sky Star finished second to King Rider in the category 1 feature race. Performances since the Derby are marking out this year’s three year old crop to be better than last year’s and Sangseung Ilro could have quite a task on her hooves when she comes back to Seoul in October to attempt to complete the Triple Crown.

Finally, a mention must be made of To The Champ. The five year old lined up for the thirty-ninth time this afternoon and came through late in the 1800 metre race 6 to land victory by a length. Kim Ok Sung, who has partnered him in twenty-three of those outings, punched the air as they crossed the line and was still smiling when he emerged for his next ride. While it’s the Dongbanui Gangjas who get the headlines, it’s the To The Champs of this world who keep this wonderful sport going.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Park Tae Jong Rides into History

After spending the last two weeks inching closer, Park Tae Jong today became the first Korean jockey to reach 1500 career winners. It was only just after midday at Seoul Race Park when, in torrential rain, Park guided three year old filly J Stern to a hard fought victory in race 3.

While the race was as low key as it is possible to get – a class 6 maiden in which six of the twelve runners were odds of well over 100/1 – the final furlong duel between J Stern and Ever Clever, who had led from the gate, was a furious one, Park getting his mount ahead with fifty metres to go and holding on by a length.

As the rain worsened Park would go on to add three more winners later in the afternoon. There was Boeun Gaduk in race 5 and then Symphony Sonata in race 9. The much hyped four year old relentlessly chased down long time leader Sajaseong in the home straight. Next up came Tiffanyuikkum, the Australian filly securing her fifth win.

Things didn’t go Park’s way in the feature race but he still managed to take outsider Daehyo to an unlikely third place behind Top Point and Gayasanseong.

Tomorrow, Park Tae Jong will partner Beakjeonmupae in the Seoul Owners’ Association Trophy. Dongbanui Gangja will be the overwhelming favourite but if anyone can stop him, it is Baekjeonmupae. Park won this race last year on Saerounbisul – over his twenty two years in the saddle he has won every race, most more than once. Today in the rain, Seoul Race Park honoured one of Korea’s greatest sportsmen. Tomorrow, he’ll be out on the track doing it again.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Yeongung Manse Wins KNN Cup

Namdo Jeap & Ebony Storm flop / Nice Choice back in form
Yeongung Manse took the mile long KNN Cup race in fine style at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Starting the third favourite of nine, the four year old held off the mare, Mirae Cheonsa in a hard fought final furlong. Both Namdo Jeap, second in this year’s Derby and Ebony Storm, winner of last year’s, disappointed.

As usual, Namdo Jeap bounced out of the gate and and straight into the lead. Mirae Cheonsa led the field a few lengths back while Ebony Storm sat, seemingly confortably in fifth place. As they rounded the home turn and entered the straight, Namdo Jeap seemed to have complete control, however, when jockey Chae Gyu Jun asked him to finish the job, there was nothing in the tank. Yeongung Manse passed him with two furlongs to go and Mirae Cheonsa quickly followed.

These two battled it out to the finish while another mare Yeoin Cheonguk finished the quickest of the lot to claim an unlikely third place. For Yeongung Manse, who was kept off the Classic trail last year, it is an eighth career win from fourteen starts. Meanwhile Namdo Jeap came home fourth and Ebony Storm – who was found to have bled during the race – eighth.

At Seoul Race Park, Nice Choice had the opporunity to bounce back from his Derby flop. And the Lost Mountain colt did so with plenty to spare, cruising through the early stages of the nine and a half furlong feature, before grabbing the lead with one to go and running on for a four length victory.

In other races, Park Tae Jong got one more winner to take him to 1499. Park landed race six on improving three year old colt Winner Prince. It now seems inevitable that Korea’s most successful ever rider will achieve the landmark figure of 1500 wins next weekend.

KNN Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – June 14, 2009

1. Yeongung Manse [Sharp Appeal – Saratogasplash (Wild Again)] – Jo Chang Wook – 4.2
2. Mirae Cheonsa [Millennium Wind – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] – Kim Tae Kyung – 12.0
3. Yeoin Cheonguk [Creek Cat – Ze No Evil (Pentelicus)] – Jung Si Won – 59.1
Distances: 0.75 lengths/4 lengths
Also ran: 4. Namdo Jeap; 5. Sandeomi; 6. Sinheung Gangja; 7. Raon King; 8. Ebony Storm; 9. Welbeing Sidae

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Jung Ki Yong Second in Malaysia

Korean rider Jung Ki Yong landed second place in the Kenilworth Cup International Jockey Invitational Race at the Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia this afternoon. Partnering four year old gelding Harlequin, Jung led home the field eight lengths behind the winner, the unbeaten three year old Perfect Pins. Full results from the Singapore Turf Club.

Jung and fellow Seoul Race Park jockey Ham Wan Sik are in Malaysia for the weekend as part of a jockey exchange. Ham’s mount in the Kenilworth Cup was scratched and he failed to trouble the placings with his other two rides. Jung also had two other rides, the best of which was finishing sixth of sixteen in race 3.

On board the Australian bred Perfect Pins was local jockey Rio Burnett, who rode at Seoul on Internatonal weekend last month. It may be noted that while Ham and Jung are both set to receive six rides over the weekend (Ham down to five after the scratching), Burnett was only given two mounts when he came to Seoul.

* Meanwhile, back in Korea, Seungundaeseung landed he afternoon’s feature event at Seoul Race Park, with a comfortable win over Huimang Energy and Free Woody over 2000 metres. Earlier, Park Tae Jong moved one closer to to his 1500th winner, taking race 7 on Happy Rider to move onto 1498. Park has four rides on Sunday.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Secret Weapon On Target

Park must wait for history but it’s 400 up for Se Young
Secret Weapon held off a late challenge from favourite Triple Seven to claim this afternoon’s feature race at Seoul Race Park. In doing so, the six year old scored his eighteenth career victory and helped take jockey Park Tae Jong to within three successes of becoming the first Korean rider to win 1500 races.

Outsider Hallyu Star set the early pace in the 1900 metre race with Natural Nine and Holeinonefive also showing at the front. Secret Weapon settled towards the front of the pack while Triple Seven and second favourite Namchonuijijon sat in the middle.

Coming off the final turn, Secret Weapon hit the front while Triple Seven came wide to challenge. The favourite was finishing much the quicker of the two but Secret Weapon had enough to hold on to take victory by just over a length. Natural Nine ran on for third but Namchonuijijon had nothing to give in the home straight, finishing well down the field.

Secret Weapon was Park Tae Jong’s only winner meaning he is going to have to wait at least one more week before reaching his milestone. One jockey who did cross a personal landmark today was Moon Se Young. The 2008 champion landed a treble and in doing so, scored his 400th career win. Apart from achieving the figure with three year old filly Violet in race 5, Moon also scored with Isanghwa in race 6 and Dallineun Haengun in race 9.

Class 1 (Korean bred) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – June 7, 2009

1. Secret Weapon [Native Regent – Aheadofthetimes (Gold Alert)] – Park Tae Jong – 3.3
2. Triple Seven [The Groom Is Red – Impudence (Grand Lodge)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 2.2
3. Natural Nine [Revere – C. Bop (Aly Dark)] – Shin Hyoung Cheol – 6.6
Distances: 1.25 lengths/1.75 lengths – 11 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Gamadongja Stays On

Air raid sirens sounded across Seoul this morning, flags were at half mast and a brass band provided sombre accompaniment to the Memorial Day card at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. On the track, top sprinter Gamadongja once more proved his versatility, stepping up to 2000 metres to claim the afternoon’s feature race.

Starting second favourite to Brilliant Knight, the New Zealand bred gelding grabbed the lead straight out of the gate and, despite a stretch battle with Brilliant Knight, never relinquished it, to record his ninth career victory.

Second palce on Brilliant Knight was as close as Park Tae Jong, who needs just four victories to achieve 1500 career wins, got to the Winner’s Circle this afternoon. However, current champion jockey Moon Se Young moved to within one win of breaking the 400 mark with comfortable wins on Power Of Money in race 6 and Holy Dreamer in race 12.

There was a second outing for Australian import Khaki Halls [Refuse To Bend – Karamea Star (Bassenthwaite)] in Race 4. The two year old found things easy, cruising to a seven length win. Also winning in style was the filly Photo Stone, while three year old colt Event, stepped up to class 2 level in style, edging out favourite Indiana Dream in race 10.

Class 1 (Foreign bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – June 6, 2009

1. Gamadongja (NZ) [Howbaddouwantit – Miss Martha (Iades)] – N. Tomizawa – 2.4
2. Brilliant Knight (USA) [Lion Hearted – Deputy Lady (French Deputy)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.9
3. Wind King (NZ) [Montjeu – Blessing (Sir Tristram)] – Lee Dong Kook – 102.1
Distances: 1.25 lengths/6 lengths – 12 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Hwangnyongsaji Battles Past Gi Ra Seong

Choi Beom Hyun in form but Park inches closer to milestone
Hwangnyongsaji and Gi Ra Seong fought a tough stretch battle in the main event at Seoul race Park this afternoon and it was the four year old Hwangnyongsaji who got the better of his older rival to record his ninth career victory.

As Kim Ok Sung on Jigusangwiryeok set a fast early pace, only Choi Beom Hyun on Gi Ra Seong chose to try to keep up with Jun Deok Young keeping Hwangnyongsaji at the head of the main pack a few lengths back. As they turned into the home straight, Jigusangwiryeok tired to leave Hwangnyongsaji to take the line half a length ahead of Gi Ra Seong with Lucky Mountain a further length and a half back.

The defeat was a rare setback for Choi Beom Hyun on an afternoon where the jockey landed three winners. His first came on New Zealand import The Key Lucky [Danroad – Diamond Flute (Clay Hero)], the three year old filly breaking her maiden in race 4. Choi also took wins on highly rated gelding Brothers in race 5 and Hi Friends in race 9, the latter seeing off favourite Grandzif by two lengths.

Grandzif’s jockey was Park Tae Jong and Korea’s most successful ever rider moved a step closer to reaching the next milestone his career – 1500 wins. A wire to wire victory in Gwacheon Jijon in race 8 took Park to 1496 and all eyes will be on his mounts next week to see if they can carry him to the landmark figure.

At Busan Race Park the feature race was won by favourite Glory Champ, who just beat out Annika Queen in the photograph. However, the race was marred by a fatal injury to Janggun Sinhwa. The five year old winner of six races was pulled up in the back straight.

Class 1 (Korean bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – May 31, 2009

1. Hwangnyongsaji [Slew Gin Fizz – Wild Guess (Wild Rush)] – Jun Deok Young – 3.0
2. Gi Ra Seong [Precise End – Dauntless Cat (Mountain Cat)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 2.9
3. Lucky Mountain [Silent Warrior – Myeonggaheui (Revere)] – Cho Kyoung Ho
Distances: 0.5 lengths/1.75 lengths – 11 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN