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

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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.

SBS Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – Jul 19, 2009

1. Hallyu Star (KOR) [Sharp Appeal – Angel (Land Rush)] – Choi Won Joon – 35.2, 4.6
2. Lucky Seven (KOR) [Didyme – Agent Flirt (Double Agent] – Lee Sang Hyuk – 10.9
3. Natural Nine (KOR) [Revere – C. Bop (Aly Dark)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan – 1.4
Distances: 0.5 lengths/Neck
Also ran: 4. Baekgwang; 5. Geumbit Gangja; 6. Daehyo; 7. Namchonuijijon; 8. Triple Seven; 9. Seungni Yongsa
Non-Runner: Wangson

Gyeongnam-Do Min Ilbo Cup – Busan Race Park – 1800M – Jul 19, 2009

1. Areumdaun Jilju (KOR) [Didyme – Chills Of Nepal (Nepal)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.9, 1.3
2. Haengbok Dream (JPN) [Lammtarra – Sister Slew (Slew The Dragon)] – Jo Chan Hoon – 7.4
3. Miss Ecton (USA) [Ecton Park – Miss Lion King (Lion Cavern)] – Martin Wepner – 2.8
Distances: 1 length/1.5 lengths
Also ran: 4. Phasmes; 5. Crafty Louis; 6= Hardride; 6=Wonder Love; 8. Winter Invitation; 9. Angle Slam; 10. Gyeongcheonsa; 11. King Kephalos; 12. Jewang; 13. Power Captain; 14. Saeroun Bulpae

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

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

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

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.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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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

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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

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