Mighty Runner finally lived up to his potential as the five year old strode to victory in the Ttukseom Cup in front of a huge crowd at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Sixth in the betting, the horse who won only once in his first thirteen outings held off a field including Myeongmun Gamun and last year’s winner Namchonuijijon over seven furlongs.

Sent off slight favourite, the notoriously recalcitrant Myeongmun Gamun lapsed back into his bad habits at the gate. After thirty one starts, the 2008 Horse of the Year is still no fonder of the starting stalls than he ever has been and is wise to the attempts of the handlers to coax him in. With a leadin, a blindfold and brute force all failing, after a full five minutes, the eight year decided that actually he wouldn’t mind running today and lined up. His pre-race exertions may have taken their toll as he was slow to get away.

It was the mare Geumsuni, breaking from stall 12 who sprinted across the track to take the early lead with Seven Card right behind her as Kim Hyo Seob tucked Mighty Runner into third as they reached the end of the back-straight.

Geumsuni continued to lead as the field came together rounding the home turn and she led Taebaek Janggun into the home straight first. Taebaek Janggun quickly dropped out of contention as Mighty Runner started the sprint, hitting the front with a furlong to go. Meanwhile, Jung Ki Yong coaxed Namchonuijijon into top gear down the outside with Triple Seven and Choi Beom Hyun emerging from the pack to join the challenge.

They were too late, however, as Mighty Runner never looked in danger of being caught with the winning margin two and a half lengths on the line. Namchonuijijon just managed to hold off Triple Seven for third with Geumsuni staying on to a creditable fourth. Myeongmun Gamun’s traditional late run came too late with the favourite only maging fifth place, equally his worst ever finish in this race in 2006.

For Mighty Runner, it was a seventh career victory with six of these now coming in his last seven outings. He finished sixth behind J.S. Hold in the 2007 Derby but remained in the lower ranks until beginning his remarkable run last September which saw him improve from class 4 to class 1 in the space of four races.

Ttukseom Cup (G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – Apr 12, 2009

1. Mighty Runner (KOR) [Pacific Bounty – Roan All Over (Fight Over)] – Kim Hyo Seob – 16.1
2. Namchonuijijon (KOR) [Concept Win – Intriga (Lord At Law)] – Jung Ki Yong – 3.4
3. Triple Seven [The Groom Is Red – Impudence (Grand Lodge)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 5.0
Distances: 2.5 lengths/Head
Also Ran: 4. Geumsuni; 5. Myeongmun Gamun; 6. Seven Card; 7. Free Woody; 8. Saebyeok Dongja; 9. Seonju Jangsu; 10. Lucky Seven; 11. Highway Star; 12. Taebaek Janggun

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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Torpedo Mast wins / First victory for Abigail
Punters brought the sun-block out for the first time this year as Seoul basked in the sunshine for the first day of the Ttukseom Cup meeting. And with the cherry blossoms in bloom in the infield and a big Saturday crowd in attendance, it was five year old mare Wig who landed the day’s feature race.

Sent off second in the betting, Wig made a late run under Choi Beom Hyun to overhaul Esteban, who had led from the gate, in the final furlong. Favourite Baram Queen, one of Seoul’s top fillies last season, ran into second with the tiring Esteban hanging on for third. Wig ran in a slew of big races last year but went through her entire four year old season without a win. Today’s victory takes her on to five in her career.

In the top race for foreign bred horses, Torpedo Mast took the honours, outsprinting odds-on favourite Free Hugs to win by a Head on the line. Earlier, on what was a generally low-key card, Australian-bred My Photo Map took his second consecutive win, overcoming another odds favourit in Badauibyeol.

In other races, after three consecutive second place finishes, promising three year old filly Abigail broke her maiden, taking a very competitive race 5 with victory over debut making Australian two year old Sumba.

With champion jockey Moon Se Young away on honeymoon, the old guard took the opportunity to make up some ground in the jockey’s championship. Park Tae Jong landed a treble with wins on Smart Khan, Saebyeokgisang and Galmasan while fellow veteran Kim Hyo Seob managed a double. It was also a good day for Stephan Swanepoel. Still to record his first winner in Korea, the South African managed consecutive thirds in races 3 and 4.

Tommorrow sees the main event of the weekend with the 21st running of the Ttukseom Cup with Namchonuijijon and Myeongmun Gamun heading the field. The big race isn’t until 5pm but the first race goes to post at 11:20. Busan gets its card underway at 12:40 and the ponies will be running on Jeju Island from 12:10.

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Filly takes first leg of Triple Crown / Hot favourite finishes third
Sangseung Ilro came through a tough stretch battle with Namdo Jeap to win the fifth running of the KRA Cup Mile and with it the first leg of the 2009 Korean Triple Crown at Busan Race Park this afternoon.

With Yeonseung Daero the odds-on favourite, Sangseung Ilro was sent off fourth in the betting and the filly, one of four in the race, was quickly into her stride as Namdo Jeap under Martin Wepner grabbed the rail and set the early pace. Geumbit Sesang settled into third and the unbeaten Impeccable into fourth as ther raced down the back straight.

Entering the long turn for home, Namdo Jeap had three lengths on the rest while Yeonseung Daero was still on the rail in the middle of the field with plenty to do to find space. Meanwhile Eiki Nishimura on Sangseung Ilro gradually closed the gap until his filly was alongside Namdo Jeap as they began the sprint.

While Kim Eu Su on Yeonseung Daero finally found his run, it would be too late to catch the leading two. For a long time in the stretch it looked as though the race could go either way. Namdo Jeap battled on strongly but Sangseung Ilro finally got her neck in front for the final time in the last furlong and opened out for a length and a half victory.

Sangseung Ilro takes her winning streak to four and while early Oaks favouritism is assured, the pressure will be on for her to go to the Derby at Seoul next month. There could be much more to come from Namdo Jeap too, as he comfortably stayed the Mile distance only to be outsprinted at the last. With Eiki Nishimura and Martin Wepner taking first and second, it was a welcome day in the spotlight for overseas jockeys while some lucky punters cashed exacta tickets at 299.4.

Previously unbeaten Impeccable stayed the distance but while well placed early on, didn’t have the speed to challenge in the later stages. Meanwhile, it was a familiar story for the two Seoul entrants. Neither featured at the business end of the race, Money Teukgeup finishing seventh and Love Cat, backed into third favourite, a very disappointing eleventh.

However, the day belonged to Sangseung Ilro and connections, owner Ryu Yong Sang, trainer Kim Yong Gwan – who also trains second placed Namdo Jeap – and jockey Eiki Nishimura. This year, the KRA is putting more emphasis on races for fillies and mares. With one leg of the Triple Crown complete, a filly is a third of the way to landing the biggest prize of all.

KRA Cup Mile (G.III) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Apr 5, 2009

1. Sangseung Ilro F [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Eiki Nishimura – 17.7
2. Namdo Jeap [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – Martin Wepner – 31.7
3. Yeonseung Daero [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] – Kim Eu Su – 1.5
Distances: 1.5 lengths/1.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Sandeomi; 5. Impeccable; 6. Sky Star; 7. Money Teukgeup; 8. Geumbit Sesang; 9. Power Boy; 10. Pangpang; 11. Love Cat; 12. Dream Wings

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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Passing on next week’s KRA Cup Mile to focus fully on May’s Korean Derby, Seoul’s 2008 Champion juvenile Nice Choice looked set to continue his stately progress towards the year’s top prize with a warm up race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Stepping up to class 2 for the first time but with a less than initimidating field to contend with, the Lost Mountain colt was sent off the 1.2 favourite.

Punters were in for a shock, however. Bouncing out of the gate first was Jo In Kwen on six year old Holeinonefive and they led into the first corner of the 1800 metre Derby distance race. Dream Runner slotted into second, outsider Gamunhuye third and Moon Se Young on Nice Choice into fourth.

Holeinonefive continued to lead through the back straight and there were nervous moments for backers of Nice Choice as the colt seemed to be crowded in on the rails. Moon Se Young managed to extricate them, however, and as they rounded the home turn, they were looking well placed for the sprint. They had reckoned without Holeinonefive still having the energy for a sprint and starting with a length’s advantage, the older horse matched the colt stride for stride all the way to the line.

It was Holeinonefive’s first win in nearly a year and the sixth of his career. For Nice Choice, the setback breaks a streak of four straight wins. He remains Derby favourite but, after they take care of their home track classic next Sunday, Busan’s Derby hopefuls may look north with a little less apprehension.

On what was otherwise a low key day’s racing at Seoul, the feature race went the way of Dankee’s Pal. The US bred five year old saw off a field including Yodongseong, Obaek Yechan and Saerounbisul, by two lengths.

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Tiffanyuikkum holds on / Blue Pin, Happy Queen win
In a final furlong battle, six year old Hongji outsprinted hot favourite Top Point to take this afternoon’s feature race at Seoul Race Park. Although it was outsider Tough Energy who made the early running in the 2000 metre test, the two big hitters, Hongji and Top Point slotted straight into third and second places just a length off the leader.

Entering the home straight, it was Moon Se Young on the mare Top Point who made his move first, hitting the front as Tough Energy tired. However, Jo In Kwen got Hongji into his stride as well and the duel was on. With half a furlong to go, it looked like Top Point may hold on but Hongji had more in reserve, getting his nose in front with just thirty metres remaining and keeping it there for a half length win.

With the victory, Hongji moves onto nine career victories. Top Point, following her upset of Secret Weapon and Myeongmun Gamun in January, remains on eleven from nineteen starts

One race earlier, Australian import Tiffanyuikkum continued his recent run of good form, but only just. Park Tae Jong had the four year old in a winning position on the rails with a furlong to go but was left hanging on as Baramsan under Moon Jung Kyun launched a late challenge down the centre of the track. The line came soon enough though and Tiffanyuikkum, a late developer scored his third win from three outings so far this year.

In other races, there was a second win for improving three year old Blue Pin. The colt edged out Money Pokpung and New Kaiser in a tight finish to race 8. Blue Pin was the second of three wins for jockey Cho Kyoung Ho who took race 1 on the impressive Khanui Jeguk and then race 9 on the equally impressive filly Happy Queen.

Tomorrow, the first of eleven races comes under orders at 11:20. Busan gets underway at 12:40 and Jeju at 12:10.

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Tummim does it the hard way / Boo! – Min Ho lands a treble
Baekjeonmupae galloped through the sunshine to land victory in this afternoon’s feature event at Seoul Race Park. As expected, sprint specialist Gamadongja made the early running of the 2000 metre race with hot favourite Vicar Love just behind. With Gamadonga still leading in the back straight, Moon Se Young brought former horse of the year Subsidy around the outside of the field to slot into second.

This was how it remained until they exited the home turn with Gamadongja clinging on. Oh Kyoung Hoan asked Vicar Love for an effort but he couldn’t match that of Baekjeonmupae who finished strongly down the outside under Moon Jung Kyun for a two and a half length win.

One race later, three year old import Gangho [Peace Rules – Honor Delilah (Honor Grades)] continued his impressive start to his racing career taking a seven length win and in the process extending his unbeaten run to three. Gangho was the third winner of the day for second year jockey Boo Min Ho following earlier success on Fly Top in race 2 and Bio Com in race 7.

Much earlier in the day, highly thought of Lost Mountain filly Tummim broke her maiden in race 3, although she did her best not to. Sent off long odds-on favourite in her second start, Moon Se Young had the three year old in a winnng position with less than a furlong to go when Tummim suddenly veered off the inside rail and right across to the other side of the track. The filly almost lost enough ground to allow Lee Ae Li on Haedong Teukgeup to steal a shock win, but champion jockey Moon managed to coax Tummim across the line with just enough to spare.

In other news on what was a beautiful spring day with temperatures in the low seventies at the track, South African jockey Stephan Swanepoel scored his first money finish in Korea, guiding The Bank to third place in race 8.

Tomorrow is Busan Ilbo Cup day at Busan Race Park where the first of six begins at 12:40. Seoul gets underway at 11:20 and Jeju at 12:10.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Namdo Jeap, Seokcheong win / Iku dominates Busan / Swanepoel debuts
Crafty Louis stepped back in distance and bounced straight back into form landing Busan Race Park’s feature event this afternoon. Dropping back to a mile for the first time in over two years, the six year old went off fourth in the betting as highly fancied Patches Of Gold made the early running.

Favourite Dongbang Geona was well placed throughout but as they came off the turn it was Crafty Louis who accelerated the quickest. Only Oneuri Bobae could go with him and these two opened up a substantial gap on the field, Jo Chang Wook bringing Crafty Louis home for a length and a half win with Storm Rider leading the field in a full eleven lengths back.

Jo was one of only two Korean jockeys to ride a winner at Busan this afternoon. Ikuyasu Kurakane really hit the jackpot in moving from Seoul to Busan and had wrapped up a treble by the race 4. Meanwhile South African Martin Wepner scored his second victory in Korea, guiding relatively unfancied Captain Kim to victory in race 3.

Another jockey getting his second victory on the peninsula was American Santos Chavez who landed race 3 at Seoul Race Park on Yaho Shani. Chavez is gradually picking up more rides and followed up his front-running win on Yaho Shani with a surprise second place on unfancied Baram Queen in Seoul’s feature race. Under Chavez, the filly finished less than a length adrift of favourite Cheonnyeonbulpae, the Cho Kyoung Ho ridden four year old taking his second consecutive win at class 2 level.

In what was an eventful day for overseas riders, another South African jockey, Stephanus Swanepoel made his Seoul debut. Swanepoel’s first mount came in race 4, a race which exemplified Korean racing at its worst. Horses ran wide on the turn and, in the stretch, eventual winner My Photo Map suddenly veered off towards the stands. That the gelding still managed to win spoke volumes about the quality of the field behind. Meanwhile Swanepoel’s mount returned home lame after finishing tailed off and has been stood down for at least a year. His second mount, Smart Angel, finished in the middle of a pack well beaten by Giant Rose in race 7, the filly giving Moon Se Young his third victory of the day.

In other races, there were two three year old performances of note. At Busan, Namdo Jeap [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] predictably wired a field of eight fellow three year olds and was eased to a five length win on his season’s debut. Up at Seoul, Seokcheong [Fiercely – Miss Geology (Jade Hunter)] was always likely to put in a good performance, but the colt exceeded expectations by winning race 8, two lengths ahead of favourite Saerounjeonseol.

Class 1 (foreign bred) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Mar 15, 2009

1. Crafty Louis (USA) [Louis Quatorze – Crafty Atlantic (Crafty Prospector)] – Jo Chang Wook – 7.0
2. Oneurui Bobae (USA) [Montbrook – Promise Me Magic (Pentelicus)] – Jo Chan Hoon – 12.1
3. Storm Rider (JPN) [Tabasco Cat – Goldrush Gal (Gulch)] – Han Sang Gyu – 18.0
Distances: 1.5 lengths/11 lengths – 12 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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Mighty Runner’s streak ends / Red Ball wires field
Last week it was Bally Brae, today it was Namchonuijijon returning to the Winner’s Circle with a long overdue triumph at Seoul Race Park. The five year old started second favourite to Mighty Runner, who was looking for a sixth straight win, and was slow away as Heukjo Bisang made the running in the early stages of the 2000 metre race.

Mighty Runner, under Shin Hyoung Cheol, looked menacing throughout but as they turned for home, Jung Ki Young made his move on Namchonuijijon. Heukjo Bisang fell away and Mighty Runner never seemed to get into his stride. Only Free Woody, who had been racing at the front throughout, offered resistance but he too was passed as Namchonuijijon went on to take the line with a length and a half in hand.

Very much in the shadow of J.S. Hold in his three year old season, Namchonuijijon was expected to shine in 2008 and victory over Baekgwang in the Ttukseom Cup in April seemed to indicate great things ahead. On his next outing, however, Baekgwang’s sister, Baekpa, would soundly defeat him and things got worse from there as he finished out of the money for the first time in his career in his next appearance. Finally in December, he managed a creditable second behind Taebaek Janggun and now, with his first outing of the year ending in success, maybe 2009 could be Namchonuijijon’s year.

In other races, three year old Red Ball [Lethal Instrument – Wildly Magic (Peterhof)] stepped up in class and never looked anything other than a winner as he led race 10 from start to finish. The colt goes on to four wins from seven starts. Another three year old in the winner’s circle was Modern Fighter [Even The Score – Jester Rehab (Dmitri)] who scored moved up to 1700 metres and scored his third success from six starts in race 9.

Tommorow sees eleven races at Seoul with the first off at 11:20. South African jockey Stephan Swanepoel will make his Korean debut in race 4 riding unfancied gelding Gangcheolbong. Swanepoel also has a mount in race 7. Busan hosts a six race card with the first off at 12:40 while Jeju gets its ten race program off at 12:10.

Class 1 – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Mar 14, 2009

1. Namchonuijijon (KOR) [Concept Win – Intriga (Lord At Law) – Jung Ki Young – 4.3
2. Free Woody (KOR) [Social Charter – Choeseonbong (Imperial Price)] – Moon Jung Kyun – 7.6
3. Mighty Runner (KOR) [Pacificbounty – Roan All Over (Fight Over)] – Shin Hyoung Cheol – 2.1
Distances: 1.5 lengths/0.5 lengths – 12 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL