Second favourite Sinjin Gangja led from start to finish to claim the feature at Busan Race Park this afternoon. The 3.4 second favourite held off Mirae Cheonsa by half a length to record his tenth career victory. Favorite Yeongung Manse was a further length back in third. Earlier, there was an impressive win for Dahlonega. In his first attempt at cat.2 level, the American bred three year bounced out of the gate and stormed away from the field to record a ten length victory. It was the colt’s third straight win.

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Weekend Round-Up: Namchonuijijon / Bally Brae / Procyon all disappoint
Good Day made it thirteen wins from eighteen starts with a routine victory in today’s feature handicap at Seoul Race Park. Under Cho Kyoung Ho, the four year old was sent off the overwhelming 1.3 favourite and came in a comfortable length and a half winner despite the fast finish of second placed Balhaejanggun. Putting in a disappointing run was Namchonuijijon, the second favourite showed at the front of the field in the back straight but faded as they rounded the turn and only beat one horse on the line.

Another horse disappointing was Procyon in the feature at Busan Race Park. The gelding was backed in to 1.7 to break his three race losing streak and things looked good as he took up his usual position at the front of the field. It all went wrong in the home straight, however, as Procyon faded away badly to allow Boryeong Bulbit to claim the honours, two lengths ahead of Luna.

Saturday at Seoul Race Park saw Bally Brae also fail to convert a favourite’s chance in the big handicap. Back under Moon Se Young for the first time since the Owner’s Association Trophy in June, the six year old led main threat Dongbanui Gangja for every bit of the 2000 metres – except the bit that mattered. In first and second entering the home straight, the two duelled to the line and it was Dongbanui Gangja, carrying 5 kilos less than Bally Brae who took the sprint. It was a sixth win for the impressive colt who has never been out of the money in thirteen starts. Meanwhile six year old Bally Brae is without a win since March.

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Last gasp effort makes it third time lucky
Jeolho Chance led for all but ten of the two thousand metres, but favourite Gaeseon Janggun was in front when it mattered in the Minister’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The final leg of the Korean Triple Crown saw all three of this season’s previous Classic winners line up and it was the filly Jeolho Chance who bolted out of the gate under Cho Kyoung Ho and into an early lead. Lucky Dancer and Derby Winner Ebony Storm followed as the Oaks winner continued to set the pace in the back straight.

Gaeseon Janggun bided his time under Park Tae Jong, while Toshio Uchida brought Cup Mile Winner Rainmaker around the outside of the field and into contention as they entered the third corner. It was at this point that there was drama at the back as Magic Victor veered wildly to the right taling Super Goliath with him and ending both horses’ outside chances.

None of this mattered at the front as Jeolho Chance entered the home straight, hugging the rail and with a three length lead. She was tiring though and Gaeseon Janggun was looming. Park Tae Jong shifted the colt outside and the chase was on. For a long while it looked as though the filly would do it with neither horse nor rider prepared to go quietly as the gap closed but then seemed to stabilise once more with 100 metres to go. It was then that Park Tae Jong was able to find a little more from Gaeseon Janggun and they finally swept past within touching distance of the line. A full eight lengths behind the leading pair, Namchon Party salvaged a small amount of pride for Seoul horses as he beat out Rainmaker in a photograph for third.

Having finished second in both the KRA Cup Classic and the Korean Derby, today was finally Gaeseon Janggun’s day. Jeolho Chance gave everything that could have been have been expected of her but Gaeseon Janggun is clearly a horse with both speed and stamina and once more, Park Tae Jong judged his run to perfection, the veteran winning this race for the second time in his career. With the win, Busan horses completed a clean sweep of the Triple Crown races through Rainmaker, Ebony Storm, Jeolho Chance in the Oaks and now Gaeseon Janggun. In one disappointing piece of news, however, after the race Rainmaker was found to be lame and will be out of action for six months.

Minister of Agriculture Cup (G.II) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Oct 12, 2008

1. Gaeseon Janggun (KOR) [Duality – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – Park Tae Jong
2. Jeolho Chance (KOR) F [Didyme – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] – Cho Kyoung Ho
3. Namchon Party (KOR) [Fiercely – Cheulgeoun Party (Big Sur)] – Oh Kyoung Hoan
Distances: 0.5 lengths and 8 lengths.

Meanwhile at Busan, it was Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup Day, one of the biggest Busan races for fillies and mares and it was favourite Haneul Cheonsa who was the convincing winner coming from the back of the field to the front as they rounded the final turn and sprinting away for a six length victory from Mighty Angel:

Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Oct 12, 2008

1. Haneul Cheonsa [Didyme – C’est Avie (Lord Avie)] – Han Sang Kyu
2. Mighty Angel [Revere – Almost Persuaded (Chillon)] – Chae Gyu Jun
3. Myeongpumjilju [Barfighter – Three Hearts (Defensive Play)] – Jo Chang Wook
Distances: 6 lengths and 2 lengths

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Korean team beat ROTW / Playing Politics strolls JRA Trophy
Park Tae Jong emerged victorious in the International Jockey Challenge Series at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The forty two year old finished level on 41 points with fellow local rider Choi Beom Hyun at the end of the four-race series, with Park taking the $20,000 first prize by virtue of having landed more prize money during the event. Another Korean, Moon Se Young finished third with 34 points. Issei Murate was top International jockey with 31 points

Overnight leader Greg Cheyne had it all to do today as his mounts were all relatively unfancied but while Moon Se Young took today’s opener on Daleumi, Cheyne managed a final furlong effort to sneak into fifth place aboard 136.8 outsider Luxury and take five points to keep him in front overall. It wasn’t to be from then on, however, as Park Tae Jong, having finished third in the first, guided favourite Storm Finish to a comfortable two length win in the next to put himself in pole position going into the final race in which he had drawn the favourite, Baekdujeonseol.

The final race of the Challenge was a KRW 53Million Special Handicap and it was American Tony Black who stormed out of the gate and into an early lead on second favourite Jigusangwiryeok. As they turned for home, Black’s horse was still leading, but Park and Choi Beom Hyun on third favourite Bandoeui Byeol were closing fast. They came past in the final half furlong with Bandoeui Byeol taking the win by half a length with Jigusangwiryeok running on for third.

The other main event of the day was the JRA Trophy Race which saw Playing Politics going up against the unbeaten Brilliant Knight. However, it was Big Sox (22.0) under Kim Ok Sung, who got a jump on the field at the start. Choi Beom Hyun, on one of the best days of his career, was content to wait on Playing Politics as the four year old stalked Big Sox in the home straight. Finally as they passed the half furlong pole, Choi brought Playing Politics out to the right and they went past Big Sox in dismissive fashion for a win much easier than the final two length margin suggests. Brilliant Knight came in third a further four lengths back.

Park Soo Hong was Brilliant Knight’s jockey and he went on to take the day’s feature handicap on hot favourite Natural Nine, holding off a final furlong challenge from Best Condition. It was a day which had, much earlier, almost ended in disaster for the 33 year old as he fell heavily from two year old Cheonsangyeogeol in race 2.

While the focus was very much on Seoul, Busan also ran a six race card, the feature seeing a second consecutive win for Japanese bred Dongbang Geona in a KRW 40 Million Handicap.

JRA Trophy Race – Seoul Race Park – Oct 5, 2008 – 1200M

1. Playing Politics (USA) [Outflanker – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)]-Choi Beom Hyun
2. Big Sox (USA) [Cimarron Secret-West Point Woman (Great Above)] – Kim Ok Sung
3. Brilliant Knight (USA) [Lion Hearted – Deputy Lady (French Deputy)] – Park Soo Hong
Distances: 2 lengths / 4 lengths

Fourth International Jockey Challenge Series
Korea 136 – 109 Rest Of The World

1. Park Tae Jong (KOR) 41
2. Choi Beom Hyun (KOR) 41
3. Moon Se Young (KOR) 34
4. Issei Murate (JPN) 31
5. Greg Cheyne (RSA) 29
6. Robert Thompson (AUS) 22
7. Anthony Black (USA) 18
8. Moon Jung Kyun (KOR) 12
9. Eddie Lai (HK) 9
10. Cho Kyoung Ho (KOR) 8

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Lucky Mountain, Dream Runner & Best Fusion Land Exchange Trophies / Subsidy has to wait for the Billion
South African Greg Cheyne took the opening race of the 2008 International Jockey Challenge with a solid length and a half win on three year old colt Daesahyeong at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. It was Moon Se Young on Ever Rich who bounded out of the gate to open up an early lead in the 1700 metre race. They were joined in the back straight by Anthony Black on Goun Sesang and the two horses led round the final turn. At this stage, Cheyne was looking boxed in on the inside, but as the leaders tired, a gap began to open up at the two furlong pole. Others ran wide and Cheyne took Daesahyeong, the 8.1 third-favourite, down the rail to sprint clear, winning with plenty in hand. Favourite Janggun Bada partnered by Oh Kyoung Hoan, who is not part of the Challenge, finished second with Japanese rider Issei Murate in third on Meotjin Segye.

On a big day’s racing, there were three International Exchange Trophy races all of which went resonably to form. First up was the Singapore Turf Club Trophy Race and it was 6.5 third favourite Lucky Mountain who emerged the half lenth victor after long-time leader Happy Box with Malaysian jockey Ronald Woodworth on board weakened badly in the straight. Next up was the Australian Jockey Club Trophy which saw another big race win for Moon Se Young, this time on the 1.8 favourite Dream Runner. The filly came through the middle of the field in the final furlong to win in a more impressive fashion than the length and a quarter margin of victory would suggest. Finally there was the Horse Racing Ireland Trophy and again, it went to the favourite as Best Fusion went wire to wire for a comfortable four length win under Kim Hyo Seob.

In other races, Subsidy was aiming to take his career earnings to over KRW 1 Billion in the feature handicap. However, despite being backed into 2.2 favourite, the eight year old is going to have to wait a little longer as he could only manage third. Vicar Love, winner of the YTN Cup in August, bounced out the gate, extended his lead in the back straight and never looked back from then on, the the three year old running on for an eye-catching six length win with Owner’s Association Trophy winner Saerounbisul leading the well-beaten field in. Vicar Love goes on to six wins from nine outings, this his first in cat.1 company.

Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow with the first off at 11:20. The three remaining races of the International Jockey Challenge are races 5, 6 and 8. Greg Cheyne is going to have a tough time hanging on to his lead as his rides tomorrow are not well-fancied. Racegoers should, however, see both Robert Thompson and Anthony Black given the opportunity to show what they can do as both have winning chances, as indeed does Park Tae Jong for Korea. Highlight of the day, however, is perhaps the JRA Trophy Race which will see Playing Politics looking to get back in form by ending the unbeaten streak of Brilliant Knight when the two clash over six furlongs at 15:10 with the likes of K J Khan set to keep them good company. There is also a six race card at Busan Race Park, with the first going to post at 12:40.

Singapore Turf Club Trophy Race – Seoul Race Park – Oct 4, 2008 – 1300M

1. Lucky Mountain (KOR) [Silent Warrior – Myeonggahui (Revere)] – Cho Kyoung Ho
2. Magic Bouquet (AUS) [Telesto – Romance The Stone (Tolomeo)] – Ikuyasu Kurakane
3. Admiral Warstorm (USA) [Delineator – Butterbean (Buckaroo)] – Yoo Sang Wan
Distances: 0.5 lengths and 0.5 lengths

Australian Jockey Club Trophy Race – Seoul Race Park – Oct 4, 2008 – 1400M

1. Dream Runner (KOR) [Our Poetic Prince – Aubrey (Mustin Lake)] – Moon Se Young
2. Satya (KOR) [The Groom is Red – Fusaichi Suzuran (Thrill Show)] – Shin Hyoung Chul
3. Gayawangbi (KOR) [Duality – Silver Sonic Lady (Lot O’Gold)] – Yoo Seung Wan
Distances: 1.25 lengths and 4 lengths

Horse Racing Ireland Trophy Race – Seoul Race Park – Oct 4, 2008 – 1800M

1. Best Fusion (KOR) [Didyme – Morning Red Sky (Chisos)] – Kim Hyo Seob
2. First Flower (KOR) [Happy Jazz Band – Makemeanactress (Noactor)] – Yang Hee Jin
3. Gwacheonhwalbo (KOR) [Social Charter – Pyramid Sky (Mark In The Sky)] – Shin Hyoung Cheol
Distances: 4 lengths and 2.5 lengths

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Second favourite King Kephalos held off the challenge of the fast finishing Hardride to take the KRW 68 Million first prize in the Macau Jockey Club Trophy at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Kim Eu Su kept the Japanese bred gelding comfortably in the middle of the field throughout the early stages of the mile-long race and the three year old King Kephalos hit the front inside the final furlong to win by half a length, with White Bull a further two lengths back in third. In an open betting race, Cheonji Yeonseung was sent off the 4.5 favourite, but the Toshio Uchida ridden three year old colt could only manage fifth.

The day was not without its successes for Uchida, however, as the rider, who recently agreed to extend his contract at Busan until January, picked up four winners including on Scramble in the day’s feature handicap.

MJC Trophy – Busan Race Park – Oct.3 2008, 1600 metres

1. King Kephalos (JPN) [King Glorious – Western Edge (Woodman)] – Kim Eu Su
2. Hardride (USA) [Colony Light – Lametta (Lomond)] – Yoo Hyun Myoung
3. White Bull (USA) [Holy Bull – Broad N’ Every Port (Broad Brush)] – Kazayuki Watase
Distances: 0.5 lengths and 2.5 lengths

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Supernatural streak ends / Coleraine impresses
On a beautiful Autumn day at Seoul Race Park, Machine Gun followed up his defeat of Baekpa with victory in today’s feature by the narrowest of margins. In a frenetic race, Hwanggeum Mulgyeol (27.1) made the early pace, but it was Flying Cat (15.6) under Choi Beom Hyun who took over with two furlongs to go. It looked as though the eight year old had stolen a march on the favourites and would hold on for an unlikely win, however, the line wouldn’t come soon enough. Favourite Machine Gun (2.3) and Dashing Champ (6.9) had sat in the middle of the field throughout and Moon Se Young and Shim Seung Tae finally got going as they entered the final furlong. They caught Flying Cat with just a few metres left and crossed the line together. At first sight, it looked like Dashing Champ had it, but the photograph showed Machine Gun had taken the KRW 42Million prize on the nod.

After the unbeaten streaks of Shaving Points and Playing Politics were both ended at three, it was New Zealand import Supernatural’s turn to try and extend his to four in race 11. It wasn’t to be. The four year old gelding was sent off the slight favourite at 3.1 but was kept at the back of the field throughout. Jockey Park Soo Hong left himself a lot of work to do in the home straight and although Supernatural passed five horses in the final furlong he was never in the battle for the win. That battle was won by in style by second favourite Bold Magic (3.2) who streaked away from the field in the last furlong for a ninth length win from Last Dance Buddy (3.7).

Earlier, another New Zealand import, Coleraine had made it two from two with a comfortable wire to wire victory in race 4. The three year old looks ready for better company next time out. Race 2 was for unraced two year olds and Red Ball (2.8 ) justified his favourite status by romping to an eleven length win. Cruising away from the rest of the field with two furlongs remaining and eased by Yang Hee Jin long before the line, the colt will be one to watch in the domestic ranks over the next few months.

Ecton Cat (1.7) and Dangdanghan 2.2 secured their expected victories although both had to grind out one length wins in races 8 and 9 respectively, likewise Wangsan (1.4) in race 6 who had to work even harder, eventually holding on by a neck. There was, however, a remarkable result paying a 1861.9 exacta in race 6 as unfancied Kkum Ha Na (39.7) edged out extremely unfancied Fly Captain (110.0) in a blanket finish. With the third horse home, Useungcup, also untouched in the market at 60.1, more than one formguide found itself surplus to requirements as far as punters were concerned.

With temperatures hovering around the 20 degree mark, sunshine and a light breeze, conditions were as perfect as they get at Seoul. Similar is hoped for tomorrow with one of the biggest days on the calendar. Busan’s Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup Card gets underway at 12:40 at the southern track while in Seoul it’s KRA Cup Classic day with the first race at 11:20. Busan’s big race is off at 15:40 and Seoul’s at 17:05. Both tracks will be showing both races (see below for full previews).

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL