Favourites disappoint as Storm Rider takes handicap win
Florida Native and Namdo Choegang both finished well down the field as Storm Rider (6.6) won a dramatic final furlong battle in the feature handicap at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Storm Rider, under Seo In Seob, set the early pace and featured at the front of the field throughout the 1800 metre race but had to fight off a strong challenge from Jungnyeong (10.5), Cho Sung Gon bringing the six year old from the back to the front of the field in the final few hundred metres. The line just came soon enough, however, for Storm Rider to record victory by a nose.

Earlier on a wet afternoon on the South Coast, there was another win for the promising New Zealand bred gelding Dandi. The three year old battled to his third win in five races, taking victory by a nose in race 4. In the day’s feature domestic race, favourite Lucky Dancer (2.4) took his fourth win from his last five races with a comfortable three length win over Hammer Stone (21.2). It was a good day for Japanese jockey Kazuyuki Watase who landed a double to take his Korean winners tally to three.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Playing Politics beaten / Hongji takes Galsaem again
Third favourite Vicar Love tore up the field in the final furlong to claim victory in the KRW 63Million YTN Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The unbeaten Playing Politics went off the hot favourite at 1.8 and under Choi Beom Hyun was well placed throughout the back straight. As they rounded the final turn, however, Playing Politics couldn’t find his sprint and it was Shim Seung Tae on Vicar Love (6.9) who went away from the rest, leading home by five lengths from outsider Serendipper (33.8 ) and Milwaukee Special (9.5) with the favourite in fourth (full result below).

It was not a good day for favourites. In race 9, six year old Galsaem suffered another setback, going down to Hongji for the second time this year. Galsaem, sent off 1.6 favourite, jumped out of the gate and led through all four corners but as they wound up the sprint, first Nujindo (7.8 ) and then Hongji (4.1) went past, Hongji ultimately the quickest by just over a length. Galsaem is still without victory since her last outing of 2007 and it was Hongji’s first win since the pair faced each other in February.

By this stage many punters had already taken a batttering after highly fancied Captain Cugat (1.4) went down to Royal Missile (4.2) in race 7, however, there was some relief as the fast improving Hera (1.9) came home four lengths clear in race 8.

On a day when one unbeaten record was broken, maybe another one began as the New Zealand bred gelding Coleraine made his first appearance on the track since arriving in Korea at the end of May. He was sent off slight favourite at 3.1 but it’s unlikely the odds will be so generous next time as he bounced out of the gate and never looked back, the rest of the field trailing in seven lengths behind at the end of the 1000 metre race 5. Coleraine’s time of 59.1 seconds just half a second off the course record.

At Busan, there was a six race program and the Japanese bred Jilju Hara kept up her 100% record (1.4) with an astonishing fifteen length win in race 4. The three year old filly, by Dehere and out of Super Innocent, won her first race back in June by eleven lengths and surely has a interesting future ahead. Busan’s feature came down to a three way final furlong battle and it was Toshio Uchida on Distance Runner (4.9) who just got the better of Annika Queen (4.8 ) and Milliondollar (21.0). There was disappointment in the last as The Bee Keeper, likely to be hot favourite was withdrawn through injury. In his absence, Winter Invitation (4.6) took a narrow win from Honor Day (2.3).

YTN Cup Cat.2 (Handicap) – 1900M – Seoul Race Park, 17:30

1. Vicar Love (US) [Vicar – Canberra (Silver Hawk)] – 56kg – Shim Seung Tae
2. Serendipper (Aus) [Danewin – Coppelius (Pleasant Colony)] – 54kg – Cho Kyoung Ho
3. Milwaukee Special (Can) [Milwaukee Brew – A Bit Special (Rahy)] – 57kg – Ham Wan Sik
Distances: 5 lengths, 3/4 length

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Favourite recovers from first corner wobble
Jeolho Chance recovered from an early scare to score a commanding win in the Korean Oaks at Busan Race Park this afternoon and in doing so, cemented her place as the nation’s top filly.

Breaking out of stall nine, Jo Chan Hun took Jeolho Chance out quickly with the intention of leading into the first corner. It so nearly went wrong though as the 1.7 favourite ran wildly off line at the corner allowing most of the field to pass. Jo kept his head, however, and shook Jeolho Chance back into position. As they entered the back straight she was in front and from then on, it was simply a matter of time before she kicked away from the field.

The inevitable happened as they turned for home. Jeolho Chance translates into English as “Perfect Timing” and when she went, the rest had no answer. Arch Racer (13.7), under Toshio Uchida, emerged from the field to give chase but Jeolho Chance showed her class to sprint away for a five length win. Seoul horses Gate Way (20.2) and Baram Queen (11.9) were a further two lengths back in third and fourth respectively.

On a baking hot day in Busan, with temperatures in the low thirties, Jeolho Chance moved onto six career wins from twelve starts. Although they were never likely to win, it was a good day for the two Seoul entrants, redeeming some of the capital’s pride after Busan’s monopoly on the placings in the season’s earlier classics.

It was also another masterful ride by Toshio Uchida on Arch Racer, weaving through the field and timing his run to perfection. Only there was one exceptional filly who they were never going to have a chance to catch.

Korean Oaks (G II) – Busan Race Park – Aug 10, 2008 – 15:45
1. Jeolho Chance [Didyme – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] – Jo Chan Hun – 1.7
2. Arch Racer [Archer City Slew – Trixable (Tax Collection)] – Toshio Uchida – 13.7
3. Gate Way [Psychobabble – Rich Emotions (Rizzi)] – Lim Sung Sil – 20.2
Distances: 5 lengths / 2 lengths

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Arrow Guard, Free Woody & Dangdanghan score good wins
Outsider Arrow Guard (29.0) produced a storming finish to take a narrow win in the feature at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Esteban (17.8 ) under Ikuyasu Kurakane set the early pace in the 1700 metre category 2 handicap and looked set for a wire to wire win until Kim Ok Sung brought the five year old Arrow Guard – in last place as they turned into the straight, through the field for the half length win. Esteban held on for second with Happy Go (2.8 ) in third.

Highly fancied Free Woody (1.5) had to work hard for victory in the previous race. However, the three year old made it four wins from eleven holding on by a neck from the fast finishing Mighty Galloper (5.8 )in an 1900 metre category 3. Finding things slightly easier was Dangdanghan (2.7), the three year old gelding taking his third consecutive victory in race 10, Lee Shin Young guiding him to the front out of the gate and kept him there for a commanding five length victory.

Moon Se Young returned from suspension but it was Cho Kyoung Ho who was the dominant jockey of the day with three wins, while there were doubles for Park Tae Jong and Kim Hyo Seob. New jockey Park Si Cheon scored his first place finish with third on Keungori (22.7) in race 4. Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow with the first at 11:20. The Korean Oaks will be simulcasted from Busan at 15:45.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Areumdaun Jilju, Namdo Jijon take easy wins but Golding beaten
Top domestic four year old Areumdaun Jilju strolled to an easy win in the first co-feature at Busan Race Park yesterday afternoon. The 1.1 favourite, under Toshio Uchida, showed at the front of the field through the back straight of the 2000 metre handicap, going away from the field as they turned for home and taking a four length win at the line from Sinhwaui Juingong and Sanbang Jeil. Areumdaun Jilju goes on to nine wins from fourteen starts.

The second co-feature was won by the Japanese bred Dongbang Geona (16.7), the gelding recording his seventh career win in a tight finish from Sonbaljein and favourite Hwanggeumbit Taeya. Angle Slam finished fourth with Golding back in sixth.

Earlier Namdo Jijon (1.3), third in the Derby, took his second straight win with a comfortable category 2 handicap victory by four lengths over Katrina and Neveah, the latter ridden by Nozomu Tomizawa, in Busan for Sunday’s Oaks. Toshio Uchida was once again jockey of he day with three wins, Kim Eu Su took a big race double on Namdo Jijon and Dongbang Geona, while Danny Craven was also in the winner’s enclosure with victory on Yeoreumbi (4.8 ) in race 2. Racing returns to Busan for Oaks Day on Sunday at 12:40.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Outsider wins by three lengths / Subsidy beaten again
Wonju Jangsa, a 68.9 outsider, stunned the field to land the Munhwa Ilbo Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Nice Champ was sent off the 3.0 favourite and the Kim Hyo Seob ridden four year old made the pace out of the gate and through the back straight with last year’s runner-up Samdobong (14.2) just behind. As they turned for home, however, it was Choi Beom Hyun on Wonju Jangsa and Park Soo Hong on Eoullimnyeongung (8.7) who emerged from the field with Wonju Jangsa proving the strongest by three lengths. Nice Champ ran on for third.

Wonju Jangsa shares a sire with J.S. Hold but until today the gelding had shown little of his illustrious relative’s ability. The win takes him on to a career recrd of three wins from seventeen starts and nearly doubles his career earnings. Other more fancied entries, Mansebose (4.7) and Top Value (3.5) finished down the field.

The Munhwa Ilbo Cup win capped a fine day for Choi Beom Hyun with Wonju Jangsa his fourth winner having won on Alydar The Ruler (2.0) in race 5, Jisangyeogeol (16.4) in race 6 and Wonder Wonder (2.6) in race 8. In other jockey news, Kim Cheol Ho became the first of this year’s new intake to make his mark on the placings scoring an unlikely third place on 152.2 shot Ganghannara in race 3.

It wasn’t a good day for Subsidy. The eight year old went off the 2.2 favourite in the feature handicap but was never in contention finshing a well beaten sixth. The race was won in impressive style by Seungyu Sinhwa (5.8 ), Park Soo Hong guiding the six year old to a seven length victory from Value Play (12.2).

Busan Race Park put on a low key card. The feature race was won by favourite Yongdu Baram (2.2), yet another winner for Toshio Uchida, a length and a half ahead of Choegang Brand (2.7).

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN