Racing Reviews

Weekend Round-up

Jeolho Chance’s Oaks win was unquestionably the main event but, on a sweltering afternoon, there was plenty of other action at both Seoul and Busan:

– Seoul’s feature handicap was won by hot favourite Good Day (1.6), the Cho Kyoung Ho ridden four year old leading from start to finish of the 2000 metre race, ultimately winning by two lengths from Heukjo Bisang (6.7). It’s three consecutive wins for Good Day and 12 from 16 in his career to date.

– New jockey Kim Dong Cheol scored his first career winner earlier in the afternoon, guiding favourite Hwanggeumnalgae to a three length win in race 3.

– At Busan Race Park, only six went in the feature handicap – a category 2 for foreign bred horses. A very open race betting-wise, the win was taken by second favourite Brown Storm (2.5) under Toshio Uchida.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Jeolho Chance Wins Oaks in Style

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

Seoul Racing Review

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

Busan Racing Review

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

Wonju Jangsa scores shock Cup win

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

Seoul Review – Easy for Secret Weapon

1.2 favourite strolls up / New jockeys debut
Secret Weapon needed to do little more than canter round the track to dispose of his rivals in the feature at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Park Tae Jong took the five year old 1.2 favourite to the front out of the gate of the 2000 metre handicap and despite giving at least five kilos to every other horse in the race, took a six length win easing up. Second favourite Totoro (9.4) was the distant second.

In the day’s second feature, third favourite Luxury Queen (3.9) put in a smart final furlong to take a KRW 30Million category 3 race, just edging out Eunjokbong (3.8 ) by half a length. The mare was ridden by Ikuyasu Kurakane, who also enjoyed victory in the following race on Yodongseong (3.6). It was the three year old American bred colt’s third win from six starts and his first at category 3. The pace was set throughout by Lee Ae Li on Seorin (7.5) but when Ikuyasu opened up the sprint, Yeodongseong went on to win by a clear five lengths with Seorin hanging on for second.

Aside from Ikuyasu, Park Soo Hong also landed a double but it was Park Tae Jong who once again took the biggest haul. Park’s procession on Secret Weapon followed on from earlier victories on the two year old Choisangbong (2.3) in race 2 and on Operaman (2.4) finally winning at the tenth attempt in race 6.

Five jockeys, recent graduates of the KRA’s jockey school, made their debuts today. Park Byung Yoon, Yoo Mi Ra and Cho In Kwon all featured in race 1 and Kim Cheol Ho and Park Si Won took their bows later. As expected, given their mounts, none of the five troubled the placings and all will be back tomorrow along with another newcomer, Kim Dong Min.

Yet again the latter half of the card was run in pouring rain with the weather forecast again deterring many racegoers. Tomorrow is forecast to be similarly unsettled for the Munhwa Ilbo Cup. Race 1 is at 11:20.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Busan Review

Widaehan Bonneung lands feature as Uchida trebles again
Toshio Uchida further cemented his position as top jockey at Busan Race Park this afternoon with another three wins. The Japanese took the feature handicap on top weight and favourite Widaehan Bonneung (3.2), hitting the front as they turned for home and going on for a two length win from second favourite Choego Jangseong (4.3). It was a return to form for the six year old Widaehan Bonneung who, apart from a win in February, had disappointed this year.

Earlier, Uchida had taken the honours on Haetsalgachi (4.2) in race 2 and Peace Mind (4,2) in race 8. Race 6 was a competitive KRW 31Million category 2 race for foreign bred runners with victory taken by Saeroun Bulpae (1.9), the three year old filly running on for an impressive five length win over Namsanui Jeonggi (6.2) with second favourite King Kephalos (2.7) a further five lengths back in third.

For Saeroun Bulpae, it was a fourth win from ten races and seven races since she’s been out of the placings. Racing returns to Busan on Sunday with a six race card starting at 12:40.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Baekpa dominates SBS Cup

Grey lands cup by five lengths / Bugyeong Choegang takes spoils at Busan
The grey Baekpa put in a commanding performance in the rain to land the KRW 63Million first prize in this afternoon’s SBS Cup at Seoul Race Park. Starting the 4.1 second favourite, the four year old won by five lengths, going away from favourite Myeongmun Gamun (2.0).

This time there were no tantrums at the start from Myeongmun Gamun, the top money winner retuning from a two month track ban for refusing to go in back in May, but it was Sports Chosun winner Natural Nine (6.5) who set the early pace with Park Tae Jong keeping Baekpa right on his shoulder. And so it was until the final turn when Natural Nine weakened and Baekpa hit the front. Jung Ki Young asked Myeongmun Gamun for a sprint and the seven year old obliged, but Baekpa was out of sight to record her biggest win since last year’s Oaks. Bangnokjeong (10.6) was just a nose behind Myeongmun Gamun in third.

With free entry to the track because of the predicted bad weather, there was a large crowd, however the early races were held in bright sunshine. The rain started around race 6 and by the time the Cup race got underway, the track was saturated. In the feature handicap, there was a win for Ugildongja (3.6), the Moon Se Young ridden favourite just edging out Aragorn (7.0). It was Moon’s second win after taking the first on the unraced two year old Nautilus (21.1). Moon was beaten, however, on hot favourite Last Dance Buddy (1.8 ) in race 6, going down to fellow US import Mexicali Blues (5.1) by half a length. Aside from Baekpa, Park Tae Jong was also successful on Bareukseu (13.1) in the last, beating out strong favourite Best Fusion (1.6) by a head.

At Busan, the weather was wet but slightly less torrential than Seoul and the feature handicap was won by favourite Bugyeong Choegang (2.1), half a length ahead of Wonder Love (5.6). It was the four year old’s fourth win from six outings in 2008. Toshio Uchida kept up his impressive run of form, landing two for the second consecutive Sunday. Uchida took race 1 on Son of Sinhwa (5.1) in a pulsating three way finish and then race 5 on hot favourite Glory Champ (1.7).

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Baekjeonmupae wins in rain

Supernatural & Brilliant Knight maintain ubeaten records
Slight favourite Baekjeonmupae took a narrow win in the feature handicap at a rain-soaked Seoul Race Park this afternoon with a length win over co-second favourites Seoul Teukgeup (3.4) and Owner’s Cup winner Saerounbisul (3.4). Park Tae Jong on Saerounbisul set the early pace but Ikuyasu Kurakane timed Baekjeonmupae’s run well to hit the front shortly before the line.

Earlier, two unbeaten imported horses kept their records intact. First the New Zealand bred gelding Supernatural (1.4) went in the 1300 metre race 2 when the rain was at it’s heaviest. Park Soo Hong left it late but Supernatural got up to win by three quarters of a length from Nandanara (4.7). Later in race 8 the American bred Brilliant Knight (1.4) had things a little more his own way leading wire to wire for a three length win from Gapbu (7.8 ) with Park Soo Hong riding again. Both geldings, the four year old Supernatural goes to two from two while it’s three from three for three year old Brilliant Knight.

In other races, there was a smart win for Huimang Energy (5.1) who made it five wins from 10 races leading race 9 from start to finish and looks ready to step up in class and also for Vicar Love (1.6), who made it 4 wins from 7 in race 12. Aprt from Park Soo Hong, there were also doubles for jockeys Choi Beom Hyun and Moon Se Young.

The turnout was kept low because of the torrential rain which started in the early morning and only began to ease off late in the day, making for unpleasant and unpredictable racing conditions. Things should be slightly better tomorrow when the first race is underway at 11:20 before racing takes a one week break.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Janggun Sinhwa wins as big names disappoint

Rainamker third but Procyon last / Uchida in imperious form again
Janggun Sinhwa (6.0) took the feature handicap at Busan Race Park this afternoon scoring a two and a half length win over Mirae Cheonsa (12.7) with KRA Cup Mile winner Rainmaker (4.2) a further length back in third. Favourite Procyon (2.0), Busan’s top money winner in recent times made the running out of the gate and held the lead until two furlongs to go before tying up in the straight to finish last of the twelve. KNN Cup winner Annika Queen (8.7) never featured, finishing second last.

For Janggun Sinhwa it is a sixth win from eighteen outings and is the first for the four year old at this level. Meanwhile it was a welcome return to the placings for Mirae Cheonsa – the outstanding filly of both 2006 and 2007 who won her first eight races coming close for the first time this year.

Mirae Choensa was ridden to second place by Toshio Uchida who had another outstanding day. Following his double last Sunday, the Japanese jockey landed a treble this afternoon with wins in races 3,4 and 7 with two more second places. Racing returns to Busan on Sunday with the first of six races off at 12:40.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN