Top Point lands feature at Seoul / The Bee Keeper beaten at Busan
Playing Politics maintained his 100% record in emphatic style at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Stepping up in class and distance to 1700 metres, the US born son of Outflanker cantered around the back straight comfortably on the shoulder of early leader Jewanguijari (13.8 ). As they entered the home straight, Choi Beom Hyun shook Playing Politics into action and the 1.1 favourite took the lead with a furlong and a half remaining, running on for a seven length win. The three year gelding now has three wins from three races.

On a hot day with temperatures hoverng around the 30 degree mark, the track quickly dried from the overnight rain and the feature handicap was won in predictably easy fashion by favourite Top Point. Moon Se Young took Top Point out in front from the start and had little to do as the 1.2 favourite cruised away from the field for a six length win with Heukjo Bisang (20.0) holding on for second. The four year old made it her ninth win in 14 outings and is yet to be beaten in six races in 2008.

Moon Se Young rode Top Point as a replacement for Cho Kyoung Ho who was thrown from Baekdu Jeongsang out of the starting stalls prior to race 7. That race was won by Little Pumpkin (9.6), Choi Beom Hyun’s second win of the day and he would go on to also take race 9 on Lucky Mountain (6.0). Moon Se Young also rode a treble with his win on Top Point sandwiched between victories in race 4 on Jeil Beonjjeok and in race 12 on Bonny Bee.

At Busan Race Park there was a first defeat for three year old The Bee Keeper. Stepping up to 1800 metres for the first time, the top weight started the 2.0 favourite and looked well placed as they turned for home. However, Hardride (5.6) had the faster sprint securing victory by a neck from Honor Day (5.6) with The Bee Keeper back in fourth. Earlier in the day there had been drama in the first race when jockey Cho Chang Wook was unseated from second favourite Yeoreumbi when seemingly in a winning position just metres from the line. With no horses nearby, there was no action for the stewards to take and favourite Magic Force (2.8 ) took the victory.

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Gamadongja ends 2008 drought with first category 1 win
Gamadongja won his first category 1 handicap and his first victory in five 2008 outings in the feature at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. After making the early running before fading to a disappointing ninth over the same 2000 metre distance in last month’s Owner’s Trophy, Nozomu Tomizawa repeated the tactics taking the New Zealand bred four year old into an early lead. This time the 1.6 favourite never looked in danger and began accelarating away from the rest of the field at the two furlong pole to record a nine length win over Golden Arch (25.9) and Eunpa Manse (3.6). Gamadongja moves onto a career record of six wins from eleven races, the gelding winning five out of six 2007 outings and finally finding his 2008 form this afternoon.

In other races, there was a wire to wire win for Cheongcheonbaegil (4.3) who just managed to hold off Free Woody (2.6) in the 1800 metre KRW 30Million race 9 and a third win from six races for three year old gelding Dangdanghan (10.0) in race 8. Three jockeys landed doubles with championship leaders Moon Se Young and Cho Kyoung Ho joined by veteran Kim Ok Sung. Kim scored with Crown Carla (8.9) in race 2 and Dakota Royal (5.7) in race 4. Cho won on Bandoeui Kkum (3.9) in race 6 and Auckland Love (2.6) in race 10, the New Zealand born gelding winning for the first time in nearly a year. Moon left it late to record wins in race 7 on Robby Tiger (3.2) and in race 12 on Wontagui Gisa.

Chris Taylor had four rides but didn’t trouble the placings in any, coming closest with sixth placed finishes on Ungbiyeongung (13.1) in race 4 and Chaser (10.8 ) in race 12.

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Two horses with a habit of finishing second in 2008, Golding and Gaseon Janggun, were back in form at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Golding left it late but after three consecutive second place finishes, the six year old was finally back in the winner’s enclosure with a final stride victory in the co-feature at Busan Race Park this afternoon. Starting the 1600 metre handicap te 2.1 favourite, but carrying significantly more weight than his rivals, Golding started the race slowly with Gu Young Jun bringing him into contention as they rounded the turn. Early leader and second favourite Dongban Geona (5.5) fell away as Oreumak (10.4) took up the lead with a furlong to go. It was Golding who had the faster finish, however, overcoming Oreumak on the line to win by a neck with Deputized Angel (34.2) six lengths back in third.

In the second co-feature, Yoo Hyun Myoung tried to repeat the same tactics on Jeolho Chance that had seen the three year old filly land her first major handicap last month as he raced to an early lead of the 2000 metre category 1. It was not to be today though as Jeolho Chance (2.8 ) tired in the home straight to allow another three year old, Gaeseon Janggun (3.6) to sweep past and to victory with top weight Sinjin Gangja (5.1) in second and Hannam Daegyo (18.1) third. For Gaeseon Janggun it was a third career victory following second placed finishes in both Classics so far this season and his first run since the Derby. Racing returns to Busan on Sunday.

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Second favourite takes fillies’ Cup / Namchonuijijon beaten again
Samsimnyeonsarang (4.4) won a hard fought home straight duel with favourite Daehyo (2.4) to land the KRW 63Million Sports Seoul Cup, one of the biggest fillies races of the season leading up to the Korean Oaks. Having disappointed in the two Colt’s Classics in her two previous outings, Samsimnyeonsarang, ridden by Lee Dong Kuk, set the early pace while Park Tae Jong on Daehyo sat towards the back of the twelve-strong field. Park made his move as they kicked for home and Daehyo looked to be best placed as they hit the furlong pole. Samsimnyeonsarang, however, had energy in reserve and regained the lead in the final 100 metres to win by a length with Daehyo just holding off the fast-finishing Baram Queen (6.5) for second.

Namchonuijijon was back in action in race 10 with connections looking to bounce back from the four year old’s shock defeat at the hands of Baekpa last month. That defeat is not looking so shocking anymore though as the 1.3 favourite never featured finishing a well beaten fifth behind six-year old mare Jeongtongseong (17.2). Second in the Oaks in 2005, Jeongtongseong had won just one of her five starts in 2008 up to today but she started quickly and kept on the shoulder of pace-setter Seocheon Yangban (53.3) until taking up the lead as they rounded the final turn. As Shin Hyoung Chul tried in vain to get a run out of Namchonuijijon, Nujindo (15.6) was the biggest danger, but Cho Kyoung Ho was able to keep Jeontongseong in front for a length and a half win with Northern Victor (11.5) in third. Namchonuijijon finished fifth. Being beaten by Baekpa was excused by virtue of Baekpa being a very fine horse – this time four old-stagers beat the horse many predicted to be the star-performer of 2008.

Cho Kyoung Ho and Moon Se Young both scored doubles but it was a tougher day for Chris Taylor. Following his debut win yesterday, he opened with a fifth placed finish on Jiljuyuhok (29.0) in race 1 but things went downhill from there with Silent Flirt (219.8 ) in race 3 finishing last and the horse later being banned form running for two months. This was followed by riding Balgeunhuimang (20.2) to ninth in race 4 and then, in race 7, the moderately fancied Gangcheonsan (22.1) refused to run when the stalls were opened. Eventually, the horse cantered round the track 30 seconds behind the field in a race which was won by Won Jung Il on 102.6 outsider Black Pumpkin. No fault was attached to Taylor for the performance of either Silent Flirt or Gangcheonsan which also received a two month ban for further schooling.

At Busan Race Park there was a first win for another new overseas jockey with Japanese rider Kazuyuki Watase guiding three year old Thor (3.5) to victory in race 1. Watase made his debut on Friday and he wasn’t the only Japanese jockey in the winner’s enclosure this afternoon as Toshio Uchida landed race 5 on Yongdu Baram (4,6). Feature race at Busan was won by second favourite Gongnopae (5.8 ), half a length in front of Storm Rider (82.3) and favourite Gamun Bobae (3.9).

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South African jockey Chris Taylor made a winning start to his Korean career, landing the 1700 metre, KRW 30Million race 12 on Kronos (11.4) at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Coming out of stall 8, Taylor settled Kronos into the middle of the field as the early pace was set by Ikuyasu Kurakane on Neungnyeokchungman (17.9) and then taken up in the back straight by strong favourite Guarantee (1.6). Taylor steadily made gains as they crested the turn, entering the home straight in fifth and running wide to find a run. It looked like Guarantee was going to hold on for a time but the four year old Kronos was by far the quicker of three fast finishers, hitting the front with 30 metres remaining and taking victory by a length from Neungnyeokchungman and Seungundaeseung (10.6). Guarantee, the first runner out of the stable of recently retired jockey Woo Chang Gu, finished fouth.

It was a fine end to what had been a tough first day’s racing for Taylor. On a wet day in Seoul, his first mount, Seonghwangsan (175.2) in race 3 finished thirteenth from fourteen and his next two, Giant Tsunami (218.9) in race 4 and Galsaek Maeryeok (223.2) in race 5, were tailed off last and pulled-up respectively. With Kronos, however, he was finally given a horse with which he could show what he could do. Taylor will be back with a further four rides tomorrow.

Feature race of the day was a domestic category 2 handicap which saw a comfortable win for Hwanggeum Mulgyeol (6.7) by three lengths from Chamgippeum (5.4) and favourite Happy Go (1.7). Lee Ae Li took Hwanggeum Mulgyeol into a six length lead in the back straight and although the field had closed the gap by the final turn, the five year old had plenty in reserve for the sprint. In a similar handicap for foreign bred horses, favourite Pocketful of Money (1.4) scored a similarly dominant victory for Moon Se Young, leading from start to finish for a five length win from Value Play (6.0) with a long gap to outsider Runaway Angel (90.1) in third. Jockey of the day was Ikuyasu Kurakane who landed a treble with wins on Burning Believe (14.8 ) in race 5, Quick and Glory (9.1) in race 7 and Crocap (3.2) in race 9.

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Yeongung Manse upsets Classic winners at Busan / Secret Weapon edges out Galsaem at Seoul
Yeongung Manse (6.1) gatecrashed what was supposed to be the battle of the two Classic winners in the feature race at Busan Race Park this afternoon, overhauling Derby winner Ebony Storm (2.7) in a final furlong battle to take a half length victory over 1800 metres. Punters had forgiven KRA Cup Mile winner Rainmaker for his disappointing showing in the Derby and sent him off the marginal 2.6 favourite but, on a wet track, it was Janggun Sinhwa (16.7) under Jo Seung Gon who made the early running with Toshio Uchida on Ebony Storm on his shoulder while Rainmaker sat at the back. As they exited the final turn, those looking for a run from Rainmaker were to be disappointed as it was Yeongung Manse who emerged from the pack to take on the leaders. Ebony Storm drifted slightly across the track and Jo Chang Wook coaxed a blistering final furlong from Yeongung Manse to take the half length win with Janggun Sinhwa in third. There was then a ten length gap to Jageun Taeyang in fourth with Rainmaker never featuring in seventh.

Yeongung Manse went off third favourite and recorded his fifth win from eight starts. As a gelding, he wasn’t eligible for either the KRA Cup Mile or the Derby but showed his class today in beating the winners of both those races. Ebony Storm’s connections need not be too downhearted as it was a strong run and he might have won but for the drifting in the straight, proving the shock Derby win was not just down to the conditions. Two disappointing performances in a row from Rainmaker, however, are a greater concern.

At Seoul, only six horses contested the feature handicap and it went exactly to form as Secret Weapon (1.5) held off Galsaem (3.4) for the win. It wasn’t easy, however, as Galsaem showed more fight than she has recently pushing Secret Weapon all the way to the line of the 2000 metre handicap and was perhaps a touch unlucky to be half a length behind at the finish. Secret Weapon moves on to 13 wins from 26 starts while Galsaem remains stuck on 16 from 32, without a win from six outings in 2008.

Secret Weapon was ridden by Park Tae Jong and was Park’s third winner of the day following earlier victories on similarly fancied Seonggonchulbal (1.5) in race 5 and Beautiful Sky (7.0) in race 6. Kim Hyo Seob landed an early double with wins on Taesanbukdu (2.9) in race 1 and Black Bird (10.1) in race 3. Moon Se Young made a return to the saddle after 5 race days out and it took him only until race 2 to make his mark with victory on Yujoseon (1.7), however, it was to be his only win of the day and he faces being called before the stewards for possible inteference when guiding Sinheung Gangho to third place in the feature.

There was no racing at Jeju Race Park today because of fog limiting visibiliy to unsafe levels. Jeju is feeling the full force of this monsoon season with an abandonment last week, two races cancelled yesterday and now a complete cancellation today. So far, however, and despite forecasts, both Seoul and Busan have completely ecaped the monsoon. The feature race next weekend is at Seoul in the form of Sunday’s Sports Seoul Cup and hopefully we’ll see more of the same weather-wise.

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Brilliant Knight & KJ Khan win / Seungyu Sinhwa lands feature
Seungyu Sinhwa landed his second handicap win of the month with victory in the feature at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Starting the 2.1 favourite, the Kim Ok Sung ridden six-year-old, held off the challenge of long time leader Geumbittuhon (4.9) to take the 2000 metre category 1 race by half a length. It was Seungyu Sinhwa’s eleventh win from a career of twenty eight races. Another six year old, Special Party (7.7) took the day’s second most valuable race with a a half length win over Julino Price (13.7).

American import Brilliant Knight made his second racecourse appearance in race 6. The son of Lion Hearted had easily won his debut race over 1200 metres four weeks ago and the three year old gelding had things similarly his own way stepping up to 1300 metres today. Ridden by Park, Soo Hong, Brilliant Knight (1.2) jumped into the lead out of the stalls and led all the way eventually winning by six lengths. Brilliant Knight joins Playing Politics and Shaving Points in a small group of very exciting recent imports and hopefully their paths will cross on the track soon.

After disappointing last time out another three year old import, Japanese bred K J Khan was back on form in race 7. Punters were not deterred by his surprise fourth place finish earlier in the month and once again sent him off the strong favourote at 1.5. This time he didn’t disappoint as Park Tae Jong guided him to a one and a half length victory from Nice Friend (4.7) over 1400 metres. It was Park’s only victory of the day and only Shim Seung Tae managed a double with wins on favourote Vimoksa (1.6) in race 6 and Junior Shards (13.9) in race 9. Unluckiest jockey of the day was Cho Kyoung Ho who managed five seconds but no wins. A light drizzle fell on the track for most of the day and unsettled weather is predicted tomorrow when the first of eleven races is off at 11:20. Busan Race Park’s card starts at 12:40 and Jeju’s at 12:20.

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Busan Review
Namdo Jijon, third in the Korean Derby, was in dominant form at Busan Race Park today, landing a category 2 allowance race by an impressive eight lengths. The 1.4 favourite, ridden by Kim Eu Su, led from start to finish of the 1400 metre race to comfortable claim the KRW 31Million first prize. It was only the second win of Namdo Jijon’s nine-race career, however, the three year old has never finished worse than fourth.

The feature handicap, a KRW 42 Million race over 1800 metres was inpressively won by Namdo Choegang (10.0) who hit the front as they crested the top of the home straight and went on to win by four lengths from favourite Florida Native (3.2) and Wonder Love (5.5). Elsewhere there were wins for Sinheung Gangja (3.7) in race 8, a category 2 handicap, and also for Wakeup America. Apart from in his first race, the interestingly named three year old son of West Acre has never finished worse than third, but he had to battle for his fourth career victory today, the 2.3 favourite overhauling King’s Stride (18.0) in the final few strides to win by a nose.

Racing returns to Busan on Sunday with the first of six races under orders at 12:40.

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Dashing Champ wins handicap / Baengnokgunji lands Jeju Ilbo Cup
Saerounbisul’s win in a closely fought Seoul Owner’s Cup (full report) was the highlight of an eleven race card at Seoul Race Park. It was jockey Park Tae Jong’s second win in the race, having been successful on Port Omen in 2001 and it was his second of the day having guided Taehwangseong (3.7) home in race 8. The feature handicap was won by Dashing Champ (10.0), the Ham Wan Sik ridden five year old finishing a length ahead of top weight and favourite Hongji (2.3) with Balhaejanggun (2.8 ) a close third. Shin Hyoung Chul also scored a double with a win on hot favourite Steve’s Purple Rose (1.3) in race 4 followed up immediately by another favourite Yeopungchunha (1.4) in race 5. Outsider of the day was Biseungbisul, a 60.8 winner of race 6.

After yesterday’s abandonment, it was a big day at Jeju Race Park and the weather had improved for the Jeju Ilbo Cup, one of the biggest pony races of the year and a clash between the pair of unbeaten two year olds Baengnokgunji and favourite Hanrasan. It was Baengnokgunji (2.7) who moved onto eight races without defeat scoring a one and a half length victory in the 1200 metre race. Hanrasan (2.0) looked to be in a winning position throughout most of the race but fell away badly in the final furlong, finishing a disappointing ninth of the ten runners.

There were six races at Busan Race Park, the highlight being a category two handicap won by Jullyakjuk Seungbu (16.4), three lengths ahead of favourite Gaya Gongju (2.9).

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Subsidy & Bally Brae unplaced as three year olds dominate
Saerounbisul (8.6) won this afternoon’s Seoul Owner’s Cup at Seoul Race Park with late run to score a one and a quarter length victory over Seoul Teukgeup (17.7) in what was otherwise a blanket finish. Gamadongja (36.1) made the early running under Nozomu Tomizawa with Bally Brae (3.9) on his shoulder. Second favourite Subsidy (2.7) under Oh Kyoung Hoan moved up the field during the back straight and as they turned for home it looked like the battle was going to be between Subsidy and Bally Brae yet again and they passed the weakening Gamadongja with a furlong to go. However, the younger horses behind were closing in and, carrying significantly less weight, had a faster finish. Park Tae Jong guided Saerounbisul down the outside and he hit the front with 50 metres remaining to take the KRW 106Million first prize. On the line, Seoul Teukgeup, Dongbanui Gangka (17.7) and rank outsider Obaek Yechan (81.1) also swept by the older horses leaving Subsidy and Bally Brae in fifth and sixth respectively.

For the New Zealand bred Saerounbisul it was a sixth career victory from seventeen outings:

Seoul Owner’s Cup (G.III), 2000M – Seoul – Sunday June 22, 2008, 17:00

1. Sarounbisul (NZ) – 52.5 – Park Tae Jong (8.6)
2. Seoul Teukgeup (USA) – 52 – Moon Jung Kyun – (17.7)
3. Donbanui Gangja (USA) – Choi Beom Hyun – (18.7)
Distances: 1.25 lengths / 0.75 lengths

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