Pocketful Of Money takes handicap / Shaving Points looks unbeatable / Danny wins again
Favourite Natural Nine landed the Sports Chosun Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon, holding off the fast finishing Nice Champ by a length. The 2.0 shot, ridden by Park Soo Hong made it 6 career victories out of 13 starts. The early running was made by Kkumui Mugyoel (13.6) until Lee Shin Young brought Nokhaji (14.0) around the field to the front in the back straight, a tactic that has worked well with the six-year-old in the past. Nokhaji led until inside the final two furlongs when Natural Nine opened out the sprint. Woo Chang Gu on Nice Champ (7.9) and Moon Jung Kyun on Mansebose (8.9) finished faster but the line came just soon enough for Natural Nine to take the trophy with Nokhaji in fourth place.

On a day when in excess of 60,000 people took advantage of the finest day of the year so far and came to the track, once the Sports Chosun ceremony was over, the days’s feature handicap got underway and it was another victory victory for a favourite, this time Pocketful of Money (2.7) giving Moon Se Young his second win of the day, scoring a length’s victory over Seoul Teukgeup (5.2), the two of them eight lengths clear of the rest. Second-favourite Haengeun Daewang (4.8 ) was clearly feeling the effects of the handicapper, the top-weight leading early on but fading badly in the straight to end up eleventh.

One of the most exciting prospects on the track at the moment is Shaving Points and the three-year-old son of Pure Precision made his third start since arriving in Korea in January. Stepping up in both distance and class, the 1.6 favourite found the going just as easy as in his previous two outings as he cruised to a five length victory over 1700 metres ahead of Mupae Jilju (5.1) and giving Ikuyasu Kurakane his second winner of the day following a win in race 5 on Jayaduri (12.1). There was also a dominant win for Bonny Bee (5.0) who led from start to finish of a competitive KRW 27Million 1400 metre race 8.

Down at Busan, Danny Craven won his second big handicap of the weekend with a fine ride on favourite Boryeong Bulbit. Sitting at the back of the field for the opening stages of the KRW 42Million 1800 metre race, Craven steadily brought Boryeong Bulbit (2,2) towards the front but finding himself boxed in as they rounded the final turn, had to take a very wide line to find a winning run. Once he did, however, Boryoeng Bulbit showed his class with a blistering final furling securing a four length win from Choego Jangseong (10.7) and Haeil (5.8 ) to make it 8 wins out of his last 10 runs.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Top weight and favourite Secret Weapon set the pace and held off a late challenge from Balhaejanggun and Hongji to take this afternoon’s feature race at Seoul Race Park. Ridden by Moon Se Young, the five year old made it 12 wins from 24 races in the 2000 metre handicap. Inside the final two furlongs, it looked as though the 1.5 favourite might be in some danger, however, Moon asked Secret Weapon for a little extra effort and the win was more comfortable than the one length margin over Balhaejanggun (16.0) and Hongji (6.4) suggests. Second-favourite Gayasanseong (3.3) never thretatened to mount a challenge for the placings, finishing eight lengths off the front in fourth place.

Earlier, three year old Power Spinner (2.0) had made it three wins from four races easing up to a length victory over Arctic Time (10.8). Kim Hyo Seob made a fast start on Power Spinner and had a big lead entering the straight. Although Arctic Time ate into the gap, the favourite never looked in any real danger despite drifting across the track in the final furlong. Moon Se Young’s win on Secret Weapon was his second of the day, having won the first on Alps (3.1). Choi Beom Hyun also recorded two wins with victory on the previously un-raced Playing Politics (29.2) in race 2 and then on Western Forever (2.7) in race 5 as did Lee Dong Kuk with wins on Hera (4.4) in race 4 and Sky Wing (7.1) in race 9.

A warm, sunny day with temperatures peaking at around 28 degrees brought out a large Saturday crowd despite the humidity. Racing returns to Seoul tomorrow at 11:20 with weather expected to be similar (although I was wrong last week) with warm temperatures but hazy sunshine and a 20% chance of rain. There’s also racing at Busan with a 12:40 start and at Jeju from 12:20.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Danny Craven secured his second Busan win and his biggest since arriving in Korea with victory on Winning Beauty in the feature handicap at Busan Race Park on Friday. The 6.7 second favourite came from behind to take a one length win from favourite Florida Native (1.7) in the KRW 40 Million race.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Busan sweeps the places but Rainmaker nowhere / Race run in torrential rain
Ebony Storm, ridden by Shim Seung Tae, pulled off a shock win in the Korean Derby at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. On a waterlogged track and in a torrential downpour, the outsider of fourteen Ebony Storm came home at 95.3 to land the biggest race of the year by a neck from Gaeseon Janggun (5.5) with another Busan horse, Namdo Jijon (33.1) half a length back in third. Pre-race favourite Rainmaker (2.5) started slowly under Moon Se Young and had nothing as Moon asked him to accelerate off the final turn finishing a well-beaten eighth with second-favourite Jeolho Chance (5.1) behind him in ninth.

Samsimnyeonsarang (43.4) made the early running with Jeolho Chance. Ebony Storm sat just off the front two round the first two turns dropping back in the back straight. As the field came together rounding the top of the final turn, Shim Seung Tae made his move on Ebony Storm, hitting the front with a furlong to go and just hanging on as Park Tae Jong left himself slightly too much to do on Gaeseon Janggun. Seoul’s highest placed finisher was Cheonnyeonbulpae (7.9) finishing in fourth under Cho Kyoung Ho. Meanwhile, Hammer Punch unseated jockey Choi Jung Seob as they rounded the final treacherous bend. Busan now emphatically leads Seoul, providing all the placed horses in the two triple-crown races run so far. A below avearge crowd for Derby day was there to see it happen, the rain and thunder, which grew heavier as the afternoon wore on keeping many away, despite the free admission.

Korean Derby (G1) 1800 Metres
1. Ebony Storm (Shim, Seung Tae) 95.3
2. Gaeseon Janggun (Park, Tae Jong) 5.5
3. Namdo Jijon (Kim, Ok Sung) 33.1
Distances: Neck/1.5 lengths

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Seoul Racing Review
Hot favourite Myeongmun Gamun refused to enter the starting stalls and had to be withdrawn just before the start of the feature race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The seven-year-old, who is the highest earning horse in Korea over the past year is well known for his fear of the stalls and took five minutes to be coaxed in before running third in the Grand Prix last December. This time, despite the best efforts of the handlers and jockey Cho, Kyoung Ho, the horse held firm. Myeongmun Gamun had been backed into 1.6 favourite and his absence left the path clear for Gi Ra Seong (3.7) to score a fine victory in a final furlong battle with Speedway (8.1). Sirius (5.3) finished third with Baekpa (2.4), last year’s Oaks winner putting in another disappointing run in fourth place. It was Gi Ra Seong’s eighth win but the first time the Choi Beom Hyun ridden four year old had won a category one race.

Cho Kyoung Ho didn’t take long to recover from his frustrations with Myeongmun Gamun, winning the next, KRW 36Million handicap on Badajebi (5.6) a neck in front of Park Tae Jong on Together, the 3.6 favorite. Overall, it was a good day for Cho, with three wins in total having earlier won on Wild Boy (2.4) in race 4 and Musi Mujong (4.0) in race 5. There were also doubles for An Byung Ki and Oh Kyoung Hoan. Outsider of the day was 33.4 shot Dr. Day who provided jockey Boo Min Ho with his third career victory on his one hundredth career mount in race 3. Dr. Day overhauled the strong favourite True Really (1.2) in the last few strides to win by a nose.

A beautiful sunny day at the track and more of the same is expected for the Derby tomorrow. The first race is at 11:20. There’s also racing at Busan from 12:40 and Jeju from 12:20.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

The favourites were beaten in both feature handicaps at Busan Race Park this afternoon. First up was Taehwa Janggun starting 2.7 favourite in the foreign-bred race but finishing a disappointing eighth out of nine, Annika Queen (6.9) winning going away by four lengths. Admiral Reigart fared slightly better in the domestic-bred handicap which followed. The 2.4 favourite was well placed throughout but failed to make up enough ground on a dominant Geumi Hwanhyang (4.7) who led throughout and won by five lengths, the Admiral eventually finishing third. Racing returns to Busan on Sunday.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Odds-on Favourite Seonju Jangsu (1.6) never featured as Dashing Champ (12.0) upset the form to narrowly land the weekend’s feature race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Well-placed throughout, Ham Wan Sik guided the five year old to victory with a late run to overcome Oh Kyoung Hoan on Totoro (3.3) by a neck with Wagdure (8.2) a length back in third.

Seonju Jangsu was the third odds-on favourite to fall to defeat following Cheonjiwon (1.7) finishing second to Gateway (9.1) in race 1 and Robby Tiger (1.7), well out of the placings in race 7. Dashing Champ was the highlight of a good day for Ham Wan Sik as the win formed the final part of a treble after earlier victories on One Top (4.5) in race 3 and Musimjido (9.1), a seven-length winner of race 7. Yoo Sang Wan scored a late double with wins in race 10 on Mega Victor (7.0) and in race 11 on Strong People (15.5).

At Busan Race Park, favourite Shout of Victory (2.3) scored a length win in the feature handicap holding off outsiders Haeto and Great Sunny. Earlier in the day there was a comfortable win for highly rated three year-year-old, Sangho Ilche (1.3) who led the whole 1200 metres for a three length win in race 2. Sangho Ilche now goes to four wins from six races, finishing second on the other two occasions. Other races went generally to form with wins for Canine (1.9) in race 1 and Busan Taeyang (1.4) in race 3.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Seoul Racing Review

Hot favourite Hwangnyongsaji produced an explosive final two furlong burst to take a half length win over long time leader Holeinonefive on the line in the feature race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The three year old went off the 1.4 favourite and for a time it looked like Holeinonefive (16.7) had the beating of him but Choi Beom Hyun brought him through to the front at just the right time to take the 1900 metre handicap.

Double Buckshot moved on to three wins from three outings with a narrow win in race 9. The 2.2 favourite holding on for victory by a head over outsider Ireland Shinko (48.2). Highly rated KJ Khan (1.4) took care of business in slightly more comfotable fashion with an eight length win over 1200 metres in race 6. It is three wins in a row now for K J Khan, the Japanese bred three year old looking ready to race in tougher company in future.

Favourites did not have it all their own way though with Daebuho, starting race 8 the 1.5 hot favourite, finishing a disappointing fifth behind Sinnaneun Party (20.2). Cho Kyoung Ho was the only one of the top four jockeys in action but he failed to score a winner, the twelve races being won by twelve different jockeys. Today also saw the first day of the partial closure of the “Happyville” grandstand for interior remodelling that is scheduled to last for over a year. It was a beautiful sunny day at the track today and more of the same is expected tomorrow when the first of eleven races is off at 11:20. There is also a six race card at Busan beginning at 12:40 and the usual nine races on Jeju with the the first at 12:20.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

The feature race at Busan Race Park went to form as Sinjin Gangja (2.0) took a comfortable four length victory to land the KRW 42Million, 2000 metre handicap. The four year old top weight took the lead in the back straight and as they turned for home accelerated away from Yeongwonhari (4.7) and Pick Me Up (3.2). Sinjin Gangja moves on to eight victories from seventeen outings.

Danny Craven notched his first winner at Busan with victory in race 8 on relatively unfancied Power Captain (15.9). Craven left his run late, battling to find room in a tight final two furlongs which saw jockey Yoo Hyun Myoung fall from the fast finishing Winter Invitation just as it looked like he had a winning run. Power Captain ultimately landed victory by a head from Alchan Sonyeo (27.0).

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Outsider wins Gukje Sinmun / Sichuseon wins Netizen Day Race / Bally Brae beaten in handicap

18.4 shot Angle Slam won the KRW 68Million first prize in the Gukje Sinmun Cup at Busan Race Park this afternoon with a half length win over Busan legend Golding. Golding started the race the heavy 1.3 favourite and sat at the back of the field for the first three quarters of the 1400 metre race while Angle Slam sat in the middle of the pack, Gu Min Sung making his move with two furlongs remaining. Sensing danger, Gu Young Jun quickened Golding and the six year old powered through the field like a train completing the final furlong a full half second quicker than his rivals – but it was too little too late as he ran out of track and Angle Slam secured a half length victory.

Up at Seoul Race Park it was also a major race day in the form of the Netizen’s Day Race. In front of a bumper Sunday crowd, a field of fourteen runners was led home by Sichuseon (3.1) in one of the most dramatic final furlongs of the year so far. With the early pace set by Cowboy and Bonny Bee, Moon Se Young found himself at the back of the field on Sichuseon and remained there until they entered the home straight. Looking boxed in on all sides, Moon asked for extra effort from Sichuseon and they threaded an impossible-looking route through the field hitting the front on the line to win by a neck from Wig (19.8 ) and Borkhan (41.0). Favourite Gangho Jewang (2.9), bidding for his third win in five races, never featured an finished a disappointing ninth. Sichuseon had to undergo a Steward’s Inquiry but no fault was found and Moon’s ride has to go down as one of the best in recent months.

After Golding’s shock defeat earlier, punters were relying on Bally Brae to deliver the goods in the feature handicap. however, it was a forlorn hope as, after featuring prominantly for the whole race, the six year old 1.2 favourite failed to produce his usual home straight burst and fell to a two length defeat to the Park Tae Jong ridden Saerounbisul (17.2) and Baekjeonmupae (14.8). Bally Brae was carrying 62 kilos, ten more than the winner and four more than second top-weight Angus Empire, who finished in fifth. After Bally Brae’s previous outing, Moon Se Young had noted his concern over the weight the horse was carrying and today it appears he finally reached his limit.

After yesterday’s lacklustre card at Seoul, it was a dramatic day at both tracks. With cool and cloudy conditions ideal for racing and bigger than usual crowds at both Seoul and Busan, a fine afternoon’s sport was delivered. Attention will now turn to the Korean Derby which is only two weeks away.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN