The threatened rain never materialised and it was a gloriously sunny Spring day at Seoul Race Park and last year’s perpetual runner-up finally landed a big race today as Namchonuijijon swept to victory and the KRW 132Million first prize in the Ttukseom Cup. The Shin Hyoung Chul ridden four year old started the 1.9 favourite and held off the challenge of Baekgwang (5.1) in the final furlong to win by just over a length. Hongji (7.8 ) finished third. As he so often does, Neocheon made the running for most of the 1400 metre race and held it until the final furlong whenthe field came past. With a furlong to go, it looked as though Baekgwang, under Park Tae Jong was finishing the stronger, but Namchouijijon quickened and secured a comfortable win. Park Tae Jong had clearly decided that Baekgwang was not up for the sprint and this was confirmed afterwards as it was revealed that Baekgwang had not fully recovered from his previous injuries – it seems unlikely that Baekgwang will reappear on the racetrack.

In the day’s feature handicap, Top Point (3.3) scored a ten length victory over the similarly named Dashing Champ (10.5) and Nice Champ (5.8). Top Point was Cho Kyoung Ho’s third victory of the day having won earlier on Challanhanbit in race 8 and Triple Seven in race 1. Ikuyasu Kurakane scored a double with Moon Se Young having a poor day by his recent standards with just one win.

Down at Busan, the feature race was a KRW 42Million handicap won by Pilseung Bonghwa (6.6) over favourite King Maker (2.3) and outsider Balhwajeom (138.6.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

The warmest race day of the year so far saw a large turn-out at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. There were no outstanding races but a series of smaller competitive ones. The day’s most valuable was won by 2.5 second favourite Geumsuni ridden by Moon Se Young. The four year old scored a three length victory over 50.3 outsider Balgeunhae.

Another outsider, Powerful Runner, landed the day’s second biggest prize, the five year old getting the better of a strong field including Entro, Clever Star and odds-on favourite Seoul Teukgeup to win going away at 37.3 under Ji Ha Ju. There were no surprises in race 9, however, as the impressive Storm Feet made it three wins from four outings. With Moon Se Young riding, the grey comfortably defeated Devilish Speed by two and a half lengths. One impressive race record did fall today in race 8 as Shining Two, with three wins from three since making his racecourse debut in January, wasn’t able to make the huge step up in distance to 1700 metres, finishing ninth behind Mighty Galloper. Early on, in race 2, the promising Double Buckshot kept his 100% record intact, with a comfortable win.

Moon Se Young was once again the top jockey with three wins. Danny Craven had his 100th ride at Seoul this afternoon, but didn’t trouble the placings. With the waterfalls switched on for the first time this year and the cherry blossoms out in the middle of the track, couple with the recent fine weather, Seoul Race Park was able to attract many more non-race fans than usual. Tomorrow sees the Ttukseom Cup, the first really big race of the year at Seoul. Unfortunately the forecast at the moment is for rain. Racing gets underway at 11:20am.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Crafty Louis edged out Dangdae Star by a neck to take Friday’s feature handicap at Busan Race Park. Ridden by Jo Chan Hoon, Crafty Louis went off the 2.7 favourite to land his second victory of 2008. Hwanggeumbit Taeya finished four lengths back in third and Florida Native fourth. Earlier, the three year old Yusu Yusu made it three wins from four races with a two length victory in Race 4. Racing returns to Busan on Sunday.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Rainmaker (3.4), ridden by An Sun Ho, has won the KRW228 Million KRA Cup Mile at Busan Race Park with Gaeseon Janggun (20.5) in second and Jeolho Chance (3.7) in third. Rainmaker went off the slight favourite from Jeolho Chance and Daejanggun (4.0). Jeolho Chance, under Cho Sung Gon, made the early running and traded the lead with Hammer Punch in the back straight. Rainmaker meanwhile sat at the back of the field until they entered the final turn, hitting second place with 2 furlongs left behind Jeolho Chance who by this time had opened up a gap of six or seven lengths. Rainmaker ground his opponent down, however, and ran on to record a two and a half length victory and take the first leg of the Triple Crown. The five horses from Seoul disappointed, filling up four of the last five places. Sammuae finishing highest for Han Sang Kyu in sixth.

Up at Seoul, there was a surprise in the feature handicap as Dankee’s Pal at 23.4 took the win for Cho Kyoung Ho ahead of Moon Se Young on another outsider Saerounbisul (32.0). The 2.3 favourite, Dirt King, was two lengths back in third. Earlier there was no surprise as Dongbanui Gangja (1.3) coolly won a two and a half length victory over Hwanggeum Dwaeji in a 1900 metre handicap. Dongbanui Gangja was the last of three wins for jockey Shim Seung Tae, with two wins each for for Park Tae Jong and Cho Kyoung Ho.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Saturday April 5, 2008
Kkumi Mulgyeol won today’s biggest race at Seoul Race Park, beating strong odds-on favourite Hwangnyongsaji by 2 lengths. With Cho Kyoung Ho riding, the five year old took the lead right from the start of the 2000 metre handicap and held off the late run of his younger rival in the final furlong.

There was a large crowd today – brought in by the fine spring weather and also by the fact that the admission fee (tiny though it is) was waived today because of last week’s cancellation. They saw a competitive day’s racing which saw favourites dominate early on but surprises take over later. The biggest shock on the card saw a 905.6 exacta return in race 7 with Freedom Now at 71.9 winning from Gaeseong Gongdan at 53.1. There were also two wins each for Moon Se Young – one on the highly rated Photo Map – and for Shim Seung Tae.

Sunday will see eleven races at Seoul with the first at 11:20, six at Busan with the first at 12:40 and they’re under orders at Jeju for the first of nine races at 12:20.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

The Bee Keeper makes it 3 out of 3 / Seoul jockeys struggle
Bugyeong Choegang won this afternoon’s feature race at Busan Race Park, the 2.8 favourite claiming a half length victory over Gangsan Jijo and D M Merch in the KRW 42Million 2000 metre handicap. D M Merch in third was ridden by Ikuyasu Kurakane, one of four Seoul based jockeys riding at Busan this weekend, Ikuyasu’s third was one of only two placed finishes for the foursome, Woo Chang Gu riding hot favourite Haneul Cheonsa to second place in race 5.

Three year old The Bee Keeper maintained his 100% record in the KRW 25Million race 6 with a two and a half length win over Bugyeong Janggun. This was The Bee Keeper’s first outing at 1400 metres and in superior company to his previous wins, he fully justified the 1.4 starting price. Performance of the day though was perhaps from the unraced Useung Party in race 1. Starting at a relatively unfancied 6.6, the filly dominated the field to win by a full seventeen lengths. Racing returns to Busan Race Park on Sunday with the KRA Cup Mile.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Fight Back won today’s feature race at Busan Race Park with a strong finish to win the KRW40 Million handicap by four lengths from Miraculous Medal. Dropping down to 1600 metres for the first time since 2006, Kim Do Hyun timed his run well on the 3.6 second favourite winning going away from the field. The 3.5 favourite Sinsapung finished back in sixth and Keep it Quick went off third favourite but never featured and finished twelth out of thirteen.

Elsewhere on the card, there was another win for Soo Khoon Beng, guiding odds-on Olympic Champion to an emphatic nine length victory over Taejeongsan in race 4. A competitive two year old race was won by Yeongwonhan Useung on her racecourse debut with a one length victory over odds-on favourite Bishop’s Return and the second most valuable race of the day was won by outsider Seongsan Daegun (Kim Tae Jun) at 21.3 with a half length victory over Haeil and favourite Hannam Daegyo.

With today’s meeting at Seoul Race Park called off because of a water-logged track, the only other racing was at Jeju, however on the Island too there were problems with racing being abandoned after seven of the planned nine races.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

There was an upset in the feature race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon as Galsaem, starting at 1.3 was beaten into fifth place by outsider Cheonghae San (39.7). The eight year old, which had won 10 of its previous 54 races, moved steadily through the field before producing a fast final furlong to beat Star Wood by two and a half lengths.

Persistant rain overnight and throughout the day meant that just like last Sunday, the track was saturated which again resulted in a low crowd and tricky conditions for horses and jockeys. It was also a day of upsets as only one odds-on favourite came home in front – King’s Road, under ParkTae Jong in race 2. Shim Seung Tae rode 2 winners as did Cho Kyoung Ho.

Racing returns to Seoul Race Park at 11:20 tomorrow. Although the rain has stopped for now, showers are again forecast for tomorrow.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL RACE PARK

Boryeong Bulbit & Namsanui Jeonggi win / KB Soo gets third win / Seol DB rides treble
As noted on Horse Racing in Korea earlier this week, Boryeong Bulbit was the horse in form, and so it proved as the Cho Seung Keun ridden four year old made the most of a five kilo weight advantage to overcome 1.8 favourite Sinjin Gangja by a neck. Million Dollar (Yoo Hyun Myoung) led for most of the race but faded to fourth as Boryoeng Bulbit came through the field in the straight to land the KRW42 Million handicap at 19.7. Second favourite Mirae Cheonsa finished a disappointing ninth.

Earlier there was an impressive win for hot favourite Namsanui Jeonggi in race 6, Lim Sung Sil guiding the three year old to his third win in six outings in a dominant four length victory over 1400 metres. Jockey Seol Dong Bok rode three winners, the highlight being Huimang Messenger (8.2) in race 9 and there was a third Busan Race Park win for Soo Khoon Beng riding the wonderfully name Kkumkkuneun to victory in race 7 at 8.5.

Racing is back at Busan Race Park on Sunday at 12:40 with cards at Seoul and Jeju on both Saturday and Sunday.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Daejiui Yeosin beaten at Busan – Gayasanseong wins at Seoul
Miss Ecton (Yoo Hyun Myoung) won the KRW68Million Busan Ilbo Cup at Busan Race Park this afternoon. The three year old filly timed her run to perfection to overtake 1.8 favourite Daejiui Yeosin (Kim Tae Kyung) in the final 100 metres to win by a length on the line. 17.1 shot Dongjjogui Bit (Kim Eo Su) finished a further length back in third. Miss Ecton started the 3.6 second favourite and Yoo was happy to keep her in the middle of the bunch until making his move as they entered the straight. Daejiui Yeosin hit the front with two furlongs remaining but Miss Ecton’s finish was too strong. Also at Busan, Admiral Reigart (4.0) continued his fine run of form for 2008 with a half length victory in a KRW42Million handicap. Admiral and Seonbaljein (17.4) both came from the back of the field to the front in the final two furlongs and it was the former that got the better of the latter on the line for a half length victory.

There was a tight finish to the feature race at a soaked Seoul Race Park but eventually 2.7 favourite Gayasanseong (Woo Chang Gu) took the honours with a half length victory over Baekpa (Park Tae Jong) and Haengunui Bit (Lee Dong Kuk). Strongly fancied Gi Ra Seong (Choi Beom Hyun) was backed into second favourite at 3.3 but despite leading for most of the race, faded in the straight to finish fourth in the 1900 metre race. Earlier in the day there was a 128.0 winner in the shape of Baramgatchi in race 2, one of the longest priced winners recently.

The much hyped Shaving Points made his racing debut in race 3 and didn’t disappoint those who had backed him into 1.3, cantering to a 6 length victory under Ikuyasu Kurakane. For the second day running Ikuyasu recorded a double, with a later victory on Somangi (8.4) in race 8 with hot favourite First Flower in second. Lee Shin Young continued her recent run of good form with victory in race 1 on Kkumcheoreom (8.6). Lee Ae Li also scored a rare place finish, coming in third on outsider Unak Tiger (78.2) in race 7, a race dominated by the impressive Vicar Love (2.4) which recorded a nine length victory under Woo Chang Gu.

Racing at both Busan and Seoul was blighted by persistant rain and there was standing water on the track making for dirty and dangerous conditions, which kept the crowds low. After winning on Gayasanseong, jockey Woo Chang Gu remarked that jockeys were racing blind most of the day and indeed the first two races on Jeju Island were scrapped altogether.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN