Meni Money Downs Pinot Noir In Donga Ilbo

Last year’s winner Pinot Noir put up a valiant defence of her Donga Ilbo crown but ultimately was to be denied as Meni Money came home in front  in Seoul’s second Listed Race of 2017.

With the well-fancied Touch Flying found lame and declared a non-runner less than an hour before the race, it was Meni Money who was sent off as favourite and she was kept handy by champion jockey Moon Se Young in the early stages. Meanwhile, Park Hyun Woo on Pinot Noir employed the now 7-year-old mare’s familiar tactics of dropping to the rear on leaving the gate before going wide around the field in the back straight to take the lead.

Pinot Noir would lead into the straight but Meni Money came alongside with a furlong to go and ran on to prevail by just under a length and a half. Argo Champ ran on well for 3rd.

Meni Money [Menifee-Pocketful Of Money (Running Stag)] is out of a dam who for a number of years held the track record at today’s distance of 1800M. She won five and was runner-up in five of her first ten career starts, including 2nd place in the Korean Oaks in 2015. However, since then she had only added a further two victories prior to today. Her previous biggest victory came in the 2015 Sports Seoul Cup.

Donga Ilbo Cup (Listed) – Seoul Racecourse – 1800M – Feb 19, 2017

1. Meni Money (KOR) [Menifee – Pocketful Of Money (Running Stag)] – Moon Se Young – 2.3, 1.2
2. Pinot Noir (KOR) [Capital Spending – Neungnyeokchungman (Pacificbounty)] – Park Hyun Woo – 1.6
3. Argo Champ (KOR) [Menifee – Doo Dah Day (Woodman)] – Djordje Perovic – 2.1
Distances: 1.25 lengths / 3 lengths – 9 ran

The win was one of five on the day for defending champion jockey Moon Se Young. Earlier, he won on Lion Rock (Ecton Park), a three year-old “full” brother to reigning Horse of the Year Triple Nine. Lion Rock moved to three from three with a facile victory in the 1700M race 8.

Two unbeaten records came to an end at Busan though. American Power (Ecton Park) didn’t travel especially well on his first try at a mile and gave himself too much to do in race 5, ending up in 2nd place. A race later, US import Drop The Beat (Mad Flatter) also went down to his first defeat.

Those defeats were in contrast to the showing a day earlier by Final Boss (Menifee). The champion juvenile of 2016 barely required second gear to maintain his winning streak over 1800M at Seoul:

Seoul Sunday: Donga-Ilbo Cup – Full Preview

Last year in the snow, Pint Noir won the Donga Ilbo Cup just before another blizzard forced racing to be abandoned for the day. There should be no weather issues this time around as she returns to defend her title against nine rivals over 1800M.

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Pinot Noir in a snowy Donga Ilbo Cup winner’s circle last year

She probably won’t be favourite, with the likes of Meni Money and Touch Flying among a competitive field in the Donga. There’s plenty going on elsewhere as well with a total of 11 races at Seoul from 10:40 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:35 to 17:05.

English race cards are here. Notes on the three overseas simulcast races, including the Donga Ilbo Cup are below:

Race 8: Class 5 / 1700M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million

1. LION ROCK – Full brother to Triple Nine who is currently racing at the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Two for two so far and favourite to maintain his 100% record today. (more…)

Seoul Saturday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 18)

Last year’s champion juvenile Final Boss is on show on a big day of racing Seoul on Saturday. There are 12 races from 10:40 to 18:00.

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Choegang Schiller won the Asia Challenge Cup in 2015. He returns to action at Seoul on Saturday (Pic: Ross Holburt)

English race cards can be found here. Notes on races to be simulcast overseas are below:

Race 5: Class 5 / 1000M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 13:40 

1. UBIQUITOUS – Laboured in two starts since returning from five months out. Drop back to 1000M may benefit.

2. PERFECT BIC C – Defied lengthy odds to land back-to-back place finishes at class and distance and needs to be respected here. (more…)

Mina & Mezzatesta Notch First Busan Winners

It was a good start to the weekend for both Marios Mina and Andrea Mezzatesta as the visiting jockeys both partnered their first Korean winners at Busan on Friday afternoon.

Cypriot rider Mina went first, guiding 13/1 shot Jilju Daejang to victory by a nose in race 3. His Italian counterpart, Mezzatesta would strike one race later as 6/1 chance Coming Again obliged in race 4.

Mina and Mezzatesta are among five overseas jockeys currently licensed in Busan. The ther others are Britain’s Darryll Holland, Japan’s Yonekura Satoshi and Italian Mirko Sanna.

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 17)

Temperatures soared to the high teens in Busan this week and while it will have cooled down a little bit by the time horses come under orders, we’re still in for a mild weekend so it’s the ideal time to come racing! Busan gets us underway with 11 Friday races from 11:30 to 18:00.

Busan Racecourse

It’s Friday…it’s Busan…

English race cards are here. Notes on overseas simulcast races are below:

Race 4: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 13:40 (Korean Time)

1. SILLAUI DALBAM – Led last time but weakened to finish a tailed off last. Unattractive here.

2. KWAEHAN TANSAENG – Shown promise. Finished midfield in first try at further than minimum last time.

3. BARONESS – Solid 3rd on debut over 1200M last month. Has claims.

4. MISS GANGJA –No better than 5th in 13 starts. Should beat a few but others will be better. (more…)

Seoul Sunday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 12)

It’s been a freezing cold weekend so far but there’s plenty of racing to warm us up at both Seoul and Busan on Sunday. In the apital there are 11 races from 10:40 to 18:00 while on the south coast there are 6 from 12:35 to 17:00.

At Busan last year’s Oaks winner Ottug Ottugi faces off with Mayor’s Cup winner Beolmaui Kkum. However, both of them could well be beaten by the respective stars from the stables of Bart Rice and Thomas Gillespie. Buhwarui Banseok and Champ Line are both still on the rise and both have strong claims in the 2000M Championship Series race (see video of Buhwarui Banseok’s New Year’s Eve victory above).

English race cards for both meetings are here. Notes on Seoul races (which will be shown on Sky Racing in Australia) are below:

Race 1: Class 6 Allowance (1000M)

1. FANTASTIC QUEEN – Much to find based on her debut run when she was 10th of 11.

2. MUJEOGUI JEONSA – Debut-maker, nothing special in trials.

3. BAENONGI – 2nd in his trial in an adequate time. Dam won two of 13 in Korea.

4. SUPER CHANCE – Out of a Korean Oaks winner. Trial was average but top jockey booking.

5. EUMAK DAEJANG – 6th of 12 in a slow race at 1200M on Jan 14th. Look for improvement here.

6. HIGH ALYDAR – Led in his trial but weakened late on. Could be considered.

7. JAELONGI – 3rd of 12 at long odds on his second start on Jan 14th and will be much shorter today.

8. RICH YEOJANGGUN – Looked the best of the debut makers in trials.

9. SEUNGRIUI YEOSIN – 2nd on debut on Jan 8th beaten a length having led until a furlong out and is the favourite here.

10. JAEGUN GOCHU – Creditable trial. Dam won on at distance on debut.

11. SERA KHAN – 3rd in his trial, a long way behind the winner.

12. GOLD WINNER – Well beaten in both starts last year. Showed little when re-qualifying last month.

Verdict: It’s probably best to go with experience here and (9) SEUNGRIUI YEOSIN showed enough on debut to suggest he knows what’s he’s doing and should take some beating. (8) RICH YEOJANGGUN looked competent in running 2nd in his trial and if he brings that to the races, can challenge. (7) JAELONGI has to be respected following his vast improvement last time, six months after his debut. Hard to know what to make of the rest with (3) BAENONGI perhaps most likely.

Selections    (9) Seungriui Yeosin (8) Rich Yeojanggun (7) Jaelongi (3) Baenongi
Next Best    10, 5, 4, 3
Fast Starters    9, 8 (more…)

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 10)

It’s turned cold once more across the Korean peninsula but there are plenty of punting opportunities to warm up to this weekend. Busan gets things underway on Friday with an 11 race card from 11:30 to 18:00.

A pair of new overseas jockeys will be in action on the south coast this weekend. Italian Adrea Mezzatesta and Cypriot rider Marios Mina both make their Korean debuts. Meanwhile Darryll Holland is back from suspension and has some live mounts too. English race cards are here. Notes on races to be simulcast overseas are below:

Race 4: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 22 Million / 13:40 

1. HWARYEOHAN YONGSA – Improved last time for 6th at long odds. Needs improvement again.

2. URIDEULUI YEONGUNG – Better on 1st try at this distance two weeks ago. Good jockey booking.

3. FOUR NINES – Drops back in distance after 4th over a mile last month. Two 3rds at 1300M already and should win here.

4. YOSUL KING – Only decent performance in four tries was in a similarly small field at this distance. Far behind Four Nines at a mile last up.

5. HOMYEONG DAERO – Slow on debut and sent back to trial. Slow in the trial.

6. JIBONG YEONGUNG – Only 2nd so far at this distance in November. Disappointed last month but worth another chance for the places.

7. NEW HAPPY DAY – Career best 3rd at the distance two weeks ago was a big improvement.

8. ONNURI GANGJA – Well beaten in all six starts, including twice at this distance

Verdict: (3) FOUR NINES really should be winning this against underwhelming opposition. (7) NEW HAPPY DAY looks the only credible danger off the back of that good showing two weeks ago with the top jockey who rode that day keeping the mount. (6) JIBONG YEONGUNG and (2) URIDEULUI YEONGUNG to contest the places

Selections: (3) Four Nines (7) New Happy Day (6) Jibong Yeongung (2) Urideuli Yeongung
Next Best: 1, 8
Fast Starters: 2, 3 (more…)

Triple Nine, Main Stay & Diferent Dimension Run At Meydan This Week

The 2017 Dubai World Cup Carnival is starting to head towards its business end and following Power Blade’s 3rd place in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge last Thursday, three of the other Korea-trained horses, Triple Nine, Main Stay and Diferent Dimension will line up this week. Triple Nine races on Thursday while Main Stay and Diferent Dimension will go on Saturday.

Triple Nine ran on very nicely for 2nd on his Meydan debut last month and he is likely to be one of the favourites for his race, a 2000M Dirt Handicap which is race 3 on Thursday’s card. There are plenty of dangers though. Mizbah beat Hunting Ground, who himself beat Triple Nine last start, by no fewer than seven and a half lengths on January 5. While he carries an additional 5.5kg on Thursday, he is sure to be dangerous. Godolphin’s Emotionless was a highly thought-of juvenile in the UK in 2015 but only raced twice as a three-year-old. He was 6th on his Meydan debut in the first leg of the Al Maktoum Challenge at a mile and may well have come on for it. Click here for Race Card.

On Saturday Main Stay, who is already a winner at this year’s Carnival, makes his re-appearance. He faces a much tougher assignment this time around though as he takes on two Hong Kong raiders in the shape of Dundonnell and, especially Fabulous One as they begin their preparations for Super Saturday and World Cup Night. The rest of the field offers little to write home about although the Godolphin pair of Comicas and Acolyte, the latter a non-Carnival turf winner at the distance in January may be dangerous while the Sweden-trained duo of Breakdancer and Saving Kenny are unknown quantities. The start is going to be important and attempting to live with the two Sha Tin horses will be the target. Click here for Race Card.

Diferent Dimension is going to do things differently in that he’s going to become the first Korea-trained horse at the Carnival to run on the Turf. He goes in the ultra-competitive Mile handicap. The Peter Wolsley trainee has reportedly taken well to the surface and does have a good draw. He has the toughest ask of all the Korea-trained horses though and a competitive showing will be the goal against a group of horses with some very solid European form amongst them. Click here for Race Card.

In other Dubai news, the Dubai Racing Club has released initial World Cup Day nominations. This nomination stage is free and accordingly, all five of the Korean horses at the Carnival have been nominated for various races, something the Dubai Racing Club noted in their accompanying notes. It remains extremely unlikely that any of them will get into any of the races, however, with a run for one or more of them on Super Saturday considered to be the more realistic goal.

Swedish Jockey Shane Karlsson Debuts With A Winner At Seoul

It was a good first day at the races in Seoul for Shane Karlsson. The Swedish jockey rode his first Korean winner, guiding Choegangja to a comfortable victory in the last race of the day for Australian trainer Brian Dean.

Karlsson, a champion apprentice in Sweden in 2009, got the day off to a good start with a 2nd place on his very first ride, Viva Galloper in race 1 but it would be at the other end of the day, under the lights in race 12 when the 25-year-old made his breakthrough.

Choegangja, an 8/1 shot, was guided to the front straight out of the gate by Karlsson and the pair never looked back as they raced away to win by half a length from another Dean trainee My Blade, who came home 2nd. Karlsson will have five more rides at Seoul on Sunday.

Also debuting in the saddle at Seoul on Saturday was Japanese rider Shinji Hatanaka. His best finish came in race 6 when he partnered Clean Up Sky to 2nd place. Hatanaka has six rides on Sunday.

Racing returns on Sunday with 11 races at Seoul from 10:40 to 18:00 and 6 at Busan from 12:35 to 17:00.

*Update: And Shane Karlsson added another on Sunday afternoon, again for Brian Dean, as he guided Jangsanjewang (Ft. Stockton) to victory in the class 1 Race 11.

Busan Friday: Race-By-Race Preview (February 3)

After a week off for the Lunar New Year, racing returns to the peninsula on Friday with 11 races at Busan from 11:30 to 18:00.

English race cards are here. Notes on races to be simulcast overseas are below:

Race 4: Class 6 / 1600M / Allowance / KRW 22 Million / 13:40

(4) WILD COP beat three of these when running 3rd over 1300M on New Year’s Eve and could be the one to beat up at a mile for the first time. We’ll go with (9) I’M ADELE though. He was a much improved 2nd at that same distance the same day and can also benefit from this lengthier task. (5) TIMELESS and (11) MEISTER GO both look to be improvers too while (8) DIVINE KING is likely to set the early pace and could stay on.

Selections: (9) I’m Adele (4) Wild Cop (5) Timeless (11) Meister Go
Next Best: 1, 8
Rating: –
Fast Starters: 8
Start-200M: 1, 8, 11, 5, 6
200M-Finish: 3, 11, 8, 4, 5 (more…)