Success Story Living Up To His Name At Busan

Naming a racehorse can be a tricky thing. We have in Korea an “Unbeatable”, who is anything but, an “Always Winner” who has a win rate of 4% and a “Derby Winner” about whom the less said about the better. We do though now have Success Story who maintained his unbeaten record for 2015 with a solid victory in the feature race at Busan on Sunday, his 9th victory from 14 career starts.

It was Success Story’s first try at 2000M since two unsuccessful attempts at the distance in the Minister’s and President’s Cups at Seoul last autumn. Both times his front-running style had come unstuck in the closing stages.

Following three consecutive wins at 1400M, 1600M and 1800M, Success Story (Peace Rules) was sent off as slight favourite over Gumpo Sky and Nobody Catch Me, the latter being last year’s Busan Metropolitan Stakes winner making his first appearance since the Grand Prix. This time Success Story would not be caught.

As usual jockey Jo Sung Gon took Success Story out in front, however, the expected challenges never materialised and his victory by almost three lengths was surprisingly comfortable. 23/1 outsider Eongmangdori, under Nozi Tomizawa, finished the quickest to grab 2nd place with Gumpo Sky a further five back in 3rd. Nobody Catch Me faded to last.

Success Story didn’t win any of the three-year-old Classics last year but with Cheongnyong Bisang usually injured, Queen’s Blade sinking into obscurity in the USA and only Minister’s Cup winner Never Seen Before still running well, he is the top horse to come out of his crop (as a gelding, Hangangui Gijeok couldn’t run in the classics last year).

As is the norm these days, the racing at Seoul was low-key although although there was plenty of excitement. Saturday’s class 1 ended in a three-way photo finish with Mirae Yeongung (Aragorn) getting the better of and earn his 10th win from 16 starts in the process. Sunday’s feature saw a first class 1 win for US import Cheonma (Langfuhr).

Weekend Preview

It’s set to be a fine weekend on the Korean peninsula and there’s plenty of racing on offer.

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All quiet at Seoul. Should be a bit busier come the weekend

At Seoul on Saturday, Namhae Daewang and Mirae Yeongung headline the feature race while Sunday also sees class 1 action in the capital.

As usual though, the pick of the action is at Busan and Sunday’s feature race which sees last year’s Busan Metropolitan winner Nobody Catch Me make his first appearance of 2015. He’s up against Success Story, Gumpo Sky and Mujinjang in what should be a very good race over 2000M.

Prior to all that, at Busan on Friday, Rock Band, the full brother of currently injured 2013 President’s Cup and Grand Prix winner Indie Band will make his third appearance and will be seeking to maintain his 100% winning record.

Full race cards available here.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday April 24
Busan Racecourse: 10 races from 12:50 to 19:00
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 13:15 to 17:35

Saturday April 25
Seoul Racecourse: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 12:20 to 17:20

Sunday April 26
Seoul Racecourse: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Racecourse: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:00

Cinderella Man Keeps On Winning

The weekend just passed was a rather low-key one for racing in Korea. We’re a month away from the Derby and the leading contenders will, for the most part, have already run their final prep race. There was one stand-out performer though as Cinderella Man landed his fifth straight win in Sunday’s feature race at Busan.

The Peter Wolsley trained Cinderella Man (Southern Image) was sent off as the favorite for the 1900M handicap, which also featured Spring Gnarly (Master Command), who was also coming into the race with 8 wins from 11 previous starts.

Cinderella Man would be the one who would move onto 9 from 12 as, under jockey Jo Sung Gon, the Pegasus Stables-owned 5-year-old flew home in the pouring rain to overcome long time leader Damyangui Jilju.

There was little of note across the weekend up at Seoul. South African jockey Jarred Samuel’s challenging introduction to racing here continued as he moved onto 26 rides without a top three finish. He hasn’t yet been given any ammunition that would make a better return possible.

A couple of personal milestones were reached though. Ji Yong Cheol became the first Korean trainer to saddle 10,000 runners in his career (it wasn’t a winner), while jockey Yoon Tae Hyuk reached 100 career wins.

This coming week should see more action with the likes of Nobody Catch Me, Beolmaui Kkum, Success Story, Gumpo Sky and Mujinjang all among early entries for Sunday’s feature at Busan.

From Pick Me Up To Queen’s Blade: It’s Time To Change

A few years ago, I wrote an article with the title “What have we learned from Pick Me Up?” If one definition of insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results, then it must be concluded that more than six years on, the answer to my question is “not a lot”.

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Bring her home: Queen's Blade wins the 2014 Korean Derby (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Last year an unfit Speedy First and an out of sorts Major King, Korean Classic winners both, spent the spring and early summer in the United States, each getting humiliated three times, before coming home. That three times is important as, for some reason, all these years later, the Korea Racing Authority still picks up the bill if a horse goes to the US and runs three times. A couple of years previously, Oaks winner Baekpa did the same.

This past Saturday, the 2014 Korean Derby winner Queen’s Blade was entered in a six-furlong race for fillies and mares at Pimlico. I’ll not post the video but she was left in the gate at the start and never featured, ending last by some considerable distance. Inevitably she will race twice more to get the subsidy.

If we were learning something from this, it wouldn’t be so bad but we’re not. We already know that four-year old Korean horses who have been going non-stop since their debuts nearly two years ago will not be competitive in US racing. We also know that if a horse was expected to perform well in Korea this year, it would not be sent overseas.

Similarly, we know that Korean bred horses who go to the US when young can be competitive. As someone once said, “maybe  the problem isn’t the horse”.

We also know that when sent overseas at the right time and to the right race, Korean trained horses can compete – Watts Village winning the Interaction Cup at Ohi in 2013 proved that.

In the original piece about Pick Me Up, I wrote about the strange practice of sending a Korean horse halfway around the world in order to try and assess the strength of Korean bred horses, when there are plenty of imports racing in Korea, but only allowed to run in segregated races. The start of the rating system, whatever its critics may say, is finally addressing that.

In a year where Korea hopes to become recognised by IFHA as a Part II country, a second Derby winner in as many years going to the States and not even looking like a racehorse, is potentially damaging to the international perception of racing here.

If an owner wishes to take their horse themselves to race in the USA, then the very best of luck to them. Support though should focus on getting our best horses to Singapore in July, to Tokyo in late autumn and to Dubai early next year and also encouraging them to take on the visitors in the Ttukseom Cup, KRA Cup Classic and Asia Challenge Cup.

It’s time to do things differently.

Donggeupchoegang Stuns Gyeongbudaero & Beolmaui Kkum, Daegunhwang Derby-Bound?

What was billed as being a clash between Busan’s best two horses ended up being about neither of them as both Gyeongbudaero and Beolmaui Kkum fell to a late charge from 50/1 shot Donggeupchoegang in the track’s feature race on Sunday.

Beolmaui Kkum, the highest rated horse in Korea was sent off as the slight odds-on favourite ahead of the Grand Prix Stakes winner Gyeongbudaero. The former would, as he generally does, set the early pace and as they entered the home straight, it looked set to be a two way fight between the two favourites.

That was to reckon without Donggeupchoegang. The five-year-old was benefitting from a 6kg weight advantage and he made it count as he flew home under replacement jockey Jeong Dong Cheol, going from 5th to 1st in the final furlong and running on for victory by two and a half lengths.

Gyeongbudaero hung on for 2nd, just pipping another Grand Prix winner Gamdonguibada, by a nose. Beolmaui Kkum was 4th.

The longest shot on the board, US import Donggeupchoegang [Bernstein – Resurge (Seeking The Gold)] was recording his 7th win from 29 career starts and his 3rd from his most recent 6.

It may be at Busan where we get the higher quality racing these days as was evidenced by that track’s utter domination of the KRA Cup Mile last week, but there was some hope for Seoul on Sunday afternoon. That came in the shape of three-year-old colt Daegunhwang (Menifee), who landed his 5th straight win.

This time it was at class 2 and it was a fast time over 1700M. The colt made the running all the way around and while he was made to work a little harder than on previous starts, Daegunhwang looked to have plenty in hand as he stayed on to win by just under three lengths. He’s going to have to work much harder though if he is to beat the Busan raiders next month in the Korean Derby.

Speaking of the three-year-old Classics, the winner of last year’s final Classic Never Seen Before, made his way back to the winner’s circle at Busan on Friday, holding off stablemate Ms. Margaux in what was a competitive class 1 handicap over a mile.

Weekend Preview: Cherry Blossoms! Gyeongbudaero Vs. Beolmaui Kkum!

It’s springtime! The Cherry Blossoms are out and it’s set to be a great weekend of racing on the peninsula.

Seoul Racecourse Floodlit Cherry Blossom Festival runs from 18:00-22.00 from today until next Thursday

Seoul Racecourse Floodlit Cherry Blossom Festival runs from 18:00-22.00 from today until next Thursday

The big race of the weekend is at Busan on Sunday where the top two rated horses in Korea will face off over 1900M. Grand Prix Stakes winner Gyeongbudaero and Beolmaui Kkum will also face the likes of Gamdonguibada and Magic Dancer in a small but serious field in the afternoon’s feature.

At Seoul, South African jockey Jarred Samuel will make his Korean riding debut on Saturday with 6 rides.

Here’s what’s happening when and where across the weekend:

Friday April 10
Busan Racecourse: 10 races from 12:50 to 19:00
Jeju Racecourse: 8 races from 13:15 to 17:10

Saturday April 11
Seoul Racecourse: 11 races from 10.50 to 18:00
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 12:20 to 17:10

Sunday April 12
Seoul Racecourse: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Racecourse: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:00

South African Jockey Jarred Samuel Set For Seoul

Two months after Ikuyasu Kurakane returned to Japan, Seoul Racecourse has a new foreign jockey with South African Jarred Samuel taking up a four-month license.

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Jarred Samuel (Picture: Gold Circle)

Samuel, a 27-year-old who was previously based in Durban, has ridden 103 winners since debuting in 2004 and was in Seoul watching the races this past weekend. He is available for rides from this week.

Able to make 50kg weight, Samuel will be looking to get more opportunities than some of the other foreign jockeys who have ridden at Seoul in the past.

Samuel will be the fifth South African jockey to ride regularly in Korea (many others have participated in the Seoul International Jockey Challenge). Chris Taylor and Stephan Swanepoel weren’t given many chances during their times at Seoul several years ago although Martin Wepner and Gerrit Schlechter both fared much better in their stints at Busan.

A huge football fan, he will no doubt fit in well in Korea as his favourite team is Manchester United, although he has pledged to attend some K-League too.

Just two months ago he was featured on a South African TV show:

Triple Crown 2015: Rafale Roars To KRA Cup Mile Glory

If we are to have a Triple Crown winner this year, it will be a colt by the name of Rafale. The co-favourite took out the first jewel, the KRA Cup Mile at Busan Racecourse this afternoon, getting the best of a keenly fought stretch duel with Doraon Hyeonpyo.

If ever there was going to be a race in which it was hard to look past the favourites, this was it with several of the field, including the two visitors from Seoul, never looking likely to be able to handle what was sure to be a quick pace. So it proved.

Yuseong Fighting and the other co-favourite, Doraon Hyeonpyo would set the early pace and were joined briefly at the front by Summit Myeongun. Rafale, however, was in close attendance and while others would challenge, by the furlong pole it was clear that it would be the two market leaders who would battle it out.

With Rafale on the rail and Doraon Hyeonpyo in the center of the track, it was Rafale, urged on by jockey You Hyun Myung, who took the spoils by half a length. Behind them Yeongcheon Ace just edged out the fast finishing Yeonggwanguitaepung for 3rd. Both must be under consideration for the Derby.

Behind them, it was carnage, with gaps of 4, 5, 7 and 10 lengths among the distances separating the rest of the field. The leaders truly outclassed the rest.

For trainer Kim Jae Sub, it was his second KRA Cup Mile in three years following Sting Ray’s victory in 2013. Jockey You Hyun Myung was riding his first Classic winner and the second biggest win of his career following Mister Park in the 2010 Grand Prix Stakes.

As for Doraon Hyeonpyo, Rafale remains the only horse to have beaten him. Indeed, Rafale now leads 2-1 in their head to heads having previously triumphed in the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup last October. However, it was Doraon Hyeonpyo who came out on top when they met in the Breeders’ Cup in Seoul. When they reconvene in the capital for the Korean Derby six weeks today, will it become 2-2?

KRA Cup Mile (KOR G2) – Busan Racecourse – 1600M – April 5, 2015

1. Rafale (KOR) [Colors Flying – Dongbang Choego (Al Naba)] – You Hyun Myung
2. Doraon Hyeonpyo (KOR) [Colors Flying – Kilcoe Castle (Gone West)] – Kim Dong Young
3. Yeongcheon Ace (KOR) [Menifee – Dixie Avenger (Dixie Union)] – Choi Si Dae
Distances: 0.5 lengths / 2 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Yeonggwanguitaepung (KOR) 5. Summit Myeongun (KOR) 6. Yuseong Fighting (KOR) 7. Special Line (KOR) 8. Mac And Cheese (KOR) 9. Haetbinna (KOR) 10. Namhae Sinhwa (KOR) 11. Lion Star (KOR)

Only one horse has gone on to win the Derby after winning the Cup Mile; that was the filly Sangseung Ilro in 2009. We’ll reconvene at Seoul on May 16 to find out if Rafale can join her.

Weekend Preview

April is underway and the first Triple Crown weekend of the season is upon us with the running of the KRA Cup Mile at Busan.

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If at all possible, it would be nice to get through an entire weekend without any races cancelled due to punter unrest

The formidable looking quintet of Doraon Hyeonpyo, Rafale, Mac And Cheese, Summit Myeongun and Yeongcheon Ace head the field while the hope that Seoul’s two entries were actually some form of Korean racing April Fool’s Day joke have been dashed. See below for a full preview of the big race.

April also sees the shifting of Friday racing at Busan to a later start time with the first race now being 12.50 and the last 19.00. This will be the case for the next four months.

Full racecards are available here.

Here’s what’s happening when and where across this big weekend:

Friday April 3
Busan Racecourse: 10 races from 12.50 to 19.00.
Jeju Racecourse: 8 races from 13.15 to 17.10

Saturday April 4
Seoul Racecourse: 13 races from 10.50 to 18.00.
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 12.20 to 17.10.

Sunday April 5
Seoul Racecourse: 10 races from 10.50 to 18.00.
Busan Racecourse: 6 races from 12.45 to 17.30 including the KRA Cup Mile at 16.35

Triple Crown 2015: KRA Cup Mile Full Preview

It’s time already. The first leg of the 2015 Korean Triple Crown is this coming Sunday at Busan Racecourse.

Doraon Hyeonpyo wins the Seoul Breeders' Cup in the gloom last November. Can he win the KRA Cup Mile too? (Pic: choi9036903 blog)

Doraon Hyeonpyo wins the Seoul Breeders’ Cup in the gloom last November. Can he win the KRA Cup Mile too? (Pic: choi9036903 blog)

The field is a rather disappointingly small eleven with Seoul seemingly simply not bothering with the race and sending just two sub-par entrants. The home side makes up for that though with some class acts entered.

Here is a full rundown of the field with Name [Pedigree] Sex (Starts/1st/2nd/3rd) Trainer – Jockey:

KRA Cup Mile (KOR G3) – Busan Racecourse – 1600M – April 5, 2015 – 16:35

1. Special Line [Ecton Park – Rich Musique (Rizzi)] C (9/2/2/1) Baik Kwang Yeol – Nobuyuki Oyama
As the competition has become harder this one has been found out a little and it is questionable as to whether he has the speed to compete here. He does hold a win at a mile but the time was a slow one and he has disappointed in two starts in 2015. He’ll be an outsider.

2. Rafale [Colors Flying – Dongbang Choego (Al Naba)] C (7/4/2/0) Kim Jae Sub – You Hyun Myung
He won Busan’s champion Juvenile race last October but then suffered a reverse at the hands of Doraon Hyeonpyo in the overall championship at Seoul a month later. Rafale began 2015 with a really nice looking 7-length win over 1800M but was then beaten into 4th last month oer 1900M with Yeongcheon Ace among those ahead of him. He went much further back in the field than expected that day rather than just off the early lead which is where his success has come from. He takes on a mile for the first time and a place is a minimum requirement.

3. Yuseong Fighting [Didyme – Maggie’s Prayer (Songandaprayer)] C (6/4/0/1) Choi Ki Hong – Oh Kyoung Hoan
A front-running winner of four races, he stepped up to a mile last time out and in a race where all the favourites disappointed, he was a tailed-off last. We’ll put that down as an aberration, but it doesn’t inspire much confidence here. Regular jockey Jo Sung Gon also gets off to ride Mac And Cheese.

4. Mac And Cheese [Menifee – Squared (Posse)] C (7/5/0/1) Kim Jae Sub – Jo Sung Gon
A big chance. He comes in after four consecutive victories the most recent of which was over this distance in a fast time on a wet track. He generally stalks any early leader and looks to strike the front at the top of the home straight. He is quick and Jo Sung Gon coming in to ride can only be to his benefit too. If he gets in front in the home straight, he will be difficult to go past.

5. Lion Star [Exploit – Oakmart (Unbridled’s Song] C (5/1/2/0) Shim Seung Tae – Han Sung Youl
The first of two from Seoul and there isn’t a lot to say about this one. He got his maiden win last time out in the less than exacting environs of a Seoul class 5 race and while he may go on to be a good horse, this is far too much too soon. With all due respect to Han Sung Youl, he’s come down for the riding fee.

6. Yeongcheon Ace [Menifee – Dixie Avenger (Dixie Union)] C (7/3/3/1) Baik Kwang Yeol – Choi Si Dae
One of the most eagerly awaited colts of this crop, he hasn’t disappointed and is yet to finish worse than 3rd in 7 starts. He closed strongly for 2nd place ahead of Rafale over 1900M last month which followed a smart win over 1400M in February. He can win from the front or coming from behind and should have plenty of late speed. Choi Si Dae is a big race jockey and this one will have backers.

7. Haetbinna [Didyme – Chowonui Kkum (The Groom Is Red)] C (6/2/1/0/) Yoo Jae Gil – Kim Sug Bong
This one won’t have backers. The second and final entrant from Seoul is also yet to race at a stiffer grade than class 5 and is yet to go at a distance of greater than 1300M. Again, there is potential here but not today. Just like fellow Seoul rider Han, Kim Sug Bong is in town to pick up the “away day” riding fee, not prize money.

8. Yeonggwanguitaepung [Menifee – Grand Pass (Grand Slam)] C (8/3/2/2) Kim Young Kwan – Masakazu Tanaka
The second string from the Kim Young Kwan stable, he comes in after a class 3 victory over 1800M although hw was 3rd behind Yeongcheon Ace the time before that. Another who likes to come from slightly off the pace, he has shown good speed but may find one or two a little bit too quick in this field.

9. Namhae Sinhwa [Vicar – Intriga (Lord At Law)] C (7/3/3/0) Lim Keum Man – Kanichiro Fujii
Regular jockey You Hyun Myung has opted to ride Rafale here but there’s an able replacement in the shape of Joe Fujii. he hasn’t run since the end of January when he was 2nd in a slowly run race over this distance. That came after back to back front-running victories over 1300M and 1400M. Talented but is going to need to be much quicker today.

10. Doraon Hyeonpyo [Colors Flying – Kilcoe Castle (Gone West)] C (6/5/1/0) Kwan Seung Joo – Kim Dong Young
The champion juvenile following victory over Rafale in Seoul last November. He’s run just the once since then and it was a mightily impressive 9-length procession against class 2 opposition over this distance. On paper, he wins out on almost all indicators although the almost three months he’s had off since that run may sow some doubt. Rafale is the only horse to beat him so far, that was in the Busan Juvenile race last October. Anything that beats him here, should be winning.

11. Summit Myeongun [Menifee – Summit Party (Ecton Park)] C (8/4/1/2) Kim Young Kwan – Kim Yong Geun
Kim Young Kwan’s first-string, he was 3rd behind Doraon Hyeonpyo and Rafale in Seoul last November. He’s won both his two starts since then, both of them at 1400M, most recently three weeks ago when he closed strongly to beat an experienced 5-year-old by a neck. The time before, Yeongcheon Ace ran 3rd to him. He’s shown enough late speed to suggest he is very capable of going the additional furlong here.