Queens’ Tour Finale: Gamdonguibada Goes For a Clean-Sweep in Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup

The Queens’ Tour series of three races to decide the nation’s champion filly or mare, the first of which was all the way back in March, finally concludes at Busan this Sunday.

Gamdonguibada in the Ttukseom Cup winner's circle, the first leg of the Queens' Tour. She won the 2nd leg too

Gamdonguibada in the Ttukseom Cup winner’s circle, the first leg of the Queens’ Tour. She won the 2nd leg too

Gamdonguibada, the 2012 Grand Prix Stakes winner, claimed victory in both the Ttukeseom Cup at Seoul and the KNN Cup at Busan in August and has the chance to complete a clean sweep in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup.

It’s been an up-and-down year for the five-year-old mare but she will have plenty of backers to complete what would be a creditable hat-trick in races over seven, eight and ten furlongs. Of those out to stop her, New York Blue, who she beat in the KNN Cup in June, but who has since beaten her, looks the most interesting.

Here is a full run down of the field for a race which will be simulcasted back to Seoul and will also be shown live on the KRA’s international telecast to Singapore. (Name [Pedigree] (Starts/1st/2nd/3rd) Korean Rating figure – Jockey (Home Track):

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (KOR G3) – Busan Racecourse – 2000M – November 16, 2014 (16:15)

1. Dragon Hill (USA) [Afleet Alex- Caracara (Nashwan)] (20/2/3/5) 110 – Seo Seung Un (Seoul)
2nd in the YTN Cup behind stablemate Big Power, who also goes here, she was 5th in her only outing since and despite Seo Seung Un coming down to ride her, it’s tough to recommend her to beat the Busan horses.

2. Silver Classic (USA) [Chapel Royal – Psychic Friend (Star de Naskra)] (28/4/4/2) 103 – Jo Sung Gon (Busan)
A big jockey booking in the shape of Jo Sung Gon but this mare has found life difficult at class 1 and has struggled in two starts to date at this distance. She was 4th in the KNN Cup in June and a similar result here would be a realistic target.

3. Gamdonguibada (USA) [Werblin – Radyla (Country Pine)] (22/11/4/4) 123 – Kim Yong Geun (Busan)
She hasn’t won in three starts since the KNN Cup and was three lengths behind New York Blue last time out over this distance. She was conceding almost 6Kg that day though and will only be conceding 2kg this time. A strong chance of completing a clean sweep.

4. Seungbu Sinhwa (USA) [Bluegrass Cat – Island Rhythm (Skip Trial)] (20/0/3/4) 90 – Lee Dong Kug (Seoul)
She hasn’t won any of her 23 starts and that won’t change. Well beaten in both the Ttukseom Cup and the KNN Cup, she’s yet to graduate from class 2 and doesn’t have the speed to compete strongly here.

5. Yeoreobunuiyeowang (JPN) [Gold Allure – Meijino Joketsu (Silver Hawk)] (13/3/1/4) 89 – Nozomu Tomizawa (Busan)
She was 3rd behind Miss Margaux on her most recent start at 1900M – a filly she beat when winning the Gold Circle Trophy in July – but was tiring in the closing stages and will need to show improvement here. That Gold Circle win was in a quick time and she showed good late speed. She’ll need to get back to that form if she is to compete here.

6. New York Blue (USA) [Candy Ride – Aim For the Moon (Deputy Minister)] (13/5/5/1) 115 – You Hyun Myung (Busan)
Finished 3rd behind El Padrino and Wonder Bolt in the Asia Challenge Cup at Seoul in August over 7 furlongs and then surprised some with a strong 2nd behind Beolmaui Kkum and ahead of Gamdonguibada at this distance a month ago. For that reason, she has the second highest rating in the race, as well as being the fastest, and has every chance.

7. Shining Future (KOR) [Silver Train – Juliet’s Kiss (Kissin Kris)] (29/4/4/2) 101 – Song Keong Yun (Busan)
6th in the Ttukseom Cup and 7th in the KNN Cup. With the exception of a 2nd place in August, recent results haven’t been encouraging and she was sent off at odds of over 170/1 on her last start. An outsider.

8. Heba (USA) [Peace Rules – Sue’s Temper (Temperance Hill) (24/6/4/1) 109 – Kim Dong Young (Busan)
4th in the Ttukseom Cup and 6th in the KNN Cup, she has a quick finish and may be in line for a place if she can find a good position as they head for home. Scored a win over Gamdonguibada at this distance back in January when she benefitted from an 8kg weight advantage. They carry the same here though.

9. Jangmi Eondeok (USA) [Midnight Lute – Sea Gift (A.P.Indy)] (13/3/4/1) 105 – Kim Ok Sung (Seoul)
Kim Ok Sung was riding in Tokyo in midweek when he rode the 11th horse home in the Korea/Japan Interaction Cup. He could well be finishing 11th in this one too. She’s only run twice since finishing in that position – 11th – in the Ttukseom Cup and those runs do not inspire confidence.

10. Big Power (USA) [A.P.Warrior – Dixie Satin (Dynaformer)] (26/4/2/2) 107 – Lee Hyeok (Seoul)
A good winner of the YTN Cup back in August, she was (a well-beaten) 6th of 13 against a competitive field on her class 1 debut the following month. She won the YTN Cup from just off the pace but there are plenty here who can finish strongly she’s going to need to find improvement.

11. Winner’s Marine (KOR) [Volponi – Graceful Ballerina (Posse)] (11/5/2/1) 105 – Lee Sung Jae (Busan)
This 3-year-old won her first five races before coming 9th in the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Triple Crown. She hasn’t won since although she did manage 3rd in the Korean Oaks in August before finding things very tough at Seoul in the Minister’s Cup last month. She should do better here but is tough to recommend for the win.

12. Miss Margaux (USA) [Midnight Lute – Sixtyone Margaux (Cozzene)] (13/1/6/6) 103 – Park Geum Man (Busan)
Peter Wolsley’s filly had recorded six 2nds and six 3rds before finally breaking her maiden at the 13th attempt last month. The line only just came in time that day in what was a slowly run race and she steps up a further 100 metres here. She’s demonstrated she has plenty of speed in the past though and she may well be up there competing for a place again.

13. Changiparang (USA) [Touch Gold – Victory Roll (Deerhound)] (27/2/5/3) 105 – Shin Hyung Chul (Seoul)
She’s spent the past year running at sprint distances at which she regularly picked up minor places until graduating to class 1 where she has found herself out of her depth. Her return to racing around two-turns of the track is likely to be no easier.

Korean Horses Try Hard But Found Wanting In Interaction Cup

There was to be no repeat of Watts Village’s sensational 2013 win for Korea in the latest edition of the Japan/Korea Interaction Cup at Ohi Racecourse in Tokyo on Tuesday night.

Here He Comes and Moon Se Young in the Ohi paddock (Pic: KRA)

Here He Comes and Moon Se Young in the Ohi paddock (Pic: KRA)

Three Korean trained horses made their way to the Japanese capital to take their chances in the 1200M race. However, they were to come up short against a strong line-up of local sprinters, with the race won by the favourite, 6 year-old US-bred Satono Daytona (Tapit).

Here He Comes, ridden by Moon Se Young, came home in 9th, with Parang Juibo in 11th under Kim Ok Sung and Useung Iyagi, who set the early pace under Ikuyasu Kurakane, finishing last of the 13. All horses and riders finished safely and will return to Korea later this week.

Jockey Kim Ok Sung explains what went wrong to the media after Parang Juibo finished 11th (Pic: KRA)

Jockey Kim Ok Sung explains what went wrong to the media after Parang Juibo finished 11th (Pic: KRA)

Regardless of the result, the successful running of the race was another step forward as Korean racing, after decades of isolation, finally starts to establish its presence internationally.

And while it was unquestionably disappointing for Korean racing fans that the best domestic sprinters were not put forward for the trip, especially after the unexpected win last year, sometimes it is the taking part that counts.

With this bilateral race with Japan set to continue, and the successful hosting of the Asia Challenge Cup earlier this year, “Interaction” is finally happening.

Gyeongbudaero Wins President’s Cup At Third Attempt

The expressway between Seoul and Busan is called “Gyeongbu”. Given that so much big race prize-money has disappeared down that road from the capital, it is perhaps appropriate that a horse called Gyeongbudaero, returned back South with the biggest prize of them all in the President’s Cup yesterday.

Gyeongbudaero (far side) just edges Best Captain in the President's Cup (Pic: KRA)

Gyeongbudaero (far side) just edges Best Captain in the President’s Cup (Pic: KRA)

Now five-years-old, Gyeongbudaero won the KRA Cup Mile, the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown in 2012.

He followed it up with a third place in the Korean Derby and that year’s President’s Cup. Last year he would come back to Seoul and finish second. This year he finally got it right in the nation’s richest race.

It was another Busan raider, Hangangui Gijeok, who was sent off as the pre-race favourite, with Magic Dancer also ahead of Gyeongbudaero in the betting. And it was Magic Dancer who set much of the early pace with the favourite and Ganghae, a shock third in the Minister’s Cup, in close attendance.

This would turn out to be a race for the closers though and as first Ganghae disappeared and then Hangangui Gijeok Magic Dancer began to wane, it was Gyeongbudaero and outsider Best Captain who took full advantage. They would battle all the way to the line but it was Gyeongbudaero who got there first by a head.

Magic Dancer came home three lengths back in third ahead of Hangangui Gijeok with Derby and Oaks winning filly Queen’s Blade in fifth.

It was a tenth career victory for Gyeongbudaero and his fourth Stakes win. Twelve of his twenty-seven starts have been in Stakes company and he is now approaching the KRW 2 Billion mark in prize-money won.

If connections want it, they will be sure of getting an invite back to Seoul next month for the season-ending Grand Prix Stakes. Gyeongbudaero’s sixth place in last year’s race is one of only two occasions to date on which he has been out of the money.

President’s Cup (KOR G1) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – November 9. 2014

1. Gyeongbudaero (KOR) [Menifee – Princess Lanique (Cherokee Run)] – Choi Si Dae – 6.7, 1.9
2. Best Captain (KOR) [Revere – Onethindime (Tactical Advantage)] – Ikuyasu Kurakane – 4.9
3. Magic Dancer (KOR) [Forest Camp – Woldly Magic (Peterhof)] – Kim Yong Geun – 1.7
Distances: Head / 3 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Hangangui Gijeok 5. Queen’s Blade 6. Haneuli Chubok 7. Gumpo Sky 8. New And Best 9. Gwanggyo Bisang 10. Success Story 11. Gumanseok 12. Heukgisa 13. Ganghae

* So yet another big race win for Busan and it is the southern track that looks likely to take the honours when horses from the two tracks clash again next Sunday – this time on the South Coast – in the Gyeongnam Owners’ Cup, the final leg of the Queens’ Tour.

President’s Cup: Thirteen To Contest Korea’s Richest Race

It’s the big one. Not in terms of prestige – that belongs to the open to all comers season-ending Grand Prix Stakes – but in terms of prize money, nothing in Korea can top the President’s Cup which will be run at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday.

Hangangui Gijeok and You Hyun Myung win the Owners' Cup at Busan. Can they add a President's Cup too? (KRA)

Hangangui Gijeok and You Hyun Myung win the Owners’ Cup at Busan. Can they add a President’s Cup too? (KRA)

Restricted to Korean bred horses, the Derby and Oaks winner is here in the shape of Queen’s Blade. She’s the only filly among a very competitive field of 13 that includes old favourites such as Gyeongbudaero and young up-and-comers like Hangangui Gijeok.

It will be one of the biggest betting races of the year Here is a full run-down of the field (Name [Pedigree] Age Sex (Starts/1st/2nd/3rd) Korean Rating – Jockey):

President’s Cup (KOR G1) – Seoul Racecourse – 2000M – Sunday November 9, 2014 – 16:40

1. Gumanseok [Vicar – Perfect Storm (Didyme)] 5 G (27/9/5/5) 115 – Seo Seung Un
Beaten into third last time out by a very impressive Gwanggyo Bisang and the much-hyped Yeongsan II, this is a tough gelding who has some big wins on his resume. Not likely to be winning this but he can challenge for a place.

2. Ganghae [Didyme – Ocelot (Catrail)] 3 C (15/5/5/1) 109 – Choi Bum Hyun
A revelation in the Minister’s Cup last month when he stayed on for a very creditable 3rd behind Never Seen Before and Gumpo Sky. Again, he may find one or two too quick for him here but another big run can’t be ruled out.

3. Hangangui Gijeok [Didyme – Legendary Destiny (Giant’s Causeway)] 3 G (10/8/1/0) 124 – You Hyun Myung
The latest phenom to emerge from Busan, he comes into the race off the back of seven consecutive wins, most recently the Busan Owners’ Cup in September. He will come from off the pace and has very good late speed. On form, he will be tough to beat and while it will be his first time at Seoul, he is difficult to oppose.

4. Gwanggyo Bisang [Menifee – Touch Upon (Touch Gold)] 4 G (16/11/1/3) 122 – Park Tae Jong
A double Stakes winner last year, he comes in with three consecutive victories and was especially impressive carrying 60kg to victory over this distance a month ago. He is perhaps Seoul’s best hope but he is going to need to find even more improvement to beat the visitors from Busan.

5. New And Best [Trick Of Fate – Yongungch’eon (Phizam)] 7 H (61/4/6/3) 101 – Kim Ok Sung
No. His 4th place over this distance last time out was his first money finish since January. He has been a good and competitive horse but is overmatched here.

6. Haneului Chubok [Revere – Mina D’Oro (Afleet)] 6 G (33/6/10/4) 118 – Kim Tae Kyung
Fourth in the Busan Owners’ Cup last time out, just three lengths behind winner Hangangui Gijeok, eh may go close again but with both Magic Dancer and Gyeongbudaero also both ahead of him that day, it is difficult to see him reversing that form here.

7. Magic Dancer [Forest Camp – Wildly Magic (Peterhof)] 4 C (16/10/4/0) 126 – Kim Yong Geun
A proven winner at Seoul, having taken the Jeju Governor’s Cup back in June over this distance, this is a classy horse who must be respected. He will be towards the front throughout and will stay on. He also has the fastest final furlong among this field. Beaten by Hangangui Gijeok in the Busan Owners’ Cup, he will have supporters to overturn that form here. Jockey Kim Yong Geun opts for him over Queen’s Blade.

8. Gyeongbudaero [Menifee – Princess Lanique (Cherokee Run) 5 H (26/9/6/7) 125 – Choi Si Dae
One of the stars of the track over the past three years, he doesn’t have the win record that he might have had with eleven of his starts coming in Stakes races. His third place in the Busan Owners’ Cup was his first start since February. He has only been out of the money twice in twenty-six starts and it will be a brave punter who leaves him off his or her tickets here.

9. Queen’s Blade [Menifee – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] 3 F (12/7/3/0) 113 – Masakazu Tanaka
The Derby and Oaks winner was beaten eight lengths into fifth in the Minister’s Cup at this distance last month when sent off as favourite. Three of those who beat her in that race go again today. It has been a long season for her and while she is clearly a huge talent, this may be a race too far. It would be fantastic to be proved wrong.

10. Gumpo Sky [Vicar – Perfect Storm (Didyme)] 3 C (14/5/5/2) 111 – Park Geum Man
Second in the Minister’s Cup a month ago, this is another horse whose win record doesn’t reflect his talent. Expect him to be close to the pace early and force the rest to try to come past. He should be aiming for at least a place.

11. Best Captain [Revere – Onethindime (Tactical Advantage) 4 C (17/7/5/3) 116 – Ikuyasu Kurakane
A very consistent money winner who has only failed to bring home a prize once out of his seventeen outings to date. A comfortable winner over 1800M last time out. He won that from the front and is likely to be among a large number here looking to get to the front early and stay there.

12. Success Story [Peace Rules – Power Pack (Lil’s Lad)] 3 C (9/5/0/2) 100 – Jo Sung Gon
He came into the Minister’s Cup last month off the back of three consecutive wins and showed the way for much of that race. He was found wanting in the final furlong though and that makes him difficult to support here. Jockey Jo Sung Gon doesn’t come to Seoul unless he thinks he has a chance though, so he will have some supporters.

13. Heukgisa [A.P.Dancer – Mansumugang (Half Term)] 5 G (22/9/5/2) 119 – Yoo Seung Wan
A very good-looking nine-length class 1 win over this distance a month ago is what gives him such a high rating here and also means he must be respected. Another who likes to be at the front early, he won’t be favourite but can’t be ruled out.

Dubai On Cards For Wonder Bolt After Seoul Cruise

Wonder Bolt continued to add to his burgeoning reputation with an easy win at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday in a class 1 contest that many observers regarded as being of superior quality to many recent Stakes races.

Watts Village, Nolbu Manse, Sing Sing Cat and Fly Top Queen were among those left behind as Wonder Bolt bided his time under jockey Seo Seung Un before bounding away in the home straight for an eased-down 4-length victory, just outside the track record time for 1700M.

The grey Wonder Bolt first came to mainstream attention by finishing 5th in the season ending Grand Prix last year but it is in his 4-year-old season where he has really started to shine. A couple of smart wins at both sprint and route distances established him as one of the most versatile horses at the track before he finished 2nd to El Padrino in the Asia Challenge Cup in August

That 2nd place – for which he was awarded an official rating of 106 by the Singapore handicapper – meant that he qualifies to run at the Dubai Carnival in the Spring and his win at the weekend suggests that he has every chance of putting in a decent performance if he goes.

Connections may take some persuading. That’s understandable as despite a likely hike in his handicap mark again, if he stays at home, Wonder Bolt will no doubt mop up some lucrative handicaps in the New Year.

Watts Village, victorious in Tokyo last year and 3rd in the race on Sunday was eligible to go to Dubai last year. Connections spurned the opportunity to make even more Korean racing history. Hopefully Wonder Bolt will give it a go this time around.

Class 1 Handicap – Seoul Racecourse – 1700M – November 2, 2014

1. Wonder Bolt (USA) [Desert Warrior – Little Champ (Great Gladiator)] – Seo Seung Un – 1.9, 1.2
2. Clean Up Cheonha (USA) [El Correador – Loh Collado (More Than Ready)] – Lee Sang Hyeok – 5.4
3. Watts Village (USA) [Forestry – Edey’s Village (Silver Deputy)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 1.9
Distances: 4 lengths/2.5 lengths – 12 ran

Jo Sung Gon Rides 6 Winners For 6 Different Trainers At Busan

Jo Sung Gon pulled off a remarkable feat at Busan Racecourse this afternoon, winning 6 of the 11 races – including 5 in a row – all for 6 different trainers and with only one slight odds-on chance among them.

Jo-nly me! Jo Sung Gon rode 6 winners at Busan today

Jo-nly me! Jo Sung Gon rode 6 winners at Busan today

Jo won Race 1 on Namdoui Yeowang, but didn’t strike at all between races 2 and 6, during which time Kim Yong Geun rode a treble of his own. From race 7 on, however, there was no stopping him as he won all of the remaining 5 races on the card.

Pick of the winners was in the class 1 feature where he guided the Peter Wolsley trained Ghost Whisper to a comfortable victory. It was the 14th win of the 6-year-old gelding’s career.

Busan’s reigning champion jockey, the 32-year-old Jo Sung Gon isn’t going to win the title this year. The main reason for this was that he gave his rivals a head start by spending the first three months of the season riding in Macau. Since his return, he has ridden 58 winners and lies 4th in the standings.

Best known among casual racing fans as being the regular jockey for Dangdae Bulpae (seen in the picture above) on whom he won an unprecedented 9 stakes races, he also has a Korean Derby and Oaks to his name and alongside Moon Se Young at Seoul, is widely considered as one of the top two jockeys in Korea.

Jo Sung Gon’s Six-Timer (with trainer name, margin and tote return):

Race 1: Namdoui Yeowang (Creek Cat), Jang Se Han – 4 lengths – 4.1
Race 7: Morning Hwiparam (Everydayissaturday), Lee Jung Pyo – 4 lengths – 3.9
Race 8: Yankee Dream (Yankee Victor), Han Sang Bok – 1.5 lengths – 3.0
Race 9: Forty Cure (Field Asuka), Choi Ki Hong – 1.25 lengths – 3.6
Race 10: Useung Radar (Student Council), Min Jang Gi – Head – 4.4
Race 11: Ghost Whisper (Gotham City), Peter Wolsley – 4 lengths – 1.9

Weekend Preview: Wonder Bolt, Watts Village, Fly Top Queen in Seoul Asia Challenge Cup Rematch

Three Korean-trained horses will fly to Japan on Friday to take part in the Interaction Cup at Ohi on November 11. However, the winner of last year’s race won’t be among them. Instead Watts Village will be at home in Seoul this Sunday, taking on some of the track’s best known imports in the weekend’s feature event.

Wonder Bolt is the star attraction at Seoul this weekend (Pic: Elan959)

Wonder Bolt is the star attraction at Seoul this weekend (Pic: Elan959)

Chief among eleven rivals for Watts Village is Wonder Bolt. The 4-year-old came the closest to El Padrino in the Asia Challenge Cup at the end of the August. And while the Singapore raider claimed the track record that day, Wonder Bolt was also comfortably within the previous best mark.

The race will be run over 1700M and going around two-turns for only the 2nd time will be Fly Top Queen, still the nation’s most expensive racehorse. She was an also ran in both last year’s Interaction Cup in Tokyo and in the Asia Challenge Cup as well as finding herself beaten by both Wonder Bolt and Watts Village back in July. A return to form is overdue.

Watts Village himself returned to form at the beginning of October with a crushing win over, among others, Here He Comes and Parang Juuibo, both of whom will be on the flight tomorrow. While we wish them the best of luck in the Japanese capital, there will be those lamenting that the three who run in the Korean capital on Sunday opted against taking their chance.

There’s plenty more action across the weekend, including top sprinter Oreuse going at Busan for the first time since May. Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday October 31
Busan Racecourse: 11 races from 11:40 to 18:00
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 13:20 to 17:20

Saturday November 1
Seoul Racecourse: 12 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 12:20 to 17:10

Sunday November 2
Seoul Racecourse: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Racecourse: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:00

Pinot Noir The Toast Of Ladies’ Day At Seoul

Pinot Noir produced a late run to upset hot favourite Cheonnyeon Dongan to win the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday and in doing so, be crowned the capital’s Champion filly or mare of 2014.

Pinot Noir gets up to beat Cheonnyeon Dongan to win the Gyeonggi Governor's Cup (Pic: KRA)

Pinot Noir gets up to beat Cheonnyeon Dongan to win the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (Pic: KRA)

Cheonnyeon Dongan was a proven winner at class and distance against colts. Pinot Noir on the other hand, was running in class 1 company for the first time after winning the Horse Racing Ireland Trophy in August and then running a creditable third in the Donga Ilbo Trophy last month.

And it was the favourite, always travelling well under Seo Seung Un, who looked to be in the box seat she hit the front as the field entered the home straight at the end of the 10 furlong race. However, Park Hyun Woo on Pinot Noir had other ideas, shifting his filly to the rail and making up ground rapidly.

The two would battle it out in the final furlong and it was the 12/1 chance Pinot Noir who just had her neck in front as they hit the line. Choichoro, a 10/1 chance ridden by Moon Se Young came home in third place, 4 lengths behind the leading pair.

It was a 5th win in 15 starts for the 4-year-old Pinot Noir and the first really big win for jockey Park Hyun Woo.

Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (KOR G3) – Seoul Racecourse – 2000M – Oct 26, 3014

1. Pinot Noir (KOR) [Capital Spending – Neungnyeokchungman (Pacific Bounty)] – Park Hyun Woo – 12.4, 2.1
2. Cheonnyeon Dongan (KOR) [Ecton Park – Honeycakes (Hennessy)] – Seo Seung Un – 1.1
3. Choichoro (KOR) [Concept Win – Eunbiryeong (Mujaazif)] – Moon Se Young – 2.1
Distances: Neck/4 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Chiming VIcar 5. Full Moon Party 6. Dangchan Miso 7. X File 8. Chongal Gongju 9. Bongamsa 10. Chowon Yeoje 11. Mighty Forever 12. Bukdaepung

* Cheonnyeon Dongan wasn’t the only favourite to go down at the weekend. Saturday at Seoul saw a number of odds-on shots turned over, principal among them the highly rated Power City (Archer City Slew) who was beaten in the final strides of race 10 by Jeil Jal Naga (Dice Dancer), a horse he had beaten by 9-lengths just a month ago.

Also losing (again) was Call Me Rocket (Colonel John) who finished last in Saturday’s race 11 which was won by 25/1 Wahaha under a very good ride by Lee Ah Na. And in Saturday’s final race 12, Foolish Scip (Scipion) finished 2nd for the 5th consecutive race, this time losing out to up-and-coming import Clean Up Joy (Purge).

Favourites had a slightly better time of things at Busan where the feature race was, unusually, on Friday. Nobody Catch Me (With Distinction), the shock winner of July’s Busan Metropolitan City Stakes made his first start since his victory that day and indeed, nobody could catch him as he cruised to a 5-length win over veteran Viva Ace (Macho Uno) in the 1900M class 1 event.

There’s no Stakes action next weekend but we are now less than two weeks away from Korea’s richest race, the President’s Cup, which will be run at Seoul on Sunday November 9.

Ladies’ Day Preview: Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup – Punters Try Out New Ratings

It’s Ladies’ Day at Seoul Racecourse this Sunday. The capital’s champion filly or mare will be decided in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup. And while punters are encouraged to wear red, the race will be one of the first opportunities for them to try out Korean racing’s new “rating” system.

Cheonnyeon Dongan won the Donga Ilbo Cup last year - She'll have a different jockey on this week but should be favourite for the Gyeonggi Governor's Cup

Cheonnyeon Dongan won the Donga Ilbo Cup last year – She’ll have a different jockey on this week but should be favourite for the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup

For many years, Korean racing has been divided into 6 classes (5 at Busan due to there being fewer horses there) with horses receiving a fixed number of points for winning and placing and moving up the classes. There is no facility to move back down in class. Under the new system, all races will be reviewed and a horse assigned a new rating after it – if it is low they can go back down in class (more on that and its implications over the next couple of weeks).

The new system has started this month for horses in the existing class 1 only with a base rating for the top-level of 100. This Sunday, the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup – a Korean Group 3 race for Korean-bred fillies and mares – is one such race that has a rating for all entrants. However, to be honest, there isn’t a whole lot to choose between them!

Here is a rundown of the runners and riders with [Pedigree] Age (Runs/1st/2nd/3rd) Rating – Jockey

Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup (KOR G3) – Seoul Racecourse – 2000M – Sunday October 26, 16:35

1. Pinot Noir [Capital Spending – Neungnyeokchungman (Pacificbounty)] 4 (14/4/4/2) – 103 – Park Hyun Woo
2. Mighty Forever [Yankee Victor – Redmarina (Sea Of Secrets)] 6 (38/3/6/4) – 101 – Lee Hyeok
3. Bukdaepung [Exploit – Half Fare (Half Term)] 5 (21/6/2/0) – 101 – Lee Dong Kug
4. Choichoro [Concept Win – Eunbiryeong (Mujaazif)] 6 (32/6/2/4) – 104 – Moon Se Young
5. Chowon Yeoje [Forest Camp – Navigation (Big Sur)] 5 (33/5/7/7) – 105 – Ikuyasu Kurakane
6. Chiming Vicar [Vicar – Chiming In (Fasiliyev)] 5 (29/6/2/1) – 101 – Choi Bum Hyun
7. Cheonnyeon Dongan [Ecton Park – Honeycakes (Hennessy)] 4 (16/8/2/3) – 113 – Seo Seung Un
8. X File [Exploit – Dorothy Dee (Woodman)] 5 (26/5/2/9) – 101 – Moon Jung Kyun
9. Full Moon Party [Vicar – Platinum Wildcat (Forest Wildcat)] 5 (23/7/0/5) – 102 – Yoo Seung Wan
10. Bongamsa [The Groom Is Red – Halla Yeoje (Technology)] 5 (38/4/5/2) – 101 – Jung Pyeong Soo
11. Chongal Gongju [Vicar – Isis (Didyme)] 5 (30/3/9/2) – 102 – Kim Hye Sun
12. Dangchan Miso [Concept Win – Chuwol Jasin (Road Of War)] 5 (38/6/2/3) – 101 – Lee Go Hweoi

So there you have it, the ratings say Cheonnyeon Dongan wins this one. And really, she should.

Here’s what’s happening when and where on what is forecast to be a very pleasant autumn weekend:

Friday October 24
Busan Racecourse: 11 races from 11:40 to 18:00
Jeju Racecourse: 9 races from 13:20 to 17:20

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

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

It's Ladies Day At Seoul this Sunday

It’s Ladies Day At Seoul this Sunday

Ikuyasu Kurakane Wins KRA Cup Classic on Samjeong Jewang

The year just keeps on getting better for Ikuyasu Kurakane. The Japanese rider, who is 2nd in the Jockey Championship, got his first Group win or his second stint in Korea by riding Samjeong Jewang to the narrowest of victories in the KRA Cup Classic at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday.

Samjeong Jewang just gets up to beat Rush Forth (obscured) in the KRA Cup Classic (Pic: KRA)

Samjeong Jewang just gets up to beat Rush Forth (obscured) in the KRA Cup Classic (Pic: KRA)

Indian Blue, who Kurakane has had success on in the past, was sent off as the odds on favourite, but despite a change in tactics from jockey Moon Se Young, the filly still found herself left with too much ground to make up in the final furlong.

Instead, it was Samjeong Jewang who beat out a determined challenge by outsider Rush Forth and filly My Day to win by a nse on the line. Indian Blue came hom in 4th but last year’s winner Mari Daemul could only manage 10th.

Samjeong Jewang moves on to six wins from nine career starts and a possible run for the Grand Prix Stakes in December.

KRA Cup Classic (KOR G3) – Seoul Racecourse – 2000M – October 19, 2014

1. Samjeong Jewang (USA) [Patriot Act – Ms.Sadira (Dixieland Heat)] – Ikuyasu Kurakane 3/5, 1.6
2. Rush Forth (USA) [Rush Bay – Fourth Quest (Norquestor)] – Kim Ok Sung – 6.0
3. My Day (KOR) [Touch Gold – Smart Advice (Smart Strike)] – Jang Chuyoul – 3.6
Distances: Nose/0.5 lengths
Also ran: 4. Indian Blue (USA) 5. Unbeatable (USA) 6. Cheonma (USA) 7. Sun Speed (USA) 8. Him Jjang (USA) 9. Hwanggeumbiyul (USA) 10. Mari Daemul (USA) 11. Mani Income (USA) 12. Daehan Janggun (USA)