Outsider Geumbit Hwanhui Wins Seoul Oaks Trial

Geumbit Hwanhui overcame odds of 27/1 to convincingly win the Sports Seoul Cup – the capital’s primary trial race for the Korean Oaks – at Seoul Racecourse this afternoon.

Geumbit Hwanhui and Shinichi Terachi - with a scared looking Tiny G in the background

Geumbit Hwanhui and Shinichi Terachi – with a scared looking Tiny G in the background

On board Geumbit Hwanhui was Japanese jockey Shinichi Terachi, who was landing his first big race win in Korea. In second place was Clean Up Speed, ridden by another Japanese rider, Ikuyasu Kurakane.

Geumbit Hwanhui stalked the leaders throughout before creeping up the rail in the home straight, overcoming long-time pace-setter Clean Up Speed in the final furlong and then stretching away to record a 3-length win. Another outsider, Rhapsody, was 3rd.

The time wasn’t a quick one but Geumbit Hwanhui is now likely to take her chance down at Busan for the Korean Oaks this coming August. She’s likely to face a tall order though as Derby winning filly Queen’s Blade will be the heavy favourite.

Sports Seoul Cup – Seoul Racecourse – June 22, 2014

1. Geumbit Hwanhui (KOR) [Peace Rules – Sincheongchun (Silent Warrior)] – Shinichi Terachi – 27/1, 3.9
2. Clean Up Speed (KOR) [Pico Central – Rich Emotions (Rizzi)] – Ikuyasu Kurakane – 1.9
3. Rhapsody (KOR) [Peace Rules – Cheulgeoun Party (Big Sur)] – Ham Wan Sik – 5.9

Distances: 3 lengths/Neck – 9 ran

While it was Shinichi Terachi’s turn to get the headlines, Ikuyasu had another successful day too, taking two wins (including one dead-heat). Meanwhile at Busan, Masakazu Tananka was also among the winners.

Next week, there is big Stakes race action at Seoul in the shape of the Jeju Governor’s Cup. President’s Cup and Grand Prix Stakes winner Indie Band will be making the trip up from Busan and he’ll be partnered by Darryll Holland for what will be the British jockey’s last ride in Korea for the time being. We’ll have all the build up to the big race later in the week.

Yeongsan II, Fly Top Queen Win Big At Seoul

Two of Seoul’s most talked about horses both scored dismissively easy victories as they tuned up for bigger things to come at Seoul Racecourse on Saturday.

Yeongsan II prowls the Seoul paddock

Yeongsan II prowls the Seoul paddock

Yeongsan II [Menifee – Foxxy Cleo (Peintre Celebre)] was sold to Malaysia as a 2-year-old but was brought back home last year. Now 4-years-old, he was making his 4th Korean start on Saturday, having won all his previous ones.

Sent off at odds of 1/9, he cruised around the track without breaking into a serious gallop, to crush a sub-par field by 10 lengths. Known as “Yeongsan II” because an Australian import in the late 1990’s was also called “Yeongsan”, he’s now just a couple of races away from class 1.

Fly Top Queen meanwhile landed her first class 1 victory with a similarly easy win in race 11. Billed as an “Asia Challenge Cup Qualifier” the race was intended as preparation for the International Sprint Invitational race at Seoul at the end of August. Fly Top Queen will most likely be among those representing in Korea in the race which will feature runners from Japan and possibly Singapore.

Korea’s most expensive ever racehorse, Fly Top Queen [Henny Hughes – Cape Discovery (Cape Town)] moves on to 6 wins from 8 domestic starts.

Round-Up: “Let’s Run”, Daily Double, English Form, Track-Rider Op Story Goes Global

Much as I don’t like doing “Round-Ups” I’ve been busy lately and am a long way behind. I also don’t like writing in the first-person on this blog so without further waffle, here are some things that have been happening:

As a wise man rcently said, You Run, I'll Bet...

As a wise man rcently said, You Run, I’ll Bet…

Anyone who has visited Korean race courses over the past couple of months will have noticed that the KRA has been making subtle hints that we may wish to call the organisation “Let’s Run” from now on. Quite why is anybody’s guess but the rebranding is now almost complete and the pliant local Racing media are dutifully referring to the Racetracks as “Let’s Run Park”. Like it or not – and anything that removes the words “Racing” and “Racecourse” is questionable – it’s here to stay.

On to gambling matters and Busan Racecourse – sorry, “Let’s Run Park Busan” – is taking the first tentative steps towards “exotic” betting as it introduces a “Daily Double” from June 27. In Korea, laws literally need to be changed before any new bet type can be introduced so it isn’t going to be operated through a pool but instead through a lottery. Punters will have to choose the winners of the last two races on the card on each Friday. If they get them correct, they win access to a draw to win a guaranteed KW 10 Million.

Recently, punters have been leaving the Busan track early on a Friday (due to its dreadful location half in Gimhae and half in Busan and connected to Busan City by only one bridge next to which an awful lot of construction is going on right now) and handle is down on the last two races. Seoul, despite having no transportation issues, is likely to follow suit with this kind of activity soon and with any luck, it could be the first step towards getting regular multiple race betting.

Also in gambling news, things are getting easier for English-speaking punters here as the KRA is making full and comprehensive past performance information for all meetings at Seoul available for free download from its website. The move is designed to coincide with the start of regular simulcast broadcasting which starts next week.

Finally, the story of the Korea Racing Authority doing right by a track rider taken seriously ill at Busan in April has made the American Bloodhorse magazine. Khayalethu Jeyu, one of 11 South African work riders at the southern track, was rushed to hospital by KRA ambulance after experiencing severe headaches while riding work.

Upon hearing of the discovery of several imminently life-threatening tumors, the KRA stepped in and paid for his treatment. Read the full story here.

2000 Belmont Stakes Winner Commendable Has Passed Away

Commendable, the winner of the 2000 Belmont Stakes, has passed away at Stud in Korea after suffering a colic.

Commendable 1997-2014 (KRA)

Commendable 1997-2014 (KRA)

A $575,000 purchase as a yearling, Commendable[Gone West – Bought Twice (In Reality)] won his debut race at Del Mar on August 14, 1999 but despite being identified by his trainer D. Wayne Lukas as being Triple Crown contender, he endured a disappointing start to his 3-year-old career.

Commendable managed to get into the Kentucky Derby but finished 17th of 19 under Edgar Prado as Fusaichi Pegasus took the 126th Run For The Roses.

Commendable didn’t run in the Preakness a fortnight later where Fusaichi Pegasus was defeated by Red Bullet and without a Triple Crown on the line – and Red Bullet skipping the race too – he returned to take his chance in the Belmont on a hot day in New York City in June 2000.

Hitting the front as they turned for home, 18-1 shot Commendable under jockey Pat Day, held off favourite Aptitude to win the final leg of the Triple Crown by just over a length.

That Del Mar debut and the Belmont proved to be his only wins in a 12-race career as Commendable was retired after finishing 2nd to Tiznow in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in September of 2000.

After a short stallion carrer in the US, Commendable was brought to Korea in March 2005. He stood at the KRA’s Jeju Stud Farm until 2011 before moving to the new farm on the mainland at Jangsu. While not a sire of Champions, he consistently got winners and was covering mares up until he fell ill.

A two-year-old colt of his out of the Champion Korean racemare Luna is expected to make his debut later this year.

Here’s his Belmont Stakes win:

And his KRA appearance video:

Commendable died on April 10th at the Korea Racing Authority’s Jangsu Stud Farm in Jeolla Province. The official cause of death is listed as “strangulation of small intestine.”

Gamdonguibada Crushes KNN Cup Field

Gamdonguibada, New York Blue and Star Bolt were the quickest out of the gate – Joy Lucky was the slowest. And over the course of a mile nothing changed as Gamdonguibada proved a class apart from the rest, cruising to the 2nd leg of the Queens’ Tour at Busan this afternoon.

Gamdonguibada leads New York Blue in the home straight (screengrab - better picture to follow)

Gamdonguibada leads New York Blue in the home straight (screengrab – better picture to follow)

Sent off the odds-on favourite after her dominant display in the Ttukseom Cup and with Joe Fujii back in the saddle, 2012 Grand Prix Stakes winner Gamdonguibada didn’t for a single stride look like getting beaten.

She traded 1st place a couple of times with the young up-and-comer New York Blue but once they were in the home straight, 15 fillies and mares appeared to go backwards while Gamdonguibada strode away from them. The margin on the line was 11 lengths. It could have been 111.

Behind her New York Blue stayed on well for second under Masa Tanaka to make it a Japanese jockey 1-2. Star Bolt also stayed on for 3rd, a place ahead of 170/1 outsider Silver Classic.

Indian Blue was the best of the visitors from Seoul, picking up the last money spot of 5th on another dismal day for the capital contingent. Joy Lucky, so impressive two weeks ago at Seoul, could manage ni better than 15th in running and eventually finished last.

Gamdonguibada moves onto 11 wins from 19 starts, 5 of those wins coming in Stakes races. The Queens’ Tour reconvenes at Busan in October. She is likely to be heavy favourite to add the final leg to her collection too.

It’s yet another Stakes win for the remarkable Kim Young Kwan, fresh from training another filly, Queen’s Blade to win the Derby last month. For Joe Fujii meanwhile, it’s a 5th Korean Stakes win and his 128th overall in the country.

KNN Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – June 8, 2014

1. Gamdonguibada (USA) [Werblin – Radyla (Country Pine)] – Kanichiro Fujii – 1.6, 1.2
2. New York Blue (USA) [Candy Ride – Aim For The Moon (Deputy Minister)] – Masakazu Tanaka – 2.5
3. Star Bolt (USA) [Fusaichi Pegaus – Do’Oro Doll (Touch Gold)] – Kim Dong Young – 3.3

Distances: 11 lengths/3 lengths
Also ran: 4. Silver Classic (USA) 5. Indian Blue (USA) 6. Heba (USA) 7. Shining Future (KOR) 8. Black Dia (KOR) 9. Sangnyu (USA) 10 Nulpurunchongnyong (KOR) 11. Seungni Laser (KOR) 12. Chiming Vicar (KOR) 13. Kalma (USA) 14. Baedari Yeongung (KOR) 15. Seungbu Sinhwa (USA) 16. Joy Lucky (KOR)

The KNN Cup: Full Preview

The top fillies and mares on the peninsula are in Busan this weekend for the KNN Cup, the 2nd-leg of the 2014 Queens’ Tour.

Gamdonguibada won the Ttukseom Cup, the first leg of the Queens' Tour

Gamdonguibada won the Ttukseom Cup, the first leg of the Queens’ Tour

Ttukseom Cup winner Gamdonguibada will renew hostilities with Indian Blue and Joy Lucky as a full field of 16 takes on the mile-long test.

Scroll down for a full preview but first, here’s what’s happening when and where on this holiday weekend:

Friday June 6
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 13:00 to 19:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:25 to 17:40

Saturday June 7
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:20 to 17:10

Sunday June 8
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:05

KNN Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – June 8, 2014

1. Baedari Yeongung (KOR) [Yehudi – Recondite (Silver Deputy)] 5 (31/5/2/4) – You Hyun Myung (Busan)
She wins from the front and will likely look to get there early. It’s been a long time since she’s done so successfully though and on recent form is very unconvincing.

2. Shining Future (KOR) [Silver Train – Juliet’s Kiss (Kissin Kris)] 5 (24/4/3/2) – Darryll Holland (Busan)
She was 6th in the Ttukseom Cup and that would appear to be the extent of her ambitions here as well. The booking of Holland is a bonus but even so, a place seems her best hope.

3. New York Blue (USA) [Candy Ride – Aim For The Moon (Deputy Minister)] 3 (9/4/3/0) – Masakazu Tanaka (Busan)
The only 3-year-old in the field, she was a smart winner over 1400M last up. She has the speed and looks like she can go further but company of this calibre may be a little too much too soon.

4. Gamdonguibada (USA) [Werblin – Radyla (Country Pine)] 5 (18/10/3/3) – Kanichiro Fujii (Busan)
Exceptionally impressive leading from gate to wire in the Ttukseom Cup, she’s not been seen on the track since except for a race trial in early May – exactly the same prep she did for the Ttukseom. Joe Fujii, who won the Grand Prix on her, returns to the saddle and she’ll be tough to oppose.

5. Star Bolt (USA) [Fusaichi Pegasus – D’Oro Doll (Touch Gold)] 4 (19/3/6/0) – Kim Dong Young (Busan)
4th in the Gukje Sinmun Cup last month, she usually goes close but rarely wins. That’s likely to be the same here.

6. Chiming Vicar (KOR) [Vicar – Chiming In (Fasliyev)] 5 (25/6/2/1) – Park Sang Woo (Seoul)
Came from just off the pace to grab a class 2 victory in March but was poor last time out on her class 1 debut. Likely to find the going similarly tough here.

7. Silver Classic (USA) [Chapel Royal – Psychic Friend (Star De Naskra)] 5 (24/4/3/2) – Choi Si Dae (Busan)
Was 10th first up after a long layoff last month. Desperately needed the run but is unlikely to have come on well enough to challenge here.

8. Nulpurunchongnyong (KOR) [Master Command – Sea Button (Sea Of Secrets)] 4 (12/5/4/0) – Jun Duck Yong (Seoul)
A nice looking filly who comes into the race in good form. She likes to start slow and then pick them off in the straight with good late speed. Could be a threat although this is by far the toughest field she’s faced.

9. Heba (USA) [Peace Rules – Sue’s Temper (Temperence Hill)] 4 (20/6/4/1) – Jo Sung Gon (Busan)
She has two class 1 wins to her name and was 4th in the Ttukseom Cup. She’s not been seen since – indeed her only other run this year was a nothing to write home about 5th – but is a contender here. She’s won from the front and from clsoing late

10. Indian Blue (USA) [Henny Hughes – Gambler’s Passion (Prospectors Gamble)] 4 (16/5/4/4) – Ikuyasu Kurakane (Seoul)
2nd in the Ttukseom Cup, she came back out and won last time over a tough class 1 field. She’ll be looking to go past the frontrunners in the home straight but can’t give Gamdonguibada such a head start this time. A chance.

11. Kalma (USA) [Dehere – Leeward Passage (Captain Bodgit)] 5 (20/4/1/3) – Kim Hyun Joong (Busan)
Bart Rice lets Kalma take her chance again but there’s little in her recent form to suggest she has any chance here. She’s only monied once in 6 tries at class 1.

12. Joy Lucky (KOR) [Vicar – Proper Gun (Prosper Fager)] 4 (14/10/1/0) – Moon Jung Kyun (Seoul)
2nd to Secret Whisper on her only previous visit to Busan but was poor in the Ttukseom Cup. She bounced back to win the Owners’ Trophy in April and was an impressive class 1 winner last month. She’ll be at the front but can she hold off Gamdonguibada? The suspended Seo Seung Un is replaced by moon Jung Kyun in the saddle.

13. Seungni Laser (KOR) [Menifee – First Base (Grand Slam)] 4 (12/7/0/0) – Kim Yong Geun (Busan)
Bart Rice’s better chance is an intriguing prospect who comes into the race off the back of 4 straight wins. Likes to close from just off the pace but is untried at a mile. Her only starts at 1500M have met with failure there is a question mark as to whether she will stay – but that was last year under a different trainer. If she does stay, she’ll be dangerous, especially if the leaders race themselves out of contention.

14. Black Dia (KOR) [Vicar – Blossom Again (Awesome Again)] 5 (25/5/4/1) – Song Keong Yun (Busan)
A closer who has quietly made her way to class 1. A mile has proved slightly beyond her to date and this could be her weakness here too.

15. Seungbu Sinhwa (USA) [Bluegrass Cat – Island Rhythm (Skip Trial)] 4 (19/0/3/4) – Park Si Cheon (Seoul)
Never won and as she is yet to graduate from class 3, that’s not likely to change here.

16. Sangnyu (USA) [Broken Vow – Midtown Miss (Yes It’s True)] 5 (22/5/3/3) – Bang Choon Sik (Seoul)
Well established at class 1 and another who has an outside chance to close late for a place if the pacesetters blow themselves out early.

Feel So Good Fades As Geumseongi Takes Sports Chosun

Feel So Good was sent off as long odds-on favourite but couldn’t stay the distance as Geumseongi swept to victory in the Sports Chosun CUp at Seoul on Sunday.

Feel So Good has been inconsistent since returning from Florida where he spent his two-year-old season and became the first Korean bred horse to win a race in the USA. However, a storming 9-length win last month over the Sports Chosun distance on 9 furlongs had punters convinced once more that he was back at his best.

It was not to be. Feel So Good led for much of the way but disintegrated in the final furlong to finish a disappointing 6th. It was left to Geumseongi to overhaul Citius to take the win with the fast finishing closers My Energy and El Campeon taking 3rd and 4th.

A 4-year-old colt, Geumseongi was winning for just the 4th time from 18 starts but has a further 6 2nd places to his name. He’ll be competing in class 1 from now on.

Too lazy to head down to take a picture pf the ceremony...but trust me, this was the start of the Sports Chosun Cup

Too lazy to head down to take a picture pf the ceremony…but trust me, this was the start of the Sports Chosun Cup

Sports Chosun Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – June 1, 2014

1. Geumseongi (KOR) [Pico Central – Cat Beluga (Hennessy)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 7.5, 1.9
2. Citius (KOR) [Revere – Daecheonpung (Fiercely)] – Lee Sang Hyeok – 4.4
3. My Energy (KOR) [Vicar – Ich Bien (Jade Hunter)] – Yoo Seung Wan – 3.2

Distances: 1 length/3 lengths – 13 ran

Next week, the focus shifts to Busan and the KNN Cup, the 2nd leg of the 2014 Queens’ Tour.

Sports Chosun Cup – Full Preview

Sunday sees Stakes racing return to Seoul and while the Sports Chosun Cup isn’t the biggest race on the calendar, it certainly offers some good punting.

Feel So Good - likely favourite in the Sports Chosun

Feel So Good – likely favourite in the Sports Chosun

Feel So Good is likely to be the heavy favourite but he’s not invincible and there are plenty in the field of 13 capable of pulling off the win – or at least finishing in the top three.

Here’s a full run-down of the field with Name [Pedigree] Sex Age (Starts/1/2/3) – Jockey

Sports Chosun Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – June 1, 2014 – 16:35

1. Corner Stone [Ingrandire – Kurenai Moyuru (Merry Nice)] C 4 (17/4/1/3) – Moon Se Young
Moon Se Young steps in for the suspended Seo Seung Un aboard this colt who was a smart winner over the distance last time out when he closed from 7th for the win in the home straight. He’s back after 3 months off and won’t be favourite but he has a chance.

2. Wahaha [Ft.Stockton – Yeppeun Keum (Hurricane Sky)] G 5 (30/2/4/6) – Shinichi Terachi
Very little to recommend here, it’s over 2 years since Wahaha has won and that won’t change.

3. Spending To Me [Capital Spending – Ma Fille (Belong To Me)] M 5 (29/3/5/1) – Park Eul Woon
Third over the distance last time out, beaten 2 lengths by Corner Stone having hit the front in the final furlong. Likes to come from the back but perhaps not quite at this distance. Outside chance of another place.

4. El Campeon [Menifee – Here Comes Meme (Kipper Kelly)] G 5 (29/3/4/5) – Ikuyasu Kurakane
Consistently in the money if not consistently winning, El Campeon was beaten into 3rd by Feel So Good and My Energy last time out but he’s closer who can stay and has plenty of speed. He can’t be overlooked.

5. Nongbon Sarang [The Groom Is Red – Agua Azalita (Pine Bluff)] F 4 (16/2/3/5) – Jang Chu Youl
Won over 1700 metres at class 3 before finishing well beaten by Feel So Good in that race last month. Will need to improve here to challenge for a place.

6. My Energy [Vicar – Ich Bien (Jade Hunter) H 6 (48/4/3/2) – Yoo Seung Wan
Second to Feel So Good – by 9 lengths – last time and ahead of El Campeon, who he also beat in April. It would be a surprise to see him win here though.

7. Citius [Revere – Daecheonpung (Fiercely) C 4 (14/4/1/1) – Lee Sang Hyeok
Good win over the distance at class 3 last time. Likes to be just off the pace and if the closers fail to get into gear, he may well steal a place.

8. Geumseongi [Pico Central – Cat Beluga (Hennessy)] C 4 (16/3/6/1) – Cho Kyoung Ho
Has plenty of speed and comes off the back of two solid 2nd place finishes. Another 2nd is more likely than a win but if he must be in with a chance.

9. Feel So Good [Ft.Stockton – Courting Dreams (Eastover Court)] G 5 (10/5/0/0) – Ham Wan Sik
A winner at Calder in Florida in 2012, he’s blown hot and cold since coming home. He was certainly hot last time out, winning over the distance – and over several of this field – by 9 lengths. If he runs like that again here, then of course he wins.

10. Citadel [Sakura Seeking – Tropic (Danehill)] G 5 (25/2/6/4) – Kim Ok Sung
Another who has the ability to make a nuisance of himself. Good win over 1900 metres in March but followed it up by being well beaten last month. Difficult to receommend but again difficult to ignore for a quinella at good odds.

11. Pinot Noir [Capital Spending – Neungnyeokchungman (Pacific Bounty) F 4 (11/3/4/1) – Park Hyun Woo
Put in a decent run when 2nd at this distance last time out in March. She was ahead of Feel So Good that day and while she’ll not be favoured to repeat it, she’ll be in a lot of quinellas. Likes to be close to the pace and should stay on.

12. Dewma [Forest Camp – Wild Cat Strike (Wild Again)] F 4 (11/3/4/1) – Lee Chan Ho
Lee Shin Young’s second string is likely to try to hit the front early. Staying there will be quite another matter though.

13. Dae Ung [Pico Central – Myeongseo Gongju (Carry The Flag)] C 4 (7/4/2/0) – Choi Bum Hyun
The wildcard of the field. Hasn’t run since taking a narrow win over 1700 metres last November, he strolled comfortably through a trial in April. This should be too much too soon but some may be tempted by the likely good odds on him.

Sunday June 1
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00 with a performance by Girl’s Day at 3.45!!
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:00

Weekend Preview: Twinkle Twinkle!

May becomes June and summer racing begins in earnest with a full set of cards around the peninsula this weekend.

Girl's Day will be performing during racing at Seoul on Sunday

Girl’s Day will be performing during racing at Seoul on Sunday

And there’s no surer way to know its summer than the reappearance of K-Pop girl groups at Seoul Racecourse. Girl’s Day get us underway with a short performance on the Stakes race presentation stage at 3:45pm. It’s going to be very busy!

They’ll not be the only ones on the stage this weekend as they’ll be on just before the Sports Chosun Cup gets underway. Feel So Good will attempt to get his first Stakes win as he takes on 12 others in the 9 furlong Stakes event.

At Busan, the pick of the action sees Cheonji Bulpae takes on Magic Dancer in Sunday’s feature. Jo Sung Gon takes over on Cheonji Bulpae in place of the suspended Darryll Holland.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday May 30
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 13:00 to 19:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:25 to 17:40

Saturday May 31
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:30

Sunday June 1
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:45 to 17:00

Filly Queen’s Blade Romps to Korean Derby Victory

A Triple Crown may on the cards in the United States but any hope we may have had of getting our own in Korea this year vanished in the Seoul sunshine this afternoon as filly Queen’s Blade crushed all-comers in the Korean Derby.

Kim Yong Geun and Queen's Blade Cross the line as Derby winners (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Kim Yong Geun and Queen’s Blade Cross the line as Derby winners (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Most morning lines had KRA Cup Mile winner Cheongnyeong Bisang down as the likely winner so it was mildly surprising to see punters send Queens Blade, who had finished 5th in that race, off as the slight favourite for this, the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown.

They were very quickly vindicated. Raon Morris, 4th in that Cup Mile in Busan last month, set the pace but Queen’s Blade went right with him. Cheongnyong Bisang tried to close in the home straight but he had too much to do. Queen’s Blade was out of sight.

Queen's Blade in the Derby Winner's Circle (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Queen’s Blade in the Derby Winner’s Circle (Pic: Ross Holburt)

The distance on the line was 10 lengths. It may as well have been 20 such was her superiority today. Jeongsang Bima, a 40/1 outsider, was the only one who did close semi-successfully, coming home 2nd while Raon Morris stayed on for 3rd, one place ahead of Cheongnyong Bisang.

Peter Wolsley’s Jungle Jim managed an unlikely 5th but it was a generally depressing race for the foreign contingent; Darryll Holland the highest finisher among the 5 foreign jockeys in the race, coming 6th on Wild Rush.

Connections get a cake in the VIP room after a Stakes win, trainer Kim Young Kwan is on the right of the picture (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Connections get a cake in the VIP room after a Stakes win, trainer Kim Young Kwan is on the right of the picture (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Queen’s Blade is a half-sister to 2008 Korean Oaks winner Jeolho Chance and was today recording her 5th win from 9 career starts. She looks set to be heavy favourite to follow her big sister in the Oaks in Busan in August.

For jockey Kim Yong Geun, it was just a second Stakes race win and his first Classic. For the remarkable trainer Kim Young Kwan, however, it was a third Korean Derby win. All three of those have been with fillies with today’s win adding to those of Sangseung Ilro in 2009 and Speedy First a year ago.

Another winner's circle pose (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Another winner’s circle pose (Pic: Ross Holburt)

It’s also another classic win for Busan means the southern track leads Seoul by 4 Derby victories to 3 since competition between the two began in 2008.

While Queen’s Blade and the other fillies today have the Oaks to attend to, the rest of the best of the 3-year-old crop won’t reassemble until the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Minister’s Cup at Seoul in October. How many of today’s field make it there is open to debate.

Nothing else in sight. Kim Yong Geun and Queen's Blade win the 2014 Korean Derby (Pic: Ross Holburt)

Nothing else in sight. Kim Yong Geun and Queen’s Blade win the 2014 Korean Derby (Pic: Ross Holburt)

A number of high-profile names didn’t make it into the starting gate today. Gilbert, who placed 2nd in the Cup Mile and the promising Yeonggwanguichampion both suffered injuries after the Cup Mile. Meanwhile Peter Wolsley’s best 3-year-old Never Seen Before failed his barrier trial last week and wasn’t allowed to run.

So dominant was Queen’s Blade today though that it is unlikely any of those three would have come any closer to her than the fourteen she left strung across the track in her wake today. The Queen from Busan, Queen’s Blade is our 2014 Korean Derby Champion.

Korean Derby (KOR G1) – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – May 18, 2014

1. Queen’s Blade (KOR) [Menifee – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] – Kim Yong Geun
2. Jeongsang Bima (KOR) [Forest Camp – Smokegetenyoureyes (Smokester)] – Ham Wan Sik
3. Raon Morris (KOR) [Yankee Victor – Thunder By Night (Thunder Gulch)] – Moon Se Young
Distances: 10 lengths / 0.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Cheongnyong Bisang 5. Jungle Jim 6. Wild Rush 7. Royal Impact 8. Namdo Trio 9. Gumpo Sky 10. Gangchi 11. Cupid Girl 12. Clean Up Speed 13. Pureun Geotap 14. Jangsan Horangi 15. Super Rider