It may be Breeders’ Cup weekend in the US but it’s President’s Cup weekend in Seoul! The most valuable race of the year brings together for the first time some of this year’s best three-year olds from both Seoul and Busan to face their elders in a Stakes race for the first time. Dangdae Bulpae, Cheonnyeon Daero, Yeonseung Daero, Dongseo Jeongbeol and Useung Touch will all be there. Full preview here.
Up for the Cup(s)
Saturday also sees Stakes action at Seoul in the form of the TJK Trophy. Two-year old Smarty Moonhak (Smarty Jones) gets a swift introdution to high level racing as he takes on a full field of older imports.
It’s been a sunny week but there is a chance of rain so umbrellas are a must on what is set to be a cracking weekend of racing. In addition to Seoul, as usual there are also cards at Busan Jeju Here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday November 4
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00 Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 13:00 to 17:30
Saturday November 5
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:10 to 17:40 including the TJK Trophy at 16:30 Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:30 to 17:30
Sunday November 6
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:10 including the President’s Cup at 16:35 Busan Race Park: 7 races from 12:30 to 17:05
While thousands of miles away the Breeders’ Cup is occupying much of the racing world this weekend, Korea plays host to its most valuable race of the year in the shape of the President’s Cup at Seoul Racecourse Park this Sunday.
Returning: Dangdae Bulpae & Jo Sung Gon in the 2010 President's Cup Winner's Circle
While it may not be the most prestigious – the Grand Prix Stakes taking that accolade – the President’s Cup is the biggest race of the year for Korean-bred horses. This is because it is the race in which this year’s Classic winners generally face their elders for the first time.
As it is, we have just two out of four Classic winners from this year – Useung Touch and Dongseo Jeongbeol – and just one from last year, Derby winner Cheonnyeon Daero. However, with last year’s winner Dangdae Bulpae and the evergreen Yeonseung Daero making the trip up from Busan, we are guaranteed a fascinating renewal on Sunday afternoon.
Here’s a rundown of the runners with age/sex/weight to be carried (race records) and jockeys:
President’s Cup (KOR GI) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – November 6, 2011 – 16:35
1. Dangdae Bulpae [Biwa Shinseiki-Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] 4 C 58Kg (19/12/1/1) – Jo Sung Gon (Busan)
The defending Champion, he loves running at Seoul losing only once in the Grand Prix last year. At 2000 metres, one would think this was his for the taking. However, his last two starts at Busan have ended in two ignominious sixth places; getting into a suicidal early speed duel with Tough Win in the Metropolitan Stakes and sinking without trace in the Owners’ Trophy. He will need to be back to his best if he is to have a chance.
2. Love Cat [Creek Cat-Love Cue (Curia Regis)] 5 M 56Kg (26/10/2/4) – Moon Jung Kyun (Seoul)
Coming back from a five month lay-off and she was in very indifferent form before that. Her last win was in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup a year ago. Something sensational would have had to have happened to her during her break if she is to have a chance here. It seems unlikely.
3. Yeonseung Daero [Creek Cat-Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] 5 H 58Kg (36/15/7/5) – Choi Si Dae (Busan)
Stablemate of Cheonnyeon Daero, a top performer whose win rate would be much higher were it not for the fact that his Sportsman connections never take the safe option and always run him against foreign opposition rather than cherry-pick handicaps against inferior domestic horses. Got his reward in winning the Busan Metropolitan over Dongbanui Gangja in the summer. His career has been a joy to follow and as always, he’ll be there or thereabouts.
4. Dongseo Jeongbeol [Vicar-Rendezvous Bay (Wonderloaf)] 3 C 56Kg (11/7/1/0) – Chae Gyu Jun (Busan)
One of two of this year’s Classic winners taking part, the Minister’s Cup champion makes a quick return to Seoul. Dangdae Bulpae scored a Minister’s and President’s Cup double last year and Dongseo Jeongbeol looks perfectly capable of doing the same. However, despite it being over the same distance, he will be up against much tougher opposition on Sunday.
5. Cheot Insang [Psychobabble-Soma (Far Out East)] 5 G 56Kg (27/6/3/4) – Ji Ha Ju (Seoul)
Picked up a useful Class 1 win last month to gain his entry here but really should be outclassed in this company.
6. High Point [Silent Warrior-Fran’s Express (Expressman)] 5 H 58Kg (24/7/2/6) – Cho Kyoung Ho (Seoul)
Interesting one. He won the SBS Cup in August but was narrowly defeated by Race Terror on his only run since. At five, he’s in the best form of his career and could be one to look out for. Arguably Seoul’s best chance.
7. Money Teukgeup [Ft. Stockton-Headwork (Silveyville)] 5 H 58Kg (29/6/4/4) – Park Tae Jong (Seoul)
He hasn’t won since June 2010 and he’ll not win this.
8. Useung Touch [Menifee-Jenny Tudor (Gulch)] 3 F 54Kg (10/5/3/1) – Kim Dong Young (Busan)
The outstanding filly of 2011, she’s the Oaks winner and second in the Derby and Minister’s Cup and a genuine contender for Horse Of The Year. Can she win this? Yes, she can, but it’s a big ask. Either way she will be contesting the finish.
9. Suseong TX [Concept Win-Oktong-I (Kyoei Blossom)] 6 H 58Kg (27/7/5/4) – Moon Se Young (Seoul)
Seoul’s Champion Jockey-elect is unlikely to be winning this. Suseong TX only has one win to his name this year and it seems he has been entered to compete for the minor – but still financially lucrative – placings.
10. Cheonnyeon Daero [Creek Cat-Doneitmyway (Northern Flagship) 4 C 58Kg (26/7/13/3) – Park Geum Man (Busan)
The 2010 Korean Derby winner will be retired at the end of this season. This is likely to be his penultimate race (so long as connections accept his inevitable Grand Prix invitation). A supremely talented horse who has a very bad case of second-itis – even when he wins, he finishes second – but this could be his time. He should be favourite.
11. Khaosan [Sunday Well-Mogaung (Jade Hunter)] 6 G 58Kg (31/7/7/7) – Nathan Stanley (Busan)
The foreign interest. Aussie trainer Peter Wolsley finally got his first Stakes winner with Khaosan when Cheonnyeon Daero was disqualified in the Owners’ Cup. It was the correct decision as without the interference, the six-year old would have won. A late developer, Khaosan is a tough horse and he may well find the Seoul course, on which he is racing for the first time, to be to his liking. With Nathan Stanley on board, he is worth an outside bet.
12. Race Terror [Duality-Starship Adventure (Dare And Go)] 4 C 58Kg (22/5/5/4) – Choi Bum Hyun (Seoul)
Coming into form at the right time with his first Class 1 win at the end of September, he will need to improve a lot to win here.
13. Blooming [Future Quest-Fox Dance (Foxtrail)] 5 H 58Kg (17/7/3/0) – Oh Kyoung Hoan (Seoul)
Very much a dark-horse here, the relatively lightly raced Blooming does have qualities to recommend him. He has two recent wins over similar distances and has every chance of being competitive. If he apears on the board at long odds, he may well be worth an outside punt.
14. Real Victor [Biwa Shinseiki-Hyunmo (Real Quiet)] 4 C 58Kg (21/5/9/0) – Jo In Kwen (Seoul)
That he has only failed to money twice in twenty-one starts means that Rea Victorr must get sime respect. There are better horses than him in the race but there’s every chance of him playing a big role in the finish.
Star’s Dam Now Based On Jeju Island As Part Of Korean Breeding Program
It will be breakfast time in Korea on Sunday, President’s Cup day, when thousands of miles away at Churchill Downs, the Breeders’ Cup Classic comes under orders. However, plenty of Korean racing fans will be on the internet scouring for streams to watch the big race and the vast majority of them will be supporting Game On Dude.
Worldly Pleasure - given the typically unflattering Korean StudBook treatment
This isn’t because they’ll have had a bet on the horse who is currently sixth favourite – for the most part they won’t have as there is no legal means of doing so here – but more to do with the fact that the four year old’s dam, Worldly Pleasure, currently resides at Nokwon Farm on Jeju Island.
As a racehorse, Worldly Pleasure [Devil His Due-Fast Pleasure (Fast Play)] was a decent filly on the American cicrcuit. From 2003 to 2005, she won 8 out of 38 starts mostly running at tracks such as Laurel, Delaware Park, Pimlico and Tampa Bay Downs. On retirement, she gave birth to a colt by Smart Strike in 2006 called Wild Spirit and then in 2007 to another colt this time by Awesome Again. This colt (who would be gelded) would be Game On Dude.
In late 2009, with Game On Dude still a two-year old, Worldly Pleasure was sent through the sales ring at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and was bought by Korean interests for $15,000 and a month later, on Christmas Eve, she arrived in Korea for her new life at Nokwon Farm.
The Korean racing media has jumped on the Game On Dude bandwagon
At the time, Worldly Pleasure was in foal to Macho Uno and she gave birth to a colt on February 8, 2010. He is scheduled to reach the racetrack in just under a year. Perhaps fittingly – and maybe presciently – her first mating in Korea was with Volponi, himself a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner in 2002, and a filly was born early this year. For 2011, Nokwon Farm sent Worldly Pleasure to their own stallion, the little known Japanese import Admire Don [Timber County-Vega (Tony Bin)].
Of course, there’s no guarantee that any of these foals will even make the racetrack let alone be a shadow of their illustrious half-brother but either way, a win for Game On Dude this weekend, however unlikely it may be, will be a real shot in the arm to a Korean breeding industry which has made great strides in recent years in the quality of imported stallions and is looking to do the same with broodmares.
With the Cup Classic over breakfast and then the domestic President’s Cup in the afternoon, Sunday is set to be a big day for Korean racing.
Tuesday November 1 sees one of the biggest races of the year and as usual, the Melbourne Cup is available for Korean viewers on the Australia Network. Coverage starts at 11am Korean Time and runs through until 1:30pm. The big race is at 1pm. The Australia Network is available on most Digital Cable and Satellite packages.
For those without Digital Cable, the Australia Network can be viewed from within Korea free of charge on the English language website of the Donga-Ilbo Newspaper. Click Here to go straight to the feed.
Should make for a better than usual Tuesday morning.
Tough Win took it easy for a while and then cruised by the field to record possibly the simplest of what is now thirteen career wins from seventeen starts. Back at 1800 metres and escaping the handicapper’s weights for once in what was a rare Allowance feature race, the result was never likely to be in doubt.
Tough Win heads to post for another easy win
Nevertheless, Tough Win (Yonaguska) was still up against the likes of Larrycat (Fantasticat), who finished way ahead of him in the Grand Prix Stakes last year and the in-form Japanese pairing of Necromancer (Air Eminem) and KJ Khan (Squirtle Squirt). not to mention the old warhorse and former Grand Prix winner, Bally Brae (Yarrow Brae).
Under Cho Kyoung Ho, Tough win sat at the back of the field around the first turn before moving into contention in the back-straight and easing clear as they turned for home. The margin at the end was eight lengths but it might as well have been eighteen.
Tough Win is a horse that exposes both strengths and weaknesses of Korea racing. Ultimately he’s a sprinter but there are so few sprint races for Class 1 horses, he has had to be stretched out further. No problems there; he’s head and shoulders ahead of anything else on the peninsula up to nine furlongs. Above that, it gets tricky but the only Championship races for imported horses such as Tough Win are at 2000 Metres (Busan Metropolitan) and 2300 Metres (Grand Prix).
Tough Win just about managed to win the Metropolitan last year but was soundly beaten this year as indeed he was in the Grand Prix. The Grand Prix is an Korean racing institution – racing fans get to vote on which horses should receive invitations and the result is that the best horses on the peninsula get in. It’s great. But it would be even better if we had both the Grand Prix Stakes and the Grand Prix Mile!
Down at Busan it was business as usual for Peter Wolsley and Nathan Stanley. The Australian trainer/jockey duo combined to win the feature race with Gyeongkwaehanjilju (Tapit). The grey four-year old has now won his last three races and Wolsley and Stanley are undoubtedly the most lethal combination at the track. At least some Aussies are flying this weekend.
Moon Se Young Opens Up Big Lead In Jockey Championship
In 2009 it was a fall, while in 2010 it was a lengthy suspension. Bad luck and carelessness cost Moon Se Young the Seoul Jockeys’ Championship in the two years following his victory in 2008. It seems that it is only one of those two misfortunes that could possibly cost him this year’s crown as the 31-year-old cemented his commanding lead over rival Cho Kyoung Ho by riding four winners at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.
Smiling Assasin: Moon Se Young
Moon’s victories today were by no means routine. After taking race 1 on 7/1 shot Time Light (Revere) he immediately followed up in race 2 on Jeongsangillo (Flatter). After sitting out race 3 in he was back winning in race 4 by five lengths on 4/1 Jeongsang Yechan (Menifee). Not until race 8 did he ride a favourite and when he did, Magic Light (Exploit) duly obliged.
It was a good day’s work but the Champion-elect still managed to look disgusted with himself after the last when Senchingu was beaten by slight favourite Bohemian Love (Commendable) ridden by his only serious rival for the title, Cho Kyoung Ho.
Moon is now thirteen wins ahead of last year’s winner Cho with veteran Park Tae Jong a distant third.
In other races, perennial underachieverSinggeureounachim (Exploit) finished on the right end of a quinella for once. The one-time Derby favourite has so far failed to live up to his substantial potential, however, today he made no mistake as, under Jo In Kwen, he took out the first of co-feature races. Starting even-money favourite, the three-year old collared early leader Gangcheoljangsa in the home straight and held on for a narrow victory.
Eyes Down: Singgeureounachin and Jo In Kwen beat Gangcheoljangsa and Kim Ok Sung
It was also a good day for the two Japanese jockeys at Seoul. After Makoto Noda won race 7 on Wangkkaebi (Fiercely), Mai Beppu followed up in race 11, the day’s second co-feature, by making all on Mass Media’s Tea (Mass Media) to score victory by a length. Noda and Beppu move on to six and eight wins in Korea respectively.
While on the subject of jockeys, a word for Park Sang Woo. With the horses in the gate for race 9, his mount Honggwang reared up violently throwing him off and jamming his leg against the metal stall in the process. Unable to move, he had to be carried out towards the waiting ambulance.
However, with Honggwang unharmed and to a round of applause, he insisted upon being placed back on the horse. Brave, stupid or both it may have been from Park and Honggwang, a 25/1 outsider, ran to form and finished nowhere. On returning to scale, Park collapsed after dismounting, his leg giving way, and had to be carried to weigh in. He did his job. Jockeys are tough.
Sunday October 30
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:00 Busan Race Park: 7 races from 12:30 to 17:00
Winter is coming: In the gathering gloom at Seoul Racecourse, Mai Beppu wins on Mass Media's Tea
Tough Win, Larrycat, Bally Brae in Seoul’s Feature
We had the first icy blasts of winter across the Korean peninsula earlier this week. However, while Trackwork can’t have been much fun on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings as temperatures neared freezing point for the first time since March, things are looking good for a glorious weekend.
He's Back: Tough Win
Except for the ponies on Jeju, there’s no Stakes action in Korea this weekend as we build up to next week’s President’s Cup, however, there’s still an awful lot to keep us entertained. After missing the KRA Cup Classic three weeks ago, Tough Win (Yonaguska) returns to action at Seoul on Sunday. His match-up with Larrycat (Fantasticat) in the feature race provides the weekend highlight. Joining them will be former Grand Prix winner and track legend Bally Brae (Yarrow Brae) in the nine furlong test.
Also in action on Sunday will be ever-improving filly Raon Speed Tapit) as she takes on the formidable Balhaemyeongjang (Champali) and the old stager Good Day (Double Honor) in the second of co-features.
We’ll have our eye on Busan for the return of Japanese jockey Eiki Nishimura while Aussie rider Nathan Stanley has his usual array of good chances for Peter Wolsley. Busan’s feature race of the weekend comes on Sunday when Golding (Gold Alert) and Admiral Reigart (General Royal) – both of whom have been stalwarts of the track since it opened in 2005 will come up against each other for the umpteenth time. It’s Stanley and Wolsley who could have the edge though, as they seek a third consecutive win for colt Gyeongkwaehanjilju (Tapit) while young upstart Bello Road (Irish Road) makes his class 1 debut.
As ever, it should be a cracking three days of action. Here’s what’s happening when and where:
Friday October 28
Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00 Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30
Saturday October 29
Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:10 to 17:30 Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:25 including the Jemin Ilbo Cup at 16:10
Sunday October 30
Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:10 to 18:00 Busan Race Park: 7 races from 12:30 to 17:00
Japanese jockey Eiki Nishimura is coming back to Busan this weekend on a short-term license after nearly two years away from Korean racing. The 36 year old is best remembered in Korea for winning the KRA Cup Mile – the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown – on the champion filly Sangseung Ilro in 2009.
More of the same? Eiki Nishimura wins the KRA Cup Mile on Sangseung Ilro (Pic: KRA)
In all, Eiki rode 48 winners from 392 rides in his first spell at Busan. He started slowly but made his breakthrough as the regular rider of Sangseung Ilro culminating in her Cup Mile win in April 2009. However, he was mysteriously jocked off the filly for her successful run in the Korean Derby the following month.
Although no-one went record about it (apart from Eiki himself on his Japanese blog at the time), the feeling was that local riders at Busan had been angry about a foreign jockey winning the track’s biggest race of the year. The Jockey Union at Seoul who at the time opposed any foreign involvement in Korean racing were determined this would not happen in the Derby and pressure was applied.
Eiki persevered although he found his opportunities limited before he returned to his home track of Arao in late 2009. An affable and friendly character, he invited Korean jockey Park Jae Ho across to Japan to gain some experience.
Things at Busan are a little different now. After the shockingly bad treatment another Japanese rider, Hitomi Miyahshita received at the hands of the Jockey Union in the aftermath of Park Jin Hee’s death in early 2010, the locals have had another dose of Toshio Uchida winning races and recently of Akane Yamamoto and Australian Nathan Stanley winning Stakes races. As younger Korean jockeys come through, the foreign riders are gradually becoming more accepted and Eiki’s most welcome return is at exactly the right time.
Nishimura has nine rides at Busan across this weekend starting in race 1 on Friday when he’ll be riding for American trainer Joe Murphy. Nathan Stanley has twelve rides on Friday and Sunday most for Peter Wolsley. Akane Yamamoto sits out this week to serve a two-day suspension.
Classic Winner One Of Many Big Names Settled Into Life In Korea
Whatever happens on the track at Churchill Downs next week, there’s a high chance that one or more of the horses taking part in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup may one day end up plying their trade as a stallion in Korea. If they do, they’ll find themselves alongside the horse who holds the record for the biggest margin of victory in the biggest race of them all; 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner Volponi.
Volponi (KRA)
He was an unlikely champion. As a two-year old, Volponi [Cryptoclearance-Prom Knight (Sir Harry Lewis)] had won the Pilgrim Stakes at New York’s Belmont Park and at three claimed victory in Monmouth Park’s Pegasus Stakes. Back at Belmont in June 2002 he won the Poker Stakes.
With those three Stakes wins under his belt, the now four-year old Volponi was undoubtedly a good horse but there was little to suggest he would pose much of a threat to a Classic field that included the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner War Emblem as well as the punters’ favourite Medaglia d’Oro. Accordingly, Volponi was sent off at 43/1 – the longest shot on the board.
What happened next on that day at Arlington Park is well-known. War Emblem had left his racing form in the early part of the season and while showing at the front early was never a threat. Meanwhile Volponi, under Jose Santos, hit the front as they turned for home and sprinted away in the stretch to record a six and a half-length victory from Medaglia d’Oro in second and Milwaukee Brew in third. It was a stunning performance, one that set a record winning margin that is yet to be beaten, exposed a betting scam and also set the wheels in motion for Volponi’s future life.
Volponi wins the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Arlington Park
The horse would appear eight times as a five-year old in 2003, regularly placing but he couldn’t add to his win total and he was retired to Stud at the end of the year. His initial performance as a stallion was not encouraging and in 2005, an offer from the Korea Racing Authority (KRA) was accepted and Volponi was on his way to the Korean Peninsula.
Volponi is perhaps not the kind of stallion the KRA would be buying today. However, in 2005 the market was very different to the one in recent years which has allowed Korea to purchase more established producers such as Menifee, Vicar, Ecton Park and Officer. In 2005, the leading sire in Korea was by far and away Concept Win (Manila), ahead of Ft. Stockton (Cure The Blues) and Fiercely (Danzig). These had been around for quite some time along with the likes of Revere (Dancing Brave), Lost Mountain (Cox’s Ridge), Psychobabble (Caerleon) and Didyme (Dixieland Band).
With the opening of the Busan Racecourse and subsequent substantial increase in the number of thoroughbred races run in the country, new blood – literally – was needed in the Stallion ranks and a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner was hard to turn down.
Volponi’s appearance video at stud on Jeju Island
Fast forward to 2011 and Volponi has now been in Korea for six years with three crops hitting the track. In 2009, he was leading first-crop sire ahead of fellow debutants Yankee Victor (now sadly deceased) and the Japanese Biwa Shinseiki. With his first three-year olds in 2010 he finished ninth in the Leading General Sire list. Currently he is in seventh place for 2011 (there’s little to choose between Vicar, Menifee and Exploit at the top).
While Medaglia d”Oro, the horse he beat in 2002, is most famous for siring the great Rachel Alexandra, so Volponi’s greatest successes have also come with fillies. Dongbang Rose was third in the 2010 Korean Oaks and went on to win the NACF Chairman’s Stakes later that year. Meanwhile, the otherwise undistinguished Crown Flag somehow managed to score a win in the Busan Ilbo Stakes earlier this year. The cheekily named filly Special Volpony has also reached class 1 racing level.
Dongbang Rose, Volponi’s first Korean Stakes winner, wins the NACF Chairman’s Stakes
This year, the new guard of stallions have been siring the Classic winners. While little known Japanese import Meisei Opera was responsible for KRA Cup Mile (Korean Guineas) winner Soseuldeamun, the other two legs of the Triple Crown were won by Gwangyajeil (Korean Derby) and Dongseo Jeongbeol (Minister’s Cup), both by Vicar. Meanwhile Oaks winner Useung Touch is by Menifee. Exploit has the most runners of all sires in Korea right now and accordingly generates a lot of earnings.
Soon to come on stream will be runners by Ecton Park who is standing privately for Isidore Farm on Jeju Island and the KRA’s Forest Camp. Still further in the future, there is Officer and Whywhywhy to look forward to.
However, although efforts are underway to strongly promote domestic sires, we are still some way from having a successful Korean born sire. Long-term, the authorities hope the progeny of one of these new imports will be the one to make the breakthrough.
Leading General Sires in Korea 2011 (as of October 25)
Earnings in 1000 Korean Won
1. Vicar (USA) [Wild Again-Escrow Agent (El Gran Senor)] – 2,728,049 2. Menifee (USA) [Harlan-Anne Campbell (Never Bend)] – 2,716,497 3. Exploit (USA) [Storm Cat-My Turbulent Miss (My Dad George)] – 2,611,637 4. Creek Cat (USA) [Storm Cat-Vivano (Island Whirl)] – 2,588,963 5. Concept Win (USA) [Manila-Conveniently (In Reality)] – 2,180,299 6. War Zone (USA) [Danzig-Proflare (Mr. Prospector)] – 1,989,455 7. Volponi (USA) [Cryptoclearance-Prom Knight (Sir Harry Lewis)] – 1,795,548 8. Didyme (USA) [Dixieland Band-Soundings (Mr. Prospector)] – 1,604,113 9. Ft. Stockton (USA) [Cure The Blues-Tai The Devil (Tai)] – 1,458,881 10. Biwa Shinseiki (JPN) [Forty Niner-Oceana (Northern Dancer)] – 1,124,394
Volponi continues to be well visited, covering 77 mares in 2011. Although he was based at the KRA Stud Farm on Jeju Island for most of his first five years in Korea, he was moved earlier this year to the KRA’s Jangsu Farm in North Jeolla Province after his ownership transferred to the Korean Mainland Horse Breeders’ Association. He leaves behind on Jeju a horse he had met before; Hawk Wing (Woodman) was among those trailing him home at Arlington and arrived in Korea in 2008. The racing world is a small one.
Secret Whisper Wins the MJC Trophy for Peter Wolsley & Nathan Stanley
Things just keep getting better on the track for Peter Wolsley and Nathan Stanley. The Australian trainer and jockey duo recorded another big win at Busan this afternoon as Secret Whisper took victory in the Macau Jockey Club Trophy by the narrowest of noses.
Another big win: Nathan Stanley
Sent off as second favourite, Stanley and Secret Whisper sat towards the back of the field in the early stages of the 1400 metre race as punters’ choice Jeonseong Sidae made the early running. There was still plenty to do when Stanley made his move entering the home straight finding one route and then another blocked off by traffic.
It wasn’t until deep inside the final furlong that Secret Whisper had daylight in front of her and she swept past Jeonseong Sidae just before the line.
One of five fillies among the fourteen strong field, the Pegasus Farm owned Secret Whisper now has five wins from her eleven starts. Although officially classed as a “Featured” rather than “Stakes” race, in terms of prize money, the MJC Trophy is still a big one and it continued the remarkable run of success that Peter Wolsley and Nathan Stanley have been enjoying of late.
For Wolsley it has been a long hard slog in the barn since arriving in Korea three years ago to reach his current position as one of the top four trainers at Busan. On the contrary for Stanley, success has been instantaneous. Since getting an unexpected bonus on his first day when he picked up the ride on Khaosan, who would go onto win the Owners’ Cup, it has been winner after winner.
With a win rate of nearly 25%, punters have started to look out for him. No doubt the local jockeys will be doing exactly the same. They should; his ride on Secret Whisper today was both resourceful and well judged.
Macau Jockey Club Trophy – Busan Race Park – 1200M – October 23, 2011
1. Secret Whisper (KOR) [Sea Of Secrets-General’s Passion (General Meeting)] – Nathan Stanley – 4.8, 1.9 2. Jeonseong Sidae (AUS) [Stromberg Carlsen-Jessie’s Journey (Crown Jester)] – Choi Si Dae – 1.7 3. Kidari Joe (USA) [Tiznow-Trickle Of Gold (Formal Gold)] – Jo Chang Wook – 3.5
Up at Seoul the fillies were in Stakes action in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup and it was three-year old Seingniuihamseong, fifth in the Korean Oaks in August who took the honours. Last but one entering the home straight, Moon Se Young guided the 5.1 second favourite through the pack to hit the front with just metres to spare to win by just under a length.
Gyeonggi Governor’s Stakes – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – October 23, 2011
1. Seungniuihamseong (KOR) [Vicar-Hug And Kiss (Commander In Chief)] – Moon Se Young – 5.9, 2.0 2. Mustang Queen (KOR) [Concept Win-Arouser (Golden Missile)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.4 3. Candy Gongju (KOR) [CReek Cat-Mi Geum Ho (Shearwalk)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 3.9
A word too for apprentice jockey Lee Hyeok. In race 3 at Seoul today, he won for the very first time as he partnered 9/1 Damas Ruler to victory. An hour later he was back in the winner’s circle with Exciting Runner after race 5. With his two wins today it means that all three of this year’s new jockeys are off the mark – Lee is one winner behind Lee Ah Na and Seo Seung Un who both have three.
All three look very competent. Ultimately good jockeys matter. At Busan, a bout of sickness aside, Nathan Stanley had already proven he was lucky. Today he proved he’s pretty good too. It’s great news for Korean racing.
Horse Racing in Korea 