Two of Seoul’s up-and-coming stars were in action this afternoon and both Big Easy and Jilpunggangho further enhanced their ever-growing reputations.

First up on a beautiful early autumn afternoon in the capital was Big Easy. The three-year old colt was making his second appearance in a class 2 race and, after being sent to the front early by Jung Ki Yong, never looked in any great danger as he led the field home by a length. Big Easy [Agnes Gold – Belmont Grace (Adjudicating)] was winning his seventh race in eight total starts and will be running at class 1 level next time.

Already at class 1 today was Jilpunggangho [Max’s Pal – Spicy Soup (Alphabet Soup)]. It was a close-run thing after early pace-setter Hallyu Star faded away in the home straight. It looked for a while as though former champion mare Lucky Mountain was going to return to the Winner’s Circle for the first time since March, however, Jilpungganho and Choi Bum Hyun just did enough to get up by a nose and score a seventh win from eleven starts for the colt.

Despite both officially being Korean bred and three-years old, neither are eligible for the Classics with both their dams being imported to Korea while in-foal. Except for the Classics, however, that doesn’t matter and we could be in for some exciting performances as both progress to the elite tier of Korean racing.

Today was significant in that there were thirteen races run in a single card for the first time for several years. The additional race being run to make up for the race that was lost due to a tote board failure three weeks ago. Also significant for punters was that for the first time in goodness knows how many weeks, umbrellas weren’t required as the track basked in perfect punting conditions.

Tomorrow, racing returns to Seoul with the Dong-a Ilbo Cup while at Busan it is “International Day” with both the Gold Circle and Macao Jockey Club Trophies up for grabs:

Sunday September 19

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:10
Busan Race Park: 6 race from 12:40 to 16:30

Three Year Olds Sweep Stakes at Seoul & Busan

In a season where three-year olds have in general been disappointing, today two of that generation overcame their older foes to land big prizes. At Seoul Best Holls was the suprise winner of the Ilgan Sports Cup, while down at Busan, Dangdae Bulpae, third in the Derby earlier this year, landed the Gyeongnam Governor’s Trophy.

Punters at Seoul sent Best Holls off at 44/1 to win the Ilgan – the longest running “name” race on the Korean racing calendar. Under Lee Sang Hyeok, the colt was always showing towards the front and when long-time leader Daehanbobae began to weaken in the home straight, he took over. Suseong TX proved his strongest challenger, but he was able to hold off the five-year old by a neck to take victory. Pre-race favourite Geumgangi was the big disappointment, the Munhwa Ilbo winner finishing way back in eleventh.

Best Holls [Fiercely – Onethindime (Tactical Advantage)] was winning his fourth race in his last five starts and his fifth in total.

At Busan, Sangseung Ilro was an early scratching for the Group 3 Governor’s Trophy which reduced the field to seven. Yeonseung Daero was sent off slight favourite following his excellent performance in the Busan Metropolitan in his last outing. As ever, Minister’s Cup winer Namdo Jeap bounced out of the gate and into an early lead. Unlike in the Minister’s Cup, he couldn’t keep it as Dangdae Bulpae and Jo Chang Wook came through and took victory by two lengths.

Golden Appeal just headed Namdo Jeap to grab second. As for Yeonseung Daero, he never got going. As has been the story of his career, he’s either very good or he doesn’t show up at all. Today was the latter.

Dangdae Bulpae now has seven wins from a total of ten starts. He must surely be favourite when the leading three-year olds reconvene at Seoul in November for the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Back at Seoul two jockeys were celebrating their first wins at the track today. Japanese rider Hirotaka Hamada – tipped by some to be the foreign jockey who finally makes it big at Seoul – stormed to victory on Sun Best in race 1 to record his first win in Korea following his debut last week. It was an even bigger day though for apprentice rider Lee Gang Seo. Riding in his fourteenth race, Lee guided 47/1 outsider Gippeumui Geunwon in race 6.

After all the stakes action was over and done with, there was still a big handicap to sort out at Seoul. Bally Brae was there, however the eight-year old – with only one win this year – was assigned a preposterous 61kg to carry, 7kg more than any other horse in the race.

Jockey Moon Se Young, while not normally considered a contender for PETA membership, cares deeply about this horse and eased him in the home straight when it became obvious a place finish wasn’t on the cards. Up ahead of them, five-year old Mr. Loving Life took the honours, ahead of favourite Victory Town.

GyeongNam Governor’s Trophy (KOR.G.III) – Busan Race Park – 1800M – September 12, 2010

1. Dangdae Bulpae (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Indeed My Dear (Alydeed)] – Jo Chang Wook – 5.4, 1.8
2. Golden Appeal (KOR) [Sharp Appeal – Golden Image (Dancer’s Image)] – Lim Sung Sil – 1.6
3. Namdo Jeap (KOR) [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – Yang Young Nam – 1.8

Distances: 2 lengths/Neck
Also Ran: 4. Lucky Dancer; 5. Khaosan; 6. Yeonseung Daero; 7. Mulbora
Non-Runner: Sangseung Ilro

Ilgan Sports Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1800M – September 12, 2010

1. Best Holls (KOR) [Fiercely – Onethindime (Tactical Advantage)] – Lee Sang Hyeok – 44.8, 7.5
2. Suseong TX (KOR) [Concept Win – Oktong-I (Kyeoi Blossom)] – Moon Se Young – 1.4
3. Dansimga (KOR) [Exploit – Habidongju (Silent Warrior)] – Park Byeong Yun – 3.5

Distances: Head/2.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Daehanbobae; 5. Gayabobae; 6. Super Jet; 7. Andy’s Runner; 8. Grand Money; 9. Khanui Huye; 10. Jebe; 11. Geumgangi; 12. Luxury Jewang; 13. Tamnaseontaek

Download English language Stewards’ Report from Busan.

There was action at both Seoul and Jeju Race Parks today. Here’s what happened:

* There was a surprise in the feature race as 40/1 outsider Sesemanse led from gate-to-wire to claim the 10 furlong class 1 handicap. Under jockey Won Jung I, who was also scoring a rare win, the six-year old finished two lengths clear of second placed Hongji with favourite Wangson – recent winner of the SBS Cup, dead-heating with Daesahyong for third a further five lengths adrift.

*Apprentice jockey Jang Chu Yeol, who scored his first ever winner last Sunday didn’t have to wait long to make a second appearance in the winner’s Circle. He claimed race 2 on Sobaengnyeong beating out Moon Se Young on hot favourite Sun Hero.

* A filly won the event for Korean-bred unraced two-year olds. However, the interestingly named Dynaspurt (Langfuhr) won’t be eligible for the Classics next year.

* Another two-year old filly breaking her maiden was US import Kkochyeol [Essence Of Dubai – A Star Has Risen (Rock Band)]. The heavy favourite beat out a field of fellow juveniles by a length.

* Jeju Race Park hosted one of the Island’s biggest annual pony races in the form of the KRA Jeju Cup. The prixe went to second favourite Hwangjini a filly who at three-years old, was he youngest pony in the race. It was her sixth win from eleven starts on the Island.

Full results can be found at the KRA’s website.

Busan escaped the rain that has been soaking most of the peninsula for the past 24 hours and seems likely to blight the card at Seoul tomorrow. Here’s what happened down south today:

* The opener was for previously unraced imported two-year olds. While highly thought of colt Suhosin [Trippi – Slewionaire (Proper Reality)] was sent off hot favourite, it was filly New Windy [Forest Wildcat – Clamorosa (Seattle Dancer)] who took the honours. The 40/1 shot beat Suhosin into second by just over a length in the five furlong race.

* In the event for Korean-bred two-year olds, there were no such shocks as Pegasus Stables’ filly Heartache (Sky Terrace) took a narrow win. She’ll not be classic bound next year though as her dam (Bartok’s Dancer) was imported while in foal and as such is ineligible.

* Race 7 saw a fourth win in the last five starts for rapidly improving Aussie-bred gelding Peolpeol (Barely A Moment)

* The feature race went to US import Red Young (Chapel Royal). The four-year old was recording his fourth win from eight starts.

* In jockey news, Japanese rider Ketsuya Sameshima has cut short his spell at Busan in order to return home. Sameshima was only on a three-month contract but has decided to go home slightly early. In his place, it seems likely that former Seoul rider Yoshiyuki Aoki will be returning to Korea.

Download English language Stewards’ Report

Punters believed that Cheonnyeon Daero could take on and beat older horses in the feature race at Busan Race Park this afternoon, but the Derby Winner came up short as Wonder Unicorn strode to an emphatic six-length win.

Third favourite Top Grade set the early pace in the ten furlong handicap, but under jockey Park Geum Man, Cheonnyeon Daero, after recovering from a bad start, was always handily placed and looked ready to strike as they entered the home straight. Instead it was Jo Chan Hoon and Wonder Unicorn who took their chance while Cheonnyeon Daero seemed to get lost in the middle of the track. Top Grade held on for third from Conqueror, who stopped the Derby winner from even placing.

With KRA Cup Mile winner Money Car looking set to be out of action indefinitely following a poor showing at Seoul last week, the Oaks won by 50/1 outsider Euro Fighter and now the Derby Winner being beaten by three competant – but hardly world beating – horses, questions will be asked about the calibre of this year’s three-year old crop.

Maybe there are some late developers. Earlier at Busan, Ganghan Yeoja (Lethal Instrument), absolutely crushed a class 2 field by nine lengths, adding to the twelve length victory she scored last month. Although she won her very first race back in March 2009, it took her ten starts to win again. Now aged four, she’ll soon be in top class company. Whether she can maintain this form at longer distances is yet to be seen.

Up in Seoul, the weather was once again the focus of many people’s attention. What started as a baking hot day with temperatures around 34C, quickly progressed into a spectacular thunderstorm, followed by a monsoon downpour, before eventually settling down into a cool late summer’s day. On the track, things were set for a showdown between Vicar Love and the ever-improving Larrycat in the feature race. While Vicar Love was a late scratching, Larrycat did the business in his absence, scoring a narrow win over Jumong and Cheonjidolpung.

Earlier, there was a surprise in the all-fillies race 9 as hot favourite Raipai went down to defeat by Jeokbyeokgang. Raipai, who came into the race with four wins from six starts, could only manage third as Special Volpony sneaked into second under apprentice jockey Park Sang Woo. It was a good day for Park, who had earlier scored the first double of his career, with victory in race 1 on Honggwang and race 5 on Cheonhagullim.

It was also a good day for lady jockey Lee Ae Li who, in the rain-soaked race 7, produced City Ruler at exactly the right moment to overcome Cho Kyoung Ho on Rose Line and in doing so, record her first victory for five months. It was a skilful piece of riding by Lee who showed that despite her increasingly limited opportunities, when given a horse with a chance, she’s just as likely as anyone to convert it into a win.

In other races, HRI Trophy victor Cheot Insang was successful in race 9, while debut-making fillies Gate Shine (Capital Spending) and Grand Ace (Grand Slam) began their careers with victories in races 3 and 4 respectively.

Class 1 Handicap (Domestic) – Busan Race Park – 2000M – September 5, 2010

1. Wonder Unicorn (KOR) [Graeme Hall – Bessette (Quest For Fame)] – Jo Chan Hoon – 4.0, 1.6
2. Top Grade (KOR) [Texas Glitter – Potential Storm (Cape Town)] – Hitomi Miyashita – 1.9
3. Conqueror (KOR) [Revere – Model Actress (Stage Colony)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.8
Distances: 6 lengths/3 lengths – 12 ran

Class 1 Handicap (Foreign) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – September 5, 2010

1. Larrycat (USA) [Fantasticat – Tiger In My Tank (Tank) – Park Tae Jong – 1.6, 1.0
2. Jumong (USA) [Johar – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] – Moon Se Young – 1.6
3. Cheonjidolpung (USA) [Tactical Cat – Luminate (A.P. Indy)] – Boo Min Hoo – 2.2
Distances: 0.75 lengths/0.5 lengths – 9 ran

* Download English Stewards’ Reports from Busan and Seoul.

* Full results from both of today’s meetings are on the KRA’s website.