Weekend Preview

Nice Choice returns to face Ace Galloper

Korea were well and truly beaten by Argentina this evening but not to worry; it’s Thursday evening and a weekend’s punting is almost upon us! Having said that, Gyongmaman’s bank balance has taken a bit of a battering during the World Cup (7/1 Korea to beat Argentina sounded like good value at the time) so he may have to sit a few races out.

Punting or not, there’s something interesting to watch. After four months sidelined through injury, Nice Choice, winner of the 2009 President’s Cup returns to action at Seoul this Sunday. However, the four-year old will have some tough competition when he lines up for the ten-furlong handicap, which is the feature race of the weekend.

Ace Galloper will take on Nice Choice

Also going will be Ace Galloper, winner of six of his nine starts today. Born in Korea but conceived elsewhere, the three-year old wasn’t eligible for the classics and, after a two-month lay-off of his own, looks set compete for some big prizes later in the season. Free Woody and New Rider are amongst the others making up the ten strong field.

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

Friday June 18

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 13:30 to 18:00

Saturday June 19

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:30

Sunday June 20

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Serendipper All-Smiles in Owners’ Cup

Aussie Mare Lands Owners’ Cup / Sangseung Ilro Wins KNN Cup

A barnstorming late run saw Aussie bred Serendipper crowned top filly or mare in Seoul in the Seoul Racecourse Owners’ Association Trophy (“Owners’ Cup”) at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

In an open betting race, Lucky Mountain was sent off the slight favourite but she rarely featured as JRA Trophy winner Gippeumnuri set the early pace. Second favourite Love Cat was well-placed throughout but it was five-year old Serendipper, under Kim Ok Sung who came wide of the field in the home straight to pass them all and take victory by just over a length.

Serendipper [Danewin – Coppelius (Pleasant Colony)] has been a consistent money earner but a rare winner since making her debut three years ago. Her previous biggest payday came with a second place finish in the YTN Cup in 2008 but she had hit the wire in first place just three times in twenty-seven outings prior to today.

For veteran jockey Kim Ok Sung – known as the “smile jockey” for the Cheshire Cat grin he constantly wears – it was arguably his biggest win since landing the Grand Prix back in 1996. And the day got even better for the 43 year-old who’s only recently back from a 10 meeting ban – after the presentation, he got straight back out on the track and won race 10 on unfancied Choedaepungsok.

Smile: Serendipper and Kim Ok Sung in the Winner's Circle

SROA Trophy G.III – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – June 12, 2010

1. Serendipper (AUS) [Danewin – Coppelius (Pleasant Colony)] – Kim Ok Sung – 8.2, 2.5
2. Gippeumnuri (USA) [Eurosilver – Regatta Queen (Danzig Connection)] – Ham Wan Sik – 2.6
3. Love Cat (KOR) [Creek Cat – Love Cue (Curia Regis)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.5

Distances: 1.25 lengths/1 length
Also Ran: 4. Lucky Mountain; 5. Jangjagang; 6. Pocketful Of Money; 7. Daehyo; 8. Sky Center; 9. Gamdonguijumal; 10. Soseono

It was also a big day down at Busan as nine of the best domestic bred horses at the track – among them three Classic winners – met in the KNN Cup. And it was a repeat of the result from the first two legs of the 2009 Triple Crown as Sangseung Ilro put in a late burst to get the better of stablemate and long time rival Namdo Jeap.

Last year’s Champion Juvenile Night Moves had set the early pace in the mile-long test but she faded in the straight as the four-year olds came by. 2009 Busan Owners’ Cup winner Yeonseung Daero was sent off favourite but, just as in the classics last year, he couldn’t get close to Sangseung Ilro or Namdo Jeap, eventually finishing a disappointing sixth. Further down the field was Namdo Jeap’s half-brother (through their dam Wandering Katie [Tejano]) 2008 KRA Cup Mile winner Rainmaker who was making his first racecourse appearance for nearly a year.

KNN Cup – Busan Race Park – 1600M – June 13, 2010

1. Sangseung Ilro (KOR) [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Jo, Sung Gon – 2.8, 1.3
2. Namdo Jeap (KOR) [FT. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – Gu Min Sung – 2.7
3. Lucky Dancer (KOR) [Fiercely – Ocean Dream (Mohamed Abdu)] – Kim Yong Geun – 2.1

Distances: 1.25 lengths/0.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Yeongung Manse; 5. Annika Queen; 6. Yeonseung Daero; 7. Rainmaker; 8. Night Moves; 9. Procyon

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Weekend Preview – We’re With You!

KNN and Owners’ Cups top the bill on big weekend

What a weekend in prospect! First let’s get the important things out-of-the-way:

Yes, the World Cup gets underway on Friday and the South Korean team will be in action against Greece on Saturday evening. Seoul Race Park will stay open after Saturday’s last race for a pop concert followed by the whole game live on the two giant screens at 8:30pm.

Baekpa

Prior to that there will have been a full day’s card of twelve races with the highlight being the very last at 6pm when one time track heroine Baekpa – winner of the 2007 Korean Oaks and the 2008 SBS Cup – makes her second appearance since her long lay-off after returning from the US last year. She carries the lowest weight in an intriguing race that also features the likes of Gi Ra Seong, Good Day and, significantly, top three-year old Seonbongbulpae.

Racing will begin at Busan on Friday but it is Sunday which sees the pick of the action with a double-header of Stakes races at Seoul and Busan. Down on the South Coast, it’s the KNN Cup and a tasty clash of the track’s top four year-olds featuring a host of names from last year’s Classic trail – with one or two older and younger horses thrown in. Cup Mile and Derby winner Sangseung Ilro will be there, as will the runner-up in those races and ultimate Minister’s Cup winner Namdo Jeap. Late developer Yeonseung Daero also goes as do 2008 Cup Mile winner Rainmaker and 2009 Champion Juvenile Night Moves.

Once the KNN Cup is over with, the focus switches to Seoul where it’s the Owners’ Cup. This year restricted to fillies & mares only, it features the likes of Love Cat, Soseono, Lucky Mountain, Pocketful Of Money and last month’s JRA Trophy winner Gippeumnuri in what should be a cracking contest.

Soseono is among the fillies & mares going for the Owners' Cup

We’ll try to put up a full preview of both races – probably between football matches – on Saturday evening.

Here’s what’s happening where and when:

Friday June 11

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 and 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday June 12

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:30

Sunday June 13

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

Ocala Spring Purchases Sold-On

KRA takes quantity over quality at OBS

Horses purchased by the KRA and the Seoul Racecourse Trainers’ Association at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales (OBS) Spring two-year old sale have arrived in Korea and have now been sold on to local owners. At the original sale in April, Korean representatives purchased 92 horses – 12% of the total who went through the ring.

Due to government restrictions designed to protect the Korean breeding industry, the Korean buyers at Ocala were limited to paying no more than $20,000 for a single colt or $40,000 for a single filly – the higher limit for fillies being intended to encourage the purchase of higher quality fillies for racing who may end up having careers as broodmares.

There were no such limits on the amounts they could be sold on for in Korea, however, with owners at Busan splashing out the most. A Tiznow colt out of the mare Trickle of Gold (Formal Gold) fetched the highest figure closely followed by another colt by Sharp Humor out of Secret Mirage (Secreto). Owners Choi Sang Il and Choi Sang Hee both shelling out close to 200 Million on the pair.

Tough Win

While such high prices for seemingly indifferent horses may seem inexplicable, it must be remembered that these horses will immediately be running for big money with even the least valuable race worth $13,000 to the winner. Indeed, both Dongbanui Gangja and Tough Win – respectively the best and the most exciting horses on the peninsula right now – arrived in Korea via Ocala and owners are keen to get a piece of the action.

The KRA operates as a not-for-profit oragnization so the excess money made is put straight back into breeding and also for funding their next overseas purchases.

Here are a list of the top re-sales of horses bought at the OBS Spring Sale for both Busan and Seoul with original names if known as well as the amount (in Korean won) they were sold for:

Busan

1. Colt [Tiznow – Trickle Of Gold (Formal Gold)] – 187,700,000 won
2. Colt [Sharp Humor – Secret Mirage (Secreto)] – 183,300,00 won
3. Filly [Dehere – Riptide (Gold Case)] – 150,000,000
4. Colt [Montbrook – Auf Wiedersehn (Notebook)] – 115,000,000
5. Filly [Johannesburg – Perfect Wave (Boston Harbor)] – 110,000,000 won

Seoul

1. I’d Rather B Lucky (Colt) [Gibson County – Tricky Prospector (Prospector’s Halo)] – 72,000,000 won
2. Colt [D Wildcat – Freddy Fenter (Fenter)] – 61,500,000 won
3. American Revival (Colt) [Put It Back – American Saint (Saint Ballado)] – 52,000,000 won
4. Filly [Sir Shackleton – Tocar (Jeblar)] – 50,200,000 won
5. Public Mischief (Filly) [Grand Slam – Silver Lover (Silver Deputy)] – 46,100,000 won

1233 Korean won = 1 US$ – Figures from Korean Stud Book and Korea Racing Journal

The local Ocala media ran a story on the Korean buyers at the time of the sale.

Anyone wishing to check on the progress of horses they may have sold to Korea can do so by going to the homepage of the Korean Studbook and then searching on the dam’s name.

Kim Tae Hee Saddles-Up At Seoul

Punters had a treat at Seoul Race Park this afternoon as actress Kim Tae Hee donned racing silks and a pair of impossibly tight riding trousers to shoot scenes for upcoming movie “Grand Prix”.

Kim Tae Hee waits to get on

For two weeks now, the racetrack has been decked out in flags and banners for the production. Today an extra number 9 horse – complete with a ribbon in its tail – joined the runners in the paddock prior to race 9.

Best legs in the paddock - Kim Tae Hee

Kim emerged from the tunnel along with the jockeys and, after a little difficulty as her mount was playing-up, was given a leg-up by a lucky groom. She then completed a lap of the paddock and followed the rest of the horses back into into the track-bound tunnel.

Kim Tae Hee - once up she certainly looked the part

To their credit, punters refrained from the abuse they normally greet any newcomers to the paddock with and Kim, for her part, certainly looked assured in the saddle.

Grand Prix, which is part funded by the Korea Racing Authority is scheduled for an autumn release. It’s production was disrupted when the original male lead, Lee Jun Ki, was hauled off to military service with a month of filming already complete. He has since been replaced by Yang Dong Kun.

The officially released pictures of shooting so far have shown sad faces so it is likely that the movie will be a traditional Korean melodrama/love story; indeed Allkpop reports that Kim’s character moves to Jeju Island after her horse dies where she meets fellow jockey and love-interest Yang. Nevertheless, like Gak-seol-tang before it, the movie looks set to introduce racing to a wider audience and its release is eagerly awaited.

Kim Tae Hee

Park Tae Jong 1600 Up

Korea’s most successful ever jockey reached another milestone at Seoul Race Park this afternoon as Park Tae Jong rode his 1600th career winner.

Park Tae Jong - 1600 up but still doesn't smile a lot

Park started the day on 1598 but took race 1 on Daejiuichukje before guiding third-favourite Gwangsokcheoreom to a half-length victory in race 7 to reach the 1600 mark. Half an hour later it was 1601 with Haetbitbeonjjeok a three-length winner in race 8.  He wasn’t finished there either as victory on hot favourite Summa Cum Laude in race 10 meant he ended the day with four winners.

The forty-four year old Park gained his license in 1987 at the old Seoul Race Park at Ttukseom. During his career he has won three Korean Derbies as well as the Grand Prix and Minister’s Cup. In April, he partnered Money Car to the KRA Cup Mile before the pair finished second in the Derby.

Park Tae Jong about to take Gwangsokchereom (No.2) into the lead to secure his 1600th career win

While 1600 winners is not a lot in terms of world racing, Park has achieved the figure from just over 10,000 race rides. Not only can he only race two days a week in Korea but, until the freelance jockey system came into effect a few years ago he, like every other jockey, was restricted to just five race rides per weekend.

While most of his contemporaries who gained licenses in the late 1980s – Chun Chang Ki, Ahn Byung Ki and Kim Hyo Seob – have recently taken up training licenses, If Park’s desire remains strong, there is no reason why he can’t reach 2000 winners before he finally calls it a day.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

G20 Finance Ministers are meeting in Busan this weekend. Some could hardly do worse than to pop down to the track where there are ten races on Friday followed up by six more on Sunday which culminates in young upstarts Captain Sir and Useung Geotap taking on Busan stalwart Crafty Louis in the feature.

Key To Success goes on Sunday

Up in the capital it’s getting hot. Not too hot but pleasantly summery. Put simply, it’s perfect punting weather. This should make up for a less than inspiring feature race on Saturday when Natural Nine – a horse who hasn’t won for going on two years – carries top weight among a small field of just seven

Sunday is a little more promising with Bulpae Gisang, Seoul Teukgeup, Torpedo Mast, Free Hugs, Noubeau Riche and a rare British-bred runner in Key To Success, do battle over ten furlongs.

Here’s what’s happening:

Friday June 4

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday June 5

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10 to 17:30

Sunday June 6

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40 to 16:30

Creek Cat Leads Sire Race

Didyme’s three-year streak set to be ended

It’s looking less and less likely that that Didyme is going to make it four straight years as leading sire in Korea after Cheonnyeon Daero’s Derby victory propelled Creek Cat to the top of the standings.

Fiercely is just over 100 Million won behind, just edging The Groom Is Red into third. Last year’s runner-up, Concept Win makes it into fourth with Sangseung Ilro once more his top earner.

Revere is the only non US-bred stallion in the top ten in ninth place, one below Didyme eighth in eighth.

Leading Sires in Korea as at January 1 – June 1, 2010

Name – Earnings (Chief Earner)
1. Creek Cat (USA) 1,204,702 (Cheonnyeon Daero)
2. Fiercely (USA) 1,099,840 (Seon San)
3. The Groom Is Red (USA) 1,083,946 (Triple Seven)
4. Concept Win (USA) 1,018,712 (Sangseung Ilro)
5. War Zone (USA) 910,313 (Hanhyeolgeumgu)
6. Social Charter (USA) 868,611 (Free Woody)
7. Ft. Stockton (USA) 841,525 (Namdo Jeap)
8. Didyme (USA) 769,355 (Top Seed)
9. Revere (IRE) 693,225 (Boryeong Bulbit)
10. Buster’s Daydream (USA) 644,564 (Seungundaeseung)

Naturally Creek Cat is also the leading sire of three-year olds with the late Newsprint – sire of Money Car and Seonbongbulpae – in second. Also appearing in that top ten are Capital Spending, Exploit, Biwa Shinseiki, Volponi and Yehudi.

While at the two-year old and yearling sales recently there has been a buzz around Menifee, whose first crop will be making their debut this year (one of his fillies, Daehwarang, already has, although she made an inauspicious debut), more and more Korean bred horses are being sent to stud.

2007 Triple Crown winner J.S. Hold (Ft, Stockton) is the highest profile, however, he covered just fourteen mares last year with just one foal born so far. Meanwhile, 2008 Minister’s Cup winner Gaeseon Janggun (Duality) is set to begin stud duties this year.

* Information on all stallions in Korea can be found at the Korean Studbook. Also, Fallight maintains a constantly updated user-friendly list at his website.

Weekend Review: Katoh At The Double

It was supposed to rain all weekend. Instead, racegoers who took their umbrellas ended up using them as parasols as Seoul basked in perfect conditions for punting.

Toshiyuki Katoh on Dongbang Jinju - the second of his two winners

And Sunday was a very good day for Seoul Race Park’s sole foreign jockey as Toshiyuki Katoh landed a quick-fire double in races 5 & 6. Approaching the first anniversary of his Korean debut, the Japanese rider had only been successful on seven occasions before today. However, strong rides, first on filly Wink and then, a race later on Dongbang Jinju.

Like all foreign riders before him at Seoul, Katoh has struggled to get rides, let alone good ones. When he has been given horses with chances, he hasn’t let anybody down.

Down at Busan, where things have been better for overseas riders – in terms of opportunities anyway – there was more success today for the Japanese contingent. Kunihisa Hirase guided old-stager Wonder Love to a two and a half length victory in the feature race.

The now eight-year old Wonder Love made his debut in December 2004, just three months after the track opened. While the pinnacle of his career was victory in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup in 2008 his performance today, ahead of a field including King Kephalos (who returned lame), Haengbok Dream and fellow old-timer Golding, showed he still has plenty to offer.

In other races at Seoul, there was a useful win for US import Bop’s Punch – the four-year old getting the better of a photo-finish with Mistergolden to secure his first victory at class 2. Meanwhile, three-year old filly Magic Collar scored her first victory at class 3 and her fourth from eight starts overall – a tilt at the Oaks may be possible.

Mistergolden (No.4) would get to within a nose, but Bop's Punch (9) would hold on

* The most valuable race of the weekend at Seoul took place on Saturday. With likely favourite Taesanbukdu a late scratching, it was left to Ugildongja to take the honours for jockey Ham Wan Sik.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Weekend Preview

Racing is back and Busan hosts arguably the most interesting race of the weekend on Friday afternoon as Hangang Ruby, Ebony Storm, Night Moves and Mulbora are among a full field of fourteen class 1 horses getting a rare opportunity to compete for a big prize over the sprint distance of six furlongs.

As usual, Busan hosts cards on Friday and Sunday while Seoul has its most valuable race of the weekend on Saturday. It’s a relatively uninspiring line-up for the ten furlong handicap, however, with Taesanbukdu slated to be top weight by some 5 kilos. Nevertheless, there’s plenty to get stuck into in the rest of the card on both days.

Suspended - Moon Se Young

Three of Seoul’s top jockeys will be on the sidelines this weekend. Choi Bum Hyun remains injured while Moon Se Young and Kim Ok Sung both begin bans which will last for four meetings. It will be an opportunity for the chasing pack to close some of the gap between themselves and Moon, who is looking to regain the title that he won in 2008.

Here’s what’s happening:

Friday May 28

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00-18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30-17:30

Saturday May 29

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:20-18:00
Jeju Race Park: 10 races from 12:10-17:30

Sunday May 30

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:20 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:40-16:30