Dongbanui Gangja Has To Work

Saturday Review
Dongbanui Gangja rallied late extend his unbeaten streak to eight races and confirm his position as the top horse in training at Seoul. Comfortably positioned just behind early pace-setters Gamadongja and Brilliant Knight as they came off the final turn, the hot favourite looked to be about to cruise to a simple win.

Things didn’t go quite to plan, however, as both Gamadongja and Brilliant Knight fought back as Dongbanui Gangja began to sprint. Ultimately he got up to claim victory by a length and a half. Brillaint Knight just edged out Gamadongja by a nose for second.

Things were slightly more routine for Secret Weapon half an hour later. The top rated Korean bred horse never looked in any danger as he overcame Chamgippeum and Lucky Mountain by nine lengths.

Finally a mention must go to five year old Quick Bird. The mare had finished third a total of nine times in her thirty previous starts and in race 9 today, she finally broke her maiden, coming through late to grab a length and a half win.

Class 1 (Foreign bred) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Sep 5, 2009

1. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow – Maremaid (Storm Bird)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 1.1, 1.0
2. Brilliant Knight (USA) [Lion Hearted – Deputy Lady (First Deputy)] – Han Sung Yeol – 6.5
3. Gamadongja (NZ) [Howbaddouwantit – Miss Martha (Iades)] – Ham Wan Sik – 2.4
Distances: 1.25 lengths/Nose – 14 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

Dongbanui Gangja, Secret Weapon, Namdo Jeap, Miss Ecton all go on big weekend
It’s Ilgan Sports Day at Seoul on Sunday and the showdown between three of the track’s top three year olds headlines what is looking all round one of the most attractive weekend cards of the year.

Things get underway at Busan on Friday when a host of big names will contest the last and feature race. Miss Ecton, Golding, Hardride and Admiral Reigart will all be in action in race 10.

Sunday’s Busan feature will see two of the southern track’s top colts square off once more. Namdo Jeap was second in both the KRA Cup Mile and the Korean Derby. Yeonseung Daero was well fancied for both of those races but flopped. Since then though, he has made amends with two smart wins against tough opposition. They’ll do battle in race 5. South African jockey Martin Wepner will be reunited with Namdo Jeap for the first time since walking away from the ride on Derby day.

Saturday at Seoul sees a double-header of top races. 2008 Grand Prix winner and 2009 Owners’ Trophy winner Dongbanui Gangja is on to extend his winning streak to eight and will be hot favourite to make it nine. Regardless of his reputation, a full field will assemble for race 10 to try to stop him. Among them will be Brilliant Knight, Gamadongja, Noubeau Riche and the improving Torpedo Mast. Also there will be Yodongseong, returning from a near six month lay-off.

That race will be followed thirty minutes later by an appearance by Secret Weapon. The five year old has won his last three and will have Lucky Mountain and Namchonuijijon as well as ten others to contend with if he is cement his position as Seoul’s current top-rated domestically bred horse.

Sunday’s feature is of course, the Ilgan Sports Cup. The focus is going to be on the three year olds, especially unbeaten gelding Holy Dreamer. We’ll have a full preview of the Ilgan over the next couple of days.

Busan Race Park

Friday September 4: 10 races, first post 13:00, last 17:30
Sunday September 6: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday September 5: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Sunday September 6: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:10

Jeju Race Park (Pony Racing)

Saturday September 5: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10
Sunday September 6: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10

Champion Moon Se Young’s Season Is Over

The KRA has confirmed that Moon Se Young, 2008 Champion jockey and current leading rider this year, will miss the rest of the season following his horror fall at Seoul Race Park last Saturday. Moon, 29, was thrown into the rails by two year old Raipai as she veered wildly coming out of the stalls on her racing debut. The jockey escaped what initially looked a very serious situation with severely ruptured knee ligaments which, following surgery, will require six months of recuperation.

Moon Se Young (leading) will be out for 6 months

Moon Se Young (leading) will be out for 6 months

Last year, Moon Se Young became only the second Korean rider to land over one hundred winners in a calender year as he stormed to a record breaking 128 winners. This year, despite a number of suspensions – as well as a wedding to track announcer Kim Ryeo Jin and subsequent honeymoon – keeping him off the track on more occasions than he would have liked, Moon remains at the top of the Jockey standings with 72 winners.

Unlike last year, however, his closest rivals are much closer. Park Tae Jong, the rider with the most wins in Korean racing history lies in second just three behind and, following a remarkable eight wins over the weekend, Cho Kyoung Ho has joined the veteran on 69. Just one behind those two is Choi Beom Hyun on 68. It will now be a straight three way fight for the title.

Photo: letsbook

One Month After The Ban: Where are the Punters?

It’s now been over a month since the KRA’s online “KNetz” betting platform was closed down at the insistence of the National Gaming Contol Commission (NGCC). KNetz had 40,000 customers and accounted for approximately 4% of total handle on any given weekend. So where have these punters gone? Have they seen the error of their ways and decided to spend their weekends doing more socially productive activities? Probably not.

Average handle in August was down on July – but it is every year due to the holiday season. It was up on last year. Track attendance was also up on last year, but only slightly and again this is part of a wider trend. In Korea at least, the number of people going racing is growing.

What’s also growing is the number of illegal bookmakers. Last weekend the Korea Racing Journal cited anecdotal evidence of a rising number of private gaming houses offering betting on the races. They’ve always been there. With betting tax a wallet-busting 27% on the most popular bets and an upper stake limit of 100,000 won, the attraction of betting on something other than the pari-mutuel isn’t a new one and with the online ban, it was always going to get stronger.

Even the NGCC recognized this and they tried to stifle it. Televised racing was banned at the same time as Knetz and the KRA has been restricted in the amount of information it could provide prior to races. Naturally, as the Journal notes again citing anecdotal evidence, the criminal fraternity has proved far more effective in disseminating information than the authority ever was.

While it appears to be easy to bet on a horse illegally, for those punters who don’t fancy either it or indoor fishing, there are now mobile slot machines to help them get their illicit fix. These rather ridiculous contraptions are apparently touring the country offering punters the opportunity to put their unwanted money into a box – and that’s presumably that. A more miserable way of losing is hard to imagine.

Of course, with internet gambling on horse racing banned, anyone who wants a legal punt can’t do it anymore unless they live near the track or one of the few KRA Plaza off-track betting sites. Now that the NGCC has cleared the market for the criminals to move into, mobile slots will probably be the tacky tip of a very depressing iceberg.

On a semi-related subject, the English language version of the Korean daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo recently ran a reasonably interesting article on the Korean casino indiustry. It looks at the history of the Paradise Casino group as well as the more recent Seven Luck chain.

The article highlights the contradictory policy of barring Korean citizens from entering casinos while encouraging foreign visitors to do so – to the extent that the operator of Seven Luck is an offshoot of the Korea National Tourist Organization. Sadly it doesn’t manage to answer the question as to whether it is the case that Korean lawmakers don’t trust their own people – or don’t respect foreigners. Or both.

Lucky Seven for Nice Choice

Bungjeongmalli in contention / Volponi sires first winner
Nice Choice stepped up to class 1 level for the first time to land the feature race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. While memories of the Derby flop will only be fully erased if he wins the Minister’s Cup in October, Nice Choice continued to demonstrate that the form that made him champion two year old last year, has the potential to still make him champion three year old.

It’s true that today he didn’t face the strongest class 1 field to assemble at Seoul. Far from it, but there were some seasoned campaigners present in the likes of Natural Nine, Gang Gwon and Lucky Seven as well as Hallyu Star, who last month won the SBS Cup.

Under Cho Kyoung Ho, Nice Choice tracked the leaders for most of the 1900 metre race, coming by in the last furlong to win going away from second placed Lucky Seven. The colt now has seven wins from ten starts and thoughts are now turning to the season’s final classic.

Another three year old who could perhaps force himself into contention for that Classic was in the winner’s circle half an hour prior to Nice Choice. Bungjeongmalli [Archer City Slew – Mup’aegado (Lost Mountain)] only tsrated once as a two year old and finished eigth of ten. Given three months off he came back for his three year old season and, while too late to be in the running for the Derby, has run up a record of five wins and two seconds this term. While still some way off Nice Choice, if he continues to improve there is a possibility that Cho Kyoung Ho, who rides both, could have an interesting choice to make come October.

Today was also noteworthy as Seoul saw the first winner sired by 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Volponi. Special Volpony doesn’t look like a world-beater but the two year old filly had more than enough about her to see off thirteen rivals over six furlongs. Making her second appearance on the track, she led from gate to wire to win race 1 by a length and a half. Volponi arrived in Korea in January 2006.

Down south at Busan, Crafty Louis notched his fourth win of 2009. The six year old held off King Kephalos by the narrowest possible margin in the feature handicap.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Nothern Ace Relaxes

Wins for Strong Demand and Blue Pin as Cho Kyoung Ho cleans-up
This year’s hottest two year old prospect made his second appearance today as Nothern Ace came out for a stroll in the sunshine at Seoul Race Park. Nothern Ace [Didyme – Telegraph Road (Royal Academy)] broke the five furlong track record on his debut last month and many were looking for the six furlong record to go today.

In the event, Nothern Ace went to the front straight out of the gate and jockey Cho Kyoung Ho sensibly kept the colt well within himself as he dispatched his thirteen rivals – the eventual winning margin of just four lengths meaningless. It’s early days, but Nothern Ace appears to have a talent unusual for Korea. The only two year old race of note at Seoul is the Herald Business towards the end of the season. It will be interesting to see what course his connections take between now and then.

Cho Kyoung Ho’s examplary professionalism in guiding Nothern Ace home was the first of four winners for the jockey. It only came about, however, after Moon Se Young, who was booked for the ride, suffered a nasty fall in race 2. The previously unraced filly Raipai veered wildly coming out of the gate and threw the champion jockey into the rails.

Cho landed both of the co-feature races. First up in the domestic bred contest, three year old gelding Blue Pin – a half brother to Nothern Ace through their dam, Telegraph Road – overhauled Natural Guy in the final furlong to claim his fifth victory from eleven starts. Next up, Cho brought Strong Demand home in the overseas bred race, five lengths the margin over the returning Gangho whose first effort since his disappointing JRA Cup run was encouraging.

Earlier, there was a winning debut for US import Wonerful Sun [Pico Central – Jacket Required (Black Tie Affair)]. The two year old (whose name written in Korean reads as “Wonderful” just like Nothern Ace is “Northern”) led from gate to wire in race 4 and won’t go off at 7/1 again in the near future.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

Nice Choice / Gangho / Northern Ace / Bukgeukseong
After five days off it’s back. Racing on the Korean peninsula gets underway again this Friday at Busan and at Seoul and Jeju on Saturday and then all three tracks on Sunday.

Munhwa Ilbo winner Nice Choice is the biggest draw in the weekend’s headline race at Seoul on Sunday. The three year old steps up to class 1 racing for the first time and will be up against SBS Cup winner Hallyu Star.

While the big race is on Sunday, many racegoers will have their eyes on Saturday’s card which sees a number of potential stars on show. Earlier this year, US import Gangho swept all before him, winning his first four races barely breaking into a gallop. He then flopped in the JRA Trophy in May and hasn’t been seen since. He’s back in race 11 on Saturday when he’ll take on thirteen others over 1900 metres.

Saturday may also see some clues to next year’s Classics as two year old filly Brown Girl is looking to go three for three in race 8. An hour earlier, Northern Ace will have made his second start. The colt broke the five furlong track record on his debut and his reputation was enhanced without him even leaving his stable last week as the horse he beat into second that day, Ace Galloper, cruised to an eighteen length win. Northern Ace goes over six furlongs this time.

At Busan, prolific filly Bukgeukseong steps up to class 1 in Friday’s feature. Although classified as domestically bred, the three year old was ineligible for the Oaks due to having being conceived outside of Korea. She has five wins to her name from six starts and will be up against the likes of Annika Queen and Sky Star over a mile. Sunday’s Busan feature has track stalwarts Angle Slam, Dongbang Geona, Bugyoeng Choegang and Crafty Louis facing younger rivals King Kephalos and Jilju Hara.

Busan Race Park

Friday August 28: 10 races, first post 13:00, last 17:30
Sunday August 30: 6 races, first post 12:40, last 16:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday August 29: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40
Sunday August 30: 11 races, first post 11:20, last 18:00

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday August 29: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10
Sunday August 30: 9 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10

Ecton Cat Pounces

Symphony Sonata off key / Impressive debuts
Ecton Cat scored a comfortable win at Seoul Race Park this afternoon and in doing so qualified to step up to the top level of Korea racing. The four year old US import – whose sire now stands in Korea – led from gate to wire to grab a four length win over Saerounachim and Fly Top. Next time out for Ecton Cat will be in class 1 company.

In the other feature race – an 1800 metre class 2 handicap for Korean bred runners, Symphony Sonata was sent off favourite but failed to make any impression on the race as Challanhanbit started quickly and held off the challenge of Wangsan to win by half a length. For the five year old mare it was a sixth career win.

While the feature races were all well and good, most attention at the track was focused on the early races. Last month, Northern Ace set the five furlong track record. Not far behind him in that race was another “Ace”, Ace Galloper. In race one today, Ace Galloper [Chapel Royal – Explicitly (Exploit)] went six furlongs and crushed thirteen rivals as he was eased up for a remarkable eighteen length win.

In race 3 it was supposed to be the turn of Forest Wind. He didn’t make an impact so instead it was second favourite Seonbongbulpae [Newsprint – Jeseok (Lost Mountain)] who stepped up. The colt had thirteen lengths between him and his nearest challenger at the end of he five furlongs.

The final debut came from an import. Two year old filly Gwacheon Geojang [Peace Rules – Copelan’s Filly (Copelan)] was one of the more expensive overseas two year old purchases this year but didn’t start the favourite in race 4 as she took on a number of more experienced fillies. She showed a good turn of foot, however, to lanf the five furlong test by nearly two lengths and will be another one to watch out for in future.

A bigger than average Saturday crowd was in with the cancellation of Sunday’s card for the funeral of former President Kim Dae Jung no doubt playing a part.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

For the second time this year, a Presidential funeral has meant the cancellation of a day’s racing. After six days of mourning, Kim Dae Jung – President from of South Korea from 1998 to 2003 and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 – will be laid to rest on Sunday at the National Cemetary in Seoul following a State funeral.

The cancellation leaves each track with just one day’s racing this weekend. Busan runs on Friday while Seoul and Jeju have cards on Saturday. With the short evening racing season complete, all three tracks are running daytime cards. To replace the lost races, Seoul and Busan will each host a make-up card in December on Christmas weekend – the season had previously been scheduled to finish a week earlier.

Procyon and Yongdu Baram head the field for Busan’s feature race. Symphony Sonata is the biggest name on show at Seoul on Saturday.

Busan Race Park

Friday August 21: 10 races, first post 13:00, last 17:30

Seoul Race Park

Saturday August 22: 12 races, first post 11:20, last 17:40

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday August 22: 10 races, first post 12:10, last 17:10

23 August 2009

Sunday Racing Off

The KRA has confirmed that all racing on the peninsula this coming Sunday, August 23, has been cancelled. The cards at Seoul, Busan and Jeju are all off so as not to clash with the funeral of former South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, who died on Tuesday.

Friday’s card at Busan and the Saturday cards at Seoul and Jeju will go ahead as planned.