Evening Promises…

Evening racing on the peninsula drew to a close this past Sunday as Seoul, Busan and Jeju Race Parks all revert to their usual daytime hours from this coming weekend.

Sunset

Sunset

In 2008, there was no evening racing with high energy prices being cited as the reason. The return this year was a welcome one as on a warm summer’s night, the racetrack is the place to be.

"Happyville & Luckyville" go black & white in the dark

With a mid-afternoon start and and a late finish, horses, jockeys and punters alike were able to get some respite from the hottest days of the year so far. Despite beginning in the monsoon season, seven of the eight fixtures were gloriously dry.

Choi Beom Hyun brings Soseono home

Choi Beom Hyun brings Soseono home

On the final night, Soseono landed the YTN Cup in front of 42,000 racegoers to bring the short evening season to a close.

IMG_9607

All pictures by letsbook.

Soseono Wins YTN Cup

Subsidy’s sister steps up / Golding wins
In Korean racing, any sibling of Subsidy has a lot to live up to. The 2005 Horse of the Year is one of the most successful and popular horses to ever run on the peninsula. This evening, under the lights at a packed Seoul Race Park, Sosoeno stepped out from her big brother’s shadow to land the YTN Cup.

Four year old Soseono has promised great things but until tonight had always just failed to deliver. In eleven previous starts, the only time she’d finished outside the money was when she threw her jockey coming out of the stalls. Of those money finishes, however, only one was in the top spot.

Tonight, sent off fourth favourite in a field of fourteen and with Choi Beom Hyun in the saddle, Soseono stalked the leaders for the early parts of the 2000 metre race. She hit the front as they entered the home straight and held off fast finishing favourite Air Kat by two lengths on the line. Kkumchaja, also coming from behind, made it into third.

YTN Cup (Class 2 Foreign Bred) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – Aug 16, 2009

1. Soseono (USA) [Aldebaran – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 5.7, 1.9
2. Air Kat (USA) [Digging In – Vivian’s Mercedes (Broad Brush)] – Moon Se Young – 1.7
3. Kkumchaja (USA) [Orientate – Westerville (Gone West)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 2.1
Distances: 2 lengths/0.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Jangjagang; 5. Storm For Lucky; 6. Alpha Lady; 7. Crown Carla; 8. Sangsangbong; 9. Ginny’s Delight; 10. Cheonsangcheonha; 11. Gild Regal; 12. Exclusive Offer; 13. Pricess Thumb; 14. Keungori

It was another big win race win for Choi Beom Hyun who landed two other wins on the final evening card of the year including on debut making import Great True [Yes It’s True – Gigi’s Magic (Alien’s Prospect)] who took race 3. Meanwhile, another Foreign Aid foal is set to make his track debut soon. Jumong, the two year old brother of Subsidy and Soseono arrived in Korea in May.

At Busan Race Park, after a year of trying, track legend and 2006 Cup Mile winner Golding was finally back in the Winner’s Circle. The seven year old came right from the back of the field to land the nine furlong feature race by half a length.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

YTN Headlines Final Evening

The YTN Cup is the big race at Seoul as a glorious four weeks of evening racing on the peninsula come to a close tomorrow.

In its tenth running, the YTN is this year, for the first time restricted to fillies and mares. A class 2 race, like the Munhwa Ilbo a few weeks ago, it brings together a group of up and comers along with more established horses who haven’t quite made it through to the top level just yet.

And an interesting field will assemble at 7:30pm. Air Kat looked to be steadily progressing in her three year old season last year before injury intervened. Absent for nine months, she came back in May and then ran second in a class 2 race last month. If she’s continued to improve since then, she’ll be the one to beat even though the mare who did beat her last time, Cheonsangcheonha will also go tomorrow.

Two three year olds may be her biggest threats. Keungori won the STC Trophy in May while Alpha Lady is the unknown quantity. The recent US import has only run four times and started inauspiciously but has won her last two by embarrassing margins. She hasn’t raced at more than six furlongs before so making the big step up to ten furlongs will be the first test for her.

Soseono, little sister of track legend Subsidy will be there and in with an outside chance while for Korean bred runners, Sangsangbong looks the best hope. Potential outsiders to watch include Kkumchaja and Exclusive Offer See below for a full lost of runners, records and riders:

YTN Cup (Class 2 Foreign Bred) – Seoul Race Park – 1900M – Aug 16, 2009

1. Jangjagang (USA) [Buddha – Illusory (Skywalker)] – (11/2/1/3) – Ham Wan Sik
2. Ginny’s Delight (USA) [Polish Miner – Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] – (26/1/2/5) – Kim Young Jin
3. Storm For Lucky (JPN) [Mejiro Ryan – Dark Moon (Real Shadai)] – (16/0/2/4) – Yoon Tae Hyuk
4. Keungori (USA) [Essence Of Dubai – Goldmakesmesmile (Mining)] – (10/3/0/1) – Shim Seung Tae
5. Sangsangbong (KOR) [Warzone – Balieria (Gulch)] – (15/3/2/4) – Choi Won Joon
6. Kkumchaja (USA) [Orientate – Westerville (Gone West)] – (10/1/2/4) – Cho Kyoung Ho
7. Princess Thumb (USA) [Stravinsky – Narjis Flower (Pleasant Colony)] – (28/2/2/3) – Lee Dong Kuk
8. Alpha Lady (AUS) [Iglesia – Star Tipper (Luskin Star)] – (4/2/0/0) – Park Eul Woon
9. Crown Carla (KOR) [Beautiful Crown – Fleet Carla (Afleet)] – (15/4/3/2) – Oh Kyoung Hoan
10. Soseono (USA) [Aldebaran – Foreign Aid (Danzig)] – (11/1/4/3) – Choi Beom Hyun
11. Air Kat (USA) [Digging In – Vivian’s Mercedes (Broad Brush)] – (13/3/3/2) – Moon Se Young
12. Cheonsangcheonha (USA) [Formal Dinner – Southbound Odyssey (Big Spruce)] – (34/3/3/3) – Moon Jung Kyun
13. Gild Regal (AUS) [Gilded Time – Regal Prospect (Exploding Prospect)] – (30/2/4/2 – Park Tae Jong
14. Exclusive Offer (USA) [Belong To Me – Soup ‘N Salad (Top Account)] – (21/3/2/0) – Toshiyuki Katoh

There are eleven races at Seoul on Sunday with the first off at 14:30. Busan hosts six races beginning at 16:20. Jeju’s nine race card gets underway at 16:30. From next weekend, all three tracks revert to their usual racing hours.

Weekend Preview

YTN Cup / Myeongmun Gamun / Golding / Yeonseung Daero
The last weekend of twilight racing is upon us before all three tracks in Korea revert back to their normal daytime programs and with sunshine predicted, there’ll be no better place to be on the peninsula than the track.

The YTN Cup crowns the weekend’s program at what is sure to be a packed Seoul Race Park on Sunday evening. We;ll have a full run down on the runners and riders for the big race over the next couple of days.

Given current form, he’s not likely to win but two-time President’s Cup winner Myeongmun Gamun is the biggest name on show on Saturday. He’ll go over 2000 metres against the likes of Hwangnyongsaji and Triple Seven.

Down at Busan, three year old colts Yeonseung Daero and Sky Star go up against their elders on Friday afternoon. They’ll have Mirae Cheonsa and Boryeong Bulbit for company in what looks like a very competitive 10 furlong handicap. On Sunday, Busan institution Golding heads the field for the feature handicap.

Busan Race Park

Friday August 14: 10 races, first post 16:00, last 21:00
Sunday August 16: 6 races, first post 16:15, last 20:50

Seoul Race Park

Saturday August 15: 12 races, first post 14:30, last 21:00
Sunday August 16: 11 races, first post 14:30 last 21:00

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday August 15: 9 races, first post 16:30, last 21:20
Sunday August 16: 9 races, first post 16:30, last 21:25

* Race 7 at Seoul on Sunday has been designated as the first ever “Jockey’s Memorial Race” and will be run in honour of those riders riders who have lost their lives at the track. Coming on the second anniversary of Lim Dae Gyu’s death, the race will also honour Seo Dae Won, Kim Tae Sung, Lee Joon Hee and Yoo Hun Ki who make up the five riders killed during racing or trackwork since 1980, as well as Kim Jong Eon, critically injured in 1992.

Korean Oaks – Pangpang Stuns Sangseung Ilro

Pangpang outsprinted Sangseung Ilro to claim an unlikely victory in the Korean Oaks at Busan this evening and in doing so turned the shape of the season on its head.

It all looked so easy for Sangseung Ilro. Sent off long odds-on favourite, in the absence of any early pace the KRA Cup Mile and Derby winner went to the front herself alongside outsider Hwangjeui Seonmul. After an uneventful opening six furlongs, she seemed perfectly placed at the top of the stretch to kick on and away from the field.

Kick on she did but Han Sang Gyu on Pangpang, fourth in the Derby and second favourite here was in pursuit. By the time they hit the furlong pole, Pangpang was closing the gap. The crowd anticipated Sangseung Ilro’s second wind – surely Eiki Nishimura could coax her back into top gear. It didn’t happen, Sangseung Ilro was spent. Pangpang swept by with the line just metres away. Many many lengths back, Leading Velocity rounded out the placings.

Han Sang Gyu punched the air as a shocked hush descended over Busan and Seoul. The Grand Slam was off the table. The Triple Crown remains on but in one furlong Sangseung Ilro lost her aura. Not only was she beaten, she was beaten by another three year old filly.

Pangpang finished tenth behind Sangseung Ilro in April’s KRA Cup Mile, the first of the Triple Crown races. Although she followed it up by winning a class 3 race later that month, her connections’ decision to take her to Seoul and the Derby in May was seen as a slight indulgence. She refuted those claims by running fourth. Returning to Busan, she ran three times over the last two months, improving with each run. Sangseung Ilro meanwhile, sat in the barn.

So the season goes on. Its star isn’t quite as bright as it was this morning. However, maybe in Pangpang, we have another.

Korean Oaks (G.II) – Busan Race Park – 1800M – Aug 9, 2009

1. Pangpang (KOR) [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] – Han Sang Gyu – 9.0, 1.8
2. Sangseung Ilro (KOR) [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Eiki Nishimura – 1.1
3. Leading Velocity (KOR) [Fiercely – Barefoot Runaway (Strike Gold – Jo Chan Hoon – 2.1
Distances: 1 length/11 lengths
Also ran: 4. Lady In Gala; 5. Suryeohan; 6. Haneul Gisang; 7. Naechingu; 8. Hero Age; 9. Hanmoe; 10. Solar City; 11. Rose Cat; 12. Hwanjeui Seonmul

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Hitomi Miyashita Wins Lady Jockey Invitational

Japanese rider Hitomi Miyashita came through with a blistering late run on Ima Firecracker to land the International Lady Jockey Invitation Race at Busan Race Park this evening.

Favourite Namdo Jeap with Korea’s Park Jin Hee on board bounced out of the gate and into an early lead with Jennifer Stisted of the USA on Florida Native right alongside her. Ima Firecracker was away slowly and sat right at the back of the field. Second in the betting, Miss Ecton, under Laura Cheshire also sat towards the back of the field.

As they rounded the turn and entered the straight Namdo Jeap looked ready to kick on. Meanwhile, Australian Linda Meech brought Max Is Cruisin up alongside her and Mai Beppu on Dongbang Geona looked ready to strike. Namdo Jeap kept the lead, however, as those challengers fell away.

Instead the danger ultimately came down the far outside as Ima Firecracker hit top gear bringing Miss Ecton along just inside of her. These two swept by the leaders in sight of the line, Ima Firecracker in the lead by a length on the line. Namdo Jeap’s final furlong collapse was compounded by outsider Oreumak (Chiaki Iwanaga) and Meech on Max Is Cruisin also coming by in a blanket finish for the minor placings.

Invitation Race (Foreign Bred) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Aug 9, 2009

1. Ima Firecracker (USA) [Hold That Tiger – It’s Destiny (Red Ransom)] – Hitomi Miyashita (Japan) – 13.9, 2.6
2. Miss Ecton (USA) [Ecton Park – Miss Lion King (Lion Cavern)] – Laura Cheshire (New Zealand) – 1.5
3. Oreumak (AUS) [Favorite Trick – Vigne Vierge (Diesis)] – Chiaki Iwanaga (Japan) 6.2
Distances: 1 length/Nose
Also ran: 4. Max Is Cruisin (Linda Meech – Australia); 5. Namdo Jeap (Park Jin Hee – Korea); 6. Florida Native (Jennifer Stisted – USA); 7. Dongbang Geona (Mai Beppu- Japan); 8. Gangcheol Labi (Catherine Gannon – Ireland); 9. Winter Invitation (Lee Ae Li – Korea); 10. D M Merch (Yoo Mi Ra – Korea); 11. Yeongwonhanhangbok (Nadine Rapson – South Africa)

(h/t: fallight)

Sangseung Ilro Stalks the Grand Slam

She’s kept a low-profile since running away with the Korean Derby in May but on Sunday evening, Sangseung Ilro, holder of the first two legs of the Triple Crown, returns to her own ranks when she lines up for the Korean Oaks at Busan Race Park. If she wins, she’ll go back north to Seoul and the Minister’s Cup in October to race not only for the Triple Crown but also, with the Oaks included, what’s being termed the “Grand Slam”.

Can anyone beat her tomorrow? Probably not. Most see Pangpang, who ran fourth in the Derby and has kicked on since as being her closest rival. Of the others, Leading Velocity has won at class 2 level and Suryeohan has come close – as has Haneul Gisang. Lady In Gala looks to have plenty of potential. All look weak in a form guide alongside Sangseung Ilro.

Eiki Nishimura, who partnered Sangseung Ilro to her unexpected win in the KRA Cup Mile was jocked off for the Derby. With the race being run in Seoul, many believed that the notoriously strong Seoul Jockeys’ Union had been behind pressure on owner and trainer to replace the Japanese rider with a local one for Korea’s biggest race. Jo Sung Gon rode her flawlessly on Derby day and no blame is attached to him for what went on behind the scenes, but Eiki is back on tomorrow. It’s a well earned opportunity for a quiet rider who, afer a tough beginning in Korea, has worked to become one of Busan’s best jockeys.

The trainer is Kim Young Gwan. Currently presiding over Busan’s best string – he also has Namdo Jeap and Miss Ecton in his care – Kim also sends out Haneul Gisang. She will be ridden by Martin Wepner. After an unfortunate series of events led to Wepner walking out of Seoul – and almost Korea – before he was due to ride Namdo Jeap in the Derby, Kim stepped in and offered Wepner the job of stable jockey. While Wepner won’t ride Namdo Jeap again, with Haneul Gisang likely to be battling for the place positions, we could see another Kim Young Gwan, Eiki and Wepner 1,2.

The race is off at 19:15 under the lights at Busan and will be simulcast to Seoul Race Park. Here is the full list of runners, records and riders:

Korean Oaks (G.II) – Busan Race Park – 1800M – Aug 9, 2009 – 19:15

1. Rose Cat [Creek Cat – Rose Bouton (Somethingdifferent)] – (9/2/2/1) – Yoon Tae Hyuk
2. Suryeohan [Commendable – Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – (9/2/2/2) – Chae Gyu Jun
3. Lady In Gala [Didyme – Phlox (Just Like Jo)] – (10/2/1/) – Park Geum Man
4. Hanmoe [Tahamkke – Wolmunsabang (Didyme)] – (12/1/2/3) – Lee Sung Jae
5. Haneul Gisang [Duality – Birrali (Rutland)] – (7/2/3/0) – Martin Wepner
6. Solar City [Ft. Stockton – Taeyangsan (Mujaazif)] – (9/0/1/4) – Jo Sung Gon
7. Hero Age [Buster’s Daydream – No Dle Seum (Brave Regent)] – (10/0/2/0) – Jung Si Won
8. Pangpang [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] – (15/3/1/1) – Han Sang Gyu
9. Sangseung Ilro [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – (7/5/1/1) – Eiki Nishimura
10. Leading Velocity [Fiercely – Barefoot Runaway (Strike Gold)] – (11/3/2/1) – Jo Chan Hoon
11. Naechingu [Creek Cat – Roberto’s Flame (Green Dancer)] – (7/1/1/4) – Jo Chang Wook
12. Hwangjeui Seonmul [Social Charter – She’s A Bridesmaid (Chromite)] – (13/2/2/0) – Kim Eu Su

On the undercard of the Oaks is the International Lady Jockey Invitation Race. Most see it as being a straight fight between the two Kim Young Gwan horses Namdo Jeap (Park Jin Hee) and Miss Ecton (Laura Cheshire). Nine others will have something to say about that. The Invitation race is off at 18:10 and will also be simulcasted to Seoul.

Torpedo Mast is First Class

Grey steps up while KRA wants Punters to clean up – literally
Torpedo Mast pulled off a surprise win in this evening’s feature race at Seoul Race Park. A win at class 2 last month had qualified the grey for the top level of Korean racing and at his first class 1 attempt, he comfortably held off favourite Bulpaegisang for a two length win. As usual, Gamadongja made all the running and stayed on for third place.

Four year old Torpedo Mast (USA) [Mizzen Mast – Valid Deduction (Bet Big)] has finished in the money in all but three of his twenty outings. He’s never been earmarked as a potential star but after a commanding performance over a field including not only Bulpaegisang and Gamadongja but also such luminaries as Baekjeonmupae, Angus Empire and Seoul Teukgeup, it’s unlikely he’ll be sent off at odds of 25/1 again.

In other news on a sticky afternoon and evening at Seoul, young jockey Park Sang Woo scored his first ever winner landing race 7 on Black Cat. On the way to post for that race Choi Beom Hyun was violently thrown from his mount in front of the grandstand. Although motionless on the track for several minutes, Choi emerged unhurt and, to punters’ amazement, reappeared to win race 10 on Nice Good.

A larger than usual Saturday crowd were in attendance after the blank weekend last week. To welcome everybody back, the KRA gave away a gift set to each and every one of the 50,000 in attendance. A nice touch – and quite an impressive logistical operation. However, given that the contents of the gift set comprised of soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, a razor, shower gel and various similar items, punters could be forgiven for thinking the racing authority was trying to tell them something.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Busan Friday Review

Overseas jocks ride / Captain Sir debuts / Sinheung Gangja wins
Seven of the overseas jockeys in Busan for Sunday’s International Invitation Race were in action at Busan Race Park this afternoon. None troubled the placings and the highest finishers were New Zealand’s Laura Cheshire on Fresh Dancer in race 3 and Japan’s Hitomi Miyashita on Tamna Kwaegeol in race 7, both of whom guided their 40/1 shots to fourth place.

None could really have been expected to do any better on mounts that were a warm up for Sunday’s main event. Here’s how they all got on:

Mai Beppu: Race 2, Seondu Jeongsang – 11th of 12 – win odds: 75.8
Laura Cheshire: Race 3, Fresh Dancer – 4/10 – 48.2
Nadine Rapson: Race 5, Queen Of Moonstone – 7/11 – 43.3
Hitomi Miyashita: Race 7, Tamna Kwaegeol – 4/13 – 43.8
Jennifer Stisted: Race 8, Shingwang Cheonji – 9/13 – 20.0
Chiaki Iwanaga: Race 9, Raon Champion – 8/13 – 7.9
Linda Meech: Race 9, Gold Love – 11/13 – 73.2

In other news at Busan, it was a good day for jockey Stephan Swanepoel. The South African landed his second win at the track taking race 1 on hot favourite Raon Cat.

Another hot favourite made his debut today. Two year old US import Captain Sir [Trippi – Fine Wine (Hooched)] comfortably took race 2, easing to a four length win in a fast time over 1000 metres.

Meanwhile, favourite Sinheung Gangja came through with a late run to win the feature race. Under Jo Sung Gon, the four year old overhauled second favourite Hangang Jeil in the final furlong to take victory by a length and a half. It’s a sixth career victory for Sinheung Gangja who was second in the Busan Owners’ Cup last year.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Oaks Weekend Preview

Korean Oaks / Invitation Race / Namdo Jeap
After a week off, racing is back on the peninsula and it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest weekends of the year. The Korean Oaks at Busan on Sunday is the headline as Sangseung Ilro seeks to completethe Derby/Oaks double. She’ll have eleven other fillies to contend with and we’ll have a final preview of the race over the next couple of days.

Also on Sunday at Busan, the International Lady Jockey Invitation race will take place. See here for full preview.

While overshadowed for once by Busan, Seoul also has its fair share of the action. On Saturday, Baekjeonmupae, Angus Empire, Seoul Teukgeup and Gamadongja will renew hostilities, while prolific five year old mare Top Point is the biggest name on show on Sunday.

Busan Race Park

Friday August 7: 10 races, first post 16:00; last: 21:00
Sunday August 9: 6 races, first post 16:20; last: 21:00

Seoul Race Park

Saturday August 8: 12 races, first post 14:30; last 21:00
Sunday August 9: 11 races, first post 14:30; last 21:00

Jeju Race Park (Pony racing)

Saturday August 8: 9 races, first post 16:30; last 21:20
Sunday August 9: 9 races, first post 16:30; last 21:20

It’s been a fine week weatherwise but rain is on the horizon.