Namchonuijijon set for Ttukseom Cup Defence

Seoul Race Park’s biggest race of the year so far comes under orders on Sunday afternoon as the Park Dae Heung trained pair of Namchonuijijon and Myeongmun Gamun head the field for the Group Three Ttukseom Cup.

Horse of the Year in 2008, the eight year old Myeongmun Gamun will be dropping down to seven furlongs for the first time since the corresponding race in 2006 when he finished fifth – his worst ever finish in a career spanning thirty one races so far in which he has never been out of the money. Nevertheless, Myeongmun Gamun’s only outing this year ended in a surprise defeat and he hasn’t raced since January.

Winner of this race in 2008, Namchonuijijon didn’t kick on after last year’s race but opened his 2009 account with a smart win last month. In that race he finished ahead of two of his rivals here, Free Woody and Mighty Runner, the latter suffering his first defeat in five races.

Also going are the “three sevens”; Triple Seven, Lucky Seven and the impressive but untried at this level so far Seven Card, as well as mares Seonju Jangsu and Geumsuni. The race is off at 17:00. See below for a full list of runners, records and riders (Races/1st/2nd/3rd):

Ttukseom Cup (G.III) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – Apr 12, 2009

1. Highway Star – (71/5/5/9) – Jung Pyeong Soo
2. Myeongmun Gamun – (31/17/3/6) – Cho Kyoung Ho
3. Seonju Jangsu – (40/6/11/3) – Yang Hee Jin
4. Seven Card – (9/5/3/0) – Yoo Seung Wan
5. Mighty Runner – (19/6/3/4) – Kim Hyo Seob
6. Saebyeok Dongja – (34/10/5/2) – Shin Hyoung Cheol
7. Lucky Seven – (21/5/5/1) – Lee Sang Hyuk
8. Free Woody – (17/5/5/3) – Moon Jung Kyun
9. Triple Seven – (15/4/2/4) – Choi Beom Hyun
10. Taebaek Janggun – (25/7/3/0) – Park Tae Jong
11. Namchonuijijon – (20/6/7/3) – Jung Ki Young
12. Geumsuni – (21/6/4/2) – Han Sung Yeol

Obituary: Saegangja

Record career earnings / First domestic Grand Prix winner
The KRA has announced that Saegangja, winner of 33 races including a Grand Prix and three consecutive Chairman’s Trophies in the late nineties and the early part of this decade, died on March 28 at the age of thirteen. The gelding had been suffering from colic and was euthanized after failing to respond to treatment.

Foaled in 1996, Saegangja was by the sire Fiercely [Danzig – Whirl Series (Roberto)] and out the New Zealand bred mare Exotic Goddess [Nuage d’Or – Rhine Goddess (Rheingold)]. He made his racecourse debut in September 1998, running third of seven in a maiden race over six furlongs. From this relatively inauspicious start he returned the following month to beat an odds-on favourite over five furlongs and was then undefeated in his next fourteen races taking him up until the middle of 2000.

These included victories in the 1999 Chairman’s Trophy, the Munhwa Ilbo Cup and the end of season Grand Prix becoming the first Korean bred winner of arguably the year’s most prestigious race. In the Grand Prix, he was the first of a group of horses to overhaul the tiring Sinsedae, himself winner of 43 races, in the final furlong.

His winning streak was broken in the Owner’s Association Trophy in April 2000 by the unfancied Pisan. He quickly recovered his form, however, retaining the Chairman’s Trophy and Munhwa Ilbo Cup over the following months but with only six runs under his belt for the year, skipped the Grand Prix. In seven races, he made it a hat-trick of Chairman’s Trophies by a neck but, in the first signs he may have reached his peak, suffered losses in the Minister’s Cup and SBS Cup before running third in the Grand Prix.

In 2002, he lost his Chairman’s Trophy title but managed second placings in the Ttukseom Cup and in the Grand Prix while continuing to win top class handicaps. As his careeer wound down, so did his speed failing to win from seven races in 2004. However, in his first race of 2005, he bounced right back to the winner’s encosure in his season debut and added one more before being retired at the age of nine. Saegangja (1996-2009) retired after 58 races, 33 wins, 8 seconds and 5 thirds with career earnings of KRW 1.5 Billion, still a Korean record.

Shaka has a full obituary (in Korean) complete with video. The “And justice for all” blog carries pictures from his retirement.

Cup Mile Day Round-Up

Sangseung Ilro landing the first leg of the Triple Crown was undoubtedly the highlight of the day (video now available here), but there was plenty of other action on the peninsula.

At Seoul, it was another female horse making headlines as Pocketful Of Money made the most of a seven kilo weight advantage to comfortably see off Angus Empire and Seoul Teukgeup. the mare went wire to wire for a five length win in Seoul’s feature race.

Earlier in the day, My Symphony landed a competitive fillies race over 1200 metres. The three year old, making her third start scored her second win. Also winning was Australian bred debutante Jinglebella [Belong To Me – Chandrika (Kenmare)]. The gelding ovetook favourite Big Boss in the final furlong and ran on for a three length win.

At Busan, following the Cup Mile there was a class 1 handicap and New Zealand bred Gunham scored his first victory in almost two years. The seven year old had a long lay off in 2008 and had been well down the field in his two starts since returning. This time, however, he went wire to wire for 2000 metres to defeat a field including Shane Bob, Florida Native and 2008 Busan Metropolitan winner Hardride.

Back to the Cup Mile and the Trifecta (or more accurately “Trio”, as it was pick 3 in any order rather than a trifecta) was launched for the race and punters appear to have embraced it. The Trio pool for the KRA Cup Mile was just under KRW 600 Million (about $450,000) and the first three of Sangseung Ilro, Namdo Jeap and Yeonseung Daero in any order paid 53.6. The pool was larger than that for Quinella Place, however, it was six times smaller than the regular Quinella.

Finally, readers may have noticed Korearacing has finally succumbed to Twitter. As has been discussed elsewhere, Twitter and horse racing – indeed many sports – are potentially a very good fit. The feed will be updated from the track on big racedays where possible (wi-fi is usually blocked at Seoul Race Park to frustrate illegal betting signals but yesterday it wasn’t) and perhaps during the week too. Unfortunately Korearacing cannot guarantee that all updates will be as good/lucky as the first one, pointing out Sangseung Ilro as the value bet for the KRA Cup Mile…

Sangseung Ilro Wins KRA Cup Mile

Filly takes first leg of Triple Crown / Hot favourite finishes third
Sangseung Ilro came through a tough stretch battle with Namdo Jeap to win the fifth running of the KRA Cup Mile and with it the first leg of the 2009 Korean Triple Crown at Busan Race Park this afternoon.

With Yeonseung Daero the odds-on favourite, Sangseung Ilro was sent off fourth in the betting and the filly, one of four in the race, was quickly into her stride as Namdo Jeap under Martin Wepner grabbed the rail and set the early pace. Geumbit Sesang settled into third and the unbeaten Impeccable into fourth as ther raced down the back straight.

Entering the long turn for home, Namdo Jeap had three lengths on the rest while Yeonseung Daero was still on the rail in the middle of the field with plenty to do to find space. Meanwhile Eiki Nishimura on Sangseung Ilro gradually closed the gap until his filly was alongside Namdo Jeap as they began the sprint.

While Kim Eu Su on Yeonseung Daero finally found his run, it would be too late to catch the leading two. For a long time in the stretch it looked as though the race could go either way. Namdo Jeap battled on strongly but Sangseung Ilro finally got her neck in front for the final time in the last furlong and opened out for a length and a half victory.

Sangseung Ilro takes her winning streak to four and while early Oaks favouritism is assured, the pressure will be on for her to go to the Derby at Seoul next month. There could be much more to come from Namdo Jeap too, as he comfortably stayed the Mile distance only to be outsprinted at the last. With Eiki Nishimura and Martin Wepner taking first and second, it was a welcome day in the spotlight for overseas jockeys while some lucky punters cashed exacta tickets at 299.4.

Previously unbeaten Impeccable stayed the distance but while well placed early on, didn’t have the speed to challenge in the later stages. Meanwhile, it was a familiar story for the two Seoul entrants. Neither featured at the business end of the race, Money Teukgeup finishing seventh and Love Cat, backed into third favourite, a very disappointing eleventh.

However, the day belonged to Sangseung Ilro and connections, owner Ryu Yong Sang, trainer Kim Yong Gwan – who also trains second placed Namdo Jeap – and jockey Eiki Nishimura. This year, the KRA is putting more emphasis on races for fillies and mares. With one leg of the Triple Crown complete, a filly is a third of the way to landing the biggest prize of all.

KRA Cup Mile (G.III) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Apr 5, 2009

1. Sangseung Ilro F [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Eiki Nishimura – 17.7
2. Namdo Jeap [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – Martin Wepner – 31.7
3. Yeonseung Daero [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] – Kim Eu Su – 1.5
Distances: 1.5 lengths/1.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Sandeomi; 5. Impeccable; 6. Sky Star; 7. Money Teukgeup; 8. Geumbit Sesang; 9. Power Boy; 10. Pangpang; 11. Love Cat; 12. Dream Wings

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Weekend Preview

It’s the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown and KRA Cup Mile Weekend gets underway at Busan Race Park on Friday afternoon with a ten race card. Seoul then takes over on Saturday before both tracks run a card on Cup Mile day on Sunday. The big race is off at 15:45 on Sunday at Busan (see full preview) and will be simulcasted to Seoul.

Busan Race Park

Friday April 3: 10 races, first post 13:00
Sunday April 5: 6 races, first post 12:40

Seoul Race Park

Saturday April 4: 12 races, first post 11:20
Sunday April 5: 11 races, first post 11:20

Jeju Race Park hosts nine races on Saturday and ten on Sunday. The weather is forecast to be warm, dry and bright. Come Racing!

Twelve Up For Triple Crown Opener

There were no last minute surprise additions and no late withdrawals as the final declarations for Sunday’s KRA Cup Mile at Busan Race Park were published on Wednesday. The unbeaten Impeccable heads the field which will go to post at 15:45.

Leading jockey Ikuyasu Kurakane will partner highly rated Sky Star and there is a first big race ride in Korea for South African jockey Martin Wepner who will take the reins on Namdo Jeap. The race will also see the first trial of Trifecta betting in Korea.

Here is the full list of runners, records and riders:

KRA Cup Mile (G.III) – Busan Race Park – 1600M – Apr 5, 2009

1. Power Boy [Lost Mountain – Keon-Gon Ch’eonggi (Pro For Sure)] C (7/2/3/1) – Lim Sung Sil
Has never gone further than seven furlongs although finished ahead of three of this field last time out – but that was back in January.
2. Geumbit Sesang [Duality – Shawnee Sunset (True Colors)] C (4/3/0/0) – Chae Gyu Jun
Won over the distance in March
3. Yeonseung Daero [Creek Cat – Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] C (7/5/1/1) – Kim Eu Su
Stepped up to class 1 early and finished a creditable third behind Procyon and Ebony Storm over this distance in March. A real chance.
4. Sandeomi [Commendable – Regal Meg (Regal Classic)] C (7/4/0/1) – Jo Chan Hoon
Won over this distance in February although was well beaten by Sky Star last time out. Dropping back to a mile could suit though.
5. Sky Star [Tahamkke – Blue Lark (Ravenwood)] C (8/4/1/0) – Ikuyasu Kurakane
A winner at this distance and at class 2 level. With Busan’s top jockey on board, he’ll have plenty of supporters.
6. Namdo Jeap [Ft. Stockton – Wandering Katie (Tejano)] C (5/3/1/1) – Martin Wepner
On a run of three straight wins but has never gone further than six furlongs. If he gets the trip, this half brother of last year’s winner Rainmaker, will be in contention.
7. Money Teukgeup [Ft. Stockton – Headwork (Silveyville)] C (7/2/3/1) – Shin Hyoung Cheol
A regular placer up at Seoul but has been in weak company so far.
8. Impeccable [Distilled – Belle Breezy (Foolish Pleasure)] C (4/4/0/0) – Park Geum Man
Unbeaten and eased down every time. The one doubt is he’s never gone a mile. His times have been nothing special but they haven’t needed to be. Potentially very good.
9. Pangpang [Revere – Awishnotalark (Rio’s Lark)] F (9/2/0/1) – Choi Si Dae
Finishing out of the money last time out, it would be a surprise if the filly made much of an impact.
10. Sangseung Ilro [Concept Win – Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] F (5/3/1/1) – Eiki Nishimura
Has won her last three races including one over the distance.
11. Dream Wings [Exploit – American Royalty (Alleged)] F (5/2/1/0) – Lee Seung Jae
Finished a long way behind Sangseung Ilro last time.
12. Love Cat [Creek Cat – Love Cue (Curia Regis)] F (8/5/0/2) – Choi Beom Hyun
Seoul’s top filly will have no problems getting the trip and her times suggest that if she takes to the Busan track, she could be in contention. Choi Beom Hyun goes south with her.

2008 Winner: Rainmaker [Revere – Wandering Katie (Tejano)]. Last year’s winner came into the race with two wins and three thirds from his five outings. The Cup Mile was his first attempt at anything over seven furlongs. Rainmaker went on to disappoint in the Korean Derby and suffered a knee injury in the Minister’s Cup at Seoul in October.

Namchonuijijon Set to Defend Ttukseom Cup

Namchonuijijon will look to retain the Group 3 Ttukseom Cup in Seoul’s biggest race of the season so far on Sunday April 12. Going up against him, in a surprise entry, could be stablemate and 2008 Horse of the Year, Myeongmun Gamun.

The Ttkuseom Cup is named to commemorate the old Seoul Racecourse at Ttukseom on the north bank of the River Han. Ttukseom was the sole home of Korean racing from immediately after the Korean War in 1953, until the opening of the new Seoul Race Park at its present home in Gwacheon in 1989. The race is run over seven furlongs and was formerly the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown until that honour was shifted, seemingly permanently, to Busan’s KRA Cup Mile in 2008. However, with a first prize of KRW 132 Million, the Ttukseom Cup remains one of the season’s highlights.

Last year, the then four year old Namchonuijijon held off the grey Baekgwang to record victory by a length. While Baekgwang limped away wih ligament damage that prematurely ended his season, Namchonuijijon went on to disappoint during the rest of 2008 but began his 2009 campaign with a smart victory earlier this month.

If he starts, Myeongmun Gamun will be stepping back down to seven furlongs for the first time since the 2006 running of the race when he finished fifth. Now eight years old, Myeongmun Gamun has seventeen wins from thirty one outings and has only got better with age, 2008 being his most successful season to date. However, he suffered a surprising reverse at the hands of mare Top Point in his only run so far this year. Also among the thirteen early entries are Triple Seven, Taebaek Janggun, Seven Card and Geumsuni.

Meanwhile, this coming Sunday sees the KRA Cup Mile at Busan. Final declarations will be made tomorrow. Gyongmaman will be attending the Football World Cup Qualifier between South Korea and North Korea at Sangam Stadium tomorrow evening so our preview of the big race will be up on Thursday.

Three Go Free

Bang, Moon, Jung go freelance / Park Soo Hong warned off
Three more jockeys have taken on freelance status at Seoul Race Park bringing the total number of unattached riders to twenty out of the sixty-one currently holding a license. Bang Choon Sik, Moon Jung Kyun and Jung Ki Young are the latest to go it alone.

The main benefit to being freelance is that the jockey can ride in as many races per week as he can find a mount for. Jockeys who are attached to a stable are limited to a maximum of five race rides per week. Figures released by the KRA last year showed that freelance jockeys had an average of 9.6 mounts per week whereas stable jockeys had 3.4. Average earnings for freelancers was over KRW 12 Million per month compared with KRW 5 Million per month for retained riders.

The figures do hide a disparity between the freelancers, however. The top freelance jockeys, such as Moon Se Young or Park Tae Jong, who will pick up a ride in nearly every race over a weekend – a large proportion of them well-fancied – will earn much more whereas most will earn far less.

This has particularly been true for the overseas riders who have often struggled to get mounts in their early days in Korea. All overseas riders are given freelance status and while it can work out very well, as for Toshio Uchida and now Ikuyasu Kurakane at Busan, it can take a long time to get established. With the race fee less than KRW 60,000 per ride, freelance jockeys need to consistently be getting quality rides to make ends meet.

In other jockey news, Park Soo Hong, who rode Subsidy to victory in the 2005 Owner’s Trophy and Grand Prix races, has been permanently warned off by the KRA for passing on inside information. Local media reported at the weekend that thirty four year old Park confessed to police that he accepted money for information. A groom and a trainer also found to have been involved, were handed lesser penalties.

Shock Defeat for Nice Choice

Passing on next week’s KRA Cup Mile to focus fully on May’s Korean Derby, Seoul’s 2008 Champion juvenile Nice Choice looked set to continue his stately progress towards the year’s top prize with a warm up race at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Stepping up to class 2 for the first time but with a less than initimidating field to contend with, the Lost Mountain colt was sent off the 1.2 favourite.

Punters were in for a shock, however. Bouncing out of the gate first was Jo In Kwen on six year old Holeinonefive and they led into the first corner of the 1800 metre Derby distance race. Dream Runner slotted into second, outsider Gamunhuye third and Moon Se Young on Nice Choice into fourth.

Holeinonefive continued to lead through the back straight and there were nervous moments for backers of Nice Choice as the colt seemed to be crowded in on the rails. Moon Se Young managed to extricate them, however, and as they rounded the home turn, they were looking well placed for the sprint. They had reckoned without Holeinonefive still having the energy for a sprint and starting with a length’s advantage, the older horse matched the colt stride for stride all the way to the line.

It was Holeinonefive’s first win in nearly a year and the sixth of his career. For Nice Choice, the setback breaks a streak of four straight wins. He remains Derby favourite but, after they take care of their home track classic next Sunday, Busan’s Derby hopefuls may look north with a little less apprehension.

On what was otherwise a low key day’s racing at Seoul, the feature race went the way of Dankee’s Pal. The US bred five year old saw off a field including Yodongseong, Obaek Yechan and Saerounbisul, by two lengths.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Top Points for Hongji

Tiffanyuikkum holds on / Blue Pin, Happy Queen win
In a final furlong battle, six year old Hongji outsprinted hot favourite Top Point to take this afternoon’s feature race at Seoul Race Park. Although it was outsider Tough Energy who made the early running in the 2000 metre test, the two big hitters, Hongji and Top Point slotted straight into third and second places just a length off the leader.

Entering the home straight, it was Moon Se Young on the mare Top Point who made his move first, hitting the front as Tough Energy tired. However, Jo In Kwen got Hongji into his stride as well and the duel was on. With half a furlong to go, it looked like Top Point may hold on but Hongji had more in reserve, getting his nose in front with just thirty metres remaining and keeping it there for a half length win.

With the victory, Hongji moves onto nine career victories. Top Point, following her upset of Secret Weapon and Myeongmun Gamun in January, remains on eleven from nineteen starts

One race earlier, Australian import Tiffanyuikkum continued his recent run of good form, but only just. Park Tae Jong had the four year old in a winning position on the rails with a furlong to go but was left hanging on as Baramsan under Moon Jung Kyun launched a late challenge down the centre of the track. The line came soon enough though and Tiffanyuikkum, a late developer scored his third win from three outings so far this year.

In other races, there was a second win for improving three year old Blue Pin. The colt edged out Money Pokpung and New Kaiser in a tight finish to race 8. Blue Pin was the second of three wins for jockey Cho Kyoung Ho who took race 1 on the impressive Khanui Jeguk and then race 9 on the equally impressive filly Happy Queen.

Tomorrow, the first of eleven races comes under orders at 11:20. Busan gets underway at 12:40 and Jeju at 12:10.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL