Jeolho Chance heads Oaks field of fourteen

A full field of fourteen will contest the Korean Oaks which will be run Sunday at Busan Race Park. Only two Seoul based horses have made the journey to South Gyeongsang province with the capital’s hopes resting on Baram Queen and Gate Way to break Busan’s stranglehold on this year’s classics.

They will have their work cut out, however, with the likes of Jeolho Chance and Gaya Gongju having already proved themselves over the distance and against older horses. In addition to being run at Busan for the first time, this year’s Oaks has seen an almost doubling of prize money with the winner taking home KRW 228Million.

The Oaks is race 5 of a 6 race card on Sunday August 10 with a post time of 15:45. Full list of runners and riders:

Korean Oaks (G II) 1800M – Busan Race Park – Aug.10, 15:45

1. Arch Racer – (9/2/2/1) – Toshio Uchida
Won over 1200 metres last time and has been improving with every race. Uchida’s booking will ensure she has some support.
2. Gate Way – (13/3/3/0) – Lim Sung Shil
One of the two Seoul entrants, Gate Way has had a good early summer winning two from her last three and, albeit against lesser opposition.
3. Gaya Gongju – (10/4/3/1) – Kim Eu Su
One of only two in the field to have achieved category 1 status already, Gaya Gongju finished eigth in the KRA Cup Mile, winning and running second in a handicap since.
4. Jakjunmyeongnyeong – (9/2/2/1) – Chae Kyu Jun
Her two wins have come in sprints and she has struggled in all three outings greater than 1200 metres.
5. Teukgeuphaegyeolsa – (11/3/1/2) – Gu Young Jun
Finished 11th of 12 in her only category 2 outing last time but had shown steady improvement up until then.
6. Myeongpumjilju – (11/1/4/3) – Choi Si Dae
A consistent placer if not winner, led a category 2 handicap last time until being overtaken by two older colts in the final 100 metres.
7. Galsaek Geotap – (7/3/1/0) – Jo Chang Wook
Struggled in her only race at a distance over 1200 metres so far, but beat Myeongpumjilju last time the pair met when the latter started hot favourite.
8. Useung Party – (4/3/0/0) – Yoo Hyun Myoung
Won her first three races before stepping up in class and being found wanting over 1600 metres, finishing sixth.
9. Jeolho Chance (11/5/1/1) – Jo Chan Hoon
A third place finish in the KRA Cup mile caused her to start the Derby as second favourite. She finished ninth but back in Busan scored a wire to wire five length win in a category 1 handicap over 2000 metres. Finished 4th in a similar race last time and is the one to beat.
10. Sunpunge Dotdanbae – (10/3/1/2) – Kim Tae Kyung
A steady performer with 2 of her 3 wins coming against decent opposition.
11. Baram Queen – (11/2/3/2) – Nozomu Tomizawa
Seoul’s other entrant, her last run was an impressive 3rd in the Sports Seoul Cup behind two fillies who don’t make the journey down, Samsinyeonsarand and Daehyo. Nozomu Tomizawa has ridden her in every race and will take the ride in Busan too.
12. Daehan Dolpung – (13/2/4/3) – Kim Tae Jun
Landed a smart win over a tough field just two weeks ago over 1800 metres and has been very consistent in 2008.
13. Achim Noeul – (7/3/0/0) – Kim Myoung Shin
Has run once a month in 2008 and has alternated brilliance with mediocrity.
14. Bugyeong Sarang – (11/2/2/2) – Jo Seung Gon
Her two wins were over 1200 metres and she had a hard time in her last race against category 2 horses.

Shaving Points and Playing Politics could clash in YTN

This year’s two most exciting three year old imports to Seoul are both entered in the YTN Cup to be run over 1900 metres at Seoul Race Park on Sunday August 17. Shaving Points and Playing Politics both have three runs with three wins to their names and their eventual meeting is one of the most anticipated in Korean racing.

Shaving Points, son of Pure Precision, hasn’t run since the end of May when he cantered to an easy win over 1700 metres. He was initially entered in the Owner’s Association Trophy but was withdrawn. Playing Politics, son of Outflanker and a half brother of Bally Brae (through their dam, Political Bluff), only debuted the day before Shaving Points’ last outing and broke the track record over 1300 metres before going on to secure a similarly easy 1700 metre win.

There are 15 entries at this stage and also on the list are three year olds Cheonjidolpung (Tactical Cat) with four wins from eight, Noubeau Riche (Beau Genius) with five from eight and Vicar Love (Vicar) who has four from seven. Full preview next Thursday.

Moon still way out in front

Despite yet another weekend on the sidelines through suspension, it is hard to imagine Moon Se Young being caught at the top of the jockey’s table. He holds a lead of 13 over nearest rival Cho Kyoung Ho and is just 43 short of Park Tae Jong’s record of 120 in a single year. Park still maintains a clear third place while four winners on Sunday takes Choi Beom Hyun into fourth ahead of Ikuyasu Kurakane:

1. Moon Se Young 77
2. Cho Kyoung Ho 64
3. Park Tae Jong 47
4. Choi Beom Hyun 32
5. Ikuyasu Kurakane 30

Six KRA Jockey school graduates debuted over the weekend, all having two rides with the exception of Kim Cheol Ho who picked up a third as a late replacement. Kim was the only one of the newcomers to place over the weekend.  Thanks to the reader who pointed out that Yu Mi Ra’s first ride on Saturday was on the filly “Charming Girl”, finishing sixth. Of last year’s graduates, Yoo Seung Wan has been the most successful with 22 winners to date

Wonju Jangsa scores shock Cup win

Outsider wins by three lengths / Subsidy beaten again
Wonju Jangsa, a 68.9 outsider, stunned the field to land the Munhwa Ilbo Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Nice Champ was sent off the 3.0 favourite and the Kim Hyo Seob ridden four year old made the pace out of the gate and through the back straight with last year’s runner-up Samdobong (14.2) just behind. As they turned for home, however, it was Choi Beom Hyun on Wonju Jangsa and Park Soo Hong on Eoullimnyeongung (8.7) who emerged from the field with Wonju Jangsa proving the strongest by three lengths. Nice Champ ran on for third.

Wonju Jangsa shares a sire with J.S. Hold but until today the gelding had shown little of his illustrious relative’s ability. The win takes him on to a career recrd of three wins from seventeen starts and nearly doubles his career earnings. Other more fancied entries, Mansebose (4.7) and Top Value (3.5) finished down the field.

The Munhwa Ilbo Cup win capped a fine day for Choi Beom Hyun with Wonju Jangsa his fourth winner having won on Alydar The Ruler (2.0) in race 5, Jisangyeogeol (16.4) in race 6 and Wonder Wonder (2.6) in race 8. In other jockey news, Kim Cheol Ho became the first of this year’s new intake to make his mark on the placings scoring an unlikely third place on 152.2 shot Ganghannara in race 3.

It wasn’t a good day for Subsidy. The eight year old went off the 2.2 favourite in the feature handicap but was never in contention finshing a well beaten sixth. The race was won in impressive style by Seungyu Sinhwa (5.8 ), Park Soo Hong guiding the six year old to a seven length victory from Value Play (12.2).

Busan Race Park put on a low key card. The feature race was won by favourite Yongdu Baram (2.2), yet another winner for Toshio Uchida, a length and a half ahead of Choegang Brand (2.7).

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Seoul Review – Easy for Secret Weapon

1.2 favourite strolls up / New jockeys debut
Secret Weapon needed to do little more than canter round the track to dispose of his rivals in the feature at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Park Tae Jong took the five year old 1.2 favourite to the front out of the gate of the 2000 metre handicap and despite giving at least five kilos to every other horse in the race, took a six length win easing up. Second favourite Totoro (9.4) was the distant second.

In the day’s second feature, third favourite Luxury Queen (3.9) put in a smart final furlong to take a KRW 30Million category 3 race, just edging out Eunjokbong (3.8 ) by half a length. The mare was ridden by Ikuyasu Kurakane, who also enjoyed victory in the following race on Yodongseong (3.6). It was the three year old American bred colt’s third win from six starts and his first at category 3. The pace was set throughout by Lee Ae Li on Seorin (7.5) but when Ikuyasu opened up the sprint, Yeodongseong went on to win by a clear five lengths with Seorin hanging on for second.

Aside from Ikuyasu, Park Soo Hong also landed a double but it was Park Tae Jong who once again took the biggest haul. Park’s procession on Secret Weapon followed on from earlier victories on the two year old Choisangbong (2.3) in race 2 and on Operaman (2.4) finally winning at the tenth attempt in race 6.

Five jockeys, recent graduates of the KRA’s jockey school, made their debuts today. Park Byung Yoon, Yoo Mi Ra and Cho In Kwon all featured in race 1 and Kim Cheol Ho and Park Si Won took their bows later. As expected, given their mounts, none of the five troubled the placings and all will be back tomorrow along with another newcomer, Kim Dong Min.

Yet again the latter half of the card was run in pouring rain with the weather forecast again deterring many racegoers. Tomorrow is forecast to be similarly unsettled for the Munhwa Ilbo Cup. Race 1 is at 11:20.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Busan Review

Widaehan Bonneung lands feature as Uchida trebles again
Toshio Uchida further cemented his position as top jockey at Busan Race Park this afternoon with another three wins. The Japanese took the feature handicap on top weight and favourite Widaehan Bonneung (3.2), hitting the front as they turned for home and going on for a two length win from second favourite Choego Jangseong (4.3). It was a return to form for the six year old Widaehan Bonneung who, apart from a win in February, had disappointed this year.

Earlier, Uchida had taken the honours on Haetsalgachi (4.2) in race 2 and Peace Mind (4,2) in race 8. Race 6 was a competitive KRW 31Million category 2 race for foreign bred runners with victory taken by Saeroun Bulpae (1.9), the three year old filly running on for an impressive five length win over Namsanui Jeonggi (6.2) with second favourite King Kephalos (2.7) a further five lengths back in third.

For Saeroun Bulpae, it was a fourth win from ten races and seven races since she’s been out of the placings. Racing returns to Busan on Sunday with a six race card starting at 12:40.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Weekend Preview – Munhwa Ilbo Cup

Thirteen go in Cup / Subsidy and Secret Weapon head handicap fields
Racing is back at Seoul Race Park this weekend and the highlight is the Munhwa Ilbo Cup, a category 2 test for domestic bred horses over 2000 metres with a first pize of KRW 58Million. There’s a field of thirteen colts and geldings with three year olds Sichuseon, winner of the Netizen’s Day Race, and Cheonnyeonbulpae, fourth in this year’s Derby up against older horses including second and third in the Sports Chosun Cup, Nice Champ and Mansebose. Also running is last year’s runner-up, Samdobong and Top Value, who had a promising three year old season last year. The race is off at 17:00 on Sunday. Full list of runners and riders (Stall/Name/Record/Sex/Age/Jockey):

1. Tough Energy (31/4/2/5) – C, 5 – Ji Ha Ju
2. Top Value (11/4/2/3) – C, 4 – Park Tae Jong
3. Yeongshil Jeonggi (29/3/4/2) – G, 5 – Lee Shin Young
4. Mansebose (21/5/3/1) – G, 5 – Kim Seok Bong
5. Nice Champ (15/4/3/4) – C, 4 – Kim Hyo Seob
6. Cheonnyeonbulpae (8/2/4/0) – C, 3 – Cho Kyoung Ho
7. Borkhan (34/2/4/7) – C, 5 – Shin Hyoung Cheol
8. Proud Boy (30/4/3/3) – C, 6 – Kim Dong Cheol
9. Wonju Jangsa (16/2/3/2) – G, 5 – Choi Beom Hyun
10. Eoullimnyeongung (18/4/4/0) – G, 4 – Park Soo Hong
11. Sichuseon (10/3/0/2) – G, 3 – Oh Kyoung Hoan
12. Samdobong (16/4/4/3) – C, 5 – Jung Ki Young
13. New Rider (28/4/2/2) – C, 5 – Ikuyasu Kurakane

Sunday also sees a category 1 foreign bred handicap with 2005 Horse of the Year Subsidy looking to bounce back from disappointment in the Owner’s Association Trophy. The eight year old will be top weight, carrying 60kg ahead of Haengun Daewang. Unusually Subsidy won’t be the oldest horse in the race as nine year olds Daiwa Arazi and Value Play also go.

Saturday’s card is headed by Secret Weapon (25runs/13wins) taking on seven challengers over 2000 metres in race 11. Racing on both Saturday and Sunday gets underway at 11:20 with twelve races on Saturday and eleven on Sunday. Jeju also holds a card both days while Busan will follow up its Friday card with a six race card on Sunday beginning at 12:40.

Busan Preview

After last weekend off, racing returns to the peninsula on Friday when the usual nine race-card at Busan Race Park gets underway at 13:00. Feature race is the last, a category 1 handicap with Widaehan Bonneung topping the weights. Earlier there is a useful category 2 race involving some of the more exciting three year old foreign bred horses such as King Kephalos who has three wins and a second from his six outings so far. Also lining up will be Sarounbulpae, who has placed in all but two of her nine races, as has the American bred Namsanui Jeonggi.

Sunday will see a six race card at Busan beginning at 12:40 with no category 1 races. Focus on Sunday, however, will be more on Seoul Race Park and the Munhwa Ilbo Cup of which we will have a full preview tomorrow.

Busan prepares to take Oaks bow

With less than a fortnight to go until the 2008 Korean Oaks, there are fourteen entries for the fillies classic which this year will be held at Busan Race Park for the first time. So far, only two Seoul based horses are slated to make the trip south for the third classic of the year, with both the KRA Cup Mile and Korean Derby having been dominated by Busan horses.

Jeolho Chance (10 runs/5wins), third in the Cup Mile, and Gaya Gongju (10/4) are the top rated entries. Jeolho Chance went off second favourite in the Korean Derby in May and despite finishing well back, recovered to take a 2000 metre category 1 handicap back on home ground at Busan last month. Gaya Gongju most recently finished second over the distance in a category 2 handicap. Also in the field is Useung Party (4/3), a horse who comfortably won her first three races before failing to stay 1600 metres last time.

Seoul’s two entries are the improving Gate Way (13/3) and Baram Queen (11/2) who ran third in the Sports Seoul Cup last time out. Seoul’s poor performance so far this year has been subject to various theories. These have included the Busan track being tougher and therefore providing a better training ground, the unfamiliarity of Seoul jockeys with Busan in the Cup Mile (Busan runners in the Derby were ridden by Seoul jockeys) and simply Busan owners having bought more wisely. Either way, it is hard to see the domination being broken just yet.

The Oaks is race 5 of a 6 race card on Sunday August 10 and is off at 15:35. It is over 1800 metres with first place prize money of KRW 228Million, an increase of nearly KRW 100 Million from last year when Baekpa scored a five length win. We’ll have a full preview and detailed run down of the field next Wednesday.

SA names 2008 Jockey Challenge entrant

South Africa has named its entrant for this year’s International Jockey Challenge which will be held at Seoul Race Park on the weekend of October 4/5. Following on from Gerrit Schlechter’s win in last year’s event, fellow Eastern Cape rider Greg Cheyne will be participating in the four-race competition. Cheyne is the reigning Eastern Cape champion and currently lies fifth in the national standings. See full report on Gold Circle.