Weekend Preview – July 11-13

Golding looking for form at Busan / Gamadongja, Top Point and Playing Politics go at Seoul
The weekend’s racing gets underway at Busan Race Park on Friday afternoon with a nine race card starting at 13:00. There’s a double feature with seperate handicaps for foreign and domestic bred horses. The foreign one is up first where Golding (29 runs/14 wins) seeks to return to winning ways after three consecutive second placed finishes. The six year old is going to have it all to do, however, as at 61.5 kilos, he’ll be carrying seven kilos more than the rest of the field. In the domestic handicap, Sinjin Gangja (18/8 ) heads the field along with Boryeong Bulbit (16/7). There will also be six further races at Busan on Sunday with the first off at 12:40.

Seoul Race Park has cards on both Saturday and Sunday with the start time 11:20 both days. Saturday sees a small field contest the feature race of twelve, a category 1 handicap for foreign bred horses with Gamadongja (10/5) heading the weights. On Sunday there’s eleven races with a similarly small field contesting the feature where Top Point (13/8 ) is the biggest name on show. Earlier in the day the three year old hot property, New Zealand bred Playing Politics (2/2) will make his third outing, stepping up to 1700 metres in race 6, three weeks after breaking the track record over 1300 metres. Jeju also has racing on Saturday and Sunday starting at 12:20.

The second weekend of July is usually the start of evening racing at Seoul Race Park when, to avoid the worst of the heat, racing would start in the middle of the afternoon and continue until late into the evening. This year, however, for the first time since racing moved to Gwacheon twenty years ago, the KRA has decided not to hold night racing, citing the need to save energy as its reason. Post time for the first race will therefore continue to be 11:20am

Natural Nine and Baekpa entered for SBS

Four year olds Natural Nine – runner-up in the 2007 Derby and winner of this year’s Sports Chosun Cup and Baekpa, winner of the 2007 Oaks and recent conqueror of Namchonuijijon are both entered for the SBS Cup which takes place at Seoul Race Park on Sunday July 20. Also among only eight entries is the seven year old Myeongmun Gamun, winner of the 2007 President’s Cup and a horse that has never been out of the money in his 25 races amassing nearly KRW 1 Billion in prizes. It will be Myeongmun Gamun’s first outing since being forcibly withdrawn when long odds-on favourite for refusing to enter the stalls in a handicap in May. We’ll have the full line-up once the field has been confirmed this time next week.

Samsimnyeonsarang lands Sports Seoul

Second favourite takes fillies’ Cup / Namchonuijijon beaten again
Samsimnyeonsarang (4.4) won a hard fought home straight duel with favourite Daehyo (2.4) to land the KRW 63Million Sports Seoul Cup, one of the biggest fillies races of the season leading up to the Korean Oaks. Having disappointed in the two Colt’s Classics in her two previous outings, Samsimnyeonsarang, ridden by Lee Dong Kuk, set the early pace while Park Tae Jong on Daehyo sat towards the back of the twelve-strong field. Park made his move as they kicked for home and Daehyo looked to be best placed as they hit the furlong pole. Samsimnyeonsarang, however, had energy in reserve and regained the lead in the final 100 metres to win by a length with Daehyo just holding off the fast-finishing Baram Queen (6.5) for second.

Namchonuijijon was back in action in race 10 with connections looking to bounce back from the four year old’s shock defeat at the hands of Baekpa last month. That defeat is not looking so shocking anymore though as the 1.3 favourite never featured finishing a well beaten fifth behind six-year old mare Jeongtongseong (17.2). Second in the Oaks in 2005, Jeongtongseong had won just one of her five starts in 2008 up to today but she started quickly and kept on the shoulder of pace-setter Seocheon Yangban (53.3) until taking up the lead as they rounded the final turn. As Shin Hyoung Chul tried in vain to get a run out of Namchonuijijon, Nujindo (15.6) was the biggest danger, but Cho Kyoung Ho was able to keep Jeontongseong in front for a length and a half win with Northern Victor (11.5) in third. Namchonuijijon finished fifth. Being beaten by Baekpa was excused by virtue of Baekpa being a very fine horse – this time four old-stagers beat the horse many predicted to be the star-performer of 2008.

Cho Kyoung Ho and Moon Se Young both scored doubles but it was a tougher day for Chris Taylor. Following his debut win yesterday, he opened with a fifth placed finish on Jiljuyuhok (29.0) in race 1 but things went downhill from there with Silent Flirt (219.8 ) in race 3 finishing last and the horse later being banned form running for two months. This was followed by riding Balgeunhuimang (20.2) to ninth in race 4 and then, in race 7, the moderately fancied Gangcheonsan (22.1) refused to run when the stalls were opened. Eventually, the horse cantered round the track 30 seconds behind the field in a race which was won by Won Jung Il on 102.6 outsider Black Pumpkin. No fault was attached to Taylor for the performance of either Silent Flirt or Gangcheonsan which also received a two month ban for further schooling.

At Busan Race Park there was a first win for another new overseas jockey with Japanese rider Kazuyuki Watase guiding three year old Thor (3.5) to victory in race 1. Watase made his debut on Friday and he wasn’t the only Japanese jockey in the winner’s enclosure this afternoon as Toshio Uchida landed race 5 on Yongdu Baram (4,6). Feature race at Busan was won by second favourite Gongnopae (5.8 ), half a length in front of Storm Rider (82.3) and favourite Gamun Bobae (3.9).

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Chris Taylor marks debut with winner

South African jockey Chris Taylor made a winning start to his Korean career, landing the 1700 metre, KRW 30Million race 12 on Kronos (11.4) at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Coming out of stall 8, Taylor settled Kronos into the middle of the field as the early pace was set by Ikuyasu Kurakane on Neungnyeokchungman (17.9) and then taken up in the back straight by strong favourite Guarantee (1.6). Taylor steadily made gains as they crested the turn, entering the home straight in fifth and running wide to find a run. It looked like Guarantee was going to hold on for a time but the four year old Kronos was by far the quicker of three fast finishers, hitting the front with 30 metres remaining and taking victory by a length from Neungnyeokchungman and Seungundaeseung (10.6). Guarantee, the first runner out of the stable of recently retired jockey Woo Chang Gu, finished fouth.

It was a fine end to what had been a tough first day’s racing for Taylor. On a wet day in Seoul, his first mount, Seonghwangsan (175.2) in race 3 finished thirteenth from fourteen and his next two, Giant Tsunami (218.9) in race 4 and Galsaek Maeryeok (223.2) in race 5, were tailed off last and pulled-up respectively. With Kronos, however, he was finally given a horse with which he could show what he could do. Taylor will be back with a further four rides tomorrow.

Feature race of the day was a domestic category 2 handicap which saw a comfortable win for Hwanggeum Mulgyeol (6.7) by three lengths from Chamgippeum (5.4) and favourite Happy Go (1.7). Lee Ae Li took Hwanggeum Mulgyeol into a six length lead in the back straight and although the field had closed the gap by the final turn, the five year old had plenty in reserve for the sprint. In a similar handicap for foreign bred horses, favourite Pocketful of Money (1.4) scored a similarly dominant victory for Moon Se Young, leading from start to finish for a five length win from Value Play (6.0) with a long gap to outsider Runaway Angel (90.1) in third. Jockey of the day was Ikuyasu Kurakane who landed a treble with wins on Burning Believe (14.8 ) in race 5, Quick and Glory (9.1) in race 7 and Crocap (3.2) in race 9.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FRIDAY’S RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Weekend Preview

Racing gets underway at 11:20 at Seoul Race Park on both Saturday and Sunday with twelve races on Saturday and eleven on Sunday.  Highlight of the weekend is the Sports Seoul Cup, one of the year’s biggest races for three year old fillies which is race 9 on Sunday.  Also on Sunday, Ttukseom Cup winner Namchonuijijon makes his first appearance since his surprise defeat at the hands of Baekpa last month.  There’s racing at Busan on Sunday starting at 12:40 and Jeju will be hoping for a better weekend after last week’s cancellation with cards underway on both Saturday and Sunday at 12:20.

Busan Preview

The first card of the second half of 2008 gets underway at Busan Race Park at 13:00 on Friday. Highlight of the nine race card is an 1800 metre handicap for domestic-bred horses with the weights co-headed by Widaehan Bonneung (28 runs/10 wins) and Areumdaun Jilju (12/7), the four year old Areumdaun Jilju being in much better form of late. Busan will also host a six race card of Sunday with the highlight being a similar handicap for foreign-bred runners where Gukje Sinmun Cup winner Angle Slam and six year old Hwanggeumbit Taeya top the weights.

Four track records fall in June

June has seen four of the ten track records at Seoul Race Park broken:

1300 Metres: The New Zealand bred Playing Politics took nine tenths of a second off the 1300 metre record on June 21 to set a new time of 1:19.1. (Video – needs Internet Explorer)

1800 Metres: Milwaukee Special (Canada) took a two length win in a record time of 1:52.09 on June 29.

1900 Metres: Dashing Champ becomes the only Korean bred horse to currently hold a track record taking a tenth of a second off the 1900 metre record in a time of 2:00.1 on June 22.

2000 Metres: Saerounbisul (New Zealand) landed the Seoul Owner’s Association trophy in a record time of 2:05.0. (Video)

The only records standing for more than year are those of Bally Brae over 1200 metres set in 2006, Island Fever over 2300 metres in 2005 and the longest one, Jin Gom Da Ri, at the seldom used distance of 2200 metres set way back in 1992.

Ebony Storm second, Rainmaker nowhere

Yeongung Manse upsets Classic winners at Busan / Secret Weapon edges out Galsaem at Seoul
Yeongung Manse (6.1) gatecrashed what was supposed to be the battle of the two Classic winners in the feature race at Busan Race Park this afternoon, overhauling Derby winner Ebony Storm (2.7) in a final furlong battle to take a half length victory over 1800 metres. Punters had forgiven KRA Cup Mile winner Rainmaker for his disappointing showing in the Derby and sent him off the marginal 2.6 favourite but, on a wet track, it was Janggun Sinhwa (16.7) under Jo Seung Gon who made the early running with Toshio Uchida on Ebony Storm on his shoulder while Rainmaker sat at the back. As they exited the final turn, those looking for a run from Rainmaker were to be disappointed as it was Yeongung Manse who emerged from the pack to take on the leaders. Ebony Storm drifted slightly across the track and Jo Chang Wook coaxed a blistering final furlong from Yeongung Manse to take the half length win with Janggun Sinhwa in third. There was then a ten length gap to Jageun Taeyang in fourth with Rainmaker never featuring in seventh.

Yeongung Manse went off third favourite and recorded his fifth win from eight starts. As a gelding, he wasn’t eligible for either the KRA Cup Mile or the Derby but showed his class today in beating the winners of both those races. Ebony Storm’s connections need not be too downhearted as it was a strong run and he might have won but for the drifting in the straight, proving the shock Derby win was not just down to the conditions. Two disappointing performances in a row from Rainmaker, however, are a greater concern.

At Seoul, only six horses contested the feature handicap and it went exactly to form as Secret Weapon (1.5) held off Galsaem (3.4) for the win. It wasn’t easy, however, as Galsaem showed more fight than she has recently pushing Secret Weapon all the way to the line of the 2000 metre handicap and was perhaps a touch unlucky to be half a length behind at the finish. Secret Weapon moves on to 13 wins from 26 starts while Galsaem remains stuck on 16 from 32, without a win from six outings in 2008.

Secret Weapon was ridden by Park Tae Jong and was Park’s third winner of the day following earlier victories on similarly fancied Seonggonchulbal (1.5) in race 5 and Beautiful Sky (7.0) in race 6. Kim Hyo Seob landed an early double with wins on Taesanbukdu (2.9) in race 1 and Black Bird (10.1) in race 3. Moon Se Young made a return to the saddle after 5 race days out and it took him only until race 2 to make his mark with victory on Yujoseon (1.7), however, it was to be his only win of the day and he faces being called before the stewards for possible inteference when guiding Sinheung Gangho to third place in the feature.

There was no racing at Jeju Race Park today because of fog limiting visibiliy to unsafe levels. Jeju is feeling the full force of this monsoon season with an abandonment last week, two races cancelled yesterday and now a complete cancellation today. So far, however, and despite forecasts, both Seoul and Busan have completely ecaped the monsoon. The feature race next weekend is at Seoul in the form of Sunday’s Sports Seoul Cup and hopefully we’ll see more of the same weather-wise.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Saturday Review

Brilliant Knight & KJ Khan win / Seungyu Sinhwa lands feature
Seungyu Sinhwa landed his second handicap win of the month with victory in the feature at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Starting the 2.1 favourite, the Kim Ok Sung ridden six-year-old, held off the challenge of long time leader Geumbittuhon (4.9) to take the 2000 metre category 1 race by half a length. It was Seungyu Sinhwa’s eleventh win from a career of twenty eight races. Another six year old, Special Party (7.7) took the day’s second most valuable race with a a half length win over Julino Price (13.7).

American import Brilliant Knight made his second racecourse appearance in race 6. The son of Lion Hearted had easily won his debut race over 1200 metres four weeks ago and the three year old gelding had things similarly his own way stepping up to 1300 metres today. Ridden by Park, Soo Hong, Brilliant Knight (1.2) jumped into the lead out of the stalls and led all the way eventually winning by six lengths. Brilliant Knight joins Playing Politics and Shaving Points in a small group of very exciting recent imports and hopefully their paths will cross on the track soon.

After disappointing last time out another three year old import, Japanese bred K J Khan was back on form in race 7. Punters were not deterred by his surprise fourth place finish earlier in the month and once again sent him off the strong favourote at 1.5. This time he didn’t disappoint as Park Tae Jong guided him to a one and a half length victory from Nice Friend (4.7) over 1400 metres. It was Park’s only victory of the day and only Shim Seung Tae managed a double with wins on favourote Vimoksa (1.6) in race 6 and Junior Shards (13.9) in race 9. Unluckiest jockey of the day was Cho Kyoung Ho who managed five seconds but no wins. A light drizzle fell on the track for most of the day and unsettled weather is predicted tomorrow when the first of eleven races is off at 11:20. Busan Race Park’s card starts at 12:40 and Jeju’s at 12:20.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Namdo Jijon wins / Florida Native beaten

Busan Review
Namdo Jijon, third in the Korean Derby, was in dominant form at Busan Race Park today, landing a category 2 allowance race by an impressive eight lengths. The 1.4 favourite, ridden by Kim Eu Su, led from start to finish of the 1400 metre race to comfortable claim the KRW 31Million first prize. It was only the second win of Namdo Jijon’s nine-race career, however, the three year old has never finished worse than fourth.

The feature handicap, a KRW 42 Million race over 1800 metres was inpressively won by Namdo Choegang (10.0) who hit the front as they crested the top of the home straight and went on to win by four lengths from favourite Florida Native (3.2) and Wonder Love (5.5). Elsewhere there were wins for Sinheung Gangja (3.7) in race 8, a category 2 handicap, and also for Wakeup America. Apart from in his first race, the interestingly named three year old son of West Acre has never finished worse than third, but he had to battle for his fourth career victory today, the 2.3 favourite overhauling King’s Stride (18.0) in the final few strides to win by a nose.

Racing returns to Busan on Sunday with the first of six races under orders at 12:40.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN