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

Classic winners to face off at Busan

Weekend Preview: June 27-29
This year’s two classic winners will meet once again in the feature race at Busan Race Park this coming Sunday. KRA Cup winner Rainmaker will have the chance to avenge his Korean Derby defeat at the hands of rank outsider Ebony Storm as the two are the star names in a field of thirteen who will line up for the KRW 42Million handicap which will be off at 16:30. Kim Tae Kyung will ride Rainmaker and Toshio Uchida has been handed the Derby winner. The race heads a card of six races on Sunday with the first off at 12:40. Friday sees the usual nine race card at Busan with the first under orders at 13:00. Hangye Geukbok heads the weights in the feature handicap off at 17:10 which also includes Florida Native and Wonder Love.

As usual, Seoul Race Park holds cards on Saturday and Sunday with the first race off at 11:20 both days. Feature race of the weekend attracts only seven runners as Galsaem and Secret Weapon go head to head over 200 metres in race 10 on Sunday. Both horses have win rates of over 50% despite having run over fifty races between them. Secret Weapon is the horse in form though, and top weight, with Galsaem yet to win in five outings in 2008. There is also a ten race card at Jeju Race Park on Saturday and Sunday with the first off at 12:20 both days.

Chris Taylor heads new jockey list

South African Chris Taylor was among eight new jockeys officially added to the roster at Seoul Race Park last week. The twenty nine year old made his debut in South Africa in 1995 but has spent much of his career racing in the middle east in Qatar and Dubai. Taylor, who has signed an initial six month contract with the KRA, will ride freelance and will take the tally of foreign jockeys currently riding in Korea to five along with Ikuyasu Kurakane and Nozomu Tomizawa at Seoul and Danny Craven and Toshio Uchida at Busan. To find out a little more about Taylor, here is an interview he gave to SAHorseracing.com back in 2006.

The seven other newcomers are all graduates of the KRA’s jockey academy. They are:

Kim Dong Min (b. 1986)
Kim Cheol Ho (b. 1987)
Park Byung Yun (b. 1987)
Park, Si Chon (b. 1983)
Yu Mi Ra (b. 1984) – Yu becomes the fourth female jockey to gain a license at Seoul
Cho In Kwon (b. 1987)

Owner’s Cup Day round-up

Dashing Champ wins handicap / Baengnokgunji lands Jeju Ilbo Cup
Saerounbisul’s win in a closely fought Seoul Owner’s Cup (full report) was the highlight of an eleven race card at Seoul Race Park. It was jockey Park Tae Jong’s second win in the race, having been successful on Port Omen in 2001 and it was his second of the day having guided Taehwangseong (3.7) home in race 8. The feature handicap was won by Dashing Champ (10.0), the Ham Wan Sik ridden five year old finishing a length ahead of top weight and favourite Hongji (2.3) with Balhaejanggun (2.8 ) a close third. Shin Hyoung Chul also scored a double with a win on hot favourite Steve’s Purple Rose (1.3) in race 4 followed up immediately by another favourite Yeopungchunha (1.4) in race 5. Outsider of the day was Biseungbisul, a 60.8 winner of race 6.

After yesterday’s abandonment, it was a big day at Jeju Race Park and the weather had improved for the Jeju Ilbo Cup, one of the biggest pony races of the year and a clash between the pair of unbeaten two year olds Baengnokgunji and favourite Hanrasan. It was Baengnokgunji (2.7) who moved onto eight races without defeat scoring a one and a half length victory in the 1200 metre race. Hanrasan (2.0) looked to be in a winning position throughout most of the race but fell away badly in the final furlong, finishing a disappointing ninth of the ten runners.

There were six races at Busan Race Park, the highlight being a category two handicap won by Jullyakjuk Seungbu (16.4), three lengths ahead of favourite Gaya Gongju (2.9).

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Saerounbisul wins Seoul Owner’s Cup

Subsidy & Bally Brae unplaced as three year olds dominate
Saerounbisul (8.6) won this afternoon’s Seoul Owner’s Cup at Seoul Race Park with late run to score a one and a quarter length victory over Seoul Teukgeup (17.7) in what was otherwise a blanket finish. Gamadongja (36.1) made the early running under Nozomu Tomizawa with Bally Brae (3.9) on his shoulder. Second favourite Subsidy (2.7) under Oh Kyoung Hoan moved up the field during the back straight and as they turned for home it looked like the battle was going to be between Subsidy and Bally Brae yet again and they passed the weakening Gamadongja with a furlong to go. However, the younger horses behind were closing in and, carrying significantly less weight, had a faster finish. Park Tae Jong guided Saerounbisul down the outside and he hit the front with 50 metres remaining to take the KRW 106Million first prize. On the line, Seoul Teukgeup, Dongbanui Gangka (17.7) and rank outsider Obaek Yechan (81.1) also swept by the older horses leaving Subsidy and Bally Brae in fifth and sixth respectively.

For the New Zealand bred Saerounbisul it was a sixth career victory from seventeen outings:

Seoul Owner’s Cup (G.III), 2000M – Seoul – Sunday June 22, 2008, 17:00

1. Sarounbisul (NZ) – 52.5 – Park Tae Jong (8.6)
2. Seoul Teukgeup (USA) – 52 – Moon Jung Kyun – (17.7)
3. Donbanui Gangja (USA) – Choi Beom Hyun – (18.7)
Distances: 1.25 lengths / 0.75 lengths

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Saturday Review

Daecheong Maru wins / Playing Politics canters home / Jeju abandoned
Playing Politics put in the performance of the day to make it two wins out of two with a sixteen length victory at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The three year old gelding, made his debut last month with a shock four length win over Last Dance Buddy and punters were wiser to him this afternoon as he went off the 1.2 hot favourite. Choi Beom Hyun took Playing Politics into the lead straight out of the stalls and as they rounded the final turn began to stretch the lead, Ecton Cat (12.5) a distant second.

Last Dance Buddy was himself in action and back in the winner’s enclosure this afternoon taking the honours in race 4 after starting the strong 1.2 favourite. Daecheong Maru (3.7) won the afternoon’s most valuable race with a narrow victory over Eoullimnyeongung (7.1) and favourite Jachuk (3.6) in a 1900 metre handicap. It was the second leg of a double for the in-form Park Tae Jong following victory on Huimang Achim in race 2. Choi Beom Hyun also doubled, with his canter on Playing Politics followed by a surprise win on Donghae Star (22.0) in the last. Bonny Bee (5.9) took her second consecutive win, landing race 10 by a head in a tight finish from Taebaek Janggun (4.8).

There was a mixed day at Jeju Race Park. In a dramatic race 3 over 1200 metres, Salmosa (8.6) produced a blistering final furlong to come from last to first in the space of 150 metres, completing the last furlong a full second and a half quicker than the rest for a half length victory. A quite stunning performance which left many racegoers gasping even at the second viewing. However, Jeju had to be abandoned following race 4 after fog descended from Mt Halla severely limiting visibility. The monsoon had been forecasted to hit Seoul too, a contributing factor in a low turn-out. Evidently it stayed in Jeju but could hit Seoul tomorrow when the first race is under orders at 11:20 with the Seoul Owner’s Cup at 17:00. There is also a card at Busan beginning at 12:40 and Jeju is scheduled for 12:20 – The Jeju Ilbo Cup is set for 15:55 where two unbeaten horses Baengnokgunji (7/7) and Hanrasan (5/5) will face off.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Weekend Preview

The Seoul Owner’s Cup dominates the weekend with the big race off at Seoul Race Park at 17:00 on Sunday afternoon (see full preview below). It’s the highlight of the usual two day weekend card at Seoul which gets underway on Saturday at 11:20 with the first of twelve races. With no category 1 races on Saturday, the biggest race is a category 2 handicap over 1900 metres featuring the likes of Kkumui Mulgyeol, Challanhabit and Sinbi Wangja. On Sunday, the first of eleven races is also off at 11:20. In addition to the Owner’s Cup, there is a category 1 handicap for domestic bred horses featurning such names as Hongji, Neocheon, Gi Ra Seong and the eight year old Flying Cat.

Monsoon season has started so predicting the weather is a risky business but umbrellas are advised both days. There is also card at Busan Race Park on Sunday with the first at 12:40 and pony racing on Jeju Island, with the first of ten races off at 12:20 on both Saturday and Sunday.

Bally Brae and Subsidy head Seoul Owner’s field

Bally Brae and Subsidy top the weights for this Sunday’s KRW 106Million first prize Seoul Owner’s Cup which will be off at Seoul Race Park at 17:00. The 2000 metre handicap, one of the biggest of the year for foreign-bred horses also features Saerounbisul, who unexpectedly beat an out-of-sorts Bally Brae last time out. Full list of runners and riders:

Seoul Owner’s Cup (G.III), 2000M – Seoul – Sunday June 22, 2008, 17:00 (Race 9)
1. Gamadongja (NZ) (9/5/1/0) – 52.5 – Nozomu Tomizawa
2. Obaek Yechan (Aus) (22/5/4/3) – 53.5 – Jun Duck Young
3. Subsidy (USA) (27/17/4/0) – 58 – Oh Kyung Hoan
4. Baekjeonmupae (NZ) (12/4/4/0) – 53 – Yoo Sang Wan
5. Angus Empire (USA) (19/6/5/0) – 54 – Kim Ok Sung
6. Clever Star (Can) (6/3/1/1) – 51 – Cho Kyoung Ho
7. Saerounbisul (NZ) (16/5/3/1) – 52.5- Park Tae Jong
8. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) (9/5/2/1) – 52.5 – Choi Beom Hyun
9. Bally Brae (USA) (21/13/5/1) – 59 – Shin Hyoung Chul
10. Dirt King (Aus) (10/5/2/1) – 53.5 – Ham Wan Sik
11. Seoul Teukgeup (USA) (10/4/4/0) – 52 – Moon Jung Kyun

Neither Bally Brae or Subsidy will have their usual jockeys – Moon Se Young being suspended over the weekend and Subsidy’s usual partner Cho Kyoung Ho riding Clever Star instead. Shin Hyong Chul rides last year’s Grand Prix winner while Oh Kyung Hoan partners the eight year old son of Mr Prospector. Disappointingly, Shaving Points, possibly the most exciting foreign bred three year old in Korea right now, doesn’t go.

Jeolho Chance bounces back with win

After disappointment in last month’s Derby, three-year old Jeolho Chance (3.7) was back in form in the second of co-feature races at Busan Race Park this afternoon. The filly, who started the derby as second favourite only to finish back in ninth, landed an impressive five length victory over 2000 metres. Bouncing out of the start gate, Yoo Hyun Myoung took Jeolho Chance straight to the front of the eleven strong field and she would stay there throughout, winning going away from Choegang Jangseong (7.1) in second. Five year old Scramble (25.0) was third under Toshio Uchida, with favourite Yeongwon Hari (2.1) a well-beaten fifth.

In the feature for foreign-bred runners, four year old Cali Power (18.5) returned to the winner’s circle for the first time for nearly a year scoring a two length win from Sinsapung (5.9) and Oreumak (39.4) over 1600 metres. Further back in the field were favourite Seneca Light (2.9) and Keep It Quick (7.1). Racing returns to Busan on Sunday with six races underwat at 12:40.

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN