Ebony Storm

Weekend Preview

Just a week after Speedy First won the 2013 Korean Derby, last year’s winner Jigeum I Sungan, headlines the action at Seoul Race Park, while on Jeju Island, the ponies have their own Derby.

Jigeum I Sungan and Moon Se Young go again on Sunday

Jigeum I Sungan and Moon Se Young go again on Sunday

Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire) added another Stakes crown, the Owners’ Association Trophy, to his big-race haul last time out and, despite being top-weight by some considerable margin, will be heavy favourite to win in slightly more modest company in Sunday’s feature handicap.

Down at Busan, another former Derby winner, Ebony Storm (Buster’s Daydream), the evergreen winner of the 2008 edition is also in action. He’ll be nowhere near favourite but the 8-year old is not without a hope in the 7-furlong main-event. Last year’s KRA Cup mile winner Gyeongbudaero (Menifee) heads the field.

Derby winning jockey Joe Fujii returns to his home-track of Busan and has 10 rides across the weekend. The other foreign riders at the track aren’t getting quite the same support, however, with Ureshi Katsunori and Darryll Holland having just 3 and 2 mounts respectively.

Up at Seoul, however, it is a very busy weekend for Ikuyasu Kurakane, who rides 17 while even the ever-relaxed Yukio Abe will get on 9.

Meanwhile, down on Jeju Island, it is Derby Day! The KRA Jeju-Bred Derby is a new event on the calendar (or rather, an old Stakes race re-packaged as a Derby for 3-year olds) and brings together 10 of the most promising ponies running at the track. I’ll not pretend to know anything about the form but I do know that a month ago, practically the same field ran over the same 5-furlong distance in a race called the “Seongsan Ilchul” (hereafter called the “Jeju Guineas”) and it was won by a gelding called Sanjeongmuhan by a neck.

Sanjeongmuhan comes into the Derby with 6 wins from 9 starts. The race is number 5 on a 9-race card on Saturday at Jeju and will be simulcasted live to Seoul Race Park.

Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday May 24

Busan Race Park: 10 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday May 25

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:40 including the KRA Jeju Derby at 15:15

Sunday May 26

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:00

Here’s what’s happening when and where.

Derby Winners Ebony Storm and Jigeum I Sungan Triumph Again

The 2013 Korean Triple Crown is about to begin but today punters were treated to stirring performances from two heroes of Classics gone by as Derby winners Ebony Storm and Jiguem I Sungan took out the feature races at Busan and Seoul.

Ebony Storm wins the 2008 Derby in a downpour (KRA)

Ebony Storm wins the 2008 Derby in a downpour (KRA)

Back on an appropriately stormy day in Seoul in May 2008, Ebony Storm (Buster’s Daydream) pulled off a shock win in the Korean Derby when starting as the longest shot on the board.

He did nothing in the remaining leg of the Triple Crown and, at 4-years-old, found himself gelded. He then embarked on a Class 1 handicap campaign that has continued to this day, regularly finishing in the money and occasionally winning.

Today, on his 50th career start, Ebony Storm was sent off as a 33/1 outsider for Busan’s 7-furlong feature race. Steadily making-up ground the entire race, the 8-year old passed favourite All Su (Perfect Vision II) in the final furlong to record his 11th victory by just over a length.

Up at Seoul, we had to wait until the very final race of the weekend to see Jiegum I Sungan (Ingrandire), winner of the 2012 Derby, do his thing. The 4-year-old still looks to have his best days ahead of him and he was in good form as he casually dismissed his rivals by 6 lengths over 9 and a half furlongs.

Jigeum I Sungan was the 2012 Korean Deby winner (KRA

Jigeum I Sungan was the 2012 Korean Deby winner (KRA)

The President’s Cup – and possible Grand Prix Stakes – will be Jigeum I Sungan’s target this year as he seeks to supplant Dangdae Bulpae as Korea’s top domestic-bred horse. Ebony Storm won’t be in either of those races, however, not many horses in Korea have won class 1 races in 5 consecutive years. If Jigeum I Sungan can emulate that one day, he will be a truly special horse.

Also impressing at Busan today was US 3-year old Yeonggwanguijehyun (Rockport Harbor). The colt cruised to an 8 length win over fellow highly rated import Bathsheba Park (Harlington) in the 9-furlong race 5. The win – his 6th from 9 starts – qualifies him for class 1 racing next time out.

Weekend Preview: Two Derby Winners In Action

We’re just 2 weeks away from the first leg of the 2013 Korean Triple Crown and, while the contenders for the KRA Cup Mile will most likely have already made their final appearance before the big race, former Korean Derby winners are on show at both Busan and Seoul this weekend.

Jigeum I Sungan will be favourite at Seoul on Sunday

Jigeum I Sungan will be favourite at Seoul on Sunday

Ebony Storm (Buster’s Daydream) was the longest shot on the board when he won the 2008 Derby.

While he’d never win another Stakes race, he’s gone on to become a solid handicapper over the years and, now 8 years old, will make his 50th start in Busan’s feature race on Sunday.

He’ll have his work cut out to win the 1400 metre contest but few would back against him getting in the money.

One horse that will be favourite this weekend is 2012 Korean Derby and Minister’s Cup winner Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire) as he heads the field in Seoul’s Sunday feature, the Listed Sports Donga Cup.

The double-Classic winner won’t have things all his own way against a line-up that includes competent performers such as Magnifique (Menifee) and Singgereounachim (Exploit) but should be seeing them off.

Here’s what’s happening where and when:

Friday March 22

Busan Race Park: 11 races from 12:00 to 18:00
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 13:30 to 17:30

Saturday March 23

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 17:40
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:30 to 17:20

Sunday March 24

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:50 to 17:00