TJK Trophy

Sunday Seoul & Busan International Exchange Race Day: Race-by-Race Preview (April 3)

Big prizes on offer with five international trophy exchange races to be run on Sunday. At Seoul, where there is an 11-race card from 10:45 to 18:00, the Turkey Jockey Club (TJK) Trophy and the Gold Circle Trophy will be run. At Busan, where there is a 6-race card from 12:00 to 16:40, the Selangor Turf Club, China Horse Industry Association, and Tokyo City Keiba Trophies are all on the agenda. All betting locations are open, but attendance should be pre-booked using the MyCard app:

Do Kki Blade goes in a non-Trophy Class 1 race on Sunday (Pic: KRA)

Seoul Race 1: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 40 Million

Maiden three-year-old fillies in the opener and a couple come in looking ready to win. (1) SUPERDIA ran 3rd on debut over 1000M in January before stepping up to this trip on February 27th and leading for much of the way, ultimately coming home in 5th place, around four-lengths behind the winner. Drawn nicely, she can lead again, and this time go all the way. (4) WONDERFUL KITTY has claims on favourite status. She has the fastest time among these for the distance and comes in following a good 3rd place last time out. Her style has been to go back and to run on, she has some good final furlong times and will be coming home strongly here. (10) MAGIC MOCCASIN hasn’t been seen since her debut on Boxing Day when she led over 1000M, finishing 4th. Despite the wide draw, she can be on or close to the pace again and can be a danger. (2) LAROMANEE and (8) HIGH RUNNER, who came home 4th and 5th when they raced each other on February 19th, are others who can at least challenge for places.

Selections(1) Superdia (4) Wonderful Kitty (10) Magic Moccasin (2) Laromanee
Next Best8, 7
Fast Start1, 3, 9, 10

Seoul Race 2: Class 6 (1300M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

A very competitive maiden. (9) SOJUNGHAN DANGSIN looks among the readiest to win, coming in as she does off a good 2nd place at class and distance on February 20th, when she was handy to the lead throughout. She should be on or close to the pace again and will be in this a long way. (11) OKDONG GONGJU has registered some good times for the distance and while she is yet to win in twelve attempts, she is consistent and enters having run 4th at her latest outing. She will probably be ridden patiently again and can run home strong. The draw doesn’t do her any favours though and nor does it for (12) EUNHYE DREAM although given her running style in her latest two, it may not be too damaging to her chances. She has run on for 3rd and a pair of 4th place finishes from her latest three and can be in the money hunt again. (2) V QUEEN and (4) HELLO GEUMSEONG are others in the hunt.

Selections(9) Sojunghan Dangsin (11) Okdong Gongju (12) Eunhye Dream (2) V Queen
Next Best4, 5
Fast Start3, 9, 10, 12

Seoul Race 3: Class 6 (1200M) Allowance / KRW 25 Million

Tricky maiden. (11) LONDON POWER has a decent start, a decent finish and has registered acceptable times for the distance and that combination may be enough to see her home on top here. The draw means she may need a touch of luck in the early stages, but if she can find a good position, she can win. (2) ONCHEONHA has a 2nd and a 3rd to his name from seven starts so far. He draws well to be able to take up a spot just behind the speed and then run on. (9) CHEONJI JIDAE also has a 2nd place to his name at this distance. Draw a line through his latest when he drew gate fourteen and he can be given another chance in this limited company. Given that this is not a deep field form wise, the two first-time starters can also be given a chance. (3) TROTTING RILEY and (6) GRAY THOR both posted fair times in their heats and couldn’t really ask for a softer race to start their careers in.

Selections(11) London Power (2) Oncheonha (9) Cheonji Jidae (3) Trotting Riley
Next Best6, 7
Fast Start4, 7, 9, 11

Busan Race 1: Class 5 (1400M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(2) GOLD TAP ran out a winner on debut over 1200M, sitting handy early and then running on well for a narrow score. He comes up in class and in trip today but draws significantly better and has every chance of measuring up in this company. The logical main danger is (7) DOCTOR TEXAS. He has run some good and consistent times at this distance, should be on pace here and can be in this a long way. He will need to overturn the form on (4) FRIGATE BIRD, who beat him when they raced each other at this distance back on January 28th. Frigate Bird is up 3kg in the weights on that day but enters in solid form and can have placing ambitions again. (9) GEUMBIT SKY has shown hints of returning to some kind of form in his latest two, and along with (3) SUN MOUNTAIN, is among the others who can find some minor money.

Selections(2) Gold Tap (7) Doctor Texas (4) Frigate Bird (9) Geumbit Sky
Next Best3, 5
Fast Start2, 4, 7, 9

Seoul Race 4: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 60 Million

(5) FLYING ATHENA has been beaten into 2nd place in both of her last two starts, both times as favourite. She accordingly has to come up in class here, but she looks to have more improvement in her and from a nice draw she can win. She only has a nose to overturn on (12) WILD SOCKS, who beat her when they raced each other at this distance at class 6 level on March 5th. Wild Socks sat back that day and ran on, just getting there in time. He comes up in class too and the draw isn’t ideal, but he will certainly be a danger again. (11) BURUI KKOT is yet to win in five outings and like Flying Athena, got promoted to this level with back-to-back runner-up finishes. However, she has never finished worse than 5th and she has already been tested at this class and came through it well when 3rd over 1400M on February 26th. She can be a danger here. (2) COMPLETE LUCKY is another maiden up in class but is nicely in here to get a forward position early and can be in this a long way. (4) REMARKABLE also in the hunt.

Selections(5) Flying Athena (12) Wild Socks (11) Burui Kkot (2) Complete Lucky
Next Best4, 6
Fast Start2, 3, 4, 11

Busan Race 2: Class 5 (1200M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

Draw a line through the latest outing from (4) MONEY CASE, his first at this class, on February 25th when drawn in gate thirteen over 1300M he worked hard to find a position and ultimately came home in midfield. Instead go on his effort two starts back when making all to win over 1200M at class 6 level. Back in trip today and nicely drawn, he looks the one to beat. (9) ALPHA SONGDANG is up in class having secured her maiden win at start number two over this distance on February 25th. She made all that day and while the draw isn’t quite ideal, she should have enough early speed to get across to challenge for the lead and can potentially go all the way. (6) HARDY CHARLIE can mix his form. He got a bit left behind last time out when never a factor over this distance, but he draws better today and with a better start, can go close. (3) OREUDA and (10) OMEGA GIRL among others who can challenge for some minor money.

Selections(4) Money Case (9) Alpha Songdang (6) Hardy Charlie (3) Oreuda
Next Best10, 1
Fast Start4, 6, 7, 9

Seoul Race 5: Class 5 (1300M) Handicap / KRW 40 Million

(7) TEAM IMPACT led from gate to wire on debut over 1200M on February 26th. He comes up in class here and marginally in trip as well but can get to the lead again and should have too much for this field. (5) BLACK MASK remains a maiden after four outings, but has never finished any worse than 3rd, a finish she achieved at this class and distance on March 6th, when she led for much of the race. She comes up slightly in the weights today but has solid claims to go close once again. So too (1) HEUNGHAENG DAEBAK. He too led at his latest start at class and distance on February 27th, ultimately running a very close 2nd to a good winner. He gets a great draw here and will be a threat. (12) ECTON JILJU doesn’t get a very good gate but comes in off a 2nd place at class and distance and with some early luck can be in this too. (2) CHAMPION GAMUN was 3rd behind Ecton Jilju on March 5th, a race he was sent off as favourite for, and can also be given another chance here.

Selections(7) Team Impact (5) Black Mask (1) Heunghaeng Daebak (12) Ecton Jilju
Next Best2, 3
Fast Start1, 5, 7, 12
(more…)

Weekend Preview: Trophy Exchange Races / Korea v Japan / Ttukseom Cup

It’s a big weekend of racing in Korea with a host of trophy exchange races at Seoul on Saturday followed by the SBS Korea/Japan Cup and the Ttukseom Cup on Sunday.

Tosen Archer Groom

Japan’s Tosen Archer won the inaugural SBS Korea/Japan Cup in 2013. Three Japanese horses are in Seoul to compete in this year’s edition on Sunday

Here’s what’s happening where and when this weekend:

Friday June 3
Busan Racecourse: 10 race from 12:40 to 19:00 – Full race-by-race preview will be up as usual on Friday morning.

Saturday June 4
Seoul Racecoure: 12 races from 10:50 to 18:00, including three Trophy Exchange races. Brief notes on those and also the Cargill Agri Purina Trophy race below:

Race 8: The Japan Racing Association (JRA) Trophy (Class Open) / 1400M (15:30)

Just eight runners but competitive. (3) TAEYANGWANG, a class 2 winner over 1200M last start is set to be favourite with champion Moon Se Young on board. The in-form (4) BLACK TRAIN along with (6)ALWAYS WINNER look next best.

Selections: (3) Taeyangwang (6) Always Winner (4) Black Train (8) Haerangangja

Race 9: Selangor Turf Club Trophy (Class Open) / 1800M (16:30)

Thirteen fillies & mares will line up here and a good number will be vying for favourite status. (6) SMART TIME has placed in Listed and Stakes company this year already and is the narrow first choice. (11) MENI MONEY was behind her in both races but will challenge again while (4) TOUCH FLYING and (12) THE QUEEN SILVER both enter following class 3 wins at this distance. (8) SIMSIN JIRYEO may also get some backing.

Selections: (6) Smart Time (11) Meni Money (8) Simsin Jiryeo (12) The Queen Silver

Race 10: The TJK (Turkey) Cup (Class Open) / 2000M (17:00)

(1) AREUMDAUNDONGHAENG, a proven class 1 and Listed winner in the past, is set to be favourite here but will face challenges. (8) WINNING ANDY is chief among those while  (10) CINDERELLA MAN makes his first start for Brian Dean. The Aussie trainer has made a remarkable start in very challenging circumstances and the five-year-old gelding must be respected.

Selections: (1) Areumdaundonghaeng (10) Cinderella Man (8) Winning Andy (7) Space Port

Race 11: Cargill Agri Purina Trophy (Class 3) / 1400M / (17:30)

Selections: (3) Fix Time (7) Boeun Yongsa (1) Big Mountain (4) Knighthood

Sunday June 5
Seoul Racecourse: 10 races from 10:50 to 18:00
Busan Racecourse: 6 races from 13:00 to 17:30

It’s the big day at Seoul. The SBS Korea/Japan Cup will feature three visiting Japanese-trained horses along with some of the best known names in Korea racing such as Gamdonguibada and Choegang Schiller along with up and comer Perdido Pomeroy.

Also at Seoul on Sunday is the Ttukseom Cup, the first leg of the Queens’ Tour for fillies and mares. We will have a full runner-by-runner preview of both races posted on Saturday.

Dangdae Bulpae Bidding For Third President’s Cup

Dangdae Bulpae will line up at Seoul Race Park on Sunday afternoon bidding to claim an unprecedented third consecutive victory in the President’s Cup.

Dangdae Bulpae in the President’s Cup winner’s circle last year

Though not as prestigious as the Grand Prix Stakes due its being restricted to Korean bred horses, the President’s Cup is the nation’s richest race.

Dangdae Bulpae (Biwa Shinseiki) first won this race as a three-year old and, if he’s going to complete the hat-trick, he’s going to need to defeat all of this year’s Classic winners.

Korean Derby and Minister’s Cup victor Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire) will be there, as will KRA Cup Mile winner Gyeongbudaero (Menifee) and Oaks winning filly Rising Glory (Menifee) among thirteen rivals. It is set to be one of the highlights of the year

Today at Seoul, the Turkey Jockey Club Cup was won by two-year old US import Watts Village (Forestry-Edey’s Village). The youngster beat 13 older horses by an impressive four lengths over 1800 metres.

It was the second time in as many years that the race was won by a juvenile. Last year, Smarty Moonhak (Smarty Jones), currently sidelined indefinitely with tendinitis, stormed to a ten-length win that saw him ultimately become the first two-year old to enter the season ending Grand Prix Stakes.

Whether Watts Village will even appear on the ballot for the Grand Prix is open to question, however, the manner of his gate-to-wire victory suggests that there is plenty to come from this young talent.

Sunday November 11

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 18:00 including the President’s Cup at 16:15
Busan Race Park: 6 races from 12:15 to 16:45