Ttukseom Cup

Japan’s Esmeraldina Just Too Good In Ttukseom Cup

Esmeraldina was dominant in winning the 27th Ttukseom Cup for Japan at Seoul Racecourse this afternoon. Under jockey Joe Fujii, the 4-year-old swept to a 3-length in the first leg of the 2015 Queens’ Tour.

Esmeraldina and Joe Fujii return to scale

Esmeraldina and Joe Fujii return to scale

Korean punters sent the sole Japanese raider off as the odds-on favourite. She was the quickest out of the gate to such an extent that it drew admiring gasps from the huge crowd but it would be Fly Top Queen who would quickly come across to take things up.

In the end, this set things up perfectly for Esmeraldina who when Fly Top Queen inevitably faded in the home straight, was left with a clear run for home. A burst of acceleration gave her an unassailable lead by the time they hit the furlong pole and while New York Blue valiantly tried to chase her down, she won by three lengths on the line, pulling ever further clear.

The winning time was just one tenth of a second outside El Padrino’s track record in the Asia Challenge Cup. New York Blue was 3rd that day last August, today once more chasing a visitor, she showed her sprinting class by running 2nd. Bichui Jeongsang got the best of a tight finish for 3rd.

The 27th Ttukseom Cup (KOR G3) – Seoul Racecourse – 1400M – June 7, 2014

1. Esmeraldina (USA) [Harlan’s Holiday – Tasha’s Star (Spanish Steps)] – Kanichiro Fujii – 1.4, 1.1
2. New York Blue (USA) [Candy Ride – Aim For The Moon (Deputy Minister)] – You Hyun Myung – 2.4
3. Bichui Jeongsang (USA) [Wildcat Heir – Persimmon Honey (Colonial Affair)] – Choi Bum Hyun – 2.0
Distances: 3 lengths/5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. My Day (KOR) 5. Heba (USA) 6. Ms. Margaux (USA) 7. Halla Chukje (USA) 8. Cheonnyeon Dongan (KOR) 9. Fly Top Queen (USA) 10. Ua Deungseon (KOR) 11. Golden Lass (KOR) 12. Joy Lucky (KOR)

Esmeraldina is owned by Ms. Kazumi Yoshida, who also owned Testa Matta, who now stands at Nokwon Farm on Jeju Island. She is trained by Makoto Saito out of the Miho Training Centre.

For jockey Joe Fujii, a man who has won the Grand Prix Stakes, the Korean Derby, the Korean Oaks and the Jeju Governor’s Cup this victory today – riding a horse for a Japanese owner and Japanese trainer in Seoul – may well be one of the most significant of his career to date. After the race, he played down his role, putting all the credit on the horse. He still had to do the job though.

Fujii will leave Korea at the end of June to return to Japan and hopefully this win today will go someway to burnishing his reputation in his home country – a place he has never ridden professionally before. Fujii will ride initially in the NAR and will take the JRA exam to try to enter Japan’s elite racing circuit. He has been a true ambassador and has bounced back from both injury and accidental controversy in fine style. Today was a fitting reward.

Esmeraldina and smartly dressed travelling head lad in the winner's circle

Esmeraldina and smartly dressed travelling head lad in the winner’s circle

It was an important day. The Ttukseom Cup race was an international open race, not an invitational meaning that Esmeraldina’s connections paid their way here. There were no gala dinners (although by all accounts, the bars and restaurants of Anyang have been on high alert the past few days) and they didn’t come for the fresh air. They came for business and they came for sport. Their courage paid off.

Where does this leave Korea? Our sprinters are supposed to be our strong point and although there were no stars in the line-up today, being outclassed by a talented but by no means superstar Japanese horse is less a wake-up call than a cacophony of alarm bells.

The next big international weekend in Korea is the final weekend of August. Seoul Racecourse will host the Asia Young Guns Apprentice Jockey Challenge, the Asia Challenge Cup, which will remain an invitational race, plus two more Open races, the KRA Cup Classic and the Singapore Turf Club Trophy. Before that, Korean horses are expected at Kranji in Singapore for the Korea Cup on July 26.

Ttukseom Cup 2015: Horse By Horse

The first international race of the year in Korea takes place on Sunday and Esmeraldina will be flying the flag for Japan in the Ttukseom Cup.

Cheonnyeon Dongan heads the home challenge

Cheonnyeon Dongan heads the home challenge

The race, over 1400M, is the first leg of the 2015 Queens’ Tour for fillies & mares and has attracted a solid entry from both Seoul and Busan. The Ttukseom Cup, named to commemorate the second home of Seoul Racecourse on the north bank of the Han River, is the highlight of a 10-race card in the capital.

While Esmeraldina is no doubt the star attraction, Cheonnyeon Dongan, Ua Deungseon and New York Blue are among those heading the challenge for the home team in a race that looks set to be a quick one.

Here is a full list of the runners (Name [Pedigree] (Starts/1st/2nd/3rd) – Jockey (Home track):

Ttukseom Cup (KOR G3) – Seoul Racecourse – 1400M – June 7, 2015 (16:55)

1. Halla Chukje (USA) [Gottcha Gold – C D Player (Montbrook)] (19/3/4/1) – Lee Hyeok (Seoul)
She has been regularly winning money at class 1 since being promoted there with a win over this distance last October. Like may here, she should be looking to go forward early and while a win may be too much to ask, another money finish is possible.

2. Esmeraldina (USA) [Harlan’s Holiday – Tasha’s Star (Spanish Steps)] – Joe Fujii (Japan)
The one they have to beat. Her fastest time over this distance is quicker than the track record at Seoul (albeit over a different surface) and she is in all ways a cut above her opponents here. She has traveled well and by all accounts has adapted to Seoul comfortably. There are unknowns with any travelling horse but with Joe Fujii on board, they have someone who knows the track well. The favourite.

3. Ua Deungseon (KOR) [Menifee – Singgeureoun (Mr. Adorable)] (13/6/0/1) – Seo Seung Un (Seoul)
She was 3rd behind Cheonnyeon Dongan in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup on her last start and is a Stakes winner at this distance in the past. Another who is likely to look to get forward early, whether she has the late speed to compete in the closing stages is open to question but she is one of Seoul’s strongest contenders.

4. Ms. Margaux (USA) [Midnight Lute – Sixtyone Margaux (Cozzene)] (17/1/7/7) – Park Geum Man (Busan)
She will only travel up to Seoul on Saturday and while she has only ever won one race, she can’t be completely discounted. A real sufferer of “second-itis”, she has a remarkable seven 2nd and seven 3rd place finishes to her name. Last seen running (where else?) 2nd behind Never Seen Before over a mile, her only previous experience at this distance was a 4th place. Perhaps likely to try to come from just off the pace.

5. Golden Lass (KOR) [Ecton Park – Golden Eagle (Big Sur)] (12/4/2/3) – Kim Do Hyun (Busan)
An outsider, she is yet to make it beyond class 2, she was 2nd on her only try at this distance so far. She has shown decent speed but will probably find that there are a few too many who are too good here.

6. Fly Top Queen (USA) [Henny Hughes – Cape Discovery (Cape Town)] (15/7/1/1) – Lee Chan Ho (Seoul)
The most expensive ever racehorse to be imported to Korea hasn’t quite lived up to her promise and she would be discounted here having been last in both her starts so far this year. However, she came out last week and flew through a barrier trial in a remarkably quick time. That suggests that she is in good shape but the distance is still against her; at this stage she probably needs shorter.

7. My Day (KOR) [Touch Gold – Smart Advice (Smart Strike)] (30/11/7/4) – Park Tae Jong (Seoul)
She comes in after a battling class 1 win over 2000M and drops down to a distance at which she has recorded some fast times in the past although she was 3rd on her only recent start over it. The last time she failed to find the money was in this race last year (when it was held in March) and she must be respected but it is hard to make the case for her beating the visitor.

8. Joy Lucky (KOR) [Vicar – Proper Gun (Prosper Fager)] (16/10/1/0) – Lim Gi Won (Seoul)
She was without doubt one of the most talented fillies to emerge over the past few years in Korea but she was pushed very hard and an unforgiving campaign of big races took its toll. Apart from an ill-advised trip to the Busan Owners’ Cup, she hasn’t run properly for a year. She won a barrier trial back in March but this is a very tough ask first up.

9. Heba (USA) [Peace Rules – Sue’s Temper (Temperence Hill)] (30/7/5/1) – Noboyuki Oyama (Busan)
Tough to assess as she drops back to 1400M for the first time since this race last year a full fifteen months ago. She was 4th then and has gone on to become a solid handicapper at Busan regularly picking up class 1 prize-money. She has one class 1 victory, emerging from the middle of the pack over 1900M on Boxing Day under the jockey who rides her here and a money finish is possible.

10. New York Blue (USA) [Candy Ride – Aim For The Moon (Deputy Minister)] (17/5/7/1) – You Hyun Myung (Busan)
You Hyun Myung, one of Busan’s top jockeys has been persuaded to give up a weekend’s income at home to ride this one who on her last visit to Seoul was 3rd behind El Padrino and Wonder Bolt in the Asia Challenge Cup. She is back at that distance for the first time since that day when she came from just off the pace and she will be looking for the places again.

11. Bichui Jeongsang (USA) [Wildcat Heir – Persimmon Honey (Colonial Affair)] (12/5/4/0) – Choi Bum Hyun (Seoul)
Another one who usually comes from just off the pace, she was beaten by Fly Top Queen at the end of last year. Since then their fortunes have diverged and Bichui Jeongsang has had a successful year so far with a class 1 win over 1800M and was just beaten a nose over 1200M by Mirae Yeongung on her last start. That was a quick race and she can go well here.

12. Cheonnyeon Dongan (KOR) [Ecton Park – Honeycakes (Hennessy)] (22/10/5/3) – Moon Se Young (Seoul)
Perhaps Seoul’s best. She’s won two Stakes races already this year, albeit both at 2000M, beating Ua Deungseon on both occasions. She tends to be not too far off the pace and has good late speed. She hasn’t raced since March although she did take part in a barrier trial last month. Champion jockey Moon Se Young rides and if the visitor makes any mistakes, she could be the one to take advantage.

* Despite the ongoing MERS outbreak, punters were out in force supporting the meeting at Busan on Friday. There is also a card at Busan on Sunday afternoon while Seoul and Jeju both have full cards on Saturday.

The JRA is Coming! Ttukseom Cup Attracts Two Raiders From Japan’s Premier Racing Circuit

Primary nominations were made this Friday for June’s Ttukseom Cup and the stand-out names among the 22 early entries are two Japanese-trained horses. If they run, they will be the first horses from the Japan Racing Association to run in Korea and also become the first overseas-trained horses to run in a regular Korean Open Stakes race.

Esmeraldina

Esmeraldina

Four Korean Stakes races have this year been designated as open to overseas-trained runners this year and it’s the two from Japan who have stepped up to take on the challenge.

The Ttukseom Cup, which will take place on Sunday June 7, is a 1400M race open to fillies and mares and is the first leg of the “Queens’ Tour”. US-bred Esmeraldina and Japan-bred Robe de Soie are both experienced runners in the JRA.

Esmeraldina [Harlan’s Holiday – Tasha’s Star (Spanish Steps)] is a four-year-old who has won three of her eight races to date. She won her only start as a 2-year-old at Tokyo Racecourse in November of 2013 before starting 2014 successfully with a victory at Nakayama before finishing 3rd in the Group 2 Hochi Hai Fillies’ Revue, a Japanese 1000 Guineas Trial, at Hanshin last March.

Her biggest prize was earned through victory in an NAR/JRA Exchange race at Kawasaki, the Kanto Oaks, in June with Craig Williams in the saddle. Since then she’s raced just three times without success, most recently at Nakayama on April 19 this year. Her best (and only) time recorded over the Ttukseom Cup distance of 1400M is 1:22.5 – inside El Padrino’s Seoul Racecourse track record – and was recorded on turf.

Robe de Soie

Robe de Soie

Robe de Soie [Special Week – Velvet Robe (Gone West)] is also a four-year-old. She has four wins from nine career starts. A winner on her debut at Chukyo, she went on to win the Yamaboushi Sho at Hanshin in September 2013. As a three-year-old, she was an also-ran behind Esmeraldina in the Kanto Oaks but would finish the year with back-to-back wins at Hanshin and Kyoto.

She was 7th on her most recent start at Hanshin on April 4. Her best time over 1400M is 1:23.3 on dirt. A dedicated sprinter to the all-rounder Esmeraldina, Robe de Soie comes in here with the more imposing recent form while Esmeraldina has won far more prize-money over her career. It is likely we will see some familiar jockeys riding both of them.

And it’s prize-money that they come here looking for and that is what makes this race so significant. The Korea/Japan Goodwill Cup in 2013 and last year’s Asia Challenge Cup were both invitational races meaning that the hosts picked up the bill. Win or lose, they couldn’t actually lose. In an Open race that isn’t the case and connections will be paying a substantial proportion of the costs involved in bringing their horses to the race.

The Asia Challenge Cup, which will also feature horses from Singapore and possibly Dubai, remains an invitational and on that weekend in August there will be two further races open to overseas-trained runners; the Singapore Turf Club Trophy and the KRA Cup Classic, as the internationalization program for Korean racing continues to gather momentum.

Korean connections have decided to meet the challenge head-on. In Primary nominations for the Ttukseom Cup, there were a total of 20 domestic entries; 10 from Busan and 10 from Seoul and includes most of the best fillies and mares in the country. We’ll have much more on the race over the next few weeks.

No Joy For Seoul As Gamdonguibada Lands Ttukseom Cup

Gamdonguibada made all to win the Ttukseom Cup, the first leg of the 2014 Queens’ Tour, at Seoul Race Park this afternoon.

Gamdonguibada in the Seoul Winners Circle

Gamdonguibada in the Seoul Winners Circle

Joy Lucky was sent off as the heavy favourite and joined the 2012 Grand Prix Stakes winner Gamdonguibada in setting the early running. Meanwhile another big fancy, Indian Blue missed the break and found herself 10 lengths adrift just seconds into the race.

With few challengers asserting themselves behind, it looked like the stage was set for Gamdonguibada and Joy Lucky to duel all the way to the line. Instead, however, the Korean-bred filly faded, allowing Gamdonguibada an unchallenged 7-length victory.

Behind, Indian Blue flew home under Ikuyasu Kurakane to snatch an unlikely 2nd and leave connections with a real case of what might have been had she not given herself too much to do at the start. Grand Teukgeup, who had always been close to the front stayed on well for 3rd, just ahead of Heba and the spent Joy Lucky.

Big race jockey: Lim Sung Sil

Big race jockey: Lim Sung Sil

It was another top quality training performance from Busan’s Kim Young Kwan, his instructions to jockey Lim Sung Sil to go to the front and engage Joy Lucky early paying off spectacularly.

Trainer Kim and jockey Lim have now won the past three big Seoul Stakes races – with Indie Band in the President’s Cup and Grand Prix Stakes and then Gamdonguibada today. Kim’s horses ensure that Busan continues to dominate Seoul in the big races – in addition to those recent wins, he also trains the winners of the latest renewals of the Derby, Oaks and KNN Cup.

For Gamdonguibada, it was a 10th win from 18 starts and her 4th in Stakes races. A $31,000 purchase from the Ocala Spring 2-Year-olds in Training sale in April 2011, she’s now won $1.3Million in prize money.

The Ttukseom Cup (KOR G3) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – March 16, 2014

1. Gamdongibada (USA) [Werblin – Radyla (Country Pine)] – Lim Sung Sil – 3.7, 1.4
2. Indian Blue (USA) [Henny Hughes – Gambler’s Passion (Prospector’s Gamble)] – Ikuyasu Kurakane – 1.6
3. Grand Teukgeup (KOR) [Menifee – Saratoga Campaign (Mt. Livermore)] – Jeong Dong Cheol – 4.5

Distances: 7 lengths/Neck
Also ran: 4. Heba (USA) 5. Joy Lucky (KOR) 6. Shining Future (KOR) 7. Star Bolt (USA) 8. Kalma (USA) 9. My Day (KOR) 10. Sun Blade (NZ) 11. Jangmi Eondeok (USA) 12. Xicar (AUS) 13. Seungbu Sinhwa (USA)

Ttukseom Cup – Full Preview

It’s the biggest race of the season so far as the Queen’s Tour gets underway in the shape of the Ttukseom Cup at Seoul this Sunday.

Joy Lucky heads the Ttukseom Cup field (Pic: KRA)

Joy Lucky heads the Ttukseom Cup field (Pic: KRA)

While Fly Top Queen misses the race due to coming down with colic, 13 will line up for the 7-furlong test which is the first in a three-race series to determine the nation’s top filly or mare.

Chief among them is Joy Lucky, 2nd in the final leg of the Tour last yea, but she has plenty to do if she’s going to get this year’s campaign off to a winning start with 2012 Grand Prix Stakes winner Gamdonguibada among those out to stop her.

It’s quite a puzzle. Here’s a full run-down of the field:

The Ttukseom Cup (KOR G3) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – March 16, 2014

1. Indian Blue (USA) [Henny Hughes – Gambler’s Passion (Prospector’s Gamble)] 4 (14/4/3/4) – Ikuyasu Kurakane
4th in the Grand Prix Stakes last December over 2300 metres, she dropped down to this distance to pull off a victory over Japan/Korea Challenge winner Watts Village last month. With good late speed, she is one of those best placed to take on Joy Lucky in the closing stages.

2. Gamdonguibada (USA) [Werblin – Radyla (Country Pine) 5 (17/9/3/3) – Lim Sung Sil (Busan)
The 2012 Grand Prix Stakes Champion drops down to 7 furlongs for the first time since finishing 2nd in this race a full two years ago. She had an indifferent 2013 but finished 2nd on her season debut in January. She’s race-trialed over 5 furlongs twice since then and must be considered one of the favourites.

3. Star Bolt (USA) [Fusaichi Pegasus – D’Oro Doll (Touch Gold)] 4 (16/3/5/0) – Park Geum Man
Has a great turn of pace as shown when she finished 2nd in the GCTC Trophy, having been 10th inside the home-straight. Has a tendency to leave herself just a little too much to do but drops down to 1400 metres for the first time in a year – the last time she tried this distance, she led from gate to wire – albeit against greatly inferior opposition

4. Xicar (AUS) [Written Tycoon – Grand Jewel (Brocco)] 5 (24/4/3/1) – Jang Chu Youl
Very promising when she first came onto the scene, Xicar has suffered a number of injury setbacks. She finally made her class 1 debut last month and finished a very good 3rd over this distance. It would be a big surprise if she could improve on that here but has an outside chance of matching it.

5. My Day (KOR) [Touch Gold – Smart Advice (Smart Strike)] 4 (18/8/3/1) – Ham Wan Sik
A three-time winner at class 1, this diminutive looking filly has to be given respect. Dropping down to this distance for the first time in over a year, she is one who could cause problems at the business end of the race.

6. Joy Lucky (KOR) [Vicar – Proper Gun (Prosper Fager)] 4 (11/8/1/0) – Seo Seung Un
The favourite and for good reason. If she runs to her potential it is hard to see her getting beaten. Second to Secret Whisper in the final leg of the Queen’s Tour last year in Busan, she has an excellent chance of going one better this time.

7. Seungbu Sinhwa (USA) [Bluegrass Cat – Island Rhythm (Skip Trial)] 4 (18/0/3/4) – Kim Ok Sung
Has never won a race. And won’t win this one. Shes not usually far off and has taken home a paycheck from 12 of her 18 starts but, never having run at a higher level than class 3, she’ll be hard pushed to do that here.

8. Sun Blade (NZ) [Coat’s Choice – Wella (Zabeel) 3 (8/4/1/1) – Kim Yong Geun
Trainer Kim Young Kwan usually brings two up for the big races and Sun Blade looks like his 2nd-string here after Gamdonguibada. However, while she is untried at this level, she is quick and has plenty of potential as well as a 2 kilo advantage on the rest. Could be seen toward the front early and jockey Kim Yong Geun is in very good form after returning from a lengthy suspension.

9. Grand Teukgeup (KOR) [Menifee – Saratoga Campaign (Mt. Livermore)] 5 (26/9/4/2) – Jeong Dong Cheol (Busan)
Regular jockey Darryll Holland has stayed back in Busan so Jeong Dong Cheol gets his chance on last year’s runner-up. She likes to be up with the pace and won handily over a class 1 field at this distance in January but was disappointing in the Busan Ilbo Cup last up which causes concern here. Can’t be ruled out but the question is whether she is fast enough to go past the likes of Joy Lucky in the final furlong. On form, she’s not.

10. Heba (USA) [Peace Rules – Sue’s Temper (Temperence Hill)] 4 (19/6/4/1) – Masakazu Tanaka (Busan)
Burst onto the class 1 scene with a pair of wins at the turn of the year including over Gamdonguibada – albeit with a 9kg weight advantage. She drops down to a distance that she’s never won at but if the favourites fail to perform, she could be one to take advantage.

11. Shining Future (KOR) [Silver Train – Juliet’s Kiss (Kissin Kris)] 5 (23/4/3/2) – Kim Do Hyun (Busan)
Closed well to win over this distance in late December and was just beaten a nose last time out after also coming from off the pace. Likely to find the front-runners too quick and too resilient for her to repeat the feat here.

12. Kalma (USA) [Dehere – Leeward Passage (Captain Bodgit)] 5 (18/4/1/3) – Yang Young Nam (Busan)
That she has joined the stable of Bart Rice, who has had a great start to his training career at Busan, is the only thing in Kalma’s favour here. The South African trainer has won with 4 of his 18 starters to date but it would be a huge surprise if Kalma provided the fifth here.

13. Jangmi Eondeok (USA) [Midnight Lute – Sea Gift (A.P. Indy)] 4 (10/3/4/1) – Moon Se Young
Really struggled on her class 1 debut last month and she will appreciate the drop down in distance. Likely to be seen towards the front of the field, she’ll not be favourite but with moon Se Young up, she’ll not be without her backers and is not without a chance of placing.

Untouchable! Useung Touch Romps To Ttukseom Cup Triumph

Useung Touch struck the first blow in the race to become Champion filly & mare of 2013 by cruising to a remarkable 7-length victory in the Ttukseom Cup, the first leg of the 2013 Queens’ Tour, at Seoul Race Park Sunday.

Hold On! Connections and jockey Choi Si Dae struggle to hold Useung Touch in the Ttukseom Cup winner's circle

Hold On! Connections and jockey Choi Si Dae struggle to hold Useung Tocuh in the Ttukseom Cup winner’s circle

Now 5-years-old, the 2011 Korean Oaks winner Useung Touch (Menifee)announced her return to form with shock 2nd place finish to Gamdounguibada in the Grand Prix Stakes in December. Today, re-united with jockey Choi Si Dae for the first time since she was a 3-year-old and dropping down to 7 furlongs, she was sent off as second-favourite behind Segye Ilbo Cup winner Indian Blue.

Always travelling well, Useung Touch hit the front with just over a furlong to run and powered away from the field, still stretching her lead on the line. Fellow Korean bred filly Grand Teukgeup (Menifee), 3rd in last year’s Oaks was closest to her in 2nd, while Indian Blue’s effort was too little and far too late as she finished in 3rd.

Useung Touch now has 7 wins from her 21 starts with 7 2nd place finishes and prize money of over 1 Billion Korean Won. A star of the 2011 Triple Crown trail, in addition to winning the Oaks, she was 2nd in the Derby and Minister’s Cup. While she only recorded one win in 2012, she’s now firmly established back among the Korean racing elite.

It’s another triumph for Korea’s top stallion Menifee. In siring the 1st and 2nd home, he extends his lead at the top of the Leading Sire race with more than double the prize money of his closest rival.

Ttukseom Cup (KOR G3) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – March 17, 2013

1. Useung Touch (KOR) [Menifee – Jenny Tudor (Gulch)] – Choi Si Dae – 3.2, 1.4
2. Grand Teukgeup (KOR) [Menifee-Saratoga Campaign (Mt. Livermore)] – Chae Gyu Jun – 3.6
3. Indian Blue (USA) [Henny Hughes – Gamblers Passion (Prospector’s Gamble)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.5

Distances: 7 lengths / 0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Sangnyu (USA) 5. Empire World (USA) 6. Darani (USA) 7. Seungniuihamseong (KOR) 8. Dongteuja (KOR) 9. Dangdae Jeonseung (CAN) 10. Imperial Girl (USA) 11. Kkakjaengi (USA) 12. Sangseung Geotap (USA) 13. Ruby Queen (KOR) 14. Royale Embrace (USA) 15. Chowonuibyeol (USA) 16. Blueband Mama (USA)

* There is Listed race action at Seoul next weekend. 2012 Korean Derby winner Jigeum I Sungan (Ingrandire) heads the entrants for the Sports Donga Cup.

Embraceable You! You Hyun Myung and Royale Embrace Win Ttukseom Cup

She’d shown great promise as a two-year old but then slumped into mediocrity at three. However, today at Seoul, Royale Embrace (Chapel Royal) finally came good by winning the Ttukseom Cup.

Royale Embrace and You Hyun Myung win the Ttukseom Cup (Pic: Ilgan Sports)

Sent off at 17/1, Royale Embrace was taken into an early lead by jockey You Hyun Myung for the seven furlong Stakes event which this year is the first in the three-race “Queens Tour” series for the country’s top fillies and mares. She never let it go.

Favourite Kkakjaengi (Put It Back) rallied late on but she was far too far behind to make an impact. Ultimately it was young Gamdonguibada (Werblin) who got the closest although she too, never looked like denying the winner.

A $13,000 purchase from the Ocala Spring Sale in 2010, Royale Embrace won four of her five starts at Busan and was talked of as being the an eventual Grand Prix contender. Her progress then stalled and while she ran in four Stakes races last year, her highest finish was seventh. With connections not believing she could stay the distance in longer races, she had been restricted to the ultra-competitive (by virtue of their rarity) high level sprints of less than a mile.

Today was one of those but, running at Seoul for the first time, everything went right.

It was no doubt a sweet moment for jockey Yoo Hyun Myung too. His finest moment as a jockey came at Seoul in December 2010 when he partnered Mister Park to the Grand Prix. He seemed at the top of his game but in racing, you are only ever seconds away from your fortunes being reversed.

An injury in early 2011 saw him sidelined for several months and by the time he came back, he found that he had lost his plum rides. Unhappy, he rejected the offer of Mister Park’s trainer, Kim Young Kwan, to ride his second string Dongseo Jeongbeol in the Grand Prix and stayed home in Busan.

As it turned out, Mister Park lost the Grand Prix and today, while Yoo Hyun Myung was winning at Seoul, the record-breaking five-year old was running at Busan with a first-year apprentice on board. Indeed it made for an odd spectacle as his main – and only – rival, two-time President’s Cup winner Dangdae Bulpae (Biwa Shinseiki) also had a newcomer in the saddle.

The reason for this was that both horses are now so high up in the handicap, that connections don’t want to run them unless they can get the weight allowance that is available to an apprentice rider. As it turned out, Mister Park, under Jeong Dong Cheol beat Dangdae Bulpae and Kim Jong Woong by just over a length. Such is their dominance at Busan that the third place horse was a full twenty-six lengths adrift.

It was a busy day of racing. Back at Seoul, 28/1 outsider Ruby Queen (Perfect Champion) won the Sports Donga Trophy while at Busan, Japanese jockey Narazaki Kosuke got his first Class 1 winner on Sand Hi (Stormy Atlantic).

Ttukseom Cup (KOR.G3) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – Sunday March 25, 2012

1. Royale Embrace (USA) [Chapel Royal-Embracing Krissy (Kissin Kris)] – You Hyun Myung – 17.7, 5.2
2. Gamdonguibada (USA) [Werblin-Radyla (Country Pine)] – Kim Yong Geun – 2.1
3. Kkakjaengi (USA) [Put It Back-Wild Dixie Gal (Wild Event)] – Shin Hyoung Chul – 1.3

Distances: 0.75 lengths/4 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Xicar (AUS) 5. Dehere Queen (USA) 6. Gippeumnuri (USA) 7. Mighty Mammy (USA) 8. Geumbi (USA) 9. Triple Hunter (USA) 10. Imperial Girl (USA) 11. Malibu Sky (USA) 12. Chowonuibyeol (USA) 13. Kkochyeoul (USA) 14. Queen Of Rain (USA)

Weekend Preview: The Ttukseom Cup

Ttukseom Cup, Sports Donga, HRI Trophy & Mister Park vs Dangdae Bulpae on Big Weekend

After weeks of low-key affairs, finally things start to get serious with the first weekend of really big racing of 2012. While Mister Park squares off against Dangdae Bulpae at Busan, up at Seoul we have the Horse Racing Ireland Trophy on Saturday and then the first Group race of the year in the shape of the Ttukseom Cup on Sunday. Once all that is done, there’s still time for the Sports Donga Cup.

Can Kkakjaengi get back in the Seoul Stakes Winner's Circle?

The HRI Trophy is for Class 2 Korean bred fillies and mares while the Sports Donga is a standard Class 1 handicap and features former champion fillies Cheonun and Dongbang Rose.

At Busan, record win streak holder, Mister Park and double President’s Cup winner Dangdae Bulpae will race with six others over 2000 metres in a Class 1 handicap.

We’ll focus on the big Stakes race though and this year, the Ttukseom Cup is the first leg of the “Queens’ Tour”, which aims to pit the best fillies and mares from both Seoul and Busan against one another in a series of big Stakes races.

Six from Busan join eight rivals in the capital for the seven-furlong sprint on Sunday afternoon. Here is a full run-down of the runners and riders:

Ttukseom Cup (KOR G3) – Seoul Race Park – 1400M – March 25, 16:15

1. Imperial Girl (USA) [Imperialism-Wallena (Wallenda)] – 4 (18/3/1/4) – Oh Kyoung Hoan (Seoul)
Was well beaten by Geumbi last time out and, while she will probably appreciate dropping back in distance, will need to improve if she is to reverse that form.
2. Triple Hunter (USA) [Sweetsouthernsaint-Glory Mountain (Montbrook)] – 3 (6/2/1/2) – Park Geum Man (Busan)
Improving with each race although she is perhaps not quite in the same class as some of the better established runners, she has a placing chance.
3. Royale Embrace (USA) [Chapel Royal-Embracing Krissy (Kissin Kris)] – 4 (14/5/3/1) – Yoo Hyun Myung (Busan)
At one time she looked set to e a star. Has form at a higher level than most of her rivals and can’t be ruled out if at her best.
4. Chowonuibyeol (USA) [Rockport Harbor-Arctic’s Angel (Artax)] – 3 (6/2/2/1) – Choi Bum Hyun (Seoul)
Good win over the distance last month and has to be in with a chance of placing.
5. Gamdonguibada (USA) [Werblin-Radyla (Country Pine)] – 3 (4/3/1/0) – Kim Young Geun (Busan)
Unexposed so far, her only defeat came at the hands of the promising colt Pure Future. She ran just two weeks ago and was impressive over a mile. Will have backers.
6. Geumbi (USA) [Ecton Park-Lady Justine (Lit De Justice)] – 5 (15/5/5/2) – Moon Se Young (Seoul)
Second in the Owners’ Cup last year and scored her first victory at Class 1 level last month – along with Kkakjaengi she’s the only runner to have a win at that level and on current form should be favourite.
7. Kkochyeoul (USA) [Essence Of Dubai-A Star Has Risen (Rock Band)] – 4 (16/1/7/3) – Kim Hae Sun (Seoul)
Has graduated up to class 1 despite only having one win to her name. She should be around at the business end of the race but it is difficult to see her getting her second win.
8. Queen Of Rain (USA) [Lion Heart-Prosperous Move (Arch)] – 4 (15/4/2/3) – Song Keong Yun (Busan)
Returns to Seoul for the first time since being an also-ran in the Grand Prix Stakes in December. The field here is nothing like as strong as it was that day but, while she cannot be discounted, others are favoured.
9. Malibu Sky (USA) [Malibu Moon-Music Box Dancer (Woodman)] – 4 (13/3/2/1) – Kim Do Hyun (Busan
Solid performer but difficult to see her winning this one.
10. Xicar (AUS) [Written Tycoon-Grand Jewel (Brocco)] – 3 (7/3/2/0) – Park Tae Jong (Seoul)
The only non-US bred in the race, a month ago Xicar would have been favourite here. However, she then flopped last time out in the Segy Ilbo Cup. If January’s Xicar shows up, she’ll win.
11. Gippeumnuri (USA) [Eurosilver-Regatta Queen (Danzig Connection)] – 5 (23/4/2/1) – Kim Cheol Ho (Seoul)
Anther with Class 1 experience but it is a long time since she has tasted victory and was well beaten by Geumbi last time.
12. Dehere Queen (USA) [Dehere-Cinnamon Girl (Meadowlake)] – 4 (14/3/4/1) – Jo Sung Gon (Busan)
While an encouraging second to Former last time out, on paper a place seems her best chance. However, when Jo Sung Gon gives up rides at Busan to come to Seoul, his mount’s chances have to be taken seriously.
13. Mighty Mammy (USA) [After Market-Red Lifesaver (Victory Gallop)] – 3 (6/2/3/1) – Cho Kyoung Ho (Seoul)
Second in the Segye Ilbo Cup and a real talent. This may come too early for her a the right price, may be worth a punt.
14. Kkakjaengi (USA) [Put It Back-Wild Dixie Gal (Wild Event)] – 4 (13/6/3/2) – Shin Hyoung Chul (Seoul)
The highest rated entrant in the race, she’s a double-Stakes winner. Ran second to Jumong in January and fourth to Dongbanui Gangja last month. On her day, she should have too much for this field.

It’s set to be quite a weekend and the sun should be shining for most if it! Here’s what’s happening when and where:

Friday March 23

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

Saturday March 24

Seoul Race Park: 12 races from 11:00 to 17:20 including the HRI Trophy at 16:20
Jeju Race Park: 9 races from 12:20 to 17:20

Sunday March 25

Seoul Race Park: 11 races from 11:00 to 17:45 including the Ttukseom Cup at 16:15
Busan Race Park: 7 races from 12:15 to 16:45 (Mister Park vs Dangdae Bulpae is race 7)