Nice And Easy

Nice Choice beats Baekgwang to win the President’s Cup
Baekgwang gave it his all but ultimately Nice Choice was just too strong in the President’s Cup at a frozen Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The three-year old pounced as the field entered the home straight and while Baekgwang launched his customary late challenge, roared on by a 40,000 strong crowd, the younger horse was a commanding winner.

Natural Guy and Nice Good were early pace-setters and at one point in the back-stretch had nearly six lengths on a strung out field. Nice Choice was at the front of the pursuers while Baekgwang as usual stayed towards the rear.

Once Cho Kyoung Ho had asked Nice Choice for an effort as they turned for home, none could answer. Except for Baekgwang. Park Tae Jong shifted the grey wide around the final turn and let him loose to try to run the youngster down. The chase was valiant and at the furlong pole, Baekgwang’s many fans dared to believe that he might do it.

He couldn’t quite get there and Cho Kyoung Ho on Nice Choice always looked as though he would be able to ask his horse for another effort if need be. Triple Seven was the distant third. Baekgwang was beaten but it took a quality horse to do it.

Nice Choice is exciting. He didn’t excel in the Derby but he now moves on to eight wins from twelve starts. A spot in the season ending Grand Prix race looks his should his connections choose to take it up. Either way, a big season as a four-year old awaits.

The other three-year old in the race, Khanui Jeguk, showed briefly at the front but didnt stay the 10 furlong trip, finishing well down the field. Today though was a day for the grand old survivor of Korean racing and the future. The future showed that he is now very much the present, but the six-year old grey showed he’s not finished yet.

President’s Cup (KOR-GI) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Nov 15, 2009

1. Nice Choice (KOR) [Lost Mountain - Betty's Rhapsody (Don't Hesitate)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.5, 1.0
2. Baekgwang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red - Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.4
3. Triple Seven (KOR) [The Groom Is Red - Impudence (Grand Lodge)] – Choi Beom Hyun – 1.9
Distances: 1.25 lengths/6 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Lucky Seven; 5. Wontagui Gisa; 6. New Rider; 7. Mighty Runner; 8. Saebyeok Achim; 9. Natural Nine; 10. Huimang Energy; 11 Baengnokjeong; 12. Khanui Jeguk; 13. Natural Guy; 14. Nice Good

Nice Choice & Cho Kyoung Ho in The President's Cup Winner's Circle

Jockey Cho Kyoung Ho has made the President’s Cup his own. He won the 2005 edition on French Dancer before taking consecutive victories on Myeongmun Gamun in 2007 and 2008. This year’s champion-elect has now won four of the six runnings of the race in its present form.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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Weekend Round-Up

Full Step out of step / Foreign jocks clean up at Busan
Two year old prospect Full Step found things tough as he stepped up a level at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. The colt trailed in four lengths behind Black Man over seven furlongs. Sent off odds-on favourite, Full Step was on the pace for most of the race but couldn’t come close to matching the three-year old Black Man as he accelerated away in the final furlong.

The biggest race of the day was at Busan where in a tight three-way finish, favoruite Haengbok Dream just lost out to Namchee with Seonnyang Yongsa in third. Miss Ecton led the rest of the field home, five lengths back in fourth. For the Australian bred Namchee, it was a successful first crack at top-tier racing. The four-year old had only missed the money twice in fifteen starts prior to today although had only won three of those.

Namchee provided the second winner of the day for Eiki Nishimura. The Japanese rider had earlier taken race 2 on Angel Star and, with Hitomi Miyashita and Martin Wepner also being among the winners, it meant foreign riders accounted for four of the six races on the card. Choi Si Dae and Jo Sung Gon were the sole home riders to score.

Yesterday at Seoul on the first day of a low-key weekend of racing, Pocketful Of Money landed the feaure race, taking a half length win from Yodongseong with outsider Royal Missile a surprise third. Earlier in the day there had been another near-miss for Korearacing favourite Ungbiyeongung. The five-year old scored his sixth second place finish but remains winless in thirty-three starts.

After the sub-zero conditions of earlier in the week, temperatures were remarkably back up in the low-seventies despite overcast skies on Saturday. Those skies erupted in spectacular fashion overnight to saturate the track in time for Sunday’s races although the rain had by and large stopped in time for racing.

Next week, it’s down to the real business of the President’s Cup with Baekgwang up against a slew of the year’s top three-year olds for one of the season’s biggest prizes.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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Late Late Bulpae Gisang Wins Metropolitan

Seoul claims victory in Busan Metropolitan / Golden Rose wins Gyeonggi Governor’s
Bulpae Gisang appeared out of nowhere to score victory in the Busan Metropolitan Mayor’s Cup this afternoon. With impeccable timing, Choi Beom Hyun brought the three year old down the outside to come past Yeonseung Daero and Areumdaun Jilju just metres from the line.

Gamadongja and Yeonseung Daero set the early pace with he latter staying on to battle Areumdaun Jilju for what, until Bulpae Gisang’s late run, looked like the win. Coming with Bulpae Gisang was last year’s champion three year old Gaeseon Janggun but he couldn’t match the speed of the US import, who completed the final furlong a full second faster than any of his rivals.

So Seoul finally wins a head to head against Busan – even though places 2-5 were filled by Busan horses (all of them Korean bred) and the last four finishers were all from Seoul. Bulpae Gisang goes on to seven wins from twelve starts.

Busan Metropolitan Mayor’s Cup (KOR. GIII) – Busan Race Park – 2000M – Nov 1, 2009

1. Bulpae Gisang (USA) [Lightnin N Thunder - Neat Trick (Clever Trick)]- Choi Beom Hyun – 2.9, 1.3
2. Yeonseung Daero (KOR) [Creek Cat - Sensationalkris (Cryptoclearance)] – Park Geum Man – 2.4
3. Areumdaun Jilju (KOR) [Didyme - Chills Of Nepal (Nepal)] – Hitomi Miyashita – 1.9
Distances: 1 length/0.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Gaseon Janggun; 5. Yeongung Manse; 6. Saerounbisul; 7. Luna; 8. Gamadongja; 9. Angle Slam; 10. Hardride; 11. Saerounachim; 12. Tiffanyuikkum; 13. Vicar Love; 14. Balbora

It wasn’t just Busan that had big race action this afternoon. At Seoul it was the fillies who were in action in the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup – named for the province in which the Seoul Racecourse is located.

It wasn’t much of a contest as favourite Golden Rose went away quickly as was never caught – the three year old cruising away from the field for a nine length win under Han Sung Yeol. In doing so, she gave new trainer Kim Hyo Seob his first big race win.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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Seonbongbulpae Strolls On

Gi Ra Seong makes it four / Eden notches first winner
Yesterday at Seoul, Ace Galloper sent out a warning to the rest of the two year old division. Today it was the turn of Seonbongbulpae to respond as he too stepped up to class 4. Respond he did, strolling into the lead as the fourteen strong field turned for home and coming away from the field to win by a relaxed ten lengths.

In Ace Galloper, Seonbongbulpae and Nothern Ace, Seoul has three very exciting two year olds. Ace Galloper has been beaten – once by Nothern Ace, but that was over five furlongs and it seems he is getting better as the distances get longer. As for Seonbongbulpae and Nothern Ace, they have yet to be challenged.

The Herald Business Cup, Seoul’s Juvenile Championship decider is set for December 6th. If all three stay fit, it promises to be a race to savour. With the two year old picture down at Busan yet to reveal any real potential stars, for the moment at least, Seoul can look forward to next year’s Classic trail.

In the afternoon’s feature event, Gi Ra Seong continued his impressive recent run of form. The favourite led from wire to wire to hold off Badajebi by a length at the end of the 1900 metre handicap. Five year old Gi Ra Seong has now won four on the spin.

At Busan there was a first win for Hong Kong jockey Eden Hok Lai Cheung. Cheung debuted on Friday with one ride which was unplaced but in his only mount today, he managed to guide 50/1 outsider Gilsan to a surprise victory in race 5. On another good day for foreign riders at the southern track, both Martin Wepner and Hitomi Miyashita were also in the Winners’ Circle during the afternoon although Hitomi also managed to pick up a one day suspension.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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Aurora Shines

Aurora landed the title of Champion Juvenile filly in a hard fought Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. Under Hwang Soon Do, the Tahamkke filly beat off Hushtilled by four lengths to take Seoul’s top two year old filly race.

Pre-race favourites Oh My Sun and Saeroungamun finished last and second last respectively as Choegouisungan made the early running before Aurora came by with a furlong and a half remaining. The previously unbeaten Choegouisungan held on for third.

Two year olds were the stars of the day. Another filly, Thunder Woman, came through a little late to be in the running for the Gwacheon race, but she had little difficulty in dispatching a predominantly older field in race 5 for her second straight win.

If Ace Galloper hadn’t come up against Nothern Ace when the latter broke the track record at five furlongs,he would almost certainly be talked about as a possible Derby horse for next year. Today he put in his third routine win in a row, moving up in class and continuing his preparation for a likely shot at Nothern Ace and Seonbongbulpae in the Herald Media Cup in December.

Ten lengths was the margin on the line but it could have been whatever distance jockey Shim Seung Tae cared to make it. His more illustrious two year old counterparts have yet to try their luck against class 4 opposition – Ace Galloper has already demolished them.

Also on an eventful day, Japanese jockey Yoshiyuki Aoki made his Korean debut. And it was a winning one for the 33 year old – the first former JRA rider to take up a licence in Korea. After failing to palce with his early mounts, Aoki took the moderately fancied Namchonui Yeowang to victory in race 9.

Aurora Takes 2 y/o filly title

Gwacheon Citizens’ Day Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – Oct 24, 2009

1. Aurora (KOR) [Tahamkke - Southern Splendour (Southern Halo)] – Hwang Soon Do – 7.1, 2.1
2. Hushtilled (KOR) [Distiiled - Miss Alwuhush (Alwuhush)] – Jo In Kwen – 2.8
3. Choegouisungan (KOR) [Creek Cat - Right Out Ro (Grand Slam)] – Shin, HC) 2.9
Distances: 4 lengths/1.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Secret Woman; 5. Cheongsando; 6. White Volpony; 7. Bigsister; 8. Khanuiyeowang; 9. Oh My Sun; 10. Saeroungamun

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Hitomi At The Double

It hasn’t taken new girl Hitomi Miyashita long to settle into her new environment at Busan. Having landed three second place finishes on her debut weekend, today she followed it up with her first victory – and then immediately after with her second.

Having safely seen home hot favourite Seongsu Yeongung in race 3, she came out and did the same on the promising two year old Time To Fly in race 4. She wasn’t finished there as she took Max Is Cruisin to third place in the feature event of the afternoon.

That feature event was won by Crafty Louis, the six year old notching up his fifth win of 2009, holding off Phasmes by three lengths. While Hitomi landed two winners, Crafty Louis was the third win of the day for jockey Jo Chang Wook.

Earlier this year, Hitomi Miyashita was pictured next to Toshio Uchida at a ceremony in Japan where “Mr Pink” won an award for his performance in Korea and Hitomi picked up a Lady Jockey prize. That picture must have struck fear into the Busan Jockey colony with memories of Uchida’s dominance at the track last year still dominant. Hitomi may be no Uchida, but if she continues with the same kind of support she’s had from trainers so far and then doing the business in the saddle, she’s going to be a regular visitor to the winner’s circle.

Up at Seoul, Donga Ilbo winner Dangdaeteukgeup followed up with a smart win over 1900 metres. The filly is now just one win away from entering the top tier of Korean racing. That same top tier today put on a rather low key feature event where Obaek Yechan tasted victory for the fist time since November 2007.

The six year old came through late for a surprisingly convincing four length win over Model Student and Seungyu Sinhwa. For the second race running, favourite Dankee’s Pal vanished without trace entering the home straight.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

FULL RESULTS FROM BUSAN

Baekgwang Rolls Back The Years

The White Light Shines Again At Seoul
It’s almost three years to the day since Baekgwang roared up the Seoul Race Park home straight reeling in horse after horse to land the 2006 Minister’s Cup. That win completed a hat-trick of big race wins and was enough to see him crowned Champion Three Year Old of that year. Having started his 2007 campaign in much the same fashion, injury struck and has plagued him ever since.

Off the track for nearly a year, he returned in the 2008 Ttukseom Cup and ran a strong second only to return to his barn with severely damaged knee ligaments. His career looked over once and for all. However, a year of stem cell therapy and recuperation on Jeju Island saw Baekgwang make a second comeback fifteen months later in this July’s SBS Cup, the race his little sister Baekpa had won in his absence last year. Baekgwang ran fourth, keeping his record of always finishing in the money intact but most importantly, he came out of the race in fine condition.

A second place to Gi Ra Seong followed last month but today, the rehabilitation was complete. Running seventh of nine as they entered the straight, Baekgwang – the “White Light” – ran them all down to finally reclaim his rightful place in the winner’s circle. Yes he was favourite in a slightly sub-par class 1 field and yes, big danger Hwangnyongsaji was a late scratching but in winning, Baekgwang brought a smile to the face of even the most hardened punter.

Baekgwang will almost certainly be pointed next at November’s President’s Cup – a race that, had he stayed injury free, he would no doubt have been in the mix for over the past two years. While the winner of the last two editions, Myeongmun Gamun, is now out of the picture, the likes of Gi Ra Seong and Secret Weapon remain very much on the prowl and Baekgwang will be an outsider.

Whatever happens next will happen. Punters paid him the ultimate compliment by yelling his name rather than his number as he entered the stretch this afternoon – an honour that only Subsidy, Bally Brae and Baekpa have received recently. His place in Korean racing history is already assured and the best thing about it is that against all odds, it’s not over yet.

Shaka is on hand with video of the race.

Class 1 Handicap – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Oct 17, 2009

1. Baekgwang (KOR) [The Groom Is Red - Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – Park Tae Jong – 1.6, 1.0
2. Free Woody (KOR) [Social Charter - Choeseonbong (Imperial Prince)] – Lee Jun Cheol – 3.4
3. Ugildongja (KOR) [Dixie Dot Com - May Roses (Incinderator)] – Moon Jung Kyun – 1.4
Distances: 0.5 lengths/0.5 lengths – 9 ran

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

Suryeohan Makes Short Work in Gyeongnam

Busan Round-up
Somewhat lost on Minister’s Cup Day at Seoul was that Busan also put on an interesting card on Sunday afternoon. Highlight was the Gyeongnam Shinmun Cup, one of the track’s most valuable filly races of the year.

Open to fillies in the second of the five tiers of racing at Busan, it was a chance for a number of three year olds to make the step up to the top level. In the end, it was Suryeohan, fifth in the Oaks who took the honours. Under Chae Gyu Jun, the third favourite hitting the front three furlongs out and had enough in reserve to hold off the very late challenge from relative outsider Viva Galileo by a comfortable two and a half lengths.

On board Suryeohan was new girl Hitomi Miyashita while Eiki Nishimrura made it two Japanese riders in the first three, bringing home Golden Egg in third. With Martin Wepner taking top honours at Seoul, it was another good day for foreign jockeys in Korea.

Gyeongnam Shinmun – Busan Race Park – 1400M – Sun Oct 11, 2009

1. Suryeohan (KOR) [Commendable - Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – Chae Gyu Jun – 4.3, 1.3
2. Viva Galileo (KOR) [Galileo - Jessie's Lass (Danehill)] – Hitomi Miyashita – 3.4
3. Golden Egg (KOR) [Duality - Bo Sang (Baptize)] – Eiki Nishimura – 10.8
Distances: 2.5 lengths/1.75 lengths – 14 ran

Glory For Namdo Jeap in Minister’s Cup

Sangseung Ilro’s Triple Crown dream ends / Wepner victorious
Sangseung Ilro battled all the way to the line in a brave bid to become the first filly in history to land the Korean Triple Crown at Seoul Race Park this afternoon. But it was stablemate and runner-up in both the first two legs, Namdo Jeap, who finally had his day in front of a crowd of 60,000 assembled for the Minister’s Cup.

Given a terrific ride by Martin Wepner, Namdo Jeap was always in control of the ten furlong race – the final Classic of the season. After taking an early lead from Ilgan Sports winner Khanui Jeguk, Namdo Jeap had favourite Nice Choice on his tail on the rail as they turned for home while Jo Sung Gon took Sangseung Ilro wide to launch her challenge.

The challenge was both thrilling and valiant. With a furlong to go, it looked as though Sangseung Ilro could write her name into history as the gap closed. However, with Nice Choice also gunning into top gear, Wepner coaxed Namdo Jeap into a final effort and the colt responded magnificently to hold off his rivals by a neck on the line.

For South African jockey Wepner, it was not only the biggest win of his Korean career, but also repayment for trainer Kim Young Kwan who brought him back from the brink of quitting Korea after the Derby in May and for the owner who put him back on Namdo Jeap.

In second place, Nice Choice showed his class re-affirmed his status as Seoul’s top three year old. That an eigth successive Classic has gone the way of a Busan based horse, however, must set alarm bells ringing on the capital’s backstretch. The other two Seoul horses, Khanui Jeguk and Love Cat came home fifth and sixth respectively. Nice Choice will most likely be nominated for the season ending Grand Prix and hopefully his connections will accept.

Sangseung Ilro went off third favourite and finished third. Despite bandaging on her legs, she appeared in fine form and were the race a little shorter, she may have got there. Winning two of the three legs of the Triple Crown and coming third in the final one is still a fine achievement. What comes next for her is questionable. Punters will hope her immediate future is on the track.

Namdo Jeap and Martin Wepner Pose after The Minister's Cup

Yeonseung Daero finished half a length behind Sangseung Ilro in fourth but Oaks winner Pangpang found herself stuck in ninth. Overall Busan horses made up three of the first four but the top six contained three from each track.

Today was Namdo Jeap’s day. In Ft. Stockton, he shares a sire with J.S. Hold. Today he ensured that his half brother remains the sole holder of the Korean Triple Crown.

Minister of FAFF Cup (G.II) – Seoul Race Park – 2000M – Oct. 11, 2009

1. Namdo Jeap (KOR) [Ft. Stockton - Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – Martin Wepner – 16.0, 2.9
2. Nice Choice (KOR) [Lost Mountain - Betty's Rhapsody (Don't Hesitate)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 1.3
3. Sangseung Ilro (KOR) [Concept Win - Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – Jo Sung Gon – 1.7
Distances: Neck/0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Yeonseung Daero; 5. Khanui Jeguk; 6. Love Cat; 7. Sky Star; 8. Isidae Gangja; 9. Pangpang; 10. Conqueror; 11. Tamna Hero

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL

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Dongbanui Gangja Is Number One

Tomorrow, eleven three year olds will race in the final leg of the Korean Triple Crown. This afternoon, at Seoul Race Park, Dongbanui Gangja sent out a message that whoever wins will have a long way to go before they have any possibility of being recognised as the best horse in Korea.

Last time he ran, Dongbanui Gangja left it late to come through and claim his eighth straight win. It didn’t matter – the best horses don’t necessarily win by big margins, they just win. Today, however, he won with an awful lot to spare.

Sprint king Gamadongja set his usual early pace while Dongbanui Gangja sat right at the back of the field. Choi Beom Hyun moved the favourite up during the back straight and let him go as they turned for home. The four year old was quickly in front and, with Choi motionless in the saddle, cruised away from the field to record an effortless victory. Free Hugs trailed in eleven lengths back with Gamadongja following in third.

It’s now nine in a row for Dongbanui Gangja. With the Grand Prix now two months away, the only question at the moment seems to be just how far Dongbanui Gangja will win by.

Not a contender this year, but perhaps in future years is Great True. The two year old made his third appearance this afternoon and, like his previous two outings, it ended in victory. Stepping up in both class and distance, Great True [Yes It's True - Gigi's Magic (Allen's Prospect)] led from gate to wire but had to work to hold off the fast finishing Daejayeon.

Daejayeon’s jockey was Lee Sang Hyeok, the apprentice earlier surviving a hard fall when in race 4, the impressive two year old colt Yyongwang Jjang sadly broke down when leading just 150 metres from the line in its debut race.

FULL RESULTS FROM SEOUL