Top Horses – Busan
Busan Race Park provided the winners of all four Classics in 2008, and the first of 2009. Here are the top horses in training…
Korean Bred
1. Sangseung Ilro (KOR) [Concept Win - Ms. Whiskey (Whiskey Wisdom)] – The three year old filly pulled off an upset in taking the first leg of the 2009 Triple Crown with her win in the KRA Cup Mile. before going on to win the Korean Derby at Seoul in May. On course for the Triple Crown, the filly could also take the Korean Oaks in August.
2. Gaeseon Janggun (KOR) [Duality - Diamond Star (Dixieland Band)] – Runner-up in the first two classics of 2008 season, Gaeseon Janggun finally landed the top prize with victory in the Minister’s Cup at Seoul Race Park in October 2008 to become the highest earning horse of the year.
3. Jeolho Chance (KOR) [Didyme - Harboring (Boston Harbor)] – The filly cantered to victory in the Korean Oaks in August and then came within inches of pulling off a wire to wire win in the Minister’s Cup only to be denied at the last y Gaeseon Janggun.
4. Ebony Storm (KOR) [Buster's Daydream - Sorority Jazz (Dixieland Band)]- In a torrential downpour in Seoul in mid-May, Ebony Storm went from rank outsider of fourteen to number one horse in Korea by winning the Korean Derby. Otherwise modest figures of five wins from nineteen races now hardly matter. Here’s the Derby victory.
5. Rainmaker (KOR) [Revere - Wandering Katie (Tejano)] – After winning the first leg of the 2008 Triple Crown by taking the KRA Cup Mile and with it the KRW 228Million first prize, Rainmaker went into the Korean Derby as hot favourite. He disappointed, however, the atrocious conditions that day may have played some part. Before the Derby, Rainmaker had never finished lower than second and has won three from seven. Here is his KRA Cup Mile victory. Rainmaker suffered from a heavy handicap in the latter part of 2008 and, on level weights was well-supported in the Minister’s Cup. In finishing fourth, however, Rainmaker suffered an injury that will keep him off the track for at least six months.
6. Areumdaun Jilju (KOR) [Didyme - Chills of Nepal (Nepal)] – The five year old spent 2008 harvesting the big handicaps winning seven out of nine outings. Arguably the most feared horse on the track currently, injury has meant he’s yet to appear in 2009.
7. Sinjin Gangja (KOR) [Creek Cat - Mireau (Mujaazif)] – Sinjin Gangja was unbeatable in the summer of 2007. Going up in the weights, however, he struggled through the early part of 2008. Back in form now, however, he landed back to back wins in September and October. He has won or placed in his last 18 races.
Up and Comer:
Impeccable (KOR) [Distilled - Belle Breezy (Foolish Pleasure)] – Four runs, four wins and many lengths between him and his nearest rivals. The three year old colt has yet to be seriously challenged with the KRA Cup Mile his first big target.
Overseas Bred
1. Hardride (USA) [Colony Light - Lametta (Lomond)] – Victory in the Busan Metropolitan last November is enough to make Hardride the top overseas bred horse currently racing at Busan.
1. Golding (USA) [Gold Alert - Ritzy Lady (Kissin Kris)] – With 15 wins from 32 races – including his first five, the American bred Golding has been a consistent performer at the track since its opening in late 2004. Here is Golding winning the 2007 Metropolitan.
April 9, 2008 at 12:27 pm |
[...] added a page for Top Horses in Busan which includes Rainmaker. It’s currently based on the top money winners over the past year. [...]
April 13, 2008 at 8:43 am |
Hello,
I’m Japanese horse racing fan.
Now I’m interested in Korean horse racing, and enjoy reading your blog.
By the way, I heard Korean horses will go on a tour to the U.S.A. this year.
Which horse do you know will go next year?
I’m looking forward to see Korean horses racing for Japan Cup Dirt in the near future.
See you.
April 13, 2008 at 1:46 pm |
Hi fpop
The KRA has been talking about doing that for a long time as part of their “internationalization” plan for Korean horse racing, placing horses in races across the world to check the level of domestic horses. I think they wanted to send three or four horses to the US but I don’t know if there’s been any progress. Japan would definitely seem to be a more logical first step.
May 1, 2008 at 11:47 am |
[...] race for foreign bred horses with a KRW 68Million first prize. The biggest name in the field is Golding, the six year old with 14 wins from 27 outings dropping down to 1400 metres for the first time [...]
April 27, 2009 at 9:24 pm |
would appreciate up date on jeonbeol hwangje
June 29, 2009 at 10:18 am |
I would like a bit of information about Hangang Ruby, won on 22 may 2009, I have a website Bel Esprit Winners club and Hangang Ruby is out of Bel Esprit
June 29, 2009 at 1:17 pm |
Hangang Ruby is owned by Lee Young Sun (who was the eventual purchaser of Shirley’s Luvena at the Magic Millions sale) and is trained by Kim Chang Wook at Busan.
As he was foaled in Korea, he is eligible for all Korean-bred races except the classics and some stakes races.
On his one outing, he was ridden by jockey Jung Si Won and led from gate to wire over 5 furlongs. He paid 13.4 to win and 2.3 to place. His time of 1:03.09 was nothing special but fairly normal in Korea.
Here is his entry in the Korean studbook