Top Horses – Seoul

Most races in Korea are designated as being for either Korean bred or overseas horses. Only Korean bred three year olds can run in the Triple Crown races, however, the season ending Grand Prix is open to all. Here is a list of some of the top horses currently in training at Seoul:

Korean-bred

1. Myeongmun Gamun (KOR) [Future Quest - Guided Dancer (Incinderator)] – In his eight year old season in 2009, the Park Dae Heung trained gelding remains the top Korean bred horse with a career record of 17 wins from 31 starts and earnings of well over KRW 1 Billion. Notoriously badly behaved at the starting gate, the horse was banned for two months in late spring 2008 after refusing to enter the stalls for a handicap. On his return, he ran second to Baekpa in the SBS Cup and it looked like his best days could be behind him. This notion was dispelled in the autumn, however, as Myeongmun Gamun stormed to a second consecutive President’s Cup win. Here he is winning his first President’s Cup in 2007.

2. Baekpa (KOR) [Revere - Grey Crest (Gold Crest)] – The grey Baekpa won the Korean Oaks in 2007 and in the past year has 6 wins from 9 starts. A half sister of Baekgwang, the top three year old colt in 2006, she made an inauspicious start to her career as a four year old in 2008 but quickly bounced back to first beat Namchonuijijon in a handicap in June and then to dominate the SBS Cup in July romping to a five length victory. Here is her Korean Oaks win. Baekpa is currently in the United States preparing to race as part of the KRA’s “internationalization” experiment. Incidentally, big brother Baekgwang doesn’t feature in the list with only one run in 2008, a second place in the Ttukseom Cup which resulted in an aggravation of his injury. Following lengthy recuperation on Jeju Island, a return is on the cards in May 2009.

3. Good Day (KOR) [Double Honor - Fanciest (Lear Fan)] – Missed out on the money in his very first race, but never since. The five year old has eleven wins to his name.

4.  Secret Weapon (KOR) [Native Regent - Aheadofthetimes (Gold Alert)] – Now a six year old, Secret Weapon was one of the most reliable performers of 2008. After reeling off a string of victories, he didn’t stay the distance in the Grand Prix, but is sure to be a formidable presence in handicaps in 2009.

5. Top Point (KOR) [Tom Cruiser - Mooncello (Northern Baby)] – A disappointing run in 2008 Grand Prix aside, Top Point won five of her seven outings in 2008. Her only other setback was a creditable third place in the KRA Cup Classic with only overseas bred horses ahead of her. Now five, the mare began 2009 in style, upsetting Myeongmun Gamun and Secret Weapon in January.

6.  Namchonuijijon (KOR) [Concept Win - Intriga (Lord At Law)]- Not a prolific winner but the third best three year old of 2007 placing in the Korean Derby. He just had two wins in 2007 but has started off 2008 well with an eleven length victory in a handicap in early February and then followed it up with victory in the Ttukseom Cup in April. With that win, Namchonuijijon became favourite for horse of the year honours, but a defeat by Baekpa thre that into doubt and his form didn’t recover. However, Namchonuijijon began 2009 with a win.Here’s his Ttukseom Cup victory.

Up and Comers...

Nice Choice (KOR) [Lost Mountain - Betty's Rhapsody (Don't Hesitate)] – The nation’s top two year old in 2008 is staying away from the first leg of the Korean Triple Crown in Apil in order to focus entirely on the Korean Derby the following month. Winning four of his five races in distances from 1200-1800 metres, if the race was this weekend, he’d be favourite.

Love Cat (KOR)) [Creek Cat - Love Cue (Curia Regis)] – The filly has won five of her first eight races and will take on the men at Busan in the KRA Cup Mile in April.

Overseas-bred

1. Dongbanui Gangja (USA) [Broken Vow - Maremaid (Storm Bird)] – The colt finished off his three year old season by coming through with a late run to win the 2008 Grand Prix race. Since his very first race, he’s never been out of the placings.

2. Vicar Love (USA) [Vicar - Canberra (Silver Hawk)] – Looked to be headed for the title of top imported horse of 2008 until Dongbanui Gangja took the Grand Prix. Vicar Love nevertheless boasts a record of eight wins from fourteen races.

3. Bally Brae (USA) [Yarrow Brae - Political Bluff (Unaccounted For)] – Winner of the 2007 Grand Prix race ahead of Subsidy and Myeongmun Gamun, Bally Brae struggled in 2008 managing just two wins. As a three year old, Bally Brae broke the track record for 1200 meters with a time of 1:11.9 which still stands today. At the end of 2008, Bally Brae battled to second place in the Grand Prix and in early March 2009, finally got back in the Winner’s Circle. Here’s the Grand Prix win.

4. Subsidy (USA) [Mr. Prospector - Foreign Aid (Danzig)]- One of the last foals sired by Mr. Prospector, Subsidy was Horse of the Year in 2005. Now 9 years old, Subsidy is coming to the end of his career but his presence on the track still excites punters. Subsidy traded big handicap wins with Bally Brae in 2007 ultimately coming off second best in the Grand Prix but not before getting the better of him in the final furlong in this great battle from March 2007.

Now Retired…

1. J.S. Hold (KOR)[Ft. Stockton - Hwansanjiljoo (Passetreul)] – Winner of the inaugural Korean Triple Crown in 2007, a fit J.S. Hold and regarded by many as the best Korean bred horse ever. His last outing was in completing the TC in October 2007 with this win in the Minister of Agriculture Cup. J.S. Hold has a career record of 9 wins from ten starts and won all four of his races as a three year old. Disappointingly for many, he didn’t start the 2007 Grand prix race due to injury. He retunred to training in Spring 2008 but was unable to fully shake off his injury and was officially retired at the end of September.  Here is his complete domination of the 2007 Korean Derby and his emotional retirement ceremony in November 2008.