Craig Zackey (pic: JC Photographics)
South Africa’s Craig Zackey flew to Korea to join 10 other jockeys for the 7th edition of the Asian Young Guns Challenge. The participants represented 9 different countries including Australia, Hong Kong, two from Japan, two from Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa, competed over a series of 4 races, at Seoul’s Racecourse Park on Saturday, 29 August.
The challenge, staged over races 4, 5, 7 and 9, went to Korea’s Kim Dong Soo, who was on form, winning two of the four rounds on Saturday afternoon.
Always expected to win the first leg having drawn the plum ride on Nabom, Korean apprentice Kim duly delivered, prevailing by 6 lengths over Hong Kong’s Jack Wong on Muhandoma.
Kim Dong Soo wins the first leg on Nabom (pic: Ross Holburt)
Round 1: Class 4 / 1000M / Handicap
1. Nabom – Kim Dong Soo (Korea)
2. Muhandoma – Jack Wong (Hong Kong)
3. Strong Winner – Jye McNeil (Australia)
Distances: 6 lengths / 1.34 lengths – 10 ran
Macau’s Choi Yee Mo took the second leg of the challenge, swooping home wide and late on Hwanggeum Sesang. Unfortunately, it proved Choi’s last mount of the day as he was stood down with exhaustion after the race.
Choi Yee Mo returns to the scale (pic: Ross Holburt)
Round 2: Class 4 / 1400M / Handicap
1. Hwanggeum Sesang – Choi Yee MO (Macau)
2. Giant Hold – Cho Han Byeol
3. Power Symphony – See Zhi Yong (Singapore)
Distances: 4 lengths/ 0.75 lengths – 14 ran
With Choi retired, the challenge was Kim’s to lose and he ensured victory with a round to spare, guiding 7/1 chance Ganginhae to a four-length triumph in round 3, putting himself in an unassailable lead going into the final round, the Singapore Turf Club Trophy.
Kim Dong Soo victorious again (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Round 3: Class 5 / 1200M / Handicap
1. Ganginhae – Kim Dong Soo (Korea)
2. Eutteum Wangja – Tsubasa Sasagawa (Japan)
3. Seoho Arari – Song Jae Chul
Distances: 4 lengths / Neck – 11 ran
The challenge may have been over as a contest but there was still the most valuable race of the four to come in the shape of the Singapore Turf Club Trophy. Remarkably, the in-form Kim Dong Soo came close in that too, partnering 70/1 shot Gasok Bisang to a 2 1/2 length second place, behind Singapore’s Jack Wong on Yeondu.
Kim Dong Soo is the overall winner (Pic: Ross Holburt)
Round 4: The Singapore Turf Club Trophy / 1400M / Class Open
1. Yeondu – Jack Wong (Singapore)
2. Gasok Bisang – Kim Dong Soo (Korea)
3. Nuri Narae – Jye McNeil (Australia)
Distances: 2.5 lengths/4 lengths – 13 ran
However, Kim Dong Soo had done enough to be declared the overall winner, with Hong Kong’s Jack Wong in second and Australia’s Jye McNeil finishing 3rd.
South Africa’s Craig Zackey acquitted himself well, notching fifth places on board Kiss Me for the Seo Jung Ha stable in race 4, Jeolmeundaeryuk for the Ji Yong Cheol stable in race 7, Incheon Tsunami for the Kim Yang Sun yard in race 9 and a 10th place on Black Cigar for the Lee Gwan Ho stable in race 5.
(source: Korea Racing)
