C.C. Wong lands 3rd Listed race in Korea

SEOUL – Former Kranji jockey Wong Chin Chuen continues to make waves in South Korea after he landed his third Listed race win at Seoul racecourse on Nov 16.

Under the Malaysian’s guidance, Geudaemaniddamyeon ground down Wonpyeong Sket to claim the 200 million Korean won (S$179,000) Listed Gwacheon Mayor’s Trophy (1,200m).

Wong’s previous Listed hurrahs came aboard Crown Hamseong and Chan Famous earlier in 2025.

Trained by Lee Gwan-ho, Crown Hamseong bagged the Listed Segye Ilbo Trophy (1,200m) in Seoul on Feb 16, while the Kenny Seo Bum-seok-trained Chan Famous saluted a week later in the Listed Sports Seoul Trophy (1,400m) in Seoul on Feb 23.

Popular known as C.C. or Jimmy at Kranji, Wong, who was crowned Singapore champion apprentice twice (2016 and 2017) and went on to win five Group 1 races on Lim’s Kosciuszko, has now taken his tally to 70 winners in South Korea.

Incidentally, Geudaemaniddamyeon’s win also gave his trainer Choi Yong-geon a milestone to celebrate – his first Listed or Graded win.

But all honours to the horse himself, who has, in the process, established himself as Seoul track’s top imported juvenile and one of its most exciting prospects for 2026.

After running second in a Class 4 race (1,000m) on debut, Geudaemaniddamyeon went one better at his second start in a similar race three weeks later on Oct 18.

With that, the Tacitus two-year-old was sent off as the $14 shot in the biggest race for juvenile horses in Seoul – open to imported youngsters – third-up.

Wonpyeong Sket was the only Korean-bred in the field of 11 and one of only two fillies.

The Jung Ho-ik-trained filly bounded out of gate six into an early lead under another ex-Kranji jockey, Ruan Maia, and seemed poised to go all the way, until Geudaemaniddamyeon swept by late to score in the final few strides. My Empire (Jo In-kwon), a Classic Empire colt, finished two lengths back in third.

For Wonpyeong Sket, it marked three times in a row in the Listed juvenile races that she has led, only to be overhauled late and beaten into seconds in her runs.

She suffered the same fate in her previous two starts, first run down by Mujehan Geup in the Munhwa Ilbo Trophy (1,200m) on Sept 14, and then worn down by Chief Star in the NACF Chairman’s Trophy (1,200m) on Oct 19 next.

Her connections’ decision to skip the Group 2 Breeders’ Cup Rookie (1,400m) in Busan on Nov 23, where the Musket Man filly would likely meet Mujehan Geup and Chief Star again, is probably vindicated.

Licensed since 2020 after a long career as an assistant trainer, Choi was clearly overwhelmed by the occasion.

“My heart felt like it’s going to burst; I haven’t felt such a thrilling feeling in a long time,” he said.

“I want to thank my very good friend (owner Woo Tae-yul) for trusting us with him and for giving him such a great name.”

Woo is known for giving his horses melancholic names and “Geudaemanuiddamyeon” roughly translates into English as “if only you were here now”.

“We try to win every race and every win is meaningful,” continued Choi. “But I was wondering when I would win my first trophy? Geudaemaniddamyeon only came to us during the summer.

“He is a tall horse and has a big build, but he hasn’t been straightforward. We’ll do our best to make him into a star.”

Geudaemaniddamyeon arrived relatively late to Korea this season. He was purchased from the Ocala Breeders’ Sales 2025 March 2YOs in Training Sale for US$100,000 (S$130,000) and only made his debut in September.

Busan was scheduled to run a similar juveniles’ feature, the Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo Trophy (1,200m), but there were not enough entries for the race.

However, a full field of 16 is expected for the Breeders’ Cup Rookie – the fifth and final leg of the Juvenile Series – which will determine who the title of Champion Korean-bred Juvenile goes to.
SKY RACING WORLD