As the second half of the racing season gets underway, trainers Han Man-dal, Cha Woo-ho, Lee Gang-seo, Baek Jong-su and Moon Se-young have launched their own stables, injecting fresh energy into Seoul racing's generational shift and competitive landscape.
A trainer is a core professional on the racing circuit, responsible for a horse's conditioning and training, race-entry strategy and overall stable management. Each stable is a team in which racehorses, stable hands, jockeys and owners work in close coordination. LetsRun Park Seoul currently has 42 licensed trainers, including two foreign nationals.
Han Man-dal, who heads Stable 19, said at his opening that he had "waited 25 years for this moment" and pledged to "keep the same mindset I started with and build racing that is fair and exciting." Han first joined the Korea Racing Authority through a partner company before transitioning to stable hand — an unusual career path. He said he expects "Na-ol Pass" to deliver his first win among his consigned horses, and named a Korea Cup victory and a Breeders' Cup entry as his ultimate goals.
Cha Woo-ho of Stable 23, who joined as a stable hand in 2011, said the hands-on experience and know-how he has built up over the years are his greatest asset. He said he named his stable "Zenith" — meaning the highest point — to capture his ambition of drawing out the full potential of every horse in his care.
Lee Gang-seo of Stable 26 is taking on the role of trainer drawing on experience built as a jockey and track rider. His firsthand feel for how a race unfolds is expected to give him an edge in setting training direction and devising race tactics. Lee wasted no time making his mark, recording his first win alongside "Power Magic" in his opening week.
Baek Jong-su of Stable 36 also notched a victory in his opening week, with "Songdang Sky." Baek acknowledged the pressure of having to make and own every decision in the stable — a stark contrast to his days as a stable hand — but said he would build a stable where horses and people alike share joy and happiness, in keeping with the spirit of his stable's name, "Manso-won." His immediate target is the Rookie Stakes in August, with the Juvenile Series title as the broader goal.
Meanwhile, Moon Se-young's transition from jockey to trainer drew considerable attention from racing fans. Moon, who heads Stable 2, said, "If the past 26 years were spent riding horses, the next 20 will be spent developing great ones," expressing excitement about this new chapter. On Sunday, he entered "Haksan Speed" and "Something Lost" in the 10th race at LetsRun Park Seoul, a Grade 1 event over 1,200 meters.
The two horses finished second and third, and Moon recorded multiple placings in a Grade 1 race in his very first week as a trainer. Fans are also watching to see how the skill and race experience he showed as a jockey will translate into his identity as a trainer.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
