Superstition had nothing on Lee Hyeok. With his 600th career win in sight, the veteran jockey swept four victories in a single week to reach the milestone in one swift surge.
Lee clinched his 600th career win Monday at Let's Run Park Seoul, crossing the finish line first aboard Here I Am — a 5-year-old Korean gelding owned by Heo Hun and trained by Tony — in the seventh race of the day.
It was the first time Lee and Here I Am had raced together, and the horse had done little to attract attention recently, going off at sixth-lowest odds as pre-race interest centered on other competitors.
Once the gates opened, however, the field's assessment was overturned. Lee pushed Here I Am to the front from the outset, seized control of the race and managed the pace steadily throughout, never relinquishing the lead before crossing the finish line first.
Despite being their first outing together, the partnership was seamless. True to its name, Here I Am announced its presence emphatically that day, helping Lee complete his 600th career win. At the same time, Here I Am secured promotion to the third rating class roughly three years after its debut, meaning jockey and horse each reached a meaningful milestone in the same race.
Lee, who debuted in August 2011, has now competed in 5,863 races and posted 600 wins, with a win rate of 10.2 percent, a place rate of 19.3 percent and a show rate of 28.5 percent. This year he has recorded 29 wins at a 14.1 percent win rate, maintaining strong form.
"Reaching 600 wins means a great deal to me," Lee said. "I regret that injuries and time away kept me from showing my best to the fans, and I hope this milestone gives everyone a reason to cheer me on again." He added, "Going forward, I will keep building win by win, consistently, and repay the fans' support with a dedicated effort."
yjc@heraldcorp.com
