Fantastic Value from Yeongnam is set to challenge Seoul horses' eight-year winning streak.
The 20th Gyeongsangnam-do Governor's Cup, taking place on the 23rd at Let's Run Park Busan-Gyeongnam, is the second leg of the Queens Tour F&W series, featuring a 2000m race between top fillies representing Yeongnam and Seoul.
According to the Korea Racing Authority, this Gyeongsangnam-do Governor's Cup is a G3 race for domestic fillies aged three and older, with a total prize pool of 500 million won.
Since 2011, the Queens Tour series has determined the top filly through three races: the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor's Cup, the Gyeongsangnam-do Governor's Cup, and the Breeders' Cup Queen.
Fantastic Value, considered a strong contender for victory, showcased impressive performance by finishing eight lengths ahead of the runner-up in the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor's Cup, the first leg of the Queens Tour F&W this year.
If Fantastic Value continues this momentum in the Gyeongsangnam-do Governor's Cup, it could secure victories in the first two legs of the series, positioning itself favorably for the final championship.
Since 2017, Seoul-based horses have dominated the Gyeongsangnam-do Governor's Cup, winning for eight consecutive years. A victory for Fantastic Value would not only break Seoul's long reign but also demonstrate the competitiveness of Yeongnam horses.
Raon Forest, a representative horse from Seoul, is seen as a potential challenger to Fantastic Value's winning streak. This six-year-old mare has a record of seven wins in 34 races and holds the highest rating of 108 among the competitors.
Having won major fillies' races such as the Dong-A Ilbo Cup and KNN Cup, Raon Forest finished second in its last race, showcasing strong late speed.
With the distance increasing to 2000m, the key to victory will be how well the horses utilize their racing experience and stamina in the latter stages.
The performance of three-year-old fillies will also be a significant factor in this race. Clear Winner from Yeongnam has five wins in eight races but has primarily competed in shorter distances around 1400m, making this 2000m race a new challenge.
Catch Race from Seoul, the winner of this year's Triple Tiara series, excels in late speed over longer distances. The results for both horses will depend on how well they adapt to the distance and demonstrate their late acceleration against established competitors.
Earlier, on the 16th, Victory Champ, a newcomer, won the 8th Gimhae Mayor's Cup with jockey Jin Gyeom. After debuting in August, Victory Champ secured a leading position amid fierce competition and maintained a steady pace, crossing the finish line first.
The results of the Gimhae Mayor's Cup will also impact the competition for the top two-year-old in the Juvenile series. Eclipse Vision from Yeongnam finished second in the Gimhae Mayor's Cup, accumulating 300 points to remain in the lead for the Yeongnam division.
In Seoul, Clutch Derby won the Gimhae Mayor's Cup after finishing second in the Gwacheon Mayor's Cup, taking the lead in the standings.
The final leg of the Juvenile series, the Breeders' Cup Rookie, will be held on December 6 at Let's Run Park Seoul. This open race for two-year-olds will cover 1400m with a total prize of 700 million won.
As the top newcomers from Seoul and Yeongnam face off in the final stage, the skills displayed in the Gimhae Mayor's Cup and the cumulative series results will be crucial in determining the outcome.
Jockey Jin Gyeom expressed his thoughts after winning the Gimhae Mayor's Cup, stating, "Before the race, I planned to follow rather than lead, but my horse was in great condition, so I naturally took the lead. Winning against strong competitors makes it even more rewarding, and I remained focused until the end."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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