Both Seoul & Busan hosted big, valuable races for two-year-olds on Sunday. Last year the winners of the corresponding events turned out to be Cheongdam Dokki at Seoul, who has gone on to become one of the highest rated horses in Korea; and I’m Your Father at Busan, winner of July’s Busan Mayor’s Cup. This time 8/1 chance Yeongcheon Derby took the honours on the south coast in the Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Cup, while in the capital, P.K. Party maintained her 100% record by winning the Nonghyup Chairman’s Trophy.

Seoul’s race was especially competitive with almost half of the 13-strong field arriving hitherto unbeaten. Despite having won all her five prior races, P.K. Party, the only Korean-bred among them (imported in-utero) and one of only three fillies, was only sent off as fourth-favourite in the market. As it transpired, she made all, bounding out of gate 7 under Kim Yong Geun and holding off the late challenge of OP Seven to win by half a length on the line and secure another big race win for trainer Song Moon Gil, who was recording his eight Group or Listed victory of 2017.

At Busan, things were more straightforward for Yeongcheon Derby. Hot favourite Blue Chipper got a bad start and never looked settled, handing Choi Si Dae the initiative on Yeongcheon Derby. The pair went to the front and never looked in any danger at all as they cruised to a four-length triumph.

Nonghyup Chairman’s Trophy – Seoul Racecourse – 1200M – Nov 19, 2017

1. P.K. Party (KOR) [Old Fashioned – Lottacosta (Cat Thief)] – Kim Yong Geun – 5.4, 2.0
2. OP Seven (USA) [Tale Of Ekati – Groundbreaker (War Front)] – Lee Joon Chel – 1.4
3. Moonhak Chief (USA) [Pioneerof The Nile – Talullah Lula (Old Trieste)] – Lim Gi Won – 1.7
Distances: 0.5 lengths / 1.5 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Cheongsu Yeogeol (USA) 5. Tiz Plan (USA) 6. Sky Bay (USA) 7. Sun Lighting (USA) 8. Ace King (USA) 9. Mighty Ssing (USA) 10. Bulmyeorui Jewang (USA) 11. Nice Dash (USA) 12. Jeokbyeok Shinhwa (USA) 13. Ohthe Pazibilties (USA)

Gyeongnam Do Min Ilbo Cup – Busan Racecourse – 1200M – Nov 19, 2017

1. Yeongcheon Derby (KOR) [Thunder Moccasin – Dixie Avenger (Dixie Union)] – Choi Si Dae – 1.8
2. Potential (USA) [Midnight Lute – Fair Rose (Harlan’s Holiday)] – Jin Kyum – 2.2
3. Pasha (USA) [Haynesfield – Cute N Sassy (Consolidator)] – Lee Sung Jae – 1.8
Distances: 4 lengths / 0.75 lengths
Also Ran: 4. Ace Korea (USA) 5. Ace Dolpung (KOR) 6. Choegang Beongae (USA) 7. I’m Your Mother (USA) 8. Blue Chipper (USA)