Day: September 20, 2026

“Lamborghini” Fantastic Value Drives To Easy Jeju Governor’s Win

“The horse is a Lamborghini!” jockey Seo Seung-un remarked as he was led back to scale after Fantastic Value crushed fifteen rivals to emphatically win the Jeju Governor’s Cup (1400M KOR-G3), the first leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter at Seoul Racecourse on Sunday afternoon.

Nobody had told Fantastic Value that this race had been billed as one of the deepest and most competitive of the season. Sent off fourth best in the market behind Gladius, defending champion Boryeonglightqueen, and this year’s Luna Stakes winner Clearly Winner, Fantastic Value broke from gate eight of sixteen and quickly went to the lead and from then on, it was a procession.

Under Seo Seung-un, the 2025 Korean Oaks winner continually extended her lead and had the race wrapped up a furlong from home, Seo having the luxury to ease down as Fantastic Value comfortably secured a first Group win for trainer Son Byeong-chul, who only set up in his own right this summer.

“I’m really happy to win this for the new trainer” Seo Seung-un went on to tell KRBC, following his Lambourghini comment to the assembled crowd. “There was no specific decision made that I should aim to lead to or sit back or anything, just to do what felt best on the day and (Fantastic Value’s) condition was excellent so I thought it is ok to go to the lead.”

“She was champion filly at three, since then there have been some ups and downs, but she felt very good in a trial, so I had a really good feeling about this.”

Fantastic Value won the Luna Stakes and the Korean Oaks in 2025 before coming up short as Boryeonglightqueen – who is now in the care of Fantastic Value’s original trainer Lim Keum-man – won the final leg of the Triple Tiara, the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, last June. Fantastic Value somewhat lost her way after that, before roaring back in to form by winning the Ttukseom Cup (1400M KOR-G2), the second leg of the Queens’ Tour Spring/Summer in April.

The ever-dependable Raon Forest got the closest in 2nd place with 80/1 chance Yeosu Super Star finishing in 3rd, the same as she had in the KNN Cup at the end of May, at similarly big odds.  Among the pre-race favourites, Gladius was 10th, while Boryeonglightqueen ran on late but only managed to get up to 8th. Clearly Winner was a fair 4th while Jeulgeounyeojeong, who won this race in both 2023 and 2024, was a decent 5th on her second start back following a nine-month layoff.

A four-year-old by Afleet Express and out of Union Belle (by Dixie Union), Fantastic Value moves on to seven wins from eighteen starts. The Queens’ Tour resumes in a month’s time with the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3) at Busan on October 23rd.

There is no racing in Korea next weekend due to the Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) holiday. Racing will return on Friday October 2.

KOREA RACING REPORT: SEPTEMBER 18-20

ON SUNDAY AT SEOUL FANTASTIC VALUE TURNED WHAT LOOKED A COMPETITIVE JEJU GOVERNOR’S CUP INTO ONE OF THE MORE UNCOMPETITIVE BLACK TYPE RACES WITH A FULL FIELD YOU WOULD EVER SEE BUT THE MAIN HANDICAP WAS DEFINITELY COMPETITIVE AND TRAUM KING OBLIGED BY A NARROW MARGIN (writes Luke Humphreys).

TRAUM KING (by To Honor And Serve) was one of four in the market for the nine-runner race 10 (2000M Class 2) and they duly filled out the top four-places with Traum King, who had opened up a sizeable lead in the home straight under Jang Chu-youl, and enough left to hold off Mustang Power by a substantial nose. The other single-digit chances, Super Bluemoon and Storm Breaker, came home in 3rd and 4th.

Jang would complete a late race-to-race double as he partnered PHANTOM PRINCE (Cairo Prince) to an eye-catching success in the eleventh and final race on the card (1200M Class 4), the US-bred three-year-old breaking through at start number four. Coming from midfield and lengthening away to score by four-lengths as the 2.5 favourite. Ikkeulim and Mucho Macho Rapido filled out the placings.

JD GANGJA (Power Blade) was the easiest of winners in Race 9 (1800M Class 3) by twelve-lengths justifying punters confidence in making him the 3.0 favourite. It was a fast run race and whilst JD Gangja was not directly involved in the speed battle it was still a strong performance by the three-year-old colt, and much improved compared to his last couple. He was good enough to go around in some of the main juveniles races last year running 4th and 5th so the ability is clearly there. Daehan Power, 7.0, who is a renowned come from behind horse naturally performed well with so much speed in the race and he came home 2nd. Maeum Hana, 4.4, who was coming into the race following a last stride 1200M success at this grade in August suffered the third defeat of his career at start eight and under top weight of 57.5kg come home 5th whilst last start impressive victor Yongbigyo, 4.9, was 9th of the ten runners after paying the price to try and get her favourite position as the pacesetter.

Luis Quiroz and QUERENCIA (Concord Point) followed up their narrow August 23 victory with another in Race 7 (1300M Class 5) by a comfortable two-lengths over the 2.9 favourite Clover One. Querencia was the topweight with 57kg and will now be up to Class 4 grade.

Ruan Maia rode two impressive juveniles to success. The first was ECLIPSE GOLDEN (Gemologist) who was the 2.5 favourite in Race 2 (1400M Class 6) and after finishing third in each of his two previous starts got up right on the line to deny the Johan Victoire ridden Luigi Riccardi trained longtime leader Unicorn Ace who as the 3.8 third favourite looked to have an unassailable lead but stopped to a walk over the concluding stages and was caught very late.

Maia followed up on TAEPYEONG SG (South Beach) in Race 6 (1200M Class 5) who made it two wins from as many starts with a four-length front-running score in smart style. The 1.5 favourite was Gwanaksan Bigstep, following an impressive thirteen-length trial victory and five-length debut success, but he fell asleep in the gates, subsequently missed the start and had to use too much petrol to find a position and weakened for 5th.

(more…)