Day: October 22, 2026

Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter 2nd Leg): Form Comments

The second leg of the Queens’ Tour Fall/Winter is set for Busan on Friday afternoon when the three-year-old generation gets another crack at their elders in the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup (2000M KOR-G3). SEE HERE FOR FULL PREVIEW OF ALL 9 RACES AT BUSAN ON FRIDAY.

Fantastic Value is a two-time Queens’ Tour winner already this year (Pic: KRA)

It was the established fillies and mares who came out on top in the Jeju Governor’s Cup (1400M KOR-G3), the first leg of the series a month ago as four-year-old FANTASTIC VALUE added the race to the Ttukseom Cup she won earlier in the year. Last year’s Oaks winner is set to be a short-price favourite to prevail again on Friday and in the process seal the title of Champion filly/mare with a race to go.

At six-years-old, RAON FOREST is the oldest in the race. Last year’s KNN Cup winner was 2nd behind Fantastic Value in the Jeju Governor’s a month ago and beat plenty of repeating rivals when winning the Listed Donga Ilbo Trophy back in March. She has every chance of beating all her younger rivals again.

BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN was 2nd in that Donga Ilbo. She has a habit of getting a long way back in her races and then taking too long to go through the gears in the home straight, but she is one of only two in the race to have won over the distance and her ability isn’t in question.

As for the three-year-olds, CLEARLY WINNER heads the crop. The Luna Stakes winner and Oaks runner-up was 4th in the Jeju Governor’s and looks to have scope to get better. Oaks winner CATCH RACE along with SUNRISE, who won the final leg of the Triple Tiara over the same 2000M distance as Friday’s race, are the other up and comers.

The race is the 6th on the 9-race Friday card with a local post time of 16.00. Here’s how they line up:

1. TIGER ROAR – 3rd in both the Korean Oaks and Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup, coming from off the pace both times. 7th in the Jeju Governor’s last time out. She has only won once and that probably won’t change today but she will stay on and can beat plenty.

2. EXCELLENT MATTA – Won five starts back and but has been bouncing around in midfield worse at class 3 and class 2 over 1800M and 1200M in four outings since. Outsider here.

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