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.
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.
3. WONDERFUL KAYLAN – Enters off solid 4th place at big odds over 1800M at class 2 level on September 4th when racing handy throughout and beaten by a couple of the better three-year-old colts. Draws well to be on pace and top jockey on but others favoured.
4. YEOSU SUPERSTAR – A revelation when 3rd in the KNN Cup, she followed it up with two 5th places at class 2 level and then another 3rd in the Jeju Governor’s Cup. Comes into a much better gate today and she can be in this a long way.
5. FANTASTIC VALUE – Last year’s Korean Oaks winner won the Ttukseom Cup in April from off the pace and then last time out emphatically won the Jeju Governor’s from the front. Both were at 1400M, but the distance shouldn’t be a problem, and she can win again.
6. RAON FOREST – Ultra-reliable and rated thirteen higher than anything else in the race. Enters off 2nd place in the Jeju Governor’s when coming from a long way back. Yet to win at the distance, she has though placed three times, and she is a serious contender here.
7. SUNRISE – 4th in the Oaks, she then won the Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup having settled in midfield and finished strongly. Well back in the Jeju Governor’s, today’s trip should be more to her liking, and she can be in the mix for a place.
8. MAX THE DRAGON – Won at class 3 level at massive odds in July but has reverted to type since with two very ordinary efforts. First try at the distance and in this kind of company and is an outside.
9. CLEARLY WINNER – Won the Luna Stakes and was 2nd in the Oaks but missed the final leg of the Tiara. Under a new trainer, she bounced back to win at class 3 level over 1400M in August before running 4th in the Jeju Governor’s. First time over the distance but a big chance.
10. CATCH RACE – 3rd in the Luna, she won the Korean Oaks in May before finishing 2nd in the Gyeonggi Governor’s over this trip. Never got involved when 12th in the Jeju Governor’s Cup, but the trip was perhaps a bit sharp, and she should be much closer today.
11. LIME TREE – Comes in off a solid 2nd over 1800M at class 3 in September when as almost always, she was badly away. Went around in the KNN Cup over a mile in May, finishing 9th of sixteen and bettering that will be par for today.
12. CHRYSOL STONE – Had a hard time behind plenty of these in the Donga Ilbo Trophy over 1800M at Seoul in March but has won at that distance since at class 3 level and enters off a fair 4th in a Trophy race over 1700M on September 5th. Outsider.
13. BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN – Won last year’s Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup over this distance and aside from a disappointing effort in the Jeju Governor’s, she has been close in all the Queens’ Tour races this year. Often leaves herself too much to do but will be challenging.
14. PURGE STEP – Well back in the Donga Ilbo in March, she won over 1800M at class 3 level in June before finishing 5th of eight behind Catch Race over a mile in August. First try at the distance and done no favours with the draw.
15. FLYING MENACE – Won back-to-back races at 1400M and a mile before finishing 2nd on her latest, also at a mile. They were all at class 4 level, so this is a big step up in terms of opposition.
| Selections | (6) Raon Forest (5) Fantastic Value (13) Boryeonglightqueen (9) Clearly Winner |
| Next Best | 4, 2 |
| Fast Start | 1, 2, 4, 7, 10 |
