With the Korean Breeders’ Cup, the nation’s most important 2-year-old race, just over a month away, Seoul and Busan decided their own champions this weekend.

At Seoul, a front-running performance did the business for Raon Morris (Yankee Victor) in the Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup on Saturday. The colt came into the race with 2 wins and a 2nd in his 3 previous starts and never looked like being troubled as he took victory by a length.

Gwacheon Mayor’s Cup – Seoul Race Park – 1200M – October 12, 2013

1. Raon Morris (KOR) [Yankee Victor – Thunder By Night (Thunder Gulch)] – Moon Se Young – 4.0, 1.5
2. Gamunui Chukje (KOR) [Biwa Shinseiki – Gamun N’Yeonggwang (Concept Win)] – Cho Kyoung Ho – 3.3
3. Forever Daemul (KOR) [Exploit – Charming Roman (Gadabout)] – Park Tae Jong – 2.1

Distances: 1 length/1 length – 10 ran

At Busan this afternoon, fillies were in charge as Jungang Gongju (Menifee) won the battle of the closers in the Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup with Queen’s Blade.

The two fast-finishers came late on either side of Yonggwanguichampion, who finished 3rd. Leading sire Menifee was responsible for all 3 place-getters.

Gyeongnam Sinmun Cup – Busan Race Park – 1200M – October 13, 2013

1. Jungang Gongju (KOR) [Menifee – Command And Hope (Commands)] – Choi Si Dae – 4.2, 1.6
2. Queen’s Blade (KOR) [Menifee – Harboring (Boston Harbor)] – Kanichiro Fujii – 1.6
3. Yeonggwanguichampion (KOR) [Menifee – Manwang (Road Of War)] – Song Keong Yun – 1.9

Distances: 0.5 lengths/0.5 lengths – 14 ran

The Korean Breeders’ Cup race, where the winners will face each other, takes place at Seoul Race Park on December 1.