Prizes for champion filly and mare/juvenile will be decided on Busan’s big Sunday

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It’s just a week until the Grand Prix Stakes, when Yumeno Honoo is likely to start as favorite to become the first foreign-trained horse to win the traditional Group 1 final of the Korean racing season. But before that, there are still some intriguing loose ends to be tied up on Sunday in Busan with the Breeders’ Cup Queen (1800M KOR-L) and Breeders’ Cup Rookie (1400M KOR-G2).

The Breeders’ Cup Queens is the final leg of the Autumn & Winter Queens’ Tour and defending champion FLYING STAR returns. After scoring in this race a year ago as a three-year-old, she had an indifferent start to her 2025 campaign, but she has returned to form in this series, finishing in third place.^rd in the Jeju Governor’s Cup over 1400M in Seoul in September, before winning the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup over 2000M on October 26^e with many contemporary rivals behind her.

Trained by Seo In-seok and partnered by jockey Jang Chu-youl, who has ridden her for the past two starts, Flying Star is probably the market favorite to triumph, but in both editions so far of this relatively new race on the calendar, the Breeders’ Cup Queen has been won by a three-year-old, with JEULGEOUNYEOJEONG – who returns – having the upper hand in the inaugural 2023 edition. There is a bright young filly in the field. this time too and maybe she’ll just continue that trend.

BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN became 3^rd in the Luna Stakes and Korean Oaks before winning the final leg of the Triple Tiara over 2000M in Seoul in July. She then returned to the main circuit and took the first leg of this series, the Jeju Governor’s Cup over 1400 million, with a dashing late burst that flashed past Jeulgeounyeojeong and GLADIUS. That led to her being sent off as favorite for the Gyeongnam Governor’s Cup, although she only managed five^e that day, the Rock Band filly should play a big role here.

In winning the final leg of the Tiara, Boryeonglightqueen denied a clean sheet to FANTASTIC VALUE, who won both the Luna and Oaks. She’s racing for the first time since missing the Tiara, but she looked really good at a trial early this month. Gladius and Jeulgeounyeojeong are more than capable of having their say, while the ever-reliable RAON FOREST should also be in the mix.

One race later a full field of sixteen will take on the starter in the Breeders’ Cup Rookie and as always it will be a desperate competition with the winner likely to be crowned Youth Champion. Nine have traveled from Seoul, including two stablemates, a filly and a colt, who come in with three wins from three respective starts and can no longer avoid each other.

The filly from Moon Byeong-ki’s stable is CHIEF STAR, who has been effortless in her wins to date, including the Seoul Rookie Stakes and most recently the Listed NACF Chairman’s Trophy. She won her first two in the lead, but she was challenged for speed in the NACF before asserting her dominance late. Choi Bum-hyun will ride again, but the experienced jockey will have the challenge of navigating a route to the lead from gate fifteen.

Johan Victoire, who recently rode his 300th Korean winner, partners Moon Byeong-ki’s other unbeaten attack. MUJEHAN GEUP recorded his third win in a row as he went well off the pace to take home the Listed Munhwa Ilbo Trophy in September. He hasn’t raced since, but he looked very good in a test at the end of October and when the pace is high he will be a major danger.

The Busan challenge is led by WILD PARK and SUPER AERO. The former got the best of the latter in both the Busan Rookie Stakes and the Gangseo-Gu Mayor’s Trophy before Super Aero returned the favor in the Listed Gimhae Mayor’s Trophy in October. All three times the margins were tight, and the times were fast and both horses look ready to go further with big chances. Given the home advantage, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the pair as favorites in the betting market.

A wildcard could be AIRFORCEONE. The Tony Castanheira-trained colt has been a bit of an enigma until now but has shown plenty of ability, but he is one of only two horses in the entire field to have previously competed in the 1400m, and he won there. It has the widest gate of them all, but it might be worth it for the one-way price.

Selections:

Breeders’ Cup Queen (R5): Win: (11) BORYEONGLIGHTQUEEN Both ways: (7) GLADIUS

Breeders’ Cup Rookie (R6): Win: (5) MUJEHAN GEUP Both Ways: (16) AIRFORCEONE