Nakayama Racecourse
Agnes World began his racing career with a win in a maiden race over 1200 metres at Hakodate Racecourse on 7 June 1997. In July he was stepped up in class for the Grade III Hakodate Futurity Stakes over the same course and distance and won again, beating Saratoga Beauty in a record time of 1:09.8. After the mid-season break, the colt returned to contest Japan's most prestigious race for two-year-olds, the Grade I Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes over 1600 metres at Nakayama Racecourse and finished fourth behind Grass Wonder. On his final start of the year, Agnes World won over 1600 metres on dirt at Kawasaki Racecourse on 27 December.