Exultant dominates Jockey Club Cup

By Declan Schuster

Exultant was at his dominant best in Sunday’s (17 November) G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin, galloping to victory in a faultless warm-up for his G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) defence next month.

The Teofilo gelding slotted in behind pace-setting siblings Glorious Forever and Time Warp before powering clear to win by a length and a quarter from last season’s BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Furore in a time of 1m 59.77s.

“He ran well first-up so there were no concerns for me about him getting back to his best, he just had to get to a distance that was suitable,” winning rider Zac Purton said.

Trainer Tony Cruz was equally satisfied following the first win of the campaign for Hong Kong’s reigning champion stayer and suggested that his star is on track to perhaps better last season’s haul of three G1’s.

“Everything has gone smoothly this season, I’m very happy with his condition and he seems to be a better horse this year,” Cruz said.

Purton though, hopes today’s win wasn’t too much of a “gut buster” ahead of his main target on 8 December.

“We went very hard through the first half of the race and I was surprised when Joao (Moreira) still tried to take off, but it flushed me out and meant I had to go,” Purton said.

“But I knew my horse was capable of doing that, so it wasn’t the end of the world for me - I just hope this hasn’t been a gut buster prior to his grand final.”

Exultant’s form from an excellent 2018/19 season has continued to stand up around the world.

Last year’s Vase runner-up Lys Gracieux claimed the G1 Cox Plate, while Waldgeist, who was fifth behind Exultant in that Sha Tin feature, lowered Enable’s colours in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe just last month.

It was a good day for last season’s Hong Kong Derby crop with runner-up Waikuku turning over Beauty Generation in the G2 Jockey Club Mile, while Derby hero Furore bounced back for Hugh Bowman to grab second behind Exultant.

“Furore’s a nice horse, he’s probably just been ridden a bit upside down his first two runs and had no luck from a wide barrier last start. A good draw and a nice pace has helped him get in a rhythm and he showed his best today,” Bowman said.

Caspar Fownes’ globetrotting galloper Southern Legend closed off to grab third and jockey Alberto Sanna was pleased with his mount’s effort.

“He ran well - he finished off nicely and in the corner I found a bit of trouble coming up to the straight with Time Warp and Glorious Forever in front of me, so I had to wait, but he ran on ok,” Sanna said.

Aethero posted a brilliant win in the third of the afternoon’s features, the G2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday, 20 November.lloper having his first start this season, kept on nicely for third.

“It was a great run and he has maintained his consistency,” said jockey Joao Moreira.

Before the real action, there was drama at the start. Pingwu Spark was withdrawn after refusing to enter the stalls and then came Pakistan Star’s latest misdemeanour.

The enigmatic two-time G1 winner broke from the stalls but quickly pulled himself to a stop despite the efforts of Blake Shinn.

“It’s not a new trick!” trainer Paul O’Sullivan quipped in exasperation. “Blake said from the time he jumped he was never going to complete the course. I can’t see any reason why: he’s not in any pain, I think physically, he’s perfect so it’s in his head.

“I don't know where we go from here; Beas River might do the trick. I’ll talk to Kerm (Din), the owner, and see what he wants to do.”

In the afternoon’s other two features, Waikuku won the G2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m) to hand Beauty Generation a second straight defeat, while victory for Exultant in the G2 Jockey Club Cup (2000m) set up a tilt at back-to-back wins in next month’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday, 20 November.