Exultant, Gold Mount square off in Premier Plate

With consecutive Group 1 wins in the spring, Pakistan Star has made an excellent case to be recognized as the Hong Kong Horse of the Year for the 2017-18 season, which ends next month.

Two runners who chased him in those races – Exultant and Gold Mount – can have their own late-season success in Sunday’s Group 3 Premier Plate at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Exultant was second to Pakistan Star in the Group 1 Champions and Chater Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Sha Tin on May 27. Gold Mount was second to Pakistan Star in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Sha Tin on April 29, and third in the Champions and Chater Cup.

Exultant, Gold Mount and Pakistan Star are trained by Tony Cruz.

On Sunday, Exultant and Gold Mount will carry joint top weight of 133 pounds in the $382,331 Premier Plate, which drew a field of eight.

Exultant can race near the front. A 4-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Teofilo, Exultant was the six-length winner of the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Sha Tin on May 6.

In 2017, Exultant was third in the Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh when racing under the name Irishcorrespondent. Horses frequently have their names changed when they are transferred to Hong Kong.

Gold Mount typically runs from off the pace. A 5-year-old British-bred gelding, Gold Mount has won twice this year at 1 1/8 miles on turf in Hong Kong – at Sha Tin in October and at Happy Valley in late March.

In 2016, Gold Mount won the King George V Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Ascot in England when racing under the name of Primitivo.

Aside from the prominent Cruz-trained runners, Prawn Baba (118 pounds) could be a threat. Prawn Baba was second to Exultant in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup and won a minor handicap at Happy Valley on May 23 before finishing a troubled eighth in the Group 3 Lion Rock Trophy at a mile on June 3, emerging from the race with lameness.

Prawn Baba’s training was restricted to swimming for the next five days before trainer John Size opted for a pattern of swimming and daily racetrack training in recent weeks.

The Premier Plate is one of two Group 3 races on the Sha Tin program. Later on the card, the Cruz-trained Winner’s Way holds appeal in the $382,331 Premier Cup at seven furlongs on turf. Winner’s Way won the Group 3 Sha Tin Vase at six furlongs on turf on June 3, his first win in 11 starts at the current season.

Winner’s Way will carry 129 pounds in the Premier Cup, four less than topweight Thewizardofoz, who was fourth in the Sha Tin Vase for Size.