Exultant outruns field in Hong Kong's Premier Plate

Exultant justified his status as an odds-on favorite by winning his second Group 3 race in recent weeks in Sunday’s $382,331 Premier Plate at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Ridden by leading jockey Zac Purton, Exultant, who shared top weight of 133 pounds, closed from off the pace in a field of eight to take the lead with a quarter-mile remaining. Exultant (3-4) finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 6-1 Gold Mount, giving trainer Tony Cruz a sweep of the exacta. Dinozzo (5-1) rallied from the back of the field to finish third.

“I was confident of Exultant and Gold Mount,” Cruz told Hong Kong publicity. “I expected to be first and second and the jockeys rode the right races.

“Zac rode the perfect race on Exultant. The horse has one pace. Zac came early with his run and showed exactly how to outrun them.”

Gold Mount also carried 133 pounds.

Cruz said Exultant will be pointed to longer races in the 2018-19 Hong Kong season, including the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase in December. A 4-year-old, Exultant won the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Sha Tin on May 6 and was second to the Cruz-trained Pakistan Star in the Group 1 Champions and Chater Cup at 1 1/2 miles also at Sha Tin on May 27.

Pakistan Star is the leading contender to be named Hong Kong Horse of the Year for the current season, which ends next month.

In 2017, Exultant was third in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh when racing under the name Irishcorrespondent. Horses frequently have their names changed when they are transferred to Hong Kong.

Cruz swept the two Group 3 races on Sunday’s Sha Tin program when California Whip won the $382,331 Premier Cup at seven furlongs on turf. Ridden by Karis Teetan, California Whip (5-2) was always near the front and won by a neck over 6-1 Born in China.

Lucky Bubbles (30-1) was a surprise third, finishing a neck in front of 8-5 favorite Thewizardofoz.

California Whip, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Giant’s Causeway, has won 5 of 28 starts in a career that began in England, where he raced under the name Chief Whip. California Whip had his graded stakes debut in the Premier Cup.

Cailfornia Whip carried 114 pounds, 19 less than top weight Thewizardofoz.