Exultant shows his best in Hong Kong Vase

HONG KONG – Tony Cruz said all the way through the 4-year-old Championship Series last Hong Kong racing season that Exultant needed at least 1 1/4 miles to show his best. The horse bore out his trainer’s opinion Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse, staying gamely to nip the Japanese filly Lys Gracieux and becoming just the second Hong Kong-based winner of the Group 1, $2.56 million Hong Kong Vase.

Another filly, the Ireland-based Eziyra, ran along for third with Eagle Way closing for fourth. Second-choice Pakistan Star had decent position but failed to finish with the best performers on the day and was touched off for fifth. Favorite Waldgeist had a traffic-filled trip, got knocked around in the final quarter-mile, and never came close to contention thereafter.

Mirage Dancer, a 10-1 chance, raced at the back of the field and faded to be beaten more than 40 lengths. He was found after the race to be suffering from atrial fibrillation, according to assistant trainer Sarah Denniff, but was comfortable and apparently recovering on Sunday evening.

The pace for the first half-mile was decent (second 400 meters in 23.70) before early leader Crocosmia really slowed the tempo heading down the back straight. The third 400 meters went in 25.63, which probably proved the difference in the Vase. Crocosmia wasn’t good enough to capitalize on the race flow, but pressing her gently in second under Zac Purton was Exultant, whose position the pace enhanced.

As things quickened on the front end around the second turn it was Exultant doing the better work, while from the back Lys Gracieux began passing horses while racing at least three paths off the fence. She and jockey Joao Moreira sustained their run past the 400-meter mark, drew alongside Exultant and poked her head in front, but Exultant quickly rattled back onto action, got back on terms, and stuck his neck out just before the line.

“[Lys Gracieux] had the momentum, but my bloke just seemed to be loafing along a little bit and as Joao came to me, he actually rolled in and bumped my horse,” Purton said. “That seemed to fire him back up and he found his second wind.”

Exultant is by Teofilo out of Contrary, by Mark of Esteem. He paid $11 to win in the U.S. and was timed in 2:26.56 for 2,400 meters on good going.

The 4-year-old was called Irishcorrespondent during a four-start 2017 campaign in Ireland that saw him finish third in the Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas. Sold to Hong Kong owners Eddie Wong Ming Chak and Wong Leung Sau Hing, Exultant was fourth, second, and third in the 4-year-old Championship series and went on to turn in two good performances in his first tries over the Vase’s 2,400-meter trip. Exultant failed to win in his first three starts this season but his form was progressive, Cruz priming his charge for his best run at his best trip in one of Hong Kong’s best races.