Hong Kong: Can Exultant turn back the clock in Centenary Vase?

Exultant on Sunday at Sha Tin will try for his third straight win in the Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap. That has a couple implications.

Exultant, first and foremost, has put together a sustained run of excellence. He was so good last season, in fact, that Exultant was named Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year. But it also means Exultant has been around the block a few times. The gelding is a 7-year-old now. He’s run three solid races this Hong Kong season, finishing second in each – solid, but not close to Exultant’s peak.

“I did notice at the back end of last season he started to get aggressive in his races again, and then this season he’s sort of carried that through and he’s becoming more and more aggressive all the time,” longtime jockey Zac Purton told Hong Kong Jockey Club publicity. “It could be a sign that he is tired, he is getting a little older, and horses do that for a reason. He clearly hasn’t shown us his best form yet this season, but he’s the type of horse who could turn it on anytime.”

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Exultant is one of 10 in the Centenary Vase and must tote 133 pounds, giving as much as 20 pounds to his rivals. The race is contested at 1,800 meters, which is short of Exultant’s best distance despite his success in previous editions of the race.

Glorious Dragon sits at the bottom of the ratings in the Centenary Vase, his mark of 103 far from Exultant’s lofty 128, but that means Glorious Dragon carries just 113 pounds Sunday while making his third start of the 2020-2021 season. Glorious Dragon appeared to need his comeback run in late November at Sha Tin, but finished furiously for second in the Group 3 January Stakes last out going 1,800 meters at Happy Valley. Glorious Dragon does his best work as a hold-up horse, waiting at the back of a field before coming with one big run, a style that can leave him at the mercy of pace and racing luck.

Furore exits an even fifth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup and snugly fits this spot. Before the Cup, Furore had won two straight, beating Exultant in both starts, 1,800- and 2,000-meter Sha Tin Stakes. He gets five pounds from the high-weight, but spots Glorious Dragon 15, though he’ll get first run on Glorious Dragon.

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Columbus County looks like the other progressive entrant. The 5-year-old, who has raced only three times this season, was third, one place behind Exultant, in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase over 2,400 meters and could benefit from turning back to this shorter distance.

The Centenary Cup is the seventh of 10 races on a card that starts at midnight Eastern. You can catch all the live action at DRFBets.com.