Purton Gets Just the Better of Old Foe in Vase

[Wandering Eyes]

HONG KONG–Jockeys Zac Purton and Joao Moreira treated the Hong Kong faithful to a battle for the ages in the 2017-2018 jockeys’ premiership, with Purton just gaining the upper hand after a protracted battle. Moreira, untouchable in his years in Hong Kong, elected not to renew his licence for 2018-2019 in an attempt to permanently join the ranks in Japan, but having failed to pass the first part of the entry exam, decided to return to Hong Kong. Having engaged in some memorable head-to-head tussles in years past, the two put on a show in the final 200 metres of Sunday’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase, with Purton extracting just enough stamina from Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) to outstay Japanese filly Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Ire}). Irish raider Eziyra (Ire) made it a Teofilo 1-3 with a highly creditable effort in third.

Crocosmia (Jpn), a daughter of 2001 Vase winner Stay Gold (Jpn), jumped away alertly from gate 1 and set the pace as expected, while Purton allowed Exultant to go forward from the 10 hole to force whatever element of pace there was in the race. ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), a market drifter, settled just ahead of midfield on the fence, while Lys Gracieux found herself at a tactical disadvantage, with only two behind her at the midway stage. Crocosmia rolled along at her own pace down the side in what was emerging as a sit-sprint affair, but Exultant was poised just to her outside and Lys Gracieux was steered to the outside of Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to deliver her challenge into the lane. The filly, in receipt of a four-pound sex allowance, ranged up outside of Exultant nearing the 200m mark and indeed poked her head in front, but Exultant loves a fight and dug back in along the inside for a narrow victory.

“Joao had the momentum,” Purton said. “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–that seemed to fire him back up and he found his second wind then.

“He’s just an out and out stayer and we decided to put him up on the pace today against a quality field and just let him grind it out,” the Australian continued. “He’s the type of horse that if he’s going to get into a fight in the last 200 metres over a distance like this, you’d like to be on his back.”

Third to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) in the 2016 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, Exultant was third as the favourite in last year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and stretched out to this distance to win the G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup H. by a half-dozen lengths last May. Second to Pakistan Star in the G1 Champions & Chater Cup after setting the majority of the pace, the bay was fourth to Time Warp (Archipenko) in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1800m) Nov. 4 and prepped for this with a runner-up effort to Eagle Way (Aus) (More Than Ready) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup Nov. 18.

The win was the first in the Vase for trainer Tony Cruz, giving him a full set of wins at the HKIR. Cruz said he would consider sending Exultant away from Hong Kong in the second half of the season.

“The [G1] Sheema Classic in Dubai would be a possibility,” he said. “I’ll have to decide with the owner, but we’ll definitely make some entries overseas and consider those.”

Of the foreign visitors, Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was bothered in upper stretch by Pakistan Star and did well to be fifth, while G1 Melbourne Cup third Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) was awkwardly away from the outside and finished a respectable eighth, one spot in back of Rostropovich. Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) showed no speed from his double-digit gate and never reached contention, finishing last of the 14.

Pedigree Notes:

A 16th worldwide Group 1 winner for his sire, Exultant is out of a winning half-sister to Irish highweight Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and to Italian champion Spirit Quartz (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Exultant’s third dam was a full-sister to German highweighted Winter Quarters and was responsible for SW Jonquil (Ire) (Machiavellian). Contrary is the dam of the 3-year-old gelding Irish Agent (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and has no listed subsequent progeny.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG VASE-G1, HK$20,000,000 (£2,004,715/€2,258,375/A$3,498,006/US$2,556,057), Sha Tin, 12-9, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:26.56, gd.
1–EXULTANT (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Crystal Gaze (Ire), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Jumilla, by El Gran Senor
*1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud Limited; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 18-6-5-2, HK$26,485,150. *Formerly Irishcorrespondent (Ire). Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Lys Gracieux (Jpn), 122, f, 4, Heart’s Cry (Jpn)–Liliside (Fr), by American Post (GB). O-Carrot Farm; B-Northern Farm; T-Yoshio Yahagi; J-Joao Moreira; HK$4,400,000.
3–Eziyra (Ire), 122, f, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–Eytama (Ire), by Dubai Destination. O-His Highness The Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga Khan’s Studs SC; T-Dermot Weld; J-Christophe Lemaire; HK$2,000,000.
Margins: NK, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 9-2, 5-1, 36-1.
Also Ran: Eagle Way (Aus), Waldgeist (GB), Pakistan Star (Ger), Rostropovich (Ire), Prince of Arran (GB), Salouen (Ire), Crocosmia (Jpn), Latrobe (Ire), Ruthven (Aus), Red Verdon (GB), Mirage Dancer (GB).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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