Super Six for Purton as Exultant Makes History in Champions & Chater

[Wandering Eyes]

For whatever reason, the staying animal is something of the black sheep of the family in Hong Kong, less flashy than those who can sprint or run a fast mile and less popular than those that show a propensity for middle distances. Maybe–just maybe–Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is the one who can break the mould, as the likable and hard-trying 5-year-old became the first horse to take the two Group 1 features at 2400 metres at Sha Tin in a single season–the Longines Hong Kong Vase in December followed by Sunday’s Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.

But it wasn’t easy.

The gelding–exactly two years removed from a third-place effort to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the 2017 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas–had to deal with a rain-affected strip and headstrong ways to best the progressive Rise High (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and 4-year-old representative Dark Dream (Aus) (All American {Aus}). ‘TDN Rising Star’ and defending champion Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) came to win the race a furlong out before weakening to fourth.

The C & C Cup was the fourth of a half-dozen winners on the day for Zac Purton–fresh off an overseas victory in Saturday’s Kranji Mile in Singapore–who rode Exultant just aggressively enough through the opening 400 metres to secure the one-by-one spot on the back of G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup hero Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko), whose older brother Time Warp (GB) led at a leisurely pace. There was no significant change in the plot down the back and Purton, who said Exultant “was gone 600m” out, got busy and steered him out into the clear as the quarter-pole loomed. Pakistan Star, who’d enjoyed the run of the race, got first crack at the full-siblings and looked on his way to a title defence, but Exultant, calling on the same dogged determination he showed in winning the Vase five months ago, dug down deep and got home first. Rise High caboosed the field into the lane and rallied strongly for second just ahead of Derby fourth Dark Dream.

“Exultant was all heart today,” said Purton, who closed the day on 132 winners, four shy of his career best with a month and a half to go in the season. “He pulled in the run, which he hasn’t done for quite some time..but his big heart just continued to carry him to the finish line. It was a good, tough, strong effort from a horse that hasn’t let us down, he’s been great all season. That’s credit to the horse and [trainer] Tony [Cruz].”

Exultant also won the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m in February and was penciled in for a trip to Japan for the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) next month. Given the strenuous effort Sunday, connections have aborted those plans, with an eye on the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic next March.

“He wasn’t very comfortable on the going, I think he’s better on good to firm,” said Cruz, winning the C & C for the sixth time. “The owners, myself and the jockey, we all decided just now not to go to Japan. It’s a short run in at Hanshin and the going is almost always on a soft track, so with those things in mind, we’ll give him a break.

“Next season, maybe the trip is Dubai, that’s the race we have in our calendar if we do decide to travel him.”

Rise High’s trainer Caspar Fownes, whose Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) won Saturday’s aforementioned Kranji Mile for the second year on end, said his charge could make the trip to Japan next month.

One of 16 top-level winners for his sire, Exultant is out of a half-sister to champions Spirit Quartz (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
STANDARD CHARTERED CHAMPIONS & CHATER CUP-G1, HK$10,000,000 (£1,005,245/€1,139,870/A$1,847,018/US$1,273,989), Sha Tin, 5-26, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:26, gd/yl.
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
O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud Ltd; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$5,700,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 22-9-6-2, HK$44,990,660. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rise High (Fr), 126, g, 5, Myboycharlie (Ire)–Lana Girl, by Arch. (€42,000 Ylg ’15 ARQAUG). O-Au-dela Syndicate; B-Mme Marie-Claude Biaudis; T-Caspar Fownes; J-Vincent Ho; HK$2,200,000.
3–Dark Dream (Aus), 126, g, 4, All American (Aus)–Buchanan Girl (Aus), by Lion Hunter. O-Albert Hung Chao Hong; B-Miss J E Healey (NSW); T-Frankie Lor; J-Joao Moreira; HK$1,000,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1. Odds: 1-2, 43-1, 29-5.
Also Ran: Pakistan Star (Ger), Glorious Forever (GB), Mongolian King (NZ), Time Warp (GB), Happy Grin (Jpn), Eagle Way (Aus).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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