Sunday, 9 December 2018: For the first time since Dominant in 2013 Hong Kong took away the HK$20m, Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday when Zac Purton rode Tony Cruz’s Exultant (IRE) to win narrowly over Lys Gracieux (JPN) and Joao Moreira.
 | | EXULTANT winning the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in Hong Kong. | |
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The race was won by Purton in two stages. First he carefully came across from barrier ten with Exultant to settle behind the early leader Crocosmia (JPN) and they were in the box seat as the field went down the back straight at a steady pace.
Moreira and Lys Gracieux were third last passing the post for the first time and then three wide going down the back. When the pace finally lifted Moreira sent Lys Gracieux forward from the 500m going around the field.
That move was the right one as he had the rest of the field in trouble with his momentum. But Purton’s second move was the winning one.
Purton eased Exultant up alongside the leader, who was quickly fading, and then he went for the line a long way out with 400m tin run. There was daylight instantly to the field and then Moreira and Lys Gracieux came racing out in the middle. They had looped the field disposing of them quickly, but there was one more runner out in the front and they had the crucial margin.
Lys Gracieux came up alongside Exultant and it looked as if the Japanese four-year-old mare might have the measure of the Hong Kong runner to her inside. They bumped twice and the mare pushed against Exultant, but this distraction did not put Exultant off from the serious task at hand.
The two jockeys, who spent the last Hong Kong season racing stride for stride, were once urging their respective mounts forward with the field a long way back.
At the line it was Exultant by a neck with Lys Gracieux (Heart’s Cry) 2 3/4L ahead of Eziyra (IRE) (Camelot) and Christophe Lemaire. Eagle Way (AUS) was fourth a further 3/4L behind with Waldgeist (GB) fifth.
The time was 2.26.56 on the Good rated track.
“I thought at that point he had the better of me, he 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. That seemed to fire him back up and he found his second wind then,” said Purton
Exultant, a four-year=old gelding out of the Mark Of Esteen mare Contrary, came into the race off a second to Eagle Way in the Group 2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup over 2000m on November 18th. This was his sixth win overall, his fourth in Hong Kong, from 18 overall starts. Stakes are now HK$26.4 million for owners Eddie Wong Ming Chak and Wong Leung Sau Hing.
The win was the tenth HKIR for Cruz and the seventh for Purton.
What the beaten jockeys said:
2nd - LYS GRACIEUX – Joao Moreira
“There is no doubt that her performance was outstanding against a horse running at its home yard and knows the track inch by inch. There were a few little issues that people might not have seen because I got held up, horses bumped me at 600 metres and she was hanging in the straight. Those little things can affect a horse’s performance and probably cost her the race. But overall I am extremely pleased with her performance. She is very talented and has proved that once again.” 3rd - EZIYRA – Christophe Lemaire
“She had a dream run through behind the winner and she has a lot of stamina. She just lacked an instant reaction, but she fought all the way to the line and at this level that is certainly her best performance. I know the Japanese filly (Lys Gracieux) and she is a very good horse. I was happy - she kept on galloping and no excuses.” 4th - EAGLE WAY – Silvestre de Sousa
“The race did not go according to plan. I was down on the rail and could not get out when I wanted to. It is disappointing not to finish better.” 5th - WALDGEIST – Pierre-Charles Boudot
“We were very tight for room and we had no luck. I had a good spot but when the pace steadied it did not suit me. They quickened up and I got tapped for toe and then squashed.” 6th - PAKISTAN STAR – William Buick
“He ran better than he has been doing for the last three starts but I thought that he ran like a 2000 metres horse.” 7th - ROSTROPOVICH – Wayne Lordan
“He did not travel great, but he ran respectably.” 8th - PRINCE OF ARRAN – Michael Walker
“He ran super – just the draw beat him today. He jumped out and wanted to head off the track early which is unlike him. He would have been right on the finish but for his draw. 9th - SALOUEN – Oisin Murphy
“I did not have the gate speed early and then he was stuck wide. He has not run up to expectations.” 10th - CROCOSMIA – Yasunari Iwata
“She was able to set her pace and run her race.” 11th – LATROBE – James McDonald
“I thought he ran well enough – he has come a long way in a short time. I got back a bit and he was slow to muster. It has been a long season for him and he will be better next spring. He was checking off heels in the early part of the race and certainly could have done with a smoother run. He is a horse with a lovely action and finished off fairly.” 12th - RUTHVEN – Hugh Bowman
“He travelled well, but for a horse like him it’s difficult in Hong Kong. He is a mile and and a half horse but there are not many races at his trip and, the races that there are, are at the top level and he might not be quite up to that. But he is certainly better than he showed today.” 13th - RED VERDON – James Doyle
“I had a good spot but when the pace steadied it did not suit me. They quickened up and I got tapped for toe and then squashed.” 14th - MIRAGE DANCER – Ryan Moore
“He ran bad – I don’t know why.” |
