Exultant continues dominance in Hong Kong with brave Champions & Chater Cup win
Exultant continued his dominance of Hong Kong's staying division with a second consecutive success in the Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The Tony Cruz-trained six-year-old recorded a fifth win at the top-level under a confident ride from Zac Purton, who enjoyed a four-timer on Sunday. Exultant raced handily throughout before kicking clear on the turn for home and holding off fast-finishing pair Chefano and Furore by a length.
Exultant enhanced his claims of being crowned Hong Kong's horse of the year, with Sunday's win his fourth this season.
"He was the best horse – just get him up there, let him travel and let him do his job," said Purton. "I was surprised Furore kept kicking up on the inside, he had every chance just to drop down and give himself an easy run but he wanted to make my life difficult and in turn made his own life difficult – that in turn made Chefano do a little more work and set my fellow alight as well.
"I thought, once again, I was out on my feet at the 200 [metres] but today it was like he was waiting for them a little more, it's like he's become more cunning and I could feel, when they were coming, he started to surge underneath."
Exultant started his career in Ireland, winning for Mick Halford and finishing third to Churchill in the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2017.
Purton also landed the other Group race on the card with Thanks Forever in the Sha Tin Vase Handicap, but rival Joao Moreira matched his four-timer to keep the scores level in the ferociously competitive jockeys' championship. The pair are level on 123 winners for the year.
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