Graham Cunningham puts Exultant in spotlight for Sha Tin showdown

Hong Kong’s best supporting actor bids for leading man status in a hot renewal of the historic Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Exultant has come a long way since finishing third to Churchill and Thunder Snow in the 2017 Irish 2,000 Guineas when known as Irishcorrespondent and is Hong Kong’s reigning champion middle distance horse and stayer after three Group 1 wins last season.

Tony Cruz's gelding would have been a worthy Horse of the Year in any season without Beauty Generation, but the Teofilo gelding faces no easy task against four other Group 1 winners – Southern Legend, Dark Dream, Eagle Way and Time Warp – and Hong Kong Derby winner Furore.

Cruz feels his stable star is more forward than this time last year but Exultant will probably need to be better than ever to defy such a big weight under Zac Purton after more than five months off the track.

If he does, then Hong Kong has a genuine middle-distance star in its ranks. But logic suggests that conceding between 6lb and 20lb to a field of this quality over his minimum distance might just be beyond him first time out.

Tactics suggest it could pay to keep on the right side of the Lor

Pace plays a significant role in Hong Kong handicaps but whether Exultant will get the true gallop that brings his stamina into play remains to be seen.

Stablemate Time Warp dictated slow early fractions when making all under Purton to steal the Purse last year.

Alexis Badel: rides Time Warp for trainer Tony CruzCredit: Mark Cranham

He returns with French rider Alexis Badel aboard from a 7lb lower mark after a spell at the Jockey Club's Chinese mainland base at Conghua.

He could go well again if allowed a soft lead but Frankie Lor looks to pose the main threat to the Cruz duo with two horses who showed smart form in their first Hong Kong campaign and promise to progress in their second.

Furore was impressive when winning the Derby in March. Lor feels he is further forward than Dark Dream and he looks a major player receiving 20lb from Exultant after shaping well over an inadequate 1,400m behind Beauty Generation on his reappearance.

Dark Dream hasn't had a run this season but looked very good when landing a strong Class 1 in April. The fact that Jaoa Moreira rides is a bonus and, with cheekpieces fitted, he should be better placed than most if the early pace isn't demanding.

Moreira flexes with Melbourne in mind

Moreira is operating at full speed and this weekend's agenda starts with a full book of ten rides at Sha Tin (arch rival Zak Purton has seven) followed by a dash to Melbourne to partner probable favourite Constantinople in the Melbourne Cup.

Joao Moreira: full book of ten rides at Sha Tin followed by a flight to Australia for the Melbourne CupCredit: Getty Images

Fat Turtle is the Magic Man's partner in the Revlon Handicap (6.50) and Lor's gelding could still be ahead of the game despite a 12lb rise for his highly impressive success over course and distance.

Meanwhile, the saga surrounding Constantinople provides an interesting insight into how top riders put business first.

Star Australian jockey Glen Boss was booked for Constantinople until a ban intervened and Moreira was all sympathy when contacted by the South China Morning Post in midweek, saying "Glen is a good friend and I hope he can find a way to get around all of this."

Yet by Friday morning, Aussie outlets were reporting that Moreira had informed Constantinople's connections he was prepared to travel only if given an assurance he would ride – whatever the outcome of Boss's Monday appeal.

The end result is: Boss out, Moreira in. Now all that remains is for Constantinople to match his rider's hunger for the task.

All fright on the night as Rispoli delivers

Umberto Rispoli didn't miss a beat when asked to play the killer-clown role in a Halloween prank this week and the resultant video suggests he has a bright future in the horror game once his riding days are over.

The Italian rider has suffered more than most from Moreira's return to freelance status this season, but recent signs have been much more positive and he delivered a stylish effort to thread the needle on Xiang Bi Qi in the Happy Finale on Wednesday night.

Two of Rispoli's Halloween victims – Chad Schofield and Grant Van Niekerk – were also on the mark at the Valley and the latter is now clear fourth in the table after landing his tenth winner of the season on Young Glory.

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