WINNO - LIVE FROM HONG KONG: TONY CRUZ LABELS EXULTANT AS THE BEST STAYER HE HAS TRAINED.

By Darren Winningham | Tuesday, December 3, 2019

EXULTANT – CAN HE WIN SUCCESSIVE GROUP 1 HONG KONG VASES?

The writing was placed on the wall when Exultant won the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2000m) victory at Sha Tin on 17 November.

When interviewed after the race trainer Tony Cruz declared Exultant the best stayer he has trained.

“He is the best stayer I have ever trained and the best part about him is that he is always improving, that is what I like about him,” Cruz said after the win.

Exultant is a three-time Group 1 winner and heads into the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400 metres) looking like he can win back to back Vases after dominating the field in 2018, which would add to his already impressive career record of 24 starts for 10 wins and 9 placings – with career earnings of HK$47.7 million.

“Everything has gone very smoothly with him this season. I am very happy with his condition. He seems to be a better horse this year. We will go back to the same distance in the Vase. We won it last year.

"Obviously, Exultant is the one to beat.”

Zac Purton will ride Exultant again. He has been aboard him since he resumed from a spell this season.

“He is so tough, but he is also getting better in racing terms,“ Purton said.

“He knows exactly what to do. He sits there and waits for the jockey to do something on him. That is when you know he is a good horse,” he said.

With a trip to Dubai firmly on the cards next year, Cruz fired an ominous shot to his rivals saying the son of Teofilo will be ready to win the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase.

With the seemingly decline in form of Hong Kong’s 2018 Champion racehorse Beauty Generation – maybe Exultant will become the pin up horse for the locals this year.

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