Exultant Wins Gr.1 Champions & Chater Cup Cup
Exultant ground out a 1 1/4-length victory in the Gr.1 Champions & Chater Cup at Sha Tin—his third group 1 victory of the season. The first being his victory in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Vase (Gr.1) at 2,400 meters whcih was speedily followed up with a win in the Gr.1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup.
Trainer Tony Cruz and owners Eddie Wong Ming Chak and Wong Leung Sau Hing proposed Exultant's next start could be in the Gr.1 Takarazuka Kinen. But that plan has been scrapped.
In the Champions & Chater, Hong Kong's champion jockey, Zac Purton, found a comfortable spot for Exultant in fourth as full brothers Time Warp and Glorious Forever made the early going. Heading into the stretch, Exultant got by the pair but was working hard over the good to yielding turf to hold off Rise High by 1 1/4 lengths. Dark Dream was third.
Happy Grin, stepping up from Japan's local National Association of Racing ranks, was never in the mix and finished eighth of nine.