Exultant stepped forward with an incredibly impressive win in open pattern company in Sunday’s G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup. Jockey Zac Purton caught his opponents by surprise by making a midrace move from the back. It was utterly decisive, as the horse didn’t look back and cruised home for a six-length win, the second-largest margin of victory in the race. Without question, Exultant will be one of the key contenders later this month in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup at the end of this month. It should be a fascinating clash with our Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Pakistan Star, who will tackle 2400m for the first time in his career.
Despite Joao Moreira being in front by nine wins over Zac Purton at this point, 104 to 95, I think our jockeys’ premiership will likely be a fight until the end of the season. In today’s Jockey Challenge, Purton was the overnight favourite with odds of $1.50 with Joao at $3.75. Purton has eight wins from the last two Happy Valley meetings and is leading Moreira in the prize money standings by more than $10 million at this point. Tonight, Purton has some top rides, including Formula Galore down into Class 5 in Race 1, Friends Of Ka Ying in the Sauternes Cup and Fast Most Furious leading the market in the 1200m, Race 8 finale.
The 37th Asian Racing Conference will be held next week in Seoul and I am busy preparing for the occasion. As one of the fastest developing racing jurisdictions in the region, Korea has enjoyed success in their international race meetings over the past two years. This will be the third time Korea has hosted the conference following the 15th ARC in 1980 and 30th ARC in 2005. I will have much more to discuss about the ARC in coming blogs, but suffice it to say that this is a major event on the international racing calendar, not just for the region, but an event viewed as the world’s most prominent racing industry conference.
It will be a very inspiring and exciting week ahead and I look forward to meet many colleagues there.
Tonight at Happy Valley marks the first of our three Le French May themed meetings this month. The Sauternes Cup is our feature race of the night and this Class 3 1650m is scheduled as Race 6. Don’t Miss will dictate the pace with Outlawed and Super Sprinter likely to push forward from their outside draws to create a good tempo. Don’t Miss has won three of his last five starts over the course and distance and is a last start winner when he made all the running and was increasing the margin at the finish. He is a win and place chance to repeat that effort in his current form.
Magnetism has shown improvement recently and is a place chance along with Friends Of Ka Ying, another improving type which will do its best running from the back. Dukedom is also an interesting place prospect as he returns from a series of races at Sha Tin and figures to appreciate the added distance.
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