Dan Excel continued John Moore’s incredible run of success in the Champions Mile giving the trainer his fourth success in as many years in the Sha Tin Group One.
Moore was two-handed with the 2011 and 2012 winner Xtension preferred in the market to Dan Excel, but it was the latter under an inspired Weichong Marwing that landed the spoils in a thrilling climax with Helene Spirit.
In an all-Hong Kong finish it was Dan Excel who bobbed to scoop the prize by a short head, with another locally-trained runner Packing Whiz a further length and a half back in third.
Xtension ran disappointingly, finishing sixth, while England’s sole runner Penitent also just missed out on the money by finishing seventh in an eight-strong field.
Moore had no hesitation in nominating the Singapore Airlines Cup at Kranji in two weeks as an immediate target for Dan Excel. However the five-year-old is on the reserve list and will need this top level victory to elevate him into the field proper.
Dan Excel ran under the name of Dunboyne Express in his early career when he was trained in Ireland by Kevin Prendergast.
Moore said: “That’s four Champion Miles in a row and it’s a great day for Hong Kong racing.
Moore had earlier landed the Queen Mother memorial Cup with the Zac Purton-ridden Dominant, formerly trained by Roger Varian.
