A S Cruz trained ‘Exultant’ showed remarkable similarities to fan-favorite and stable-mate Pakistan Star on Sunday evening, when settling 10th in running to record a blistering 2nd behind race favorite Fifty Fifty over 1600m.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlI7NcPv1Hs
The 4-year-old gelding by Teoflilo out of Contrary began his career in the United Kingdom earlier this year, scoring back-to-back victories at Leopardstown and Curragh before running 3rd behind Churchill, who currently sits equal 11th in the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. His last start in the UK was at Royal Ascot in June running 5th out of 13.
Exultant was a certain blackbooker after his run on the 11th of November over 1400m when settling 9th to finish 2L 5th behind Western Express. Clocking 22.42 for the final 400m (1.21.90 race time), with an average speed of 64.22 kp/h he was still accelerating when hitting the line, subsequently getting out to 1600m for his most recent run.
🇲🇺🧙♂️ The Mauritian Magician strikes again as @KarisTeetan lands the Chevalier Cup on board FIFTY FIFTY. Exultant (formerly Irishcorrespondent) finished an eye-catching second. #HKRacing pic.twitter.com/bJaHZaolcW
— Hong Kong Racing (@HongKong_Racing) November 26, 2017
In comparison to Pakistan Star over the same distance, their runs and late splits show uncanny likeness, peeling to the extreme outside and storming home to be denied only by the finishing post. When running 2nd over 1400 on the 16th of October last year, Pakistan Star recorded the exact same race time as Exultant over the distance (1.21.90), running the final 400 in 22.85 (63.01 kp/h average).
Strangely enough, Exultant’s run last night over 1600 was nearly identical to that of Pakistan Star’s last year on the 20th of November, where he came from 10th to run 2nd behind Simply invincible in 1.34.10, a fraction quicker then Exultant (1.34.69) on Sunday evening.
Its fair to say this gelding is one to follow, especially for those who love the big swooping runs. He looks to have a successful, if not undoubtedly exciting career ahead of him if he continues to display runs you can compare to the great Chautauqua in the TJ Smith or Winx in the Sunshine Coast Guineas.