Son of Teofilo looking to add more weight to glittering CV
Tony Cruz is optimistic Hong Kong's reigning Horse Of The Year, Exultant (Teofilo), can join a select band of multiple winners of the Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) when his stable flag bearer returns to Sha Tin on Sunday.
The son of Teofilo (Galileo) will be looking to land the race for the third consecutive year and also hand his trainer an eighth win in the Group 1.
"I believe so (that Exultant can win), there's no foreign horses around this year, that's a big help," said Cruz, who will also saddle Time Warp and Packing Waltham.
"I brought him (Exultant) to Conghua, so he's really nice and fresh again. His trial (a 1200 metre win on 13 May) was very good in Conghua. He seems to be all set.
"He's getting on a bit in age and he seems to be slipping a bit. Zac came back after his last run (fifth to Loves Only You (Deep Impact) in the QEII Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) on April 25) and said he doesn't seem to have that fight like he used to have – (when) he wouldn't let another horse past him.
"So, I decided to send him to Conghua to freshen up. He can't be tired. He's fresh and ready for this race. I've freshened him up. I think he's 100 percent for this race, really."
With four seconds, a third and fifth this season, Exultant is clearly performing below the form which enabled the gelding to snare five Group 1s across the two previous seasons.
"Obviously he (Golden Sixty) would have been the main opposition, so I'm glad he (Francis Lui) made the decision not to run," Cruz said.
"He's really a stayer, he's got the one speed but he's got a good heart. He won't let another horse pass him – that's really the ability that he's got. He's a top category horse, a Group 1 horse, that's the kind of ability he's got.
"He's got speed and long distance. He hasn't got early speed, but he's got stamina. He could run a two-mile race.
"The highlight is that he's never disappointed us, only this season he did, but I'm sure he's fresh again so I'll be very happy to see him in the winners' enclosure again, hopefully.
"As a mile and a half horse, he's the best one (I've had)."
