With a G1 in the bag, Exultant could head overseas later in the season.
For Cruz, the win was a first in the Vase and completed a full set of all four Hong Kong International Races.
“I’m over the moon, we all are,” he said. “This season he’s stronger, he’s more experienced, he knows his game better and he had a perfect run – Zac rode a perfect race.”
Exultant arrived in Hong Kong ahead of last season, having placed third in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas. The Teofilo four-year-old proved his merit when third in the Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March and built upon that with a pair of G3 wins and placed efforts behind stablemate Pakistan Star in the G1 QEII Cup (2000m) and G1 Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) to round out that campaign.
“As he’s getting older he’s getting stronger and better,” Cruz said. “He’s got that one speed and a lot of stamina, and he likes the fast track, too, so once he got that second position we were halfway there.
“This horse has no speed so you have to have him up there and being drawn wide (10) was actually good for him because nothing was going to block him. I told Zac he had to be up there – the Japanese horse (Crocosmia) led, we sat second, it was perfect.”
With a G1 in the bag, Exultant could head overseas later in the season, although the handler was cautious about making any certain plans so soon after the race.
“The Sheema Classic in Dubai would be a possibility,” he said. “I’ll have to decide with the owner but we’ll definitely make some entries overseas and consider those.”
The front pair drew two and a half lengths clear of third-placed Eziyra, trained by Dermot Weld.
“She had a dream run through behind the winner and she has a lot of stamina,” jockey Christophe Lemaire said. “She just lacked an instant reaction but she fought all the way to the line and at this level that is certainly her best performance. I know the Japanese filly (Lys Gracieux) and she is a very good horse.”
Mark Weld, assistant trainer to his father, said: “Christophe Lemaire gave her an amazing ride, she was in a great position all the way round. She has run a fantastic, fantastic race - I think she was the first European runner home in what is arguably the toughest contest on the day. It was a fantastic performance and she is going to make the most amazing broodmare for her owner (the Aga Khan).”
The contest’s second-favourite Pakistan Star boxed home sixth of 14 after hitting trouble in what was a rough race in behind.
“Pakistan Star got tightened at the top of the straight and things just didn't go his way. We’ll take him back to 2000 metres for the time being,” Cruz said.
The Andre Fabre-trained Waldgeist started favourite on the back of his fourth in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October but fared no better than fifth.
“We were very tight for room and we had no luck,” jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot said.
