By Alan Carasso
Zac Purton unseated three-time defending champion Joao Moreira in a pulsating duel in the 2017/2018 jockeys' premiership that went down to the wire in Hong Kong and he is well on his way to another title–all things equal–due in some part to the Magic Man's abandoned attempt to become a fixture in Japan, but primarily owing to the Aussie's abundant talent.
Purton's considerable skills were on full display Sunday at Sha Tin, as he put on two tactically-perfect rides to win the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup and the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. To be fair, it didn't hurt a little that he was on the two heavy favourites, including the reigning Horse of the Year, but it was equal parts finesse, power and and sheer brilliant decision making that saw him take out HK$20 million in features.
Even as Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) was down in trip, having made the 1600m G1 Stewards' Cup his sixth consecutive win Jan. 27, he was 4-1 on to successfully defend in the Queen's Silver Jubilee, a race in which he scraped home narrowly from Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) last season. That rival was back in better form, with a Group 1 win in the Centenary Sprint Cup last time out, and along with GSW and Stewards' Cup runner-up Conte (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), formed a formidable John Size entry.
Beat the Clock was given a positive ride by Moreira and led them along early, with Beauty Generation stalking at first, but Purton gave him a just bit of rein and the duo was in front with 900m left to travel. Bowling along powerfully on the turn, as is his wont, the champ turned them in and really never looked in any sort of danger as Beat the Clock and Conte gave game chase, albeit in total vain.
“Everyone's had a go at beating him,” winning trainer John Moore told the HKJC's David Morgan. “The little bit of hype around a couple of the other horses was fair but he just keeps doing it. It was another great ride by Zac (Purton) because before the corner you could see he was saying 'now I'm putting the revs up and you've got to chase me'. He's just too good and Zac's the composite horseman, he knows exactly what's going on.”
Moreira could only pay homage to the winner, saying of Beat the Clock: “He gave his very best, but just wasn't able to beat the best horse in Hong Kong.”
WATCH: Beauty Generation too strong in the QSJC
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$10,000,000 (£996,186/€1,127,542/A$1,794,443/US$1,274,443), 3yo/up, 1400mT, 1:21.03, gd.
1–BEAUTY GENERATION (NZ), 126, g, 6, by Road to Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Stylish Bel (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus)
2nd Dam: Stylish Victory (Aus), by Durham Ranger
3rd Dam: Romantic Peace (Aus), by Mikado
(NZ$60,000 Ylg '14 NZBSEL). O-Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen; B-Nearco Stud Ltd; T-John Moore; J-Zac Purton; HK$5,700,000. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year & Ch. Miler-HK, 28-15-3-4, HK$74,278,220. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Beat the Clock (Aus), 126, g, 5, Hinchinbrook (Aus)–Flion Fenena (Aus), by Lion Hunter (Aus). (A$70,000 Ylg '15 INGMAR; NZ$200,000 2yo '15 NZBRTR). O-Merrick Chung Wai Lik; B-Miss J Henderson; T-John Size; HK$2,200,000.
3–Conte (Aus), 126, g, 5, Starcraft (NZ)–Miss Midas (Aus), by Flying Spur (Aus). (A$50,000 Ylg '15 INGEAS). O-Phillip Chan Kwok Chung; B-G P Nolan (Qld); T-John Size; HK$1,000,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, NK, 1. Odds: 1-4, 23-5, 9-1.
Also Ran: Rattan (NZ), Seasons Bloom (Aus), Pingwu Spark (NZ), Fifty Fifty (NZ), Winner's Way (Aus), Beauty Only (Ire), Little Giant (NZ).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Beauty Generation is one of two foals from his dam to make the races and is kin to a filly by Tavistock (NZ) that was led out unsold on a bid of NZ$200,000 during Book 1 of the 2019 NZB Karaka Yearling Sales. Stylish Bel produced a colt by Tavistock's G1 Rosehill Guineas and G1 VRC Derby winner Tarzino (NZ) last Oct. 31 and is in foal to I Am Invincible (Aus), according to a tweet from Rosemont Stud. The latter is the stallion home of Starcraft, sire of Conte.
Equally 'Ex'-Cellent in the Gold Cup…
If his ride in the QSJC was good, the horsemanship he showed atop Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Gold Cup was nothing short of phenomenal. The G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) winner, coming off a defeat of Dinozzo (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) in Group 3 company Jan. 27, raced eagerly in the latter half of the field as defending champ Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) set a sedate tempo from his full-brother Glorious Forever (GB). But knowing exactly what he had beneath him, Purton got after Exultant at the 1000m mark and by the time they'd hit the turn, he was in front, daring Hong Kong's best middle-distance horses to outstay him. And they flat out could not, as he found yet another gear into the final furlong and a half and won clear. Trying the 2000m for the first time, Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) got home very well for second, while Dinozzo punched through late for third to juice up the exotics. Exultant joins Indigenous (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) as the only horses to follow up in the Gold Cup after winning the Vase.
“They were just going too slow,” Purton told HKJC's Graham Cunningham. “But I knew my horse was the best stayer in the race and I knew he'd keep going–he just doesn't seem to get tired. He's got a lot stronger since this time last year and as a result he's just furnished into a better horse. We know what we've got now, so I can use him and ride him accordingly.”
Exultant has already been ruled out of an overseas trip and is likely for the G1 QE II Cup (2000m) in late April and the G1 Champions and Chater Cup (2400m) the following month. Southern Legend is scheduled to leave for Dubai Feb. 28. He holds entries for the G2 Godolphin Mile on dirt as well as the G1 Dubai Turf (1800m) and could make a Carnival appearance prior to the big night.
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP-G1, HK$10,000,000 (£996,186/€1,127,542/A$1,794,443/US$1,274,443), 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.87, gd.
1–EXULTANT (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Teofilo (Ire)
1st Dam: Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
2nd Dam: Crystal Gaze (Ire), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Jumilla, by El Gran Senor
O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak; B-Ballygallon Stud Limited; T-Zac Purton; J-Zac Purton; HK$5,700,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 20-8-5-2, HK$34,037,150. *Formerly Irishcorrespondent (Ire). Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Southern Legend (Aus), 126, g, 6, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–Donna's Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg '14 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; HK$2,200,000.
3–Dinozzo (Ire), 126, g, 6, Lilbourne Lad (Ire)–Nisriyna (Ire), by Intikhab. (€44,000 Wlg '13 GOFNOV; €75,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-Siu Pak Kwan; B-Swordlestown Little; T-John Size; HK$1,000,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3, NK. Odds: 11-10, 56-1, 31-1.
Also Ran: Simply Brilliant (GB), Glorious Forever (GB), Eagle Way (Aus), Northern Superstar (SAf), Gold Mount (GB), Singapore Sling (SAf), Pakistan Star (Ger), Time Warp (GB).
Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
One of 16 worldwide Group 1 winners for his sire, Exultant is out of a winning half-sister to Irish highweight Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and to Italian champion Spirit Quartz (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Exultant's third dam was a full-sister to German highweighted Winter Quarters and was responsible for SW Jonquil (Ire) (Machiavellian). Contrary is the dam of the 3-year-old gelding Irish Agent (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and has no listed subsequent progeny.
WATCH: Exultant simply outstays them in the Gold Cup
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