Deep Impact's Glory Vase Leads Japanese 1-2-4 in the HK Vase

Glory Vase | Horsephotos

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HONG KONG–During various hit-and-run missions in Japan, jockey Joao Moreira established some long-term connections that culminated with a defeat of defending champion Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the 2016 G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase. The Brazilian nearly repeated the dose last when partnering Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) to Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in last year's Vase. Looking to snap an 11-race HKIR skid dating back to 2016, the 'Magic Man' sat a midfield trip in a truly run race aboard Glory Vase (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) and stormed clear in the final furlong to best his compatriot Lucky Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) by 3 1/2 lengths. Exultant tired to third after making the majority of the pace, while Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), second in last year's Cup, raced wide into the lane, but kept on for fourth.

Exultant jumped alertly, but was trapped out after leaving gate 14, forcing jockey Zac Purton to either take back and slot in or roll forward and show the way. Plan B it was, and the hard-knocking 5-year-old kicked on aggressively, with a second second in :23.06 that would ultimately come back to haunt him. The odds-on chalk had a good kick when set down in upper stretch, but Glory Vase had quietly worked his way into a threatening position on the turn and slalomed through the lane en route to a convincing victory. Lucky Lilac looked dangerous at the furlong before settling for second.

“I was quite blessed to get in two off the fence, get cover and get him to relax,” Moreira said. “I had horses on top of me at the 800 metres but good horses, if they face a tough situation, they just go through with it and he wasn't any different. He just kept himself in the gap and just before we turned for home I was kind of trapped and had to ride for luck. I sneaked on the inside and hoped the gap would come. Fortunately it did.”

Purton suggested the draw was his mount's undoing.

“The barrier (14) was always going to make it difficult, so it was what it was. He tried his best and ran well,” he said.

Winner of this year's G2 Nikkei Shinshun Hai (2400mT), Glory Vase was runner-up in the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over a 3000-meter trip. His most recent appearance resulted in a sixth in the G2 Kyoto Daishoten (2400m) Oct. 6.

Pedigree Notes:

Glory Vase, the 45th Group 1/Grade I winner for his sire, has younger siblings by a pair of two-time HKIR winners. Mejiro Tsubone is the dam of the 3-year-old colt Kanumera Beach (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and a yearling filly by Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}). She is also responsible for the 2-year-old filly Hanabi Makabi (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), an ¥84 million JRHA yearling in 2018. Mejiro Tsubone missed to Deep Impact this term.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
LONGINES HONG KONG VASE-G1, HK$20,000,000 (£1,948,169/€2,305,125/A$3,735,990/US$2,554,706), Sha Tin, 12-8, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:24.77, gd.
1–GLORY VASE (JPN), 126, c, 4, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Mejiro Tsubone (Jpn), by Swept Overboard
2nd Dam: Mejiro Rubato (Jpn), by Mejiro Ryan (Jpn)
3rd Dam: Mejiro Ramonu (Jpn), by Mogami (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥52,000,000 Ylg '16 JRHAJUL). O-Silk Racing Co Ltd; B-Lake Villa Farm; T-T Ozeki; J-Joao Moreira; HK$11,400,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Jpn, 10-4-3-0, HK$24,344,790. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lucky Lilac (Jpn), 122, f, 4, Orfevre (Jpn)–Lilacs and Lace, by Flower Alley. O-Sunday Racing Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-M Matsunaga; J-Christophe Soumillon; HK$4,400,000.
3–Exultant (Ire), 126, g, 5, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak; B-Ballygallon Stud Limited; T-Toy Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$2,000,000.
Margins: 3HF, NK, HF. Odds: 36-5, 89-10, 4-5.
Also Ran: Deirdre (Jpn), Called To The Bar (Ire), Ho Ho Khan (NZ), True Self (Ire), Southern Legend (Aus), Young Rascal (Fr), Eagle Way (Aus), Prince of Arran (GB), Anthony Van Dyck (Ire), Aspetar (GB), Mount Everest (Ire).
Click for the HKJC chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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