Darley sweeps the board in Hong Kong

Exultant leads home a Darley-sired 1-2-3 in the G3 Centenary Vase

Teofilo's son Exultant (who raced in Ireland as Irishcorrespondent) landed the G3 Centenary Vase for the second successive year on Monday, 27 January, with an easy one-and-a-half-length victory at Sha Tin. Now the winner of eight Group contests, he led home a Darley-sired 1-2-3 from his paternal half-brother Glorious Dragon (who was previously known as Stephensons Rocket) and Doctor Geoff (Fast Company).

Exultant enjoyed an excellent 2019 when winning the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup and Champions & Chater Cup, both at Sha Tin. He was recently awarded the accolade of the leading performer in Hong Kong at further than a mile on the World Racehorse Rankings.

Bred by Ballygallon Stud and formerly trained by Mick Halford, Exultant is the fourth foal out of the winning Mark Of Esteem mare Contrary. She is a half-sister to the Group-winning sprinters Spirit Quartz and Caspian Prince.

Standing this coming season at a fee of €40,000 Oct 1, SLF, Teofilo enjoyed an excellent 2019, siring 28 Group or Stakes performers. Happy Clapper was again one of Australia’s leading performers and according to the World Racehorse Rankings, he was second only to Winx amongst Australian-trained milers.