Exultant Named Hong Kong Horse of the Year

Exultant's outstanding exploits during the 2019-20 season earned the multiple group 1 victor the Hong Kong Horse of the Year award July 16 during a special presentation at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The Tony Cruz-trained 6-year-old was also named champion middle distance horse and champion stayer for the second consecutive year.

Exultant captured both the FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) and the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (G1). Only two other Hong Kong champions, Top Grade and Quicken Away, have achieved the same feat.

The five-time group 1 winner showed uncommon class during the campaign, in which he placed in all of his seven starts. In addition to his two group 1 wins, the Teofilo gelding also took the Jockey Club Cup (G2) and the Centenary Vase Handicap (G3) and placed in the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1), the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (G1), and the Sa Sa Ladies' Purse Handicap (G3).

Golden Sixty was the deserving winner of the newly introduced 4-year-old champion award. The Francis Lui-trained runner became only the second horse after Rapper Dragon to win all three legs of the 4-year-old Classic Series, including the BMW Hong Kong Derby. 

The Medaglia d'Oro  gelding was unbeaten with seven wins during the season and also tasted his first group success in the Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap (G3). Lui's stable star won at distances of 1,200 meters to 2,000 meters.

Golden Sixty also secured the bulk of the public vote to claim the most popular horse title.

Two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Beauty Generation lost his crown but was named champion miler for a remarkable third season in a row. The Road To Rock 7-year-old remained a significant force at the highest level and completed a hat trick of wins in the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1). John Moore's stable standout also won the Celebration Cup (G3) for the third time in succession and earned three top-level placings in the Stewards' Cup (G1), FWD Champions Mile (G1), and Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1).

Beat The Clock was named the season's champion sprinter for the second year. The John Size-trained 6-year-old was a dual group 1 victor this term, claiming the Longines Hong Kong Sprint (G1) and the Centenary Sprint Cup (G1), a race he also won in the 2018-19 season. The Hinchinbrook gelding continued to be a model of consistency with two wins, one third, and one fifth from just four starts this term. 

Good Luck Friend was named the season's champion griffin (a horse imported to Hong Kong at 2 or 3 without racing previously) after securing four wins from six starts. The Ricky Yiu-trained 3-year-old achieved his career highlight in a class 3, 1,200-meter race at Sha Tin, defeating seasoned runners to achieve a rating of 85.

The Jimmy Ting-trained Amazing Star was named the season's most improved horse. He started the campaign on a rating of 58 and rocketed to a mark of 100 after four wins in just six starts. 

Yiu was honored with the champion trainer title. The battle for the championship was settled at the season finale. Yiu led for most of the season and repelled all challengers with a final total of 67 wins. 

Zac Purton was crowned champion jockey for the fourth time. The Australian rider became the only rider in history to have won every group 1 race on the Hong Kong calendar thanks to Exultant's score in the FWD QEII Cup.

Vincent Ho won the Tony Cruz Award as the season's leading local rider and also won the public vote to earn the most popular jockey of the year accolade.

Moore, who is retiring, was presented with the lifetime achievement award for his great contribution to Hong Kong racing over almost 50 years.