3 minute read

Dan Excel made history at Kranji on Sunday 17 May.

No horse had ever before won the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup twice but John Moore’s doughty warrior consigned that fact to oblivion with a repeat of his 2014 success.

As he had done 12 months prior, the John Moore-trained seven-year-old snagged the early lead and was never headed as jockey Tommy Berry executed a canny pillar-to-post ride. The victory was a remarkable third in succession for Moore, who had savoured a first overseas G1 success when Military Attack landed the spoils in 2013.

“To win it three times is something that is fantastic,” said the handler. “David (Boehm – owner) got this horse out of Ireland and he’s proven to be a warhorse. He seems to get around this opposite direction (to Sha Tin) really, really well – the ride was a gem and Tommy was able to dictate it on his own terms. It’s an incredible performance from Team Moore to repeat and win this race three times.”

Dan Excel had to dig deep in the home stretch to repel the determined challenge of his former stablemate, Military Attack. Caspar Fownes’s charge chased hard but was found wanting at the climax under Zac Purton as Dan Excel held on for a half-length victory in a time of 2m 01.52s.

“Everything went to plan,” said Moore. “We came here with a fitter horse and he’s run a race that was unbelievable from that wide gate (10). I thought there might be something else to take on the running but he got there so easily and then he was able to set his own speed. And we had Hong Kong first and second, so another great result.

“George (Moore) did the work this week to put the freshness into him to do what he did today, to be able to break and get across to the lead. His progression into this race has been perfect, he’s gone from 1200m to 1400m, to 1600m and then here, so if you studied the progression you knew he was in with a big chance today,” added the trainer who was full of praise for his stable staff.

“All credit to Thomas Yeung, our riding boy, he’ll be going with Able Friend (to England), and to the mafoo, who managed the horse to get him back to where he was today after that infirmity he suffered in Australia and the surgery he had earlier this season.”

Berry was delighted to have achieved back-to-back wins on Dan Excel: “It’s a great feeling. I said to John when I hopped off him after the Champions Mile that he was going into this race better than he was last year.

“He sat four-wide the whole way in last year’s Champions Mile, toughed it out and still ran third. He then came here two weeks later off a very tough run and won, whereas last start he had a very easy time in the run when he was beaten by Able Friend, which I believe is the best form in the world. He was fresh – he was a real pest before the race, which was exactly how he was last year, so I was pleased about that.”

Moore is considering another overseas test for the Shamardal gelding, who has now notched three wins at the highest level, having also won the 2013 G1 Champions Mile.

“I’ve been having a word with David (Boehm) about the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (England). They approached me but not about Dan Excel, but after winning tonight that may be a possibility. We’ll wait and see how he pulls up – he pulled a shoe, so we’ll see how he is.”

Military Attack, who has suffered from niggling ailments in recent months, was missing both front shoes when he returned to the unsaddling area following his gallant second.

“He ran an absolute blinder,” said Fownes. “I know what he can do – like I’ve said, he’s had lots of problems and he’s still been racing seriously on 60 to 70 per cent. There were no excuses tonight, even though he lost both his shoes there. To get within a long neck of winning that race was very good and we’ll concentrate on December (LONGINES Hong Kong Cup) now.”

Singapore’s Quechua ran on to take third with Japan’s Meiner Frost fourth.

Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer, was thrilled with the evening’s results, which also included Aerovelocity’s earlier success for Hong Kong in the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint. The outcome matched the Group 1 clean sweep achieved by Hong Kong horses at the meeting in 2013 and 2014.

"It’s not easy to match and break records and the results tonight have shown the quality and depth of our Hong Kong horses,” said Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges. “These Group 1 successes once again highlight the outstanding performances of Hong Kong trainers and jockeys on the world stage, as well as the great support of our owners who bring in world-class horses that enhance Hong Kong racing. Overall it's great for Hong Kong and great for racing in Hong Kong."