EXULTANT, formerly Irishcorrespondent when third behind Churchill in the 2017 Irish 2000 Guineas, has progressed into a star performer in Hong Kong, winning this last year and two subsequent Grade 1's. This is his track and trip and he did brilliantly well to concede weight to some very smart performers over a trip short of his best last time. It will take a very high-class performance to beat him and Anthony Van Dyck may not be quite up to the job. The Epsom hero ran a fine race in the Breeders' Cup Turf where he didn't get the run of the race but it will take an even better effort to land the spoils here. The Nassau Stakes winner Deirdre, a close second in the Cup a year ago, is stepping up to this trip for only the second time but has always looked as though it would suit and she was staying on strongly behind Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Champion Stakes. Lucky Lilac returned to her very best to land the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup at Kyoto last month though needs to find more against these but the globe-trotting Prince Of Arran, fresh from another brilliant campaign in Australia, has every chance of another lucrative pot as does True Self, only a head behind him at Geelong in October.
Exultant (IRE) Teofilo gelding out of Contrary.
Aspetar (FR) Al Kazeem gelding out of Bella Qatara.
Southern Legend (AUS) Not A Single Doubt gelding out of Donna's Appeal.
Young Rascal (FR) Intello gelding out of Rock My Soul.
Called To The Bar (IRE) Henrythenavigator gelding out of Perfect Hedge.
Prince Of Arran Shirocco gelding out of Storming Sioux.
Ho Ho Khan (NZ) Makfi H out of China Choice.
Deirdre (JPN) Harbinger M out of Reizend.
Lucky Lilac (JPN) Orfevre filly out of Lilacs And Lace.
True Self (IRE) Oscar M out of Good Thought.
Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) Galileo colt out of Believe'n'succeed.
Mount Everest (IRE) Galileo colt out of Six Perfections.
