Longines Hong Kong Vase (Group 1)

MOGUL staked his claim as heir apparent to Ballydoyle’s throne after claiming victory in the HK$20 million Longines Hong Kong Vase over a mile and a half.

Providing Aidan O’Brien’s third triumph in the race, adding to Highland Reel’s 2015 and 2017 wins, Mogul downed Hong Kong champion Exultant and Columbus County to also give Ryan Moore his third Vase success.

Another son of Galileo, Mogul has long been touted as the next world-beater to emerge from O’Brien’s yard and proved his class by overwhelming Exultant, a five-time Group 1 winner and Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year.

While elated at notching his sixth Longines Hong Kong International Races victory, Moore was unsurprised by the quality of Mogul’s performance.

“He’s a horse that we always expected a lot from. He was a good two-year-old, he won his Group 2 race (Champions Juvenile Stakes) at Leopardstown. I don’t know, maybe just the way the season unfolded, he took a while to really pull himself together,” he said.

“Maybe he was just a bit behind Derby Day (when sixth to Serpentine) and we were always on the back foot. He was super impressive when he won in Paris (Grand Prix de Paris) and his Breeders’ Cup run (fifth behind Tarnawa in the Breeders’ Cup Turf) wasn’t without merit.

“Today, the race worked out nicely for him, he’s beaten a really solid yardstick in Exultant. When he gets in front, he maybe lacks a bit of concentration still but he’s a beautiful-looking horse. He’s got a fantastic mind and it doesn’t stress him. He’ll be a really nice four-year-old. He loves decent ground. I think a few times the ground was made a little bit against him.”

Representing Aidan O’Brien, Ballydoyle’s John Manton praised Mogul’s display.

“He was brilliant there today and he travelled well. All week, he’s been doing everything we’ve asked him to do and today worked out just perfectly.

“He likes a good pace, just held up and he runs home well off it. He’s got a great stride and he’s just a very good horse.

“Ryan was very happy with him and said he was just class. A push-button ride. Hopefully we’ll be back here again next with him and we can do it again.”