The Aidan O’Brien-trained Mogul added his second Group 1 win this year with a comfortable victory in Sunday’s HK$20m Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin.
The 2018 Hong Kong Vase winner Exultant was a somewhat unexpected leader, racing with his mouth open at times with Ryan Moore positioning Mogul fourth with cover before easing out to challenge at the top of the straight.
Mogul quickened impressively to go by Exultant 200 metres out and went on to defeat Exultant by three lengths with Columbus County a half length away third.
It’s the third time O’Brien has combined with Moore to win the Hong Kong Vase after Highland Reel won in 2015 and 2017.
Moore told Andrew Lejeune of the HKJC the race went according to plan.
”He got there very comfortably and he just lacks a bit of maturity still,” Moore said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to be in front when I was but he was going and I had to commit – he was just waiting when he was in front, having a good look and taking it all in.
“He’s a beautiful-looking horse and he reminds me of Dylan Thomas. I never rode him but he’s a similar type of horse with lots of ability and a good mind.”
Mogul has progressed all season and after finishing sixth in The Derby at Epsom went on to defeat In Swoop in the Grand Prix de Paris in September and was due to contest the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the following month but was one of several Aidan O’Brien-trained horses withdrawn from races due to feed contamination fears.
A 3.4m gns Tattersalls October yearling when sold by Newsells Park Stud, Mogul finished fifth behind Tarnawa in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf over a mile and a half at Keeneland on November 7 before travelling to Hong Kong Vase.