California Spangle Back to Best in HK, Earns Dubai Trip

Trainer Tony Cruz said the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (G1) March 10 at Sha Tin Racecourse was a chance for California Spangle to run his way out of a funk and into the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in Dubai on World Cup (G1) night.

So, load him up.

The 6-year-old Starspangledbanner  gelding ran them off their feet in the Jubilee Cup, leading all the way to a one-length victory while turning back the clock to his glory days.

A line of four finished behind him with the camera finding long shots Galaxy Patch and Red Lion second and third. The favorites, Beauty Eternal and the world's top-rated sprinter, Lucky Sweynesse, settled for fourth and fifth.

California Spangle, whose career got off to a stellar start during the 2021-22 season, had not won a Group 1 race since he upset three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty in the Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1) Dec. 11, 2022. The best he could manage in four starts before the Silver Jubilee Cup was a pair of fourth-place finishes.

On the plus side of the handicapping ledger, he had been running in shorter, top-level events and the Cup found him back at 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs). Cruz also engineered a jockey change to Brenton Avdulla, who responded with his first Group 1 victory.

California Spangle broke on top to lead the way down the backstretch at a sedate pace. He was never really threatened although the late, outside charge by Galaxy Patch might have been scarier had the promising 4-year-old not had to rally widest of all at mid-stretch.

Lucky Sweynesse also had an eventful trip. Forced to the back of the 10-horse field during the backstretch run, he showed willingness after turning into the straight but stalled out in the final 50 meters under James McDonald.

Cruz dedicated the victory to California Spangle's late owner, Howard Liang, and credited Avdulla with a perfect ride.

"This horse was very important to the late Howard Liang," Cruz said. "He bought the horse and I'm so glad he has won another Group 1. He is the best horse Howard raced and the exciting part of today is that California Spangle had to perform to go to Dubai. And now he's heading to Dubai and everybody is thrilled about it.

"He had the perfect race today. I think Brenton rode a perfect race. He did exactly what I expected him to do. I'm so happy about that. We're going to Dubai now and Brenton is going to ride him in Dubai."

Avdulla, winner of 13 top-level events in Australia, arrived in Hong Kong in May of 2023, expecting a short stay to end that season. Now, he's seeing the unique jockey situation with a shade of difference.

"I was confident that, given an opportunity, that I could succeed here. I rode a winner for Tony at the beginning of the season and then I was quiet for a bit. But then I had a four-timer (four wins on a program) and group 2 win (for trainer John Size).

"All the hard work pays off and like anything, with an opportunity, I always thought I was good enough to capitalize and today shows that," Avdulla said.