Tag: California Spangle

Romantic Warrior Leads Irish-Bred 1-2 in Hong Kong Derby

by Alan Carasso

In a finish reminiscent of the 2014 BMW Hong Kong Derby, in which the longer-winded Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) got the better the more distance-limited Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) in the dying strides, Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) managed to reel in a very brave California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to win the HK$24-million domestic centrepiece Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse. Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}), thrice placed at group level in New Zealand, parlayed a perfect inside trip into a third-place finish.

The speedy California Spangle, who was trying the metric mile and a quarter for the first time off a front-running tally in the Hong Kong Classic Cup over a furlong shorter last time, pinged the gates from stall 10 and did some work to cross down onto the fence, but settled nicely from there as they turned down the back. S J Tourbillon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) raced closest to the leader passing the 1200-metre point, while Money Catcher was allowed to drop in and Karis Teetan had the second-elect Romantic Warrior midfield and between horses at halfway.

Rocket Spade (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the 2021 G1 New Zealand Derby hero, loomed three wide outside of the pacemaker with three furlongs to race, but California Spangle was still going reasonably well and was the first to face the judge. Steered out into about the four path, the favourite was awkward for a stride or two, still in command, but Romantic Warrior was finding his best stride as he went on the attack outside of Mr Ascendancy (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}). Money Catcher boxed on further towards the inside, but the two Irish-breds came to settle it, with Romantic Warrior doing slightly the better work through the line. He is the first Northern Hemisphere-bred Derby winner since the aforementioned future Horse of the Year and four-times Group 1 winner Designs On Rome and is a first Derby winner for Teetan and trainer Danny Shum.

“He travelled a bit the first turn,” said the Mauritian. “I had a nice trail through until the straight and I must say I thought 'God, Zac's horse is going to be hard to get past.' This horse is a little horse, but he's got a big heart and I'm really thankful to everyone–the owner, Danny and his team.”

Shum, who saddled Playa del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) to a near-shocking defeat of Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) in 2020, added: “He [Romantic Warrior] deserved to win the Derby, he is a very honest horse and very consistent. Karis did a great job, so I'm very happy. The second horse, California Spangle, also ran very good. The pace was strong and he was still fighting on the line.”

Shum said that the G1 FWD QE II Cup is next on the agenda for Romantic Warrior, a decision surely made easier given that there will be no invitees from overseas due to the pandemic. Tony Cruz will also target FWD Champions Day with California Spangle.

Romantic Warrior was perfect in his first four starts–two in Class 4 at Happy Valley and a pair in Class 3 at Sha Tin–before dashing home to best California Spangle–who was ultimately done in by his widest draw–in the Hong Kong Classic Mile Jan. 30. Roles were reversed in the Classic Cup, as Romantic Warrior was never on the track from barrier 13, while California Spangle dictated terms from a low gate and easily accounted for Turin Redsun (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), with Romantic Warrior a gallant third.

Pedigree Notes:

Romantic Warrior was purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 300,000gns from the draft of David and Henrietta Egan's Corduff Stud at Tattersalls October in 2019 by a team headed up by legendary former jockey Mick Kinane and was prepared for the 2021 Hong Kong International Sale, postponed to June by the pandemic, but for many years held on the eve of the Derby. It was the only of the sale entries that Shum recommended to owner Peter Lau, who went to HK$4.8 million (£444,729/€517,894) for the gelding.

“I would like to thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club as well for bringing this horse into the International Sale,” Shum said. “Actually, the CEO [Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges] also said to me in the stable 'This is the right one', so we picked the same horse.

“Thank you to the owner Peter Lau for really supporting the ISG Sale. He always says, 'You can buy me a good horse, but don't buy me the wrong horse.'”

Other prominent graduates of the Hong Kong International Sale include three-time G1 Hong Kong Mile hero Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), Mile hero The Duke (Aus) (Danehill) and 'TDN Rising Star' and multiple Group 1 winner Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), the 2017 Derby runner-up.

Romantic Warrior is the third foal from his dam, a daughter of Folk Opera, whose biggest racetrack success came in the 10-furlong GI E. P. Taylor S. at Woodbine and whose resume also includes a victory in the G2 Darley Prix Jean Romanet. With the Dubai World Cup meeting straight ahead, it is interesting to note that the sires of Romantic Warrior's first two dams each has a World Cup to their credit–Street Cry in 2002 and Singspiel in the weather-delayed second running of the race in 1997.

Folk Melody's last listed produce is a 2-year-old colt of this season named Operation Gimcrack (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who fetched 160,000gns from Bryan Smart Racing at last year's Tattersalls October Sale.

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
BMW HONG KONG DERBY-LR, HK$24,000,000 (£2,326,771/€2,772,061/A$4,131,331/US$3,067,112), Sha Tin, 3-20, NH/SH4yo, 2000mT, 2:00.23, gd.
1–ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Folk Melody (Ire), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Folk Opera (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Skiphall (GB), by Halling
(300,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; HK$4,800,000 HRA '21 HKJUN). O-Peter Lau Pak Fai; B-Corduff Stud & T J Rooney; T-Danny Shum C S; J-Karis Teetan; HK$13,680,000. Lifetime Record: 7-6-0-0, HK$24,815,400.
2–California Spangle (Ire), 126, g, 4, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire). (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Zac Purton; HK$5,280,000.
3–Money Catcher (NZ), 126, g, 4, Ferlax (NZ)–Warren's Sister (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (NZ$13,000 Wlg '18 NZBMAY; NZ$60,000 2yo '19 NZBRTR). O-The Sunflower Syndicate; B-Haunui Bloodstock Ltd; T-Frankie Lor F C; J-Derek Leung K C; HK$2,400,000.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 27-10, 7-5, 34-1.
Also Ran: Senor Toba (Aus), The Irishman (NZ), Turin Redsun (GB), Crossford (Ire), Fa Fa (NZ), Nordic Sky (Brz), Champion Dragon (Ire), Ima Single Man (Aus), Mr Ascendancy (Ire), Rocket Spade (Aus), S J Tourbillon (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.

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Diabolical Derby Draw for California Spangle

The connections of the speedy California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) were hardly doing cartwheels after their Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner was assigned gate 10 in a full field of 14 for Sunday's HK$24-million BMW Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin Racecourse.

The winner of six of his eight local starts, California Spangle made all in the Feb. 27 Classic Cup, having endured a tough trip when second to Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the Hong Kong Classic Mile back in January. But jockey Zac Purton admits that the 10 hole is not exactly what the team had in mind.

“Unfortunately, we have a number of speed runners drawn inside us who are no doubt going to try and hold their positions,” Purton said. “If I fire him out of the gate from 10 at this start to get across, maybe it gives him that signal it's time to go and he might see that corner and think he's in a 1200-metre race. It could go horribly bad for us, it's a horrible draw for us– but it is what it is.”

Roles were reversed in the Classic Cup, when Romantic Warrior was trapped out deep from a double-digit draw for the entire trip and finished a brave fourth. The Hong Kong International Sale grad fared better this time around in pulling gate eight.

“Last time he did cover a lot of ground, he was the widest horse for the whole race and he still finished off nicely so this time we are in the middle of the track,” said jockey Karis Teetan. “So if we can get a good jump and get him in a decent position, I think he should run the distance no problem and I think he will show us his nice turn of foot this time.”

A course-and-distance winner–a rare commodity in this field–Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) gets the blinkers on for the first time from gate three. Trainer Caspar Fownes believes the gray can improve on his running-on fifth in the Classic Cup from barrier three, which has produced four Derby winners since 2000.

“We'll always take the stats if they're in our favour and if they're not in our favour, we'll try to change them,” Fownes said. “The horse is going to have the blinkers on for the first time, we took him to the gates this morning, he's starting to know how to jump better and know what we want of him.”

The Hong Kong Derby is carded as the eighth of 10 races Sunday at Sha Tin and jumps at 4.40pm local time (9.40am BST).

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California Spangle Passes Test in HK Classic Cup

by Alan Carasso

The jury was very much out on California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) going into Sunday's HK$12-million Hong Kong Classic Cup as to whether the speedy 4-year-old would be suited by an 1800-metre trip after just failing to see out the Hong Kong Classic Mile a month ago, albeit from a miserable draw. It took less than 107 seconds to deliver the verdict, as the joint-highest galloper in the field took command at once from a middle barrier and proved not for catching.

Away without incident from gate six, California Spangle was soon in front and was tracked by Money Catcher (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) as they went a decent gallop up front. Switched off nicely for Zac Purton, California Spangle lobbed along traveling very comfortably on the turn and was held together as the field turned into the straight. Felt for with about 300 metres to travel, California Spangle maintained a good margin and was kept busy through the line. Turin Redstar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a running-on fourth in the Classic Mile, weaved his way through and outfinished Money Catcher for second, while the previously unbeaten Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) could never get on the track, but finished very well to be fourth in a useful Derby trial.

It was a first Classic Cup win for Purton, who has won nearly everything else there is to win in Hong Kong.

“It's nice to get it [Classic Cup] on the board and on such a special horse as well,” the Australian said. “From the first time I sat on him, I could feel how much quality he had and this might not be his proper distance but because he's so good–against his own age group–he's been able to do it today. Of course, I was worried the last 200m. He was out on his feet and it was a good effort.”

And with that, it's on to the BMW Hong Kong Derby Mar. 20, the 10-furlong trip remaining a query.

“We always had confidence this horse would run the distance because his dam is by High Chaparral, a stayer who won the Irish Derby,” said trainer Tony Cruz, a four-time Derby winner as a jockey and twice as a trainer. “I'm sure he's got that sort of pedigree in him and I believe he will get the distance.

He continued, “I believe he will wait in front and I believe he will run out the distance. The plan from day one was that this horse–even though he's a real sprinter–was to wait for the straight, wait for the opposition to come and then you make a move. He was under control for the whole race.”

Pedigree Notes:

The 23rd worldwide stakes winner for his sire, California Spangle is a half-brother to Wychwood Warrior, thrice stakes placed at distances up to a mile and is one of five winners from six to race out of a half-sister to Shakespearean (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), winner of the G2 Hungerford S. and G3 Solario S. going seven furlongs. Third dam Basilea was responsible for Pont-Aven (Ire) (Try My Best), a Group 3 winner over five and placed in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches who went on to produce the likes of multiple group winner Josr Algarhound (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), as well as the stakes-winning and multiple group-placed Traou Mad (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and Cap Coz (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}). Pearlitas Passion's most recent listed produce is the 2-year-old filly Alchimia (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}).

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP-LR, HK$12,000,000 (£1,152,151/€1,379,577/A$2,157,904/US$1,536,956), 4yo, 1800mT, 1:46.98, gd.
1–CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (IRE), 126, g, 4, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Pearlitas Passion (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Paimpolaise (Ire), by Priolo
3rd Dam: Basilea (Fr), by Frere Basile (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (€150,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Howard Liang Yum Shing; B-M Enright; T-Tony Cruz A S; J-Zac Purton; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 8-6-2-0, HK$15,425,300. *1/2 to Wychwood Warrior (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), MSP-Ire, SP-UAE.
2–Turin Redstar (GB), 126, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Irish Rookie (Ire), by Azamour (Ire). O-Tsoi Yuk Ham, Sheldon Tse Hiu Tung & Ken Huang Jian Hua; B-Haras de Saint Pair; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Alexis Badel; HK$2,640,000.
3–Money Catcher (NZ), 126, g, 4, Ferlax (NZ)–Warren's Sister (NZ), by Savabeel (Aus). (NZ$13,000 Wlg '18 NZBMAY; NZ$60,000 2yo '19 NZBRTR). O-The Sunflower Syndicate; B-Haunui Bloodstock Ltd; T-Frankie Lor F C; J-Derek Leung K C; HK$1,380,000.
Margins: 1, 1, HF. Odds: 9-10, 20-1, 61-1.
Also Ran: Romantic Warrior (Ire), Senor Toba (Aus), The Irishman (NZ), Ima Single Man (Aus), Nordic Sky (Brz), Rocket Spade (Aus), Mr Ascendancy (Ire), Gorytus (Ire), Intrepid Winner (Aus), Hit The Shot(Aus), Fa Fa (NZ). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. VIDEO.

 

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Romantic Warrior Shoots For Six Straight In Classic Cup

European-sourced Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) has answered every question that has been asked of him in his five racetrack appearances to date and will look to keep the ball rolling as the horse to beat in Sunday's HK$12-million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse.

A 300,000gns purchase by the Hong Kong Jockey Club at Tattersalls October in 2019 and later re-sold for HK$4.8 million at the unique Hong Kong International Sale, Romantic Warrior annexed his first three starts, each over six furlongs, and proved easily best when trying 1400 metres for the first time Jan. 16. The third choice for the Hong Kong Classic Mile a fortnight later, the bay worked out a good trip with Karis Teetan aboard for the first time and ran past long-time leader California Spangle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) for a half-length tally. He'll need to negotiate another 200 metres this time, but he has the full confidence of his jockey.

“Of course, it is in the back of our minds that he is stepping up in distance again but he's a progressive horse–I galloped him on Saturday [19 February] and he went really well, he is in good shape and I think the distance will be ok, because he can relax and he has a nice turn of foot,” the Mauritian said.

California Spangle was tasting defeat for just the second time in the Classic Mile, just failing to last after setting a decent pace. Matthew Chadwick was in the irons on the final Sunday of January, but Zac Purton–who is back on top of the jockeys' premiership–takes over this time around for trainer Tony Cruz.

The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) tracked Romantic Warrior through in the Classic Mile and stayed on well enough to be third, with longshot Turin Redstar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a further 1 3/4 lengths back in fourth. Twice placed at group level in Australia, the bay is bred on the cross over Zabeel (NZ) responsible for former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (NZ) and should have no queries where it comes to this trip and beyond.

Senor Toba (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) has acquitted himself nicely in the deep Class 2 waters locally, having finished third going a mile on International Day Dec. 12 before scoring over the Derby distance of 2000 metres Dec. 27. He was scratched lame out of an intended start Feb. 3, but whatever he does here should bring him on for the BMW Hong Kong Derby in a month's time.

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