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).
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.
Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) and Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}), winners of the BMW Hong Kong Derby in 2020 and 2019, respectively, treated racing fans to an epic final-furlong battle in Sunday's G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup, with the undisputed current king of the hill in the jurisdiction just clawing his way past Furore to take his current winning streak to 13 and his overall record to a spectacular 16 from 17. Golden Sixty is now within four victories of the record currently held by the legendary Silent Witness (Aus) (El Moxie).
The $1.35 (35-100) favourite was taken back to settle in the latter part of the field and switched off nicely for Vincent Ho, as Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) set a very slow early tempo in advance of Playa del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), who nearly upset last year's Derby at 289-1. Columbus County (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) rolled forward to try to inject some pace mid-race, as Golden Sixty and Furore eyeballed one another back in the field, the dynamics squarely working against them. The opening 1200 metres were posted in a dawdling 1:15.09, better than a full second outside of standard, and Ho got to work on Golden Sixty, peeling him out and around horses at the 600 metres Meanwhile, Joao Moreira was happy to ride Furore for luck and stuck to the fence. As Golden Sixty wound up on the grandstand side, he looked like he was going to run away, easily claiming defending champion Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) with a furlong and a half to go while wanting to shift inward. But Moreira found a split in upper stretch, shot Furore through and battled with everything he had, only to be on the short end of the bobber. Golden Sixty's final half-mile was timed in :44.48, fractionally faster than Furore's :44.57, albeit with a far inferior trip around the second turn.
“I was quite confident that I would stay ahead of them but we fought hard–it wasn't easy, it was a bit unexpected to be that close,” Ho admitted. “I was just worried about the horse to the inside of him because Golden Sixty laid in a bit, he would have won easier if he didn't do that. Once he went past Exultant he wanted to lay in–it made it difficult for me but it's still a victory.”
With foreign targets off the table, the top two are expected to face a rematch in the G1 FWD QE II Cup over the same course and distance Apr. 25. From there, Golden Sixty could go for a sweep of the 'Triple Crown' in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions and Chater Cup (2400m), for which he stands to collect an HK$10-million bonus if successful.
WATCH: Golden Sixty outgames Furore in the Hong Kong Gold Cup
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong CITI HONG KONG GOLD CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,107,985/€1,281,174/A$1,994,280/US$1,547,816), 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.25, gd.
1–GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS), 126, g, 5, by Medaglia d'Oro 1st Dam: Gaudeamus (GSW-Ire, $179,846), by Distorted Humor 2nd Dam: Leo's Lucky Lady, by Seattle Slew 3rd Dam: Konafa, by Damascus
(A$120,000 Ylg '17 MMGCYS; NZ$300,000 2yo '18 NZBRTR). O-Stanley Chan Ka Leung; B-Asco International Pty Ltd (Qld); T-Francis Lui; J-Vincent Ho; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo-HK, 17-16-0-0, HK$66,525,600. *1/2 to Igitur (Aus) (Helmet {Aus}), SP-Aus. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Furore (NZ), 126, g, 6, Pierro (Aus)–Stormy Choice (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). (NZ$210,000 Ylg '16 NZBJAN). O-Lee Sheung Chau; B-G S A Bloodstock Pty Ltd; T-Tony Cruz; J-Joao Moreira; HK$2,640,000.
3–Exultant (Ire), 126, g, 7, Teofilo (Ire)–Contrary (Ire), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O-Eddie Wong Ming Chak & Wong Leung Sau Hing; B-Ballygallon Stud; T-Tony Cruz; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: SHD, 1, 1. Odds: 35-100, 6-1, 22-5.
Also Ran: Glorious Dragon (Ire), Time Warp (GB), Columbus County (NZ), Playa del Puente (Ire). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Waikuku Back To Best In QSJC…
For the first time in four years, a horse not named Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) has taken out the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup.
Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), an unlucky runner-up to Furore in the 2019 Derby and winner of last year's G1 Stewards' Cup (1600m), was given a perfect ride by Joao Moreira, swooped in front with about a furlong to race and came away to an easy score over a game Southern Legend (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}). The victory was the 1300th in Hong Kong for trainer John Size, whose total is exceeded by only the retired John Moore (1735) and Tony Cruz (1329).
“It probably means I've been here a long time and I'm doing my job well,” the understated Size said, reflecting on his move from Sydney to Hong Kong two decades ago. “Every achievement along the way in your career is meaningful. I couldn't have imagined that in my wildest dreams. Obviously, it's been a good move–very good for my career–and I hope is that I can do a good job for customers.”
WATCH: Waikuku back to winning ways in Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE CUP-G1, HK$12,000,000 (£1,107,985/€1,281,174/A$1,994,280/US$1,547,816), 3yo/up, 1400mT, 1:20.78, gd.
1–WAIKUKU (IRE), 126, g, 6, by Harbour Watch (Ire) 1st Dam: London Plane (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire) 2nd Dam: Aunt Julia (GB), by In The Wings (GB) 3rd Dam: Original (GB), by Caerleon
(€33,000 Ylg '16 TISEP). O-Jocelyn Siu Yang Hin Ting; B-Riversfield Stud; T-John Size; J-Joao Moreira; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 20-8-4-2, HK$35,843,680. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Southern Legend (Aus), 126, g, 8, Not A Single Doubt (Aus)–Donna's Appeal (Aus), by Carnegie (Ire). (A$280,000 Ylg '14 INGEAS). O-Boniface Ho Ka Kui; B-Corumbene Stud (NSW); T-Caspar Fownes; J-Karis Teetan; HK$2,640,000.
3–Mighty Giant (NZ), 126, g, 5, Power (GB)–Wanderov (NZ), by Ustinov (Aus). O-Mr & Mrs Li Ming On; B-; T-Ricky Yiu; J-Neil Callan; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, NO. Odds: 11-10, 29-10, 12-1.
Also Ran: More Than This (GB), Ka Ying Star (GB), Not Usual Talent (NZ), Wishful Thinker (Aus), Buddies (Aus), Champion's Way (Aus). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
Classic Cup Thievery…
When last seen finishing seventh to Excellent Proposal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the Hong Kong Classic Mile four weeks ago, Happy Healthy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) endured a wide passage from the riverside draw and never truly reached contention. With Alexis Badel inheriting the ride when Vincent Ho opted for hampered Classic Mile third Tourbillon Diamond (Aus) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), Happy Healthy was allowed a soft lead and never relinquished it en route to a 21-1 boilover.
Drawn gate eight this time, the former Peter and Paul Snowden trainee when raced as Leviathan hopped out best of all and controlled the pace through an opening 1000-metre split of 1:00.40. Still allowed to amble along on the circle, he put away pace-pressing Lucky Patch (NZ) (El Roca {Aus}) in upper stretch and had enough in the locker to hold off the fast-finishing outsider Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner for Aidan O'Brien of last year's G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot, who raced with first-time blinkers Sunday. Shadow Hero (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}) ran an improved race in third. Excellent Proposal was done no favours by the lack of pace and came from well back to be a sneaky-good fourth, his final 400m of :45.57 the second-fastest in the race.
“I was just happy to let my horse go because he's obviously a very big horse and I knew he was going to stay on well,” said Badel. “He was also very relaxed in front. It allowed him to take a very big breath before the effort and then he kept on well.”
Pedigree Notes:
Healthy Happy is the 18th black-type winner for Widden Stud's Zoustar, whose other stakes winner outside of Australia is the talented Singapore galloper Top Knight (Aus). He is the only winner to date from his multiple Australian Group 3-placed dam, a daughter of SW/GSP Dashing Granada and a half-sister to MSW & GSP Celebrity Girl (Aus) (Starcraft {NZ}), herself the dam of 2020 G2 Schweppes Thousand Guineas Prelude winner and G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas third Instant Celebrity (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}).
The dam of the 2-year-old colt Publicist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), Lady Lakshmi produced a full-sister to the latter after being led out unsold on a bid of A$300,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. She dropped a Merchant Navy (Aus) colt in 2020 and is back in foal to Russian Revolution (Aus) on a late November cover.
WATCH: Healthy Happy leads them a merry chase in the Hong Kong Classic Cup
Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP-LR, HK$12,000,000 (£1,107,985/€1,281,174/A$1,994,280/US$1,547,816), NH/SH4yo, 1800mT, 1:47.21, gd.
1–HEALTHY HAPPY (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Zoustar (Aus) 1st Dam: Lady Lakshmi (Aus) (MGSP-Aus, $288,541), by Lonhro (Aus) 2nd Dam: Dashing Granada (Aus), by Keltrice (Aus) 3rd Dam: Jovan (NZ), by Nassipour 1ST STAKES WIN. (A$375,000 Ylg '18 MMGCYS). O-Sin Tung Hing, Sin Yuk Lok & Sin Yuk San; B-Lachlan River Bloodstock (Vic); T-Frankie Lor; J-Alexis Badel; HK$6,840,000. Lifetime Record: 10-5-2-1, HK$10,749,270. *Formerly Leviathan (Aus).
2–Russian Emperor (Ire), 126, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Atlantic Jewel (Aus), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). O-Mike Cheung Shun Ching; B-Coolmore, Lauri Macri & Partners; T-Douglas Whyte; J-Keith Yeung; HK$2,640,000.
3–Shadow Hero (Aus), 126, g, 4, Pierro (Aus)–Sookie (Aus), by Casino Prince (Aus). (A$260,000 Ylg '18 INGFEB). O-Edmond Lee Man Bun; B-Lightning Thoroughbreds, Mrs D Kolivos (NSW); T-David Hayes; J-Zac Purton; HK$1,200,000.
Margins: NK, NO, HF. Odds: 21-1, 79-1, 39-5.
Also Ran: Excellent Proposal (Aus), Tourbillon Diamond (Aus), Packing Waltham (Fr), Sky Darci (NZ), Lucky Express (Aus), Sea of Life (Aus), Arthur's Kingdom (Ire), Delightful Laos (Ire), Lucky Patch (NZ), Conqueror (Aus), Smiling Time (SAf). Scratched: Maximus (Ger). Click for the HKJC.com chart, PPs and sectional timing.
