California Spangle was the giantkiller in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) last year when defeating the outstanding champion Golden Sixty and his trainer Tony Cruz believes the combination of a new jockey and an excellent draw can be inductive to a similar performance in Sunday’s (10 December) showpiece.
The classy miler handed Cruz his 11th win at the Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) last year, meaning he returns as the meeting’s most successful trainer, and the former top jockey is confident changes within the team will not stop California Spangle producing another electric display.
Zac Purton rode him to make most of the running and defeat Golden Sixty by a neck in a dramatic running of the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile last year, but Hong Kong’s six-time champion jockey has not ridden the five-year-old for his two starts this campaign.
Hugh Bowman was aboard when the gelding made a winning reappearance in the G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) in October, while Matthew Chadwick partnered him to a fourth-placed effort in the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) last time.
Cruz is turning to a trusted figure to deliver him back-to-back victories in the race, with Christophe Soumillon booked to ride California Spangle for the first time. The Belgian rider will be bidding to win his third Hong Kong Mile after success with another locally trained star Good Ba Ba in 2008 and Admire Mars in 2019.