Tony Cruz joins the one-man "2,500 Club"

By Michael Cox 

Tony Cruz became the one-man member of “the 2500 club” for combined wins as a jockey and trainer on Sunday but the living legend of Hong kong racing is far too humble to start bragging about it. 

“I don’t keep count, but I am glad somebody told me about the miletone,” Cruz told the Standard. “Maybe it is just down to the fact that I have been around the longest”

Cruz’s standing in the Hong Kong racing scene can be put down to far more than just longevity. He is still considered by many to be the greatest jockey in Hong Kong racing history and is without doubt its greatest home grown talent. 

Only three jockeys have ridden more winners in Hong Kong racing history – Zac Purton, Douglas Whyte and Joao Moreira – but Cruz rode in an era when the season was much shorter. Only John Moore and John Size sit above Cruz on the all-time standings for trainers. 

Nobody has won more in Hong Kong as a jockey and trainer than Cruz though and his double on Sunday at Sha Tin brought up the unique milestone of 2500 combined wins. 

Cruz started as an apprentice with what was then known as the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club when he was 15 in 1972 and has been a champion at every level – apprentice, jockey and trainer – as well as putting Hong Kong on the map with his incredible exploits in overseas races. 

“I have been going 53 years going on 54, from a 15-year-old apprentice and now I am 68 - I have been here the longest. I have seen a few people come and go – hopefully I see a few more come and go as well. I am not going anywhere.”  

Cruz is tenth in this season’s trainers’ championship heading into the 69th meeting of the season and although his current roster lacks a bona fide superstar since the retirement of California Spangle, history says it won’t be long before he unearths another Group 1 contender. 

Some of Hong Kong’s best of all-time have been trained by Cruz including Silent Witness, Bullish Luck, California Memory, Time Warp, Pakistan Star and Exultant, just to name half-a-dozen multiple Group 1 winners. 

Even though Cruz lacks the star power right now he is making the best of his talent and his 18 wins at Happy Valley is the third most of any trainer behind just Mark Newnham (20) and Caspar Fownes (19). 

“Sometimes you have to work with what you have,” Cruz said. “When I was champion, I was winning the major races at Sha Tin and less at Happy Valley, but right now I am finding more races at the Valley.” 

Cruz’s best chance at Happy Valley tonight is early when Serangoon contests Race 3, the French May Trophy (Class 4, 2200 meters). 

“He has a good chance, he won at this course and distance in this grade four starts back, he ran well here last time and he has drawn a much better gate this time,” Cruz said.