Trainer Tony Cruz says California Spangle's future is likely to be back at a mile but tomorrow he gets a chance at his pet distance of 1400 meters in the Group 3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup at Sha Tin.
It's easy to forget that before Cruz focused on shorter races with California Spangle, his horse denied Hong Kong's greatest-ever horse Golden Sixty at his best trip and in his prime in the 2022 Hong Kong Mile.
"California Spangle is obviously a very good horse and is good at both sprint and the mile, but right now it seems he isn't good enough to beat Ka Ying Rising so we will probably try him again at a mile," Cruz said.
"We will see after this run, which is right at his pet distance of 1400m. That is the distance that is perfect for him."The 2025 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup - Hong Kong's only G1 at 1400m - is on February 23. Before then Cruz is likely to opt for the G1 Stewards' Cup at 1600m on January 19 rather than take on Ka Ying Rising again in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup.
First comes the challenge of carrying top weight tomorrow in a race where California Spangle has a clear class edge but gives 20 pounds to seven of his 10 rivals."It's a lot of weight to carry but it isn't a strong Group 3," Cruz said. "And I couldn't be happier with him coming into the race."
Beauty Joy (129lbs) and Red Lion (122lbs) loom as the most established rivals but the biggest threat could come from Francis Lui Kin-wai's bottom weight Patch Of Theta.Lightweight jockey Karis Teetan has been booked for Patch Of Theta and he was excited to be on a horse that has won four from seven at 1400m. "He is progressive, I think he is on the way up," Teetan said of the last-start winner. "He goes into the race with such little weight on his back, just 115 pounds, that he has to be in with a chance."
michael.cox@singtaonewscorp.com
