California Memory is imbued with an abundance of class and a large dose of
courage, and Tony Cruz’s popular charge utilized both attributes to land the
final top-level race of the Hong Kong racing season, the Group 1 Champions &
Chater Cup, on Sunday.
Sha Tin Racecourse erupted as the diminutive gray shadow crept between rivals
and into race-winning contention down the home straight. Stretched out to about
1 1/2 miles for the first time in his career, any lingering doubts about the
seven-year-old’s stamina through the final furlong soon evaporated as he drew
clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths from his strong-closing stablemate, Willie Cazals.
The win could see California Memory collect champion stayer honors at season’s
end.
For Cruz it was a notable success. The trainer’s previous victory in what is
the final leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown series came as a jockey when he
dead-heated for first-place back in 1995.
“It’s 18 years since I won the race on Makarpura Star for John Moore,” Cruz
said, “so it’s great to win a race like this — I’m so happy to run first and
second.”
Matthew Chadwick, almost ever-present on the horse that has carried him to
back-to-back wins in the past two renewals of the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup, settled
his mount in sixth, just behind race favorite Dominant from the Moore stable.
But when the front-running Liberator, last year’s victor, began to turn the
screw about a half-mile out, California Memory seemed for a moment or two to be
under pressure.
“My game plan was just to get him settled and get him behind to make sure he
could see out the 2,400 meters,” Chadwick said. “He relaxed beautifully; when
they took off around about the 800 meters and then when they picked up around
the 600 meters, he was caught a bit flat-footed.”
But as Dominant, looming large to the outside of Liberator and the battling
Irian, made his stretch move for victory under a confident-looking Zac Purton,
California Memory ducked back inside for his decisive burst at the furlong mark
that left the one-paced Dominant in his wake.
“I was following the right horse through the run, Dominant, and he took me
into the race and I went past him,” Chadwick said after his mount had clocked a
respectable 2:26 2/5 on the good turf.
“The tempo didn’t bother me, I was minding my own business, he was very
relaxed and I knew he would have that last burst. I knew he had the petrol in
him — he got back into his rhythm and kicked nicely. He’s the best.”
Willie Cazals, runner-up in the 2011 Italian Derby, was held up at the tail
under Gerald Mosse and stormed home late to deny Dominant of the runner-up berth
by a half-length.
“I expected Willie Cazals to almost win this race but California Memory is an
‘International’ champion,” Cruz said, referring to Hong Kong’s International
Races program. “I’m very happy with Willie Cazals’ performance today, he came
home very strong and if the race was on the softer ground I’m sure he would have
won it.”
Although out of luck in the feature, the Moore yard gained some compensation
in the Group 3 Sha Tin Vase, with Charles the Great edging the Cruz-trained Best
Eleven in a seven-horse blanket finish.
The trailblazing Go Baby Go led the field right up to the final yards of the
about six-furlong contest, only to be swamped by a bevy of challengers. As the
storming cavalcade flashed past the winning post, it was the Moore-trained
winner, widest of all after a surging center-track run, who snatched it by a
short-head.
“It probably wasn’t the prettiest run, four deep with cover, but they were
bunched up and we were close enough if good enough,” winning rider Tommy Berry
said. “He’s a horse down at the bottom of the weights that’s been in very good
form; even though it was a big step up, horses in form are always the ones to
follow.”
The win marked a career peak for Charles the Great, who carried 117 pounds to
prevail in a time of 1:08 4/5 seconds from Best Eleven, with stablemate Captain
Sweet a further short-head back in third. A half-length covered the first seven
home.
“He’s one of the most consistent horses in training,” Moore said of the
four-year-old whose two previous Hong Kong wins both came at Happy Valley.
“We thought he was a horse only for Happy Valley, but he finally went over
the 100 mark (in the official ratings), so these horses have got to get their
chances in Group races. The jockey told me leading into the race that he had
worked the place down and that he was a live chance; then we drew the wide gate
(14) and there was always then a question mark.”
Moore is still hoping Time After Time can make the trip to Royal Ascot for
the June 22 Diamond Jubilee Stakes after the five-year-old closed off to finish
a half-length seventh under top weight of 133 pounds.
“The run was fantastic,” the trainer said. “He was beaten less than a length;
what more can you ask? Carrying 133 pounds, you’ve got to say that the horse is
peaking at the right time. My impression would be to go on that run — that was
a beauty. Now we need to speak to the syndicate and get the green light, and if
he does he’ll fly out on June 9.”
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com