Latest news with #Californiatotality
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Californiatotality digs deep for fifth win of the season as Tony Cruz hits another milestone
Californiatotality (inside) and Alexis Badel get on top late to win at Happy Valley. Photo: Kenneth Chan The impressive Californiatotality continued his march up the ratings with his fifth win of the campaign at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. In a well-run Class Two Choi Hung Handicap (1,650m), Tony Cruz's improver sat midfield under Alexis Badel behind the pace set by Telecom Fighers and stalking $2 favourite Soleil Fighter. Badel was hard at work against the rail at the end of the back straight and Californiatotality looked in trouble, but the Zoustar gelding responded well to his urgings and once in the clear, he scuttled up the rail to beat Soleil Fighter by a neck. And bigger targets could now await the four-year-old, who ran in two legs of this year's Classic Series. Tony Cruz double at Happy Valley! ✌️ Five wins this season for the 4YO by Zoustar, who captures consecutive Class 2s with @AlexisBadel in the plate...#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 14, 2025 'He's a versatile horse – this distance was a bit short but he had a good gate and had every chance to win,' said Cruz. 'His next run will be in the Group Three Premier Plate on June 22 at Sha Tin over 1,800m. There's nowhere else to go with the horse – 1,800m is the perfect distance for him.' The win means Californiatotality is two-from-two at Class Two level and he has the same record under jockey Badel, who was full of praise for his willing partner. 'He's lovely. He actually surprised me. I didn't have such [high] expectation and he did very well,' said Badel. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 'He had a good draw [in barrier two], so I had cover and he travelled lovely and waited for a signal and he quickened when I needed him to do it. It was a promising win.' Too good, Tony Cruz! 🍾 That's 500 wins at Happy Valley as a trainer for Hong Kong's legendary horseman as Hong Kong International Sale graduate Kingly Demeanor makes all in the opener with Keith Yeung... #HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 14, 2025 The win was part of a double for Cruz, with Kingly Demeanor winning the opening Class Five Yue Wan Handicap (1,800m) to give the trainer his 500th winner as a handler at the city circuit. Keith Yeung Ming-lun took the speedy five-year-old to the front soon after the break and never looked back, making all the running for a cosy victory. It was another landmark for Cruz soon after he rung up a combined 2,500 Hong Kong wins as a jockey and trainer – not that the 68-year-old keeps count. 'It's great to get to 500,' Cruz said. 'This is where I started my career and I've had a lot of winners here as a jockey and trainer, so it's great. 'I had no idea I was close to 500 wins, so thank you for keeping count.' Ricky Yiu's Sure Joyful strikes a second win this term! Matthew Poon's productive season continues with a 33rd success for the campaign... 🔥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 14, 2025 Meanwhile, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai and Matthew Poon Ming-fai teamed up for a double with Sure Joyful and Hayday saluting. Their good night kicked off with Sure Joyful's gutsy win in the Class Four Wu King Handicap (1,650m), fending off a stern late challenge from Midori Fuji. And things got even better later on the card when Hayday crossed over from stall 10 and made all the running in the second section of the Class Four Tin Sau Handicap (1,200m). It continued an exciting period for jockey Poon, who will fly to Australia to ride Klondike in the Group One Doomben Cup (2,000m) on May 24 for joint-trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton. Jockey Lyle Hewitson also got in on the act with his own double on Wednesday night, first riding Season's Wit through the field to win the Class Three Choi Wan Handicap (1,000m) before striking on King Lotus for trainer Mark Newnham in the first section of the Tin Sau Handicap. Newnham himself slotted a double in the final race when Crimson Flash kept on kicking to win the Class Three Hoi Lai Handicap (1,200m).
South China Morning Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Alexis Badel hopes Californiatotality can carry hot Sha Tin form over to Happy Valley
The Frenchman rode a treble at the city circuit last month and aims to add to his strike rate with seven rides on Wednesday night Alexis Badel is hoping tough four-year-old Californiatotality can keep the good times rolling for him at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The Frenchman rode a treble at the city circuit on April 23 and topped up his tally last week by winning on Day Day Victory to enhance his recent strike rate. And Wednesday could be another fruitful evening for Badel, who rides the improving Californiatotality in the feature Class Two Choi Hung Handicap (1,650m). The Zoustar gelding has won four times this season at Sha Tin but was only half a length away from winning at the Valley in January, losing out to Speed Dragon in the Class Three Cleveland Handicap (1,800m). Three-way finish! 📸 Californiatotality edges past Steps Ahead and Pray For Mir in a thriller under @AlexisBadel and Tony Cruz in the Class 2 Hong Kong Lions Cup... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 20, 2025 Most recently, he enjoyed a midfield trip in the Class Two Hong Kong Lions Cup (1,800m) and thundered home to deny a stacked field that included Bundle Award and the reopposing Helene Feeling. That was only Badel's second race ride on Tony Cruz's galloper and he is confident of another bold showing. 'He ran a really good race at Sha Tin last time and finished off very strongly,' said Badel. 'That form looks strong and he ran well at the Valley in January on his only visit there this season. 'He is only a four-year-old so I think he can rate even higher yet – we have a nice draw to work with and he is on a lovely racing weight, too. It's a competitive race but I'm expecting him to run a very big race.' Tactical Command does it again! Mark Newnham's sprinter scores back-to-back wins at the Valley under @AlexisBadel... 🔥#HappyWednesday | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 12, 2025 The 35-year-old also gets back into the saddle on Tactical Command, a horse he knows very well after partnering him to three of his four career successes. The Mark Newnham-trained galloper has thrived over the course and distance in recent starts, whizzing home off a midfield trip to win the Class Four Kwai Chung Handicap (1,200m) three starts ago. He followed that up three weeks later, once again having to do things the hard way from behind horses. Badel was hard at work a long way from home, but the five-year-old hit overdrive in the final 100m and was going away to win easily by a neck. Tactical Command disappointed at Sha Tin subsequently, but Badel was not on board that day and he had excuses after he sat out the back in a race where nothing that travelled in rear managed to get involved in the finish. Back at his favoured Happy Valley, where he has notched three victories, Badel is confident he can bounce back to his best. 'He has run really well at Happy Valley this season, both his recent wins he has shown a good attitude to come through late and win,' Badel said. 'Drawing stall 12 is never easy and I will have to speak to the trainer, but I think we will drop in and hope to finish off well again. 'He was a bit disappointing last time but he is definitely capable of bouncing back – I think he has a good chance.' Badel also rides Wukong Jewellery in the final race for John Size, who is just one triumph away from being only the second trainer to reach 1,600 winners in Hong Kong. Wukong Jewellery makes his local debut on the back of two runs in Australia, where he ran third over 1,300m at Sandown before winning second up over 1,423m at Sale.
South China Morning Post
20-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Californiatotality bounces back from Derby defeat to land betting plunge in Lions Cup
Tough four-year-old Californiatotality landed a late betting plunge when he bounced back from his Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) flop with victory in Sunday's Class Two Hong Kong Lions Cup (1,800m). Brown-lamped late in betting from $16 to $6.2, the Tony Cruz-trained gelding notched his fourth win of the season after a fading 11th behind Cap Ferrat in last month's Derby. Camped behind a solid speed set by Voyage Samurai, Californiatotality looked in trouble approaching the turn when coming under pressure and failing to respond to Alexis Badel's urgings. However, he kept on willingly down the centre of the track to prevail over Steps Ahead and Pray For Mir in a thrilling three-way finish. Three-way finish! 📸 Californiatotality edges past Steps Ahead and Pray For Mir in a thriller under @AlexisBadel and Tony Cruz in the Class 2 Hong Kong Lions Cup... 🏆#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 20, 2025 'I think it's the second or third time he's beaten that horse, Pray For Mir,' Cruz said after Californiatotality relished a light weight of just 116 pounds to win by a short head. 'Today you can see the lightweights are winning. It's a fast track today. First, second, third, even fourth – it was all the lightweights coming in. 'I think 1,800's perfect for him – light weight, even better.' While the strength of this year's Derby crop has been questioned, the form was given a little boost by Californiatotality, Steps Ahead and Bundle Award, who had excuses when a beaten $2 favourite in the Hong Kong Lions Cup. Jockey Zac Purton told stewards he intended to settle Bundle Award in a more prominent position, but the John Size-trained gelding's slow start forced him back to third last. The son of Shamus Award was disappointed for clear running between two runners near the 250m and had difficulty obtaining a clear run over the final 150m. Californiatotality notched his fourth win of the season and sixth overall from 19 starts. Cruz said the son of Zoustar will not make the leap to Group Three level in next month's Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m), but he could be a candidate for a late-season feature such as the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) in June. Cruz's likely Queen Mother Memorial Cup runners Winning Dragon, Five G Patch and La City Blanche ran seventh, eighth and last of 11 respectively behind Californiatotality on Sunday. Elsewhere on Sunday's card, punters were on the money again when the brown-lamped Moduleconstruction saluted in the Class Three Ngau Tau Kok Handicap (1,200m). Firming late from $23 to $10, the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained gelding sat outside of the lead and kept on strongly under Lyle Hewitson to beat Super Infinity by a neck. Super training performance, Francis Lui! 👊 After setbacks, Moduleconstruction rolls to a third career win for connections at Sha Tin... @LyleHewitson #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 20, 2025 Moduleconstruction has overcome two major injuries – a tendon injury in December 2023 and suspensory ligament injury last September – to return to the winners' list. 'He's had bad injuries twice, but his last run [when fourth to Geneva] was impressive and I think today it's good for the front-runners,' Lui said. 'He likes to go out in front.' Meanwhile, Cruz was fined HK$15,000 on Sunday for breaching the Trainers' Handbook Regulation when 'during a compliance check conducted in his stable on February 25 he was found in his possession medication that had not been approved by the Club's Veterinary Departments'. Stewards also suspended Karis Teetan and James Orman each for one meeting for careless riding.
South China Morning Post
01-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Dennis Yip backs in-form Noisy Boy to prove Hong Kong Derby credentials in Classic Cup
Daring to dream of a second straight Derby victory, Dennis Yip Chor-hong is confident Noisy Boy will stamp his credentials for the city's biggest race when he steps out in Sunday's Classic Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin. Yip was on top of the world 12 months ago when celebrating Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) glory with Massive Sovereign and he feels Noisy Boy is capable of following in that galloper's footsteps. The Australian import has made an impressive start to his Hong Kong career, notching back-to-back wins over 2,200m at Happy Valley and the Derby course and distance leading into the Classic Cup. 'He's working very well. He trialled [at Happy Valley] and it was very good,' Yip said of Noisy Boy's strong victory in a 1,700m trial on February 15. 'He is coming up very nicely. The 1,800m should be OK. Hopefully he can sit second or third and he's proven at 2,000m and 2,200m, while many four-year-olds aren't proven. I think he's a good chance.' After a pair of solid runs over 1,400m and 1,650m, Noisy Boy thrived stepping up in trip to comfortably score at the Valley on Boxing Day under Zac Purton. The son of Real Steel then accounted for a Class Two field featuring the likes of subsequent Group Three runner-up Winning Dragon and Classic Cup contenders Mickley and Stunning Peach. Andrea Atzeni booted Noisy Boy home last start and has committed to riding him in the final two legs of the Classic Series. Racing under the same name in Australia, he won a 1,550m maiden on Randwick's Kensington track and also ran a close second in the Group Two Tulloch Stakes (2,000m) at Rosehill. Despite drawing wide in gate 12, Noisy Boy is expected to be one of the pace influences in the Classic Cup along with Californiatotality, who also jumps from a wide barrier in 14. Californiatotality has leapt into Classic Cup and Derby contention with three wins this term – two of which have been at the course and distance of Sunday's feature. Tony Cruz will bid to win a third Classic Cup when he starts Californiatotality and Stunning Peach, who has shown indifferent form this campaign but gets the services of superstar jockey James McDonald for the first time. Nice win, @brentonavdulla! 👊 Californiatotality, a son of Zoustar, offsets top-weight and a wide gate to capture a third victory. Tony Cruz makes it a double from the first three races at Sha Tin... ✌️ #SaSaLPDay | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) November 3, 2024 'I think my two horses have got a chance. I'm very happy with them condition wise and they're in good health,' Cruz said. 'Californiatotality is a one-paced type of horse. Stunning Peach probably needs 2,000m and above. He's a real staying type of horse. He's the spitting image of Exultant – that horse had no speed at all. In his barrier trials, he was always last.' Alexis Badel will ride Californiatotality. Elsewhere on Sunday's card, Cruz's former apprentice Angus Chung Yik-lai returns from a fractured facial bone sustained in a horrific fall on February 5. Chung will ride He was You, Smart Beauty and Lovero for Cruz as well as Silver King and Wonderstar. Yip has another top chance on the card in Fast Network, who drops back in distance from the Classic Mile to contest the Class Three Yau Oi Handicap (1,200m). Fast Network ran a solid fourth to My Wish in the Classic Mile when ridden by Christophe Soumillon. 'Class Three is easier for him and he's a sprinter,' Yip said of the three-time Sha Tin 1,000m winner. 'The maximum for him was a mile and I think 1,200m or 1,400m is the best distance for him. Soumillon told me the mile is his maximum.' McDonald will also ride Fast Network, who has the blinkers reapplied for Sunday's race and has drawn barrier 10 of 11.
South China Morning Post
09-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Cruz eyes Derby with Californiatotality: ‘he's crying out for 2,000m'
Tony Cruz is adamant Californiatotality can play a major role in next month's Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) after the four-year-old emerged victorious from a dramatic race at Sha Tin on Sunday. As carnage ensued in the Class Three TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine 3 Handicap (1,800m) with Legend St Paul's, Silvery Breeze and Lupo Solitario falling in the straight, Californiatotality stayed out of trouble to boost his claims for the next two legs of the Classic Series. Sent forward from barrier 10 to stalk the leader Pray For Mir, Californiatotality got the upper hand late under Brenton Avdulla to add to his reputation as a stayer in the making. Cruz, a two-time Derby winner as a trainer, is eyeing the Classic Cup (1,800m) on March 2 before the city's most prestigious race, the HK$26 million Derby on March 23, with the son of Zoustar. 'We'll see what his rating goes to, but hopefully I can run him in the Classic Cup,' Cruz said. 'He's aiming for that race, that's for sure. Then from there hopefully it's the Derby, too. He's crying out for 2,000m and he's an improving horse.' Fellow Derby aspirant Pray For Mir kicked clear early in the straight and looked a top winning prospect, but Californiatotality wore him down to take the lead just before the 50m and score by three-quarters of a length. Another Derby hopeful, Packing Turbine, improved on his recent form to run third. Silvery Breeze, the $2.3 favourite, was working into the race nicely before Legend St Paul's went amiss and fell into his path in the straight. Californiatotality improved his record to five wins from 16 starts. He has notched three wins and two placings from his six starts this season. 'He's very honest,' Cruz said. 'The 1,800m might actually be on the short side for him. 'I really think he's a good 2,000m and above horse. I'm happy with his win today.' Californiatotality landed the first leg of a race-to-race double for Cruz, with Righteous Arion proving too strong under replacement rider Alexis Badel to win the Class Three TVB Heroes In White Handicap (1,200m). Badel got the late call-up for the mount after Angus Chung Yik-lai fell from Legend St Paul's in the previous race. Righteous Arion outlasted the $2.2 favourite Hong Lok Golf, who was unbeaten from his first two starts, by a neck to bag his first Sha Tin triumph. Elsewhere, Derby prospect Sky Trust was first past the post in the Class Three TVB The Fading Gold Handicap (1,400m) but lost the race to Winning Gold on objection. Stewards upheld the objection from Winning Gold's jockey Karis Teetan, alleging interference from Hugh Bowman's mount Sky Trust in the straight. The two four-year-olds raced tightly and made contact in the final 100m, with stewards ruling interference from the Caspar Fownes-trained Sky Trust cost Chris So Wai-yin's Winning Gold victory. The result sealed a double for Teetan, who earlier won the Class Four TVB Pok Oi Charity Show Handicap (1,200m) on the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained Super Love.
