Creating career pathways and opportunities to participate in Hong Kong’s world-class horse racing across a variety of vocations is one of the Club’s enduring pillars and the opening on Friday (11 April) of the refurbished Racing Talent Training Centre (RTTC) training stable marks another important milestone.
Opened in 2008, the RTTC is integral to world-class talent development at the Club and is an extension of a commitment undertaken to Hong Kong youth with the establishment of the Apprentice Jockey School in 1972, an inspired decision which spawned the careers of champion jockeys and trainers including Tony Cruz, Francis Lui, Ricky Yiu and outstanding jockeys such as Vincent Ho, Matthew Chadwick, Derek Leung, Matthew Poon and many others.
The new facility represents a continuation of an unstinting commitment to nurturing the best available talent and achieving the highest standards of equine management and care, all of which are fundamental to our world-class racing.
Over the past two decades, the vision to educate and nurture passionate Hong Kong youth in a variety of pursuits – from careers as jockeys to vocations in non-riding role such as careers as Assistant Trainers, head lads, stable assistants, farriers and many other roles – has been one of the Club’s most successful strategies.
The Club established the Racing Development Board in 2005 which was subsequently rebranded as the Racing Talent Training Centre in 2002. Friday’s opening represents the start of another important chapter and I wish all present and aspiring trainees the very best in their pursuit of excellence.
As we usher in a new era with the RTTC training stable refurbishment, we bade farewell to CALIFORNIA SPANGLE, who has been retired after a wonderful career for Tony Cruz and the Liang family.
CALIFORNIA SPANGLE’s record of 13 wins, including three Group 1 victories, and 11 minor placings from 34 placing and HK$83.6 million speaks for itself and his explosive talent and incredible versatility stamped him as an extraordinary horse.
At his peak, he defeated GOLDEN SIXTY and ROMANTIC WARRIOR and came within a head of winning the 2022 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), losing to Hong Kong’s now global champion ROMANTIC WARRIOR, before winning Group 1s at 1200m, 1400m and 1600m. He retires as holder of three separate records – the Griffin 1000m and 1200m records at Sha Tin and the track record at Meydan where he powered to victory in the 2024 G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) under Brenton Avdulla.
I wish CALIFORNIA SPANGLE the very best in deserved retirement and congratulate Tony and the Liang family.
Our World Pool operation continues today with Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day from Randwick on Saturday (12 April) with the first of 10 races from 9.45am. The first of the features is the G1 Australian Oaks, which is carded as S1-6 and will be run over 2400m at 12.40pm.
TREASURETHE MOMENT (Damian Lane) is looking to extend an eight-race winning streak after three dominant wins this preparation. She had her first Sydney run on 1 April when she beat BENAGIL in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) on rain-affected going. TREASURETHE MOMENT is a remarkably versatile filly over all distances and track conditions and is my win and place selection.
LEICA LUCY (James McDonald) has won her past five starts including the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on 22 March when she had a neck to spare over DUBAI GOLDRUSH. LEICA LUCY has moved to Chris Waller’s stable and she will be hardest for TREASURETHE MOMENT to beat.
DUBAI GOLDRUSH (Mark Zahra) has stepped up quickly in class winning her maiden before being Group-placed in the Lowland Stakes (2100m) behind LEICA LUCY and was much closer when runner-up in the New Zealand Oaks. DUBAI GOLDRUSH looks a genuine staying filly and is a place chance.
BELLE DETELLE (Tommy Berry) stepped to 2000m in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes last week and is a place chance.
The G1 Sydney Cup is carded as S1-7 and run over 3200m at 1.15pm.
This pace should be good with ALALCANCE (Tim Clark) the likely leader, with DUKE DE SESSA (Harry Coffey) also settling close from his barrier two.
DUKE DE SESSA (Harry Coffey) won the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October and has been in outstanding form this campaign winning first up over 1600m and last-start finished second to DUBAI HONOUR in the Tancred Stakes on 1 April. At his only run beyond 2400m, DUKE DE SESSA was a close third in a G2 race in France over 3000m and he is my win and place selection despite giving weight to all his rivals.
CIRCLE OF FIRE (Jason Collett) won this race last year when ridden by Andrea Atzeni and is having his fourth run this campaign. He is a place chance, along with ARAPAHO (Rachel King), who ran fourth in the Tancred, comfortably ahead of CIRCLE OF FIRE and was fourth in this race two years ago.
ZARDOZI (Kerrin McEvoy) and ALALCANCE are also place chances while Chris Waller has six runners in the race. The best of his chances looks to be BIRDMAN (Zac Lloyd).
The G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes is carded as S1-8 and run over 2000m at 1.55pm.
The pace will be good with DENY KNOWLEDGE (Mark Zahra) leading.
VIA SISTINA (James McDonald) has been the dominant middle-distance performer in Australia over the past year, finishing runner-up to PRIDE OF JENNI in this race in 2024 before winning the G1 W.S. Cox Plate easily in October. She should be in a forward position from gate one and, as long as she gets clear room early enough in the run home, she is my win and place selection.
DUBAI HONOUR (Tom Marquand) won this race in 2023 and is unbeaten in three runs in Australia and was a clear winner over DUKE DE SESSA in the Tancred on 1 April. He switches back in trip to 2000m here but is a place chance, along with LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (Ethan Brown).
Japan’s ROUSHAM PARK (Christophe Lemaire) is another place chance along with TOM KITTEN (Ben Melham), CEOLWULF (Chad Schofield) and FAWKNER PARK (Tyler Schiller).
The G1 Queen of the Turf Stakes is carded as S1-9 and run over 1600m at 2.35pm.
STEFI MAGNETICA (Jason Collett) was brilliant winning the G1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) last week, beating ROYAL PATRONAGE who will contest the G1 FWD Champions Mile on 27 April. STEFI MAGNETICA takes on her own sex in this race and she is a win and place chance.
FANGIRL (James McDonald) is incredibly consistent and, against fillies and mares, looks ideally placed and is a win and place chance while Chris Waller stablemate ATISHU (Nash Rawiller) switches back in distance and is a place chance.
AMELIA’S JEWEL (Joshua Parr) and GRINZINGER BELLE (Declan Bates) both have place chances.
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