Tony Cruz

Purton bids for his fifth Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup triumph

Posted on March 18, 2023
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Having won the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup three times in the past five years, Zac Purton will be chasing his fifth title in this second leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series atop California Spangle on Sunday at Sha Tin. The HK$12 million Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) precedes the Hong[...]

Posted on February 23, 2023
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Tony Cruz vaulted back into the top five of the 2022/23 Hong Kong trainers’ championship and maintained hopes of a third title when Beauty Charge earned a rise in grade with a stylish win in the Class 3 O’Brien Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Chadwick at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. Cruz, who was champion trainer[...]

Posted on February 13, 2023
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Tony Cruz has edged higher into Hong Kong’s pantheon of racing immortals by becoming only the third trainer to post 1,000 winners at Sha Tin, joining fellow legends John Moore and John Size in a select club after Circuit Stellar’s success in the Class 2 Belcher Bay (1400m) on Sunday. Joining Moore (1,204) and Size[...]

Posted on January 27, 2023
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Revered as a master tactician, Zac Purton believes the HK$12 million Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) will be decided by the smallest factors as Hong Kong’s three top-rated horses – Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and California Spangle – square off in a heavyweight clash at Sha Tin on Sunday. Assessing the potential pitfalls of a[...]

Posted on December 11, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

It was a case of third time lucky for California Spangle at Sha Tin this afternoon as he sensationally denied Golden Sixty’s record-equalling Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) hat-trick bid in front a raucous 42,624 crowd. Beaten by Golden Sixty in the 2022 Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and last month’s Group 2[...]

Posted on November 21, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Golden Sixty made a sparkling return to racing at Sha Tin this afternoon (Sunday, November 20) with the 22nd victory of his decorated 25-start career and third straight HK$5 million Group 2 Jockey Club Mile (1600m) success. But his win didn’t come easy. Neck and neck over the concluding stages with California Spangle, jockey Vincent[...]

Posted on November 5, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Zac Purton is bracing for all contingencies when the reigning Hong Kong Champion Jockey reunites with Beauty Joy in the Group 3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (November 6). Purton has been aboard in all five of Beauty Joy’s Hong Kong victories, including the six-year-old’s extraordinary last-to-first Group 3[...]

Posted on November 4, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Tony Cruz believes California Spangle has the scope to maintain his upward trajectory as he readies for his rematch with Golden Sixty in the HKD$5 million Group 2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m) on November 20 at Sha Tin – the traditional lead-up race to the HKD$30 million Group 1 Hong Kong Mile[...]

Posted on October 29, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Harry Bentley is optimistic Majestic Star can continue his emergence as one of Hong Kong’s most versatile horses when he returns to turf competition and Happy Valley for the Class 2 Guangzhou Handicap (1200m) on Sunday (October 30). Twice a winner on Sha Tin’s dirt surface and also twice successful on Happy Valley turf, Majestic[...]

Posted on October 24, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Cementing his reputation as Hong Kong’s premier sprinter, Wellington has emphatically showcased Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) claims in December with a dazzling performance to win the Group 2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (October 23). Resuming with 135lb under Alexis Badel, Hong Kong’s Champion Sprinter laid waste to 11-lighter[...]

Posted on October 17, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

California Spangle remains on target for a pair of blockbuster showdowns with Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty after eclipsing quality opposition to clinch the HKD$5 million Group 2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (October 16). Perfectly rated in the lead by Zac Purton, Tony Cruz’s rising star cruised[...]

Posted on October 15, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Attempting to consolidate a strong start to the season, Tony Cruz hopes California Spangle can enhance Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) ambitions with success in the Group 2 Oriental Watch Trophy Handicap (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (October 16). Bidding for an eighth win from 12 starts with the mercurial Starspangledbanner gelding, Cruz[...]

Posted on October 13, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

In a memorable convergence of Hong Kong training generations, Me Tsui and Jamie Richards posted significant milestones at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (October 12) when veteran Tsui notched his 600th victory in the jurisdiction as Richards slotted his first. Tsui, 62, followed in the footsteps of Francis Lui and Dennis Yip – who both[...]

Posted on September 29, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Francis Lui has joined an elite cluster of Hong Kong trainers to saddle 800 winners or more after teaming with regular ally Vincent Ho and Seaweed Fortune to reach the milestone at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (September 28). Famed through his deeds with Hong Kong’s champion miler Golden Sixty, Lui was typically understated after[...]

Posted on September 26, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Tony Cruz will cast California Spangle into a potential Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) showdown with Golden Sixty in December after the exciting gelding resumed with emphatic victory in the Group 3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (September 25). With options to contest either the Group 1 LONGINES Hong[...]

Posted on September 24, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Zac Purton is optimistic California Spangle can extend an already meteoric rise by claiming the Group 3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (September 25), when the richly talented gelding’s performance will help Tony Cruz plot a path towards a LONGINES Hong Kong International Races tilt on December 11. Purton views California[...]

Posted on September 22, 2022
in Hong Kong Horse Racing News

Buoyed by a Happy Valley double on Wednesday night (September 21), Tony Cruz is eagerly anticipating the return of stable star California Spangle for a campaign-defining run in the Group 3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (September 25). Cruz was elated at Circuit Elite’s effort to land the Class 5 Tai[...]

Purton bids for his fifth Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup triumph

Beauty Charge rockets to Happy Valley triumph for Cruz, Chadwick

Tony Cruz joins elite Hong Kong company with Sha Tin success

Zac Purton bracing for the ultimate challenge in Stewards’ Cup

California Spangle holds Golden Sixty at bay in Hong Kong Mile

Champion Golden Sixty returns triumphant in Jockey Club Mile

Beauty Joy Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse challenge for Zac Purton

California Spangle trials for Cruz, Golden Sixty works solo

Bentley hopes Majestic Star can strike again

Wellington stamps authority with dynamic Group 2 Premier Bowl display

California Spangle cruises to Group 2 Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy glory

California Spangle chases Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy Handicap glory

Me Tsui, Jamie Richards to the fore with landmark Happy Valley wins

Francis Lui trains 800th Hong Kong winner as Vincent Ho rides treble

California Spangle on track for Group 1 Hong Kong Mile after Group 3 romp

Zac Purton excited by California Spangle’s return

Cruz excited over California Spangle after Happy Valley double