Starspangled Sprinter Wins in Dubai

Tara Madgwick - Sunday March 31

There were no Aussie trained horses competing at the Dubai World Cup meeting overnight, but Australian jockey Brenton Avdulla was in the winner’s circle for the Group I Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) aboard the Irish bred and Hong Kong trained Starspangledbanner gelding California Spangle (IRE).

The pride of Hong Kong - California Spangle wins the G1 Al Quoz Sprint - image Grant Courtney

Trained by Tony Cruz, California Spangle left Hong Kong off a last start win in the Group I Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and took his A game with him.

He raced forward from the gates as he usually does and took up a good position before racing to the lead with 400m to run. The six year=old was strong to the line holding off the late surge of Godolphin homebred three-year-old Kodiac filly filly Star Of Mystery, who missed by three-quarters of a length for Frankie Dettori.

California Spangle stopped the clock in 1:07.50, lowering the 1200-metre track record of 1:07.61 set by Wildman Jack in the 2020 G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.

It was the third Group I win for California Spangle, whose overall record stands at 13 wins and eight placings from 24 starts.

California Spangle owners celebrate - image Grant Courtney

“I knew it would happen sooner or later. I got this opportunity and I came with a lot of confidence that we would win this race today,” said Tony Cruz.

“The family - the ‘California family’ - is here today. Howard Liang, whose horses usually are named California, passed away recently so I would like to dedicate this win to him. We are over the moon with this, the owner’s wish was always to win these big races. I wish he was here tonight but his whole family is here and we’re going to celebrate together.

“If you look back through his history, California Spangle on his debut, he ran a record time in Hong Kong and he ran a record time at 1200m. I believe when he hits the front, nobody can catch him. 

Advertisement

"I think we’ll go into sprint races back in Hong Kong, that’s the end of April [the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize]. We’ll take on Lucky Sweynesse. He’s always been a sprinter-miler and I believe he’s more a sprinter than a miler. You have to go for those longer races in Hong Kong earlier in their career, but I think we know where he is best now."

California Spangle is a triple G1 winner - image Grant Courtney

Royal Ascot may also be a possibility for California Spangle with Cruz to consider an assault on their prestigious carnival in June.

Sourced originally from the Goffs Orby Sale in Ireland where he made €150,000 as a yearling, California Spangle is a half-brother to stakes-placed Wychwood Warrior and the best of five winners from Pearlita’s Passion, a half-sister by High Chaparral to Group II winner Shakespearean.

Owner representative Chester Liang said: "The horse means a lot to my family and I and I’m really happy that we were able to win. Tony said if he won last time in Hong Kong, then we’d come. He did, we decided the horse was in good form, so we came. This was my dad’s favourite horse, so he always means a lot. He is probably looking down on us.”

Starspangledbanner has a great strike rate with daughters of High Chaparral with 19 winners from 23 runners and three stakes-winners that also include his Group I winning 2YO The Wow Signal.

Starspangledbanner

Starspangledbanner was back at Coolmore Australia last spring and covered 116 mares at a fee of $33,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Vivid Sun Shines Bright At Sandown
Recording her second win in as many starts, 3yo The Autumn Sun filly Vivid Sun looked something special as she resumed from a spell at Sandown to trounce her rivals by more than two lengths on Wednesday, signalling a step up to black type races during the Spring.
Second G1 for California Spangle
The Group I Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday drew a quality field with Irish bred Starspangledbanner gelding California Spangle (IRE) claiming the prize under a clever front running ride by Aussie jockey Brenton Avdulla.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Cox Plate Dreamer
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate’ dreamers and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who made a winning debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
G3 Tibbie Next for Tuileries
Lightly raced So You Think mare Tuileries has long promised to measure up to stakes class and will be given that opportunity next start after returning to top form to win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
California Spangle Wins G2 Chairman’s Trophy
Irish bred Starspangledbanner gelding California Spangle (IRE) added another feature win to his impressive resume when taking out the Group II The Chairman’s Tropy (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Sunlight’s Sister Clean Energy Retired
The most expensive yearling filly sold in Australia in 2023 when fetching $2.6million for Widden Stud at Inglis Easter, Clean Energy has been retired to stud.
Course Record-Breaking Tour de Force by California Spangle in Al Quoz Sprint
Brenton Avdulla guided the Tony Cruz-trained California Spangle to a famous win for Hong Kong in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night.
Almanzor Mare Salutes for Cambridge Stud
Daring Dame broke through for an elusive win when taking out the Kensington Tavern 1200 at Ruakaka on Wednesday.
So You Think filly Scores for TAB Racing
The TAB Racing Club’s silks were to the fore at Ruakaka on Wednesday, with three-year-old filly Transcend carrying them to victory in The Homestead Sports Bar & Bistro 1200.
NZB Filly of the Year Series Springs to Life with Gold Trail Stakes
One of the traditional signs that spring racing has arrived in New Zealand is the running of the first leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). The $150,000 race looks a little different this year in a temporary new home, but it will still give us that same first look at the latest crop of fillies vying for the coveted title.