Promising four year-old gelding California Fortune took out the feature race on
the program, the Reunification Cup (Class Two, 1200m), while five year-old
gelding California Joy won the Class Three event over 1400 metres later in the
day, both horses trained by Tony Cruz.California Fortune won by the best part of a length and impressed winning rider Neil Callan.
"He has so much speed and so much power. He's got ability, this horse," Callan said.
"He pulled hard early and that meant he got tired at the end, but in the early part of the straight, from the 250 (metres) to the 200 (metres), I could feel that he was just giving me a bit. He didn't have much left at the end so it was good for him when the line came."
California Fortune was a $450,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Segenhoe Stud draft for Asian Bloodstock Services and is from former top class mare Mimi LeBrock.
California Joy was a $600,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Sledmere Stud draft for Asian Bloodstock Services and is a three-quarter brother to Group III winner and sire Stryker.
Fastnet Rock has sired 16 winners in Hong Kong this season and tops the leadings sires list by winners.
