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.

Advertisement

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. 

"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...
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
California Spangle Edges Golden Sixty in Hong Kong Mile
Second to Golden Sixty in the Group 1 Champions Mile and Group II Jockey Club Mile, California Spangle (IRE) took revenge on the reigning champion in Sunday’s $5million The Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin.
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.
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Do Deuce From Last to First in Japan Cup
The visitors were once again humbled by the locals in the 44th running of Sunday’s Group 1 Longines Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo Racecourse.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 24
Here is the full list of 72 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
Winx Foals a Snitzel Colt
The owners of Winx have announced the champion mare has foaled a healthy colt by Snitzel early on Monday morning.
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.
G1 Pedigree Watch - Plus Up and Comers
The spring carnival might be over, but the G1 action is now in Perth and a Queenslander took the top prize and we are also looking at a few other stakes-winners that hold the promise of more to come.