Tony Cruz reached a remarkable career milestone on Wednesday night at Happy Valley, becoming just the fourth trainer in Hong Kong racing to record 500 victories at the iconic city circuit. The veteran trainer achieved the feat in style, notching a double on the card with victories from Kingly Demeanor and Californiatotality.
Cruz’s landmark moment came when Kingly Demeanor produced a bold front-running performance to take out the Yue Wan Handicap over 1800 metres. The win was made all the more special as it was delivered by a graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale, guided to victory by jockey Keith Yeung. Cruz’s success places him in elite company, joining the likes of Caspar Fownes, John Moore, and George Moore, all of whom have surpassed the 500-win threshold at Happy Valley.
Reflecting on his journey, Cruz expressed genuine delight at the achievement. Having started his racing career at the very same venue as an apprentice jockey in the 1970s, he highlighted the emotional significance of the moment. The milestone also underscores his unique dual legacy in Hong Kong racing, with a combined total of over 2,500 wins as both rider and trainer.
The evening got even better for Cruz when Californiatotality stormed home to capture the Choi Hung Handicap under French rider Alexis Badel. The four-year-old showed his potential, bouncing back from a below-par effort in the BMW Hong Kong Derby earlier this year. Badel was full of praise for the gelding’s performance, noting how well the horse travelled and quickened when called upon. Cruz, in turn, hinted at bigger targets ahead, with plans to run the progressive galloper in the Group 3 Premier Plate at Sha Tin next month.
Elsewhere on the card, Seasons Wit returned to form for trainer Jamie Richards. The five-year-old, who once held a peak rating of 99, rediscovered his best under a clever ride from Lyle Hewitson in the Choi Wan Handicap over 1000 metres. After a long spell without a win, the gelding finally broke through again, with Hewitson timing his challenge perfectly to earn a well-deserved victory.
Hewitson’s night didn’t end there, as he also guided King Lotus to success in the Tin Sau Handicap for trainer Mark Newnham. The lightly raced gelding impressed on his second start, showing signs of improvement and handling the shorter trip better than expected. Newnham’s team also celebrated another win with Crimson Flash, who claimed the Hoi Lai Handicap in dominant fashion with Andrea Atzeni aboard.
Jockey Matthew Poon added to the evening’s highlights with a riding double, partnering with trainer Ricky Yiu. The duo found success with Sure Joyful in the Wu King Handicap and followed up quickly with Hayday in another division of the Tin Sau Handicap. Poon’s latest wins bring him closer to matching his career-best tally from the 2020/21 season.
Meanwhile, championship leader Zac Purton extended his advantage at the top of the jockey standings with a polished ride on Bievenue for David Hayes. With the season drawing closer to its conclusion, Purton maintains a commanding lead over his nearest rival Hugh Bowman.
The night also featured a notable performance from Cambridge, who finally delivered a win for trainer Pierre Ng in the Nam Shan Handicap. Ridden patiently by Jerry Chau, the son of Dubawi surged home late to score his maiden Hong Kong victory and secure a substantial PP Bonus. Formerly trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, Cambridge had shown promise in Group company and now appears poised for further progress in Hong Kong.
Racing action continues at Sha Tin on Sunday, where fans can look forward to more exciting moments as the season builds toward its final stretch.
