REVIEW / AL QUOZ SPRINT 31 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 840 Thursday 4th April 2023 adiyat racing plus.com RESULTS 1. California Spangle (Da Cruz/Avdulla) 2. Star Of Mystery (Appleby/Dettori) 3. Diligent Harry (Cox/Kingscote) and I came with a lot of confidence that we would win this race today. “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 sprintermiler 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." Asked about Royal Ascot, he said: "It’s a possibility. I’ve got to try to work it out.” Owner’s 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.” Charlie Appleby, trainer of runner-up Star Of Mystery, was already working back from future targets for his talented filly. He said: “I’m delighted. Frankie (Dettori) said he just got to California Spangle’s quarters and he went again. But she’s a three-yearold against battle-hardened sprinters. As to what we’ll do with her; it’s whether we go to the King Charles III Stakes or give her a proper break. The race I’d like to work back from is the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; I think that will suit her really well.” Third-home Diligent Harry was another to run a cracker on a marked step up in grade. Trainer Clive Cox said: “He’s run an amazing race, this is far superior to the class of race he’s been in before, and he’s travelled all of the way here. I’m so proud of him, he’s really loved it and he’s acquitted himself admirably against a very high-class field, I’m thrilled to bits. Unfancied by the international markets, Michael Costa trainee Bilhayl outran his odds to capture fourth, pleasing rider Ben Coen who enthused: “That was a huge effort to finish fourth, I’m delighted with him. No excuses, ran great in a strong race.” HOWARD LIANG, WHOSE HORSES USUALLY ARE NAMED CALIFORNIA, PASSED AWAY RECENTLY SO I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS WIN TO HIM — TONY CRUZ.
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