Cruz’ Control

Tony Cruz has experienced it all in Hong Kong. 

Born in the colony of Portuguese descent, Cruz, who will celebrate his 58th birthday on Christmas Eve, became a professional jockey in 1973 and earned his first win in the saddle exactly 40 years ago Thursday at Happy Valley Racecourse. After riding successfully in England and France in the 1980s, Cruz was six times the champion jockey in Hong Kong, won the prestigious Hong Kong Derby four times (1983, 1987, 1988 and 1995) and a total of 946 races before hanging up his tack and transitioning into the training ranks. 

It didn’t take Cruz long to leave his mark in that profession either. He landed his first trainers’ premiership at the end of the 1999/2000 season, but his career really took flight when an Australian-bred gelding named Silent Witness (Aus), by the Conquistaor Cielo stallion El Moxie, debuted victoriously on Boxing Day 2002. Partnered with South African jockey Felix Coetzee, Silent Witness dominated the locals to enter the 2003 G1 Hong Kong Sprint unbeaten in seven starts. National Currency (SAf) invaded from South Africa for trainer Mike Azzie with an enormous reputation, but Silent Witness was sent off the 3-10 chalk, took it to his chief market rival into the final furlong and a legend was born (video). 

His successful title defense in 2004 (video) was his 13th from as many starts and came at the hands of the tough-as-nails Cape of Good Hope (GB), who would prove his quality the following season with victories in the G1 Australia S. in Melbourne and the G1 Golden Jubilee S. when it was contested at York. Silent Witness would run his streak to 17 straight before suffering his first defeat at the hands of a stablemate–Bullish Luck–of all things in the 2005 Champions Mile, while finishing ahead of The Duke (Aus) (Danehill), who would go on to annex the Hong Kong Mile in 2006. 

Lucky Owners (NZ) (Danehill) gave Cruz two wins at the 2003 HKIR, taking out the Mile (and, in a rarity, the Hong Kong Derby two starts later), and the conditioner snapped an HKIR drought with a victory from Beauty Flash (NZ) (Golan {Ire}) in the 2010 Mile. 

In the weeks prior to that event, a gelding named California Memory (Highest Honor {Fr}) won a couple of races in the lower grades and was fourth in a Class 2 handicap going 1600 meters on the International Races undercard. Twelve months later, the diminutive and likeable gray, bred by Fred Seitz and sold by Brookdale for $65,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September sale, scaled the heights with a one-length victory in the G1 Hong Kong Cup. He became the only horse in the history of the race to record multiple victories in 2012 and, now a robust eight years old, is one of five runners for the Cruz stable in this year’s HKIR after missing last year’s Cup via injury. 

Drawn 11, California Memory will have just one horse to his outside in the gates, his in-form stablemate Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), who enters the big race off a good-looking defeat of Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the G2 Jockey Club Cup Nov. 23. Cruz isn’t unduly concerned about the high draw, despite a relatively short run to the first turn. 

“He’s 100% fit and even though he’s got that challenging draw we can be waiting on the outside, handy even, and I don’t believe he needs to be covered up,” Cruz offered. “He’s a horse that can wait even if he doesn’t have any cover.” 
The stable’s third runner is Helene Super Star (War Front), the former G2 UAE Derby winner Lines of Battle, who could have a say in the outcome, if only as a pace factor. 

Strong as his hand is in the Cup, Cruz also sends out live chances in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint and G1 Hong Kong Vase. Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) has matured more quickly than most 3-year-olds in Hong Kong and announced his arrival as a serious short-track horse with a half-length victory over Smart Volatility (Aus) (Danewin {Aus}) in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint three weeks ago. 

“If he can sit just off the pace, fourth or fifth, I’ll be happy,” Cruz commented Thursday after drawing gate six. “He’s got a great chance. He’s the youngest horse in the race, but he’s up to it. He hasn’t got the early speed any more, so I’ll be happy if there’s pace on. As he’s matured, he’s lost the early speed and now he comes home with a stronger finish than ever.” 

Willie Cazals (Ire) (Aussie Rules) has been programmed for the G1 Hong Kong Vase since the beginning of the season, and he has yet to fire a truly big effort, but that could be in the cards this weekend. 

Runner-up to California Memory in the Champions and Chater Cup over this course and 2400-meter trip in May 2013, Willie Cazals was third in Class 2 company on seasonal debut Oct. 19, missed by a short head in the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse H. Nov. 9 and was finishing well when seventh, beaten just over two lengths in the Jockey Club Cup last time. 

“I believe the mile and a half will be perfect for him, he’s in good form and now he has a good draw,” the trainer stated. “He’s spot on for this race.”