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California makes historic Memory with HK Cup repeat
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| California Memory was long gone by the time that Giofra arrived on the premises
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
Howard Liang Yum Sing's California Memory indelibly etched his name in the
record book with an unprecedented repeat victory in Sunday's Group 1 Hong Kong
Cup. Unlike last year's triumph, when the diminutive gray had to wait for room,
there was no such suspense in his title defense. California Memory had a wide
gap to shoot through, and the Tony Cruz-trained favorite summarily dispatched an
international field in a few strides."I'm over the moon right now -- it's incredible," said winning rider Matthew
Chadwick, a Hong Kong native. "He's a great little horse. It's all about him.
I'm just lucky to be part of it all."
California Memory broke from the rail, as in the 2011 Cup, and took up a
lovely stalking position in fourth early. As expected, Dan Excel hustled to the
front, while an overeager Zaidan failed to settle in second, and Autumn Gold
raced in third. Feuerblitz improved his position down the backstretch and
actually put his head in front of Dan Excel at the six-furlong mark, but the
German colt couldn't maintain his move.
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At the same time, California Memory was briefly shuffled back along the
inside and found himself worse than midfield. The Queen's Carlton House, who had
been drafting behind California Memory, likewise lost position. The French filly
Giofra was near the rear, and Australia's Alcopop was dead last in the 11-horse
field.
But Chadwick was able to get California Memory back into fourth on the final
turn, just 2 1/2 lengths behind Dan Excel. The upset-minded pacesetter was
getting bold at the top of the stretch as he set sail for home, shrugging off
Feuerblitz and Zaidan and trying to establish daylight on the field.
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| California Memory has overcome physical issues to reign as the first two-time Cup winner
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
Then California Memory angled out, and the race was over. Delivering a
blistering turn of foot, the Highest Honor gelding surged well clear. Giofra
belatedly followed the same path as the winner and reduced his margin to one
length at the wire, but she could not thwart history. California Memory
negotiated 1 1/4 miles on the good Sha Tin turf in 2:03 to become the first
horse ever to win two Hong Kong Cups."He showed great acceleration, and showed his authority today," Cruz said.
"When he quickened Matthew said he put everyone to bed.
"And then he started to idle in front, and the horse started thinking 'where
is everybody?' -- but when they started to come back to him he thought, 'I'd
better go a bit faster again.'"
Giofra's rider, Christophe Soumillon, was wondering what might have been.
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"Had we got a better draw, we would have won the race," Soumillon said. "The
winner took off when we were still struggling to get out of there, and by the
time I could go, we were six lengths back. However she showed that she was up to
the task and hopefully could emulate Pride -- that is come back here and win the
Cup!"
As Soumillon noted, Pride, the runner-up in the 2005 Cup, duly came back and
won in 2006.
Giofra had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over Alcopop, who stayed on strongly from
the rear to grab third.
"He jumped in the air at the start and copped an early check," jockey Craig
Williams said of Alcopop. "It turned into a sit and sprint, and he was excellent
in the closing stages. There was some quality horses, and you've got to be proud
of him."
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| Jockey Matthew Chadwick congratulates his mount
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
A stubborn Dan Excel held fourth, followed by Military
Attack, Carlton House, Zaidan, Irian, Autumn Gold, Saonois and Feuerblitz."(Dan Excel) ran a massive race," jockey Neil Callan said. "I was happy to
set the pace, and he got quite relaxed in front with easy fractions. He fought
all the way through and I thought that we could keep the third place, but
Alcopop kicked on and got us."
Ryan Moore commented on the slightly disappointing effort from Carlton House.
"He wasn't good enough today really, but the ground was plenty quick enough
for him," Moore said of the Queen's colt, who will be transferred to Gai
Waterhouse in Australia.
Saonois ran well below his best.
"It is disappointing as he prepared very well," jockey Antoine Hamelin said,
"and we were quite hopeful before the race. He jumped all right, but we had to
fight a bit in the backstretch, which switched him on a bit early. We could have
lost a bit of power there, but he should not have finished so poorly anyway. I
guess he will get a bit of rest now."
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The Cup had two early scratches -- the outstanding French gelding Cirrus des
Aigles, who was ruled out Friday with a tendon injury, and locally-based Sweet
Orange, who was lame in his right front.
California Memory has had his share of soundness issues as well, making his
career record of 30-11-4-5, and more than HK$40 million in earnings,
particularly admirable.
"We have to give credit to the vet Ben Mason," Cruz said, "because the horse has had his
niggles and been lame many times, but he fixed the problem."
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| Chadwick is hailed as a hometown hero
(Hong Kong Jockey Club) |
Bred by Fred Seitz in Kentucky, California Memory was sold for $65,000 as a
Keeneland September yearling. Under the name of Portus Blendium, he began his
career in France and placed in the 2009 Prix de Tourgeville and Prix Matchem for
Carlos Laffon-Parias.Since joining Cruz in Hong Kong in 2010, the renamed California Memory has
become one of the top horses in the territory. In early 2011, he captured the
Group 1 Hong Kong Gold Cup and placed second to Ambitious Dragon in the Group 1
Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Last fall, he landed the Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy before
ending the year on a high note in the Hong Kong Cup.
California Memory kicked off 2012 with a pair of thirds to Ambitious Dragon
in the Group 1 Stewards' Cup and Hong Kong Gold Cup. Shipped to Dubai for the
Group 1 Duty Free on World Cup night, he was a subpar 12th, and still wasn't
right when fifth in the QEII Cup and seventh in the Group 1 Singapore Airlines
International Cup in May.
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During the new Hong Kong season, California Memory returned with a much
sharper fifth in the October 28 Sha Tin Trophy. Next he got up in time in the
Group 2 Jockey Club Cup, the course-and-distance prep on November 18. That was
his first score since last year's Hong Kong Cup, and now sound and healthy once
more, he's won two in a row.
California Memory is out of the winning Kalpita, a daughter of Spinning
World. His second dam, Kamaina, is a winning full sister to Italian champion
filly Proskona. With his fourth dam being the influential Royal Statute,
California Memory comes from the family of unbeaten star Lammtarra and Pour Moi,
both winners of the Group 1 Derby at Epsom, and highweights Hector Protector and
Bosra Sham.
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