California makes historic Memory with HK Cup repeat

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.

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.

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."

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.