Given everything whole-hearted, but injury-plagued performer California Memory has accomplished in a glittering career, it's no surprise trainer Tony Cruz has vowed not to push the four-time Group One winner past his use-by date.
California Memory resumes in Sunday's Oriental Watch Sha Tin Trophy, where Cruz would be content with "a nice third or fourth" in the first run of what could be a final preparation centred around a tilt at a third straight Hong Kong Cup in early December.
"While he is performing well we will keep him going, but once he doesn't perform well, it is game over," Cruz said.
"He is rising eight in January. His time is coming, but for the time being he is a very healthy horse. On Sunday I'm expecting a placing, a third or fourth. If he is running on at the end of a mile I'll be very happy."
California Memory hasn't raced since successfully stretching to 2,400 metres for the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup four months ago, and Cruz admits the little grey "is carrying a bit of weight", as in around his belly, as well as on his back with second top weight of 131 pounds.
The American-bred gelding won this race first-up two seasons ago carrying 130 pounds, but the backmarker is typically better second-up. A solitary trial is one less than at the same stage as last season, leading up to a fifth in the corresponding race, and jockey Matthew Chadwick is expecting a similar showing.
"He has drawn awkwardly in nine and there doesn't seem to be much pace. I can see it being the same story as last season," he said. "We will see where he jumps and where he is happy, and hopefully see him run on.
Cruz, who also saddles up Pure Champion in the Group Two feature, said that while the firm Sha Tin track had contributed to California Memory's chronic fetlock soreness, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's vets had prolonged his career. He praised former club vet Ben Mason and now Paul Robinson.
"From day one he couldn't even trot properly - all four legs were sore," Cruz said. "Some horses are sound, you don't have to think about them, but he is not one of them.
"The more they race the more wear and tear they get and eventually they have to stop racing. He's like an old car - they need maintenance and he needs medication for his joints.
"We have the best vets here in Hong Kong and that's one of the reasons we have been able to keep him going as long as we have. Ben did a fantastic job with this horse and so has Paul more recently.
