Tony Cruz says he is “very pleased” with California Spangle and believes Hugh Bowman holds the key to the superstar miler ahead of Monday’s Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m).

Heading to Sha Tin looking to train the winner of the New Year’s Day feature for the sixth time, the legendary handler launches a two-pronged attack on the race and believes he may have found the winning formula yet again.

“I’m very pleased with California Spangle – he’s holding his condition well,” Cruz said. “He’s got gate one and I’m very happy that Hugh is riding him.”

Cruz’s decision to give Bowman the California Spangle ride rather than wait for Zac Purton to select his mount was vindicated when the pair produced a dominant front-running performance in October’s Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m).

The partnership was short-lived, though, and Bowman’s fall in the Class One Panasonic Cup (1,400m) on November 11 ruled him out of California Spangle’s following two assignments – the Group Two Jockey Club Mile and Group One Hong Kong Mile.

“As we know with California Spangle, he’s always been a front runner and Hugh knows what to do on him,” Cruz said. “Last time at the international meeting, things just didn’t work out for him.”

California Spangle assumed his customary leading role under Matthew Chadwick in the Jockey Club Mile on November 19 but eventually weakened into fourth behind Beauty Eternal, Beauty Joy and Voyage Bubble.

Cruz then called upon the assistance of Belgian rider Christophe Soumillon at the international meeting on December 10 but was unimpressed after the 42-year-old jockey failed to lead.

“It was a big mistake to put him behind another horse early, and he was also blocked in the straight,” Cruz said. “He just couldn’t get out from behind the leader.”

California Spangle steps back to 1,400m for the first time since he finished a gallant second behind Lucky Sweynesse in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on March 19.

As he did in the Sha Tin Trophy, the son of Starspangledbanner will have to give weight to all seven of his rivals and carry 135 pounds to victory if he wants to start 2024 on a winning note.

“Of course, it won’t be easy. No races are easy to win,” Cruz said. “I think he’s a miler really, but 1,400m will still hopefully suit him.”

The veteran handler has targeted the Group Three contest to good effect across the past two decades or so and he also saddles up Beauty Joy as he looks to build on his victories with Our Class (2002), Hidden Dragon (2004), Floral Pegasus (2007), Egyptian Ra (2010) and Multivictory (2016).

“I’ve got James McDonald on him and I think he’ll run a big race,” Cruz said of Beauty Joy, who is bidding to bag his first win since June 2022.

“He’s not an easy ride. He can be quite difficult and 1,400m is still a bit short for him, but I believe he will be running home very strong at the finish.”

The ever-consistent Beauty Joy gave a good account of himself when finishing fifth on his latest outing in the Hong Kong Mile. All things being well, Cruz confirmed the seven-year-old will join California Spangle in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) on January 21.