California Spangle secured his first Group One victory since 2022 and booked his ticket to Dubai’s World Cup meeting with a relentless all-the-way victory in Sunday’s Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin.

The Tony Cruz-trained six-year-old put a string of disappointing efforts behind him to deliver Brenton Avdulla his breakthrough elite-level win in Hong Kong and earn his place in the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) at Meydan on March 30.

Sent off at the biggest price of his career at $11, California Spangle assumed his customary position in the lead from gate three and set a reasonable gallop in the first 200m.

After slowing proceedings to cover the following 800m nearly seven lengths slower than standard time, the son of Starspangledbanner was a willing partner when asked to fend off his rivals by Avdulla in the closing stages.

California Spangle finished a length ahead of the fast-finishing Galaxy Patch and the third-placed Red Lion, while $2.2 favourite Lucky Sweynesse, who was posted wide and towards the rear of the field, fell victim to the sedate fractions and could only manage fifth.

“It means everything,” Cruz said. “He had the perfect race and I think Brenton rode a perfect race. He did exactly what I expected him to do. I’m so happy about that.”

There was persistent drizzle throughout the afternoon and while the track was still rated good, the veteran handler believes a change in conditions played to the strengths of California Spangle.

“I think the horse likes this kind of going today. It had a little give in the ground and this track is the C course – it’s better off for the horses in front,” Cruz said. “It’s hard to catch them that way.

“We’re going to Dubai now and Brenton is going to ride him in Dubai. I think he’ll like [Meydan’s straight course] too.”

Avdulla, who also successfully teamed up with Cruz earlier on the card when Smart Beauty won the Class Five Hau Wong Handicap (1,800m), notched his 14th Group One and his first in the ultra-competitive jurisdiction.

“I was just trying to make it out that I was going to lead and then as soon as Alexis [Badel] dropped off [aboard Healthy Happy], I was able to get a controlled gallop,” Avdulla said.

“Probably on the ground, everyone was a fraction reserved, but he just enjoyed it.

“I was confident that, given an opportunity, I could succeed here. All the hard work pays off and like anything, with an opportunity, I always thought I was good enough to capitalise. Today shows that.”

After failing to add to his first Group One win in the 2022 Hong Kong Mile from his next five attempts at the top level, California Spangle skipped through the rain to produce a poignant success five months on from the death of Howard Liang Yum-shing, who owned the California-prefixed gallopers.

“This horse is very important to the late Howard,” Cruz said. “He bought the horse and I’m so glad he won another Group One for him.

“He was the best horse Howard raced. The exciting part of today is that California Spangle had to perform to go to Dubai and now he’s heading to Dubai. Everybody is thrilled about it.”