The legendary Tony Cruz has joined brother Derek on the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m) honour roll thanks to the brilliant California Spangle’s record-breaking success at Meydan on Saturday night.

Twice successful in Japan, Cruz tasted Dubai glory at his 12th attempt and the magnitude of the moment was not lost on a man whose CV is about as glittering as they come.

“It means everything. Every trainer in their career has to win big races elsewhere, it’s part of your job,” said Cruz, who twice placed in the Al Quoz Sprint with Peniaphobia.

“You’ve got to achieve something great in your life and you’ve got to win big races, not just the small ones. The big ones are the ones that count the most – that’s what racing is all about. Derek won it [with Joy And Fun in 2010] – I can say something to him now.

“I’m so happy to win with the whole family of the late Howard Liang [Yum-shing] here. I want to dedicate this race to him. Without him [as his owner], this horse wouldn’t be racing today.”

Sent off second favourite for his first overseas assignment, California Spangle sprang out of the gates under Brenton Avdulla before racing on the speed down the Meydan straight.

After travelling beautifully throughout, California Spangle strode clear inside the final 300m to finish three-quarters of a length clear of favourite Star Of Mystery and stop the clock in a track-record 1:07.50.

“He gave me a great ride. Back from 1,400m, Tony just gave me the confidence to let him run where he wanted to run so I just tried to keep him away from most of them and let him gallop how he wanted to,” Avdulla said of last-start Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) winner California Spangle, who was racing over 1,200m for the first time since January 2022.

“I felt I was nearly at the top throughout but once I pushed the trigger on him there inside the 400m, he quickened well. He’s an amazing horse. I’ve only ridden him twice and won two Group Ones.”

Avdulla was on cloud nine post-race as he attempted to come to grips with what had just unfolded.

“It was amazing. You pull up and you’ve got Frankie Dettori [aboard Star Of Mystery] pulling up next to you,” Avdulla said.

“I remember as a kid growing up watching Frankie on the world stage and to be racing on Dubai World Cup night and knocking him off in a Group One, these are not even dreams because you don’t even think of things like that. You can’t even make these things up.

“[This win] is right up there. It probably takes the top. It was special winning the 1,400m race back in Hong Kong, but to win representing Hong Kong on the world stage is amazing.”

Cruz confirmed California Spangle will now be aimed at a clash with Lucky Sweynesse in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) at the end of April, also suggesting a tilt at the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot in June “is a possibility”.

“He ran like a champion today. I believe this horse is more a sprinter than a miler. I thought he had the ability to win this race today over 1,200m – he proved himself today,” Cruz said of California Spangle, who was Hong Kong’s first winner on Dubai World Cup night since Amber Sky and Sterling City were successful in 2014.

Hong Kong’s other Al Quoz Sprint runner, Sight Success, finished two and a half lengths behind California Spangle in fifth.

There were no further heroics from the Hong Kong raiding party in the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m), with Straight Arron running a nice sixth and Voyage Bubble finishing near the back of the field.