Bracing for a busy weekend with prize rides in Hong Kong and Sydney, Brenton Avdulla is wary and excited ahead of a raceday reunion with California Spangle in the HK$5.35 million G2 Premier Bowl Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (20 October).
Avdulla will partner California Spangle for the first time since last season when the pair combined for elite success in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin on 10 March and the G1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on 30 March.
Those triumphs catapulted Tony Cruz's flagbearer to acclaim as Hong Kong Champion Sprinter and thrust Avdulla onto the international stage and the Australian hopes California Spangle can carry him to further glory this season as he tracks towards the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on 8 December.
"He (California Spangle) has been an amazing horse for me since I've been in Hong Kong. We had two Group 1 wins – so he really put me on the map in Hong Kong. He's a special horse and hopefully we can see what he can do again this season," Avdulla said.
Carrying 135lb this weekend against Ka Ying Rising (128lb), Invincible Sage (127lb), Taj Dragon (122lb), Encountered (116lb), Flying Ace (115lb), Howdeepisyourlove (115lb), Beauty Waves (115lb), Lucky With You (115lb), Majestic Knight (115lb), Helios Express (115lb), Packing Treadmill (115lb) and Harmony N Blessed (115lb), California Spangle will chase a 14th win from 28 starts.
But Avdulla concedes the task of conceding weight to outstanding young sprinter Ka Ying Rising – and 20lb – to other speedsters when first-up is a daunting task.
"He's got a really good sprinting record over 1200m-1400m (but) to kick off there at the weekend with top weight – 135lb over 1200m – it's going to be a big ask for him against some up and coming horses, but (I'm) excited to get him back to the races," the Australian said.
"I think he handled himself really well all season and he seems to have come back well this time.
"I'm happy with him and he's in good order. It's not an easy task for him to run first-up in this sort of grade and carry that big weight against some smart, up and coming horses but I expect him to run well."
While California Spangle jousts for the first time with Ka Ying Rising, record-breaking winner of the Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup Handicap (1200m) on 8 September, the six-year-old renews his rivalry with Invincible Sage this week.
Invincible Sage thrived in rain-affected going to down California Spangle in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) in April and David Hall expects the 118-rater to continue to build fitness and form after his sixth behind Beauty Waves when resuming in the G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) on 1 October. Invincible Sage is again paired with Hugh Bowman.
"He's probably not fully screwed down yet, maybe another race will bring him right to his best but I think he's made some improvement from the first run and hopefully he's going to show a little bit more than he did first-up," Hall said.
Hall is also represented in the Premier Bowl by Flying Ace (Matthew Poon) and Encountered (Harry Bentley), who has his first start for the stable.
"Everyone knows Flying Ace is probably on his mark at this level but he was just honest and genuine last season. He's another one that, with his rating, he's either got to drop down a little bit or he might be able to fluke a good barrier, get a good run and still get some prizemoney," Hall said.
"With Encountered, it's just a race where he has to start off. His rating is very difficult, so this is just a 'prep' run. He's coming off some horrible form and it will be just interesting to see where he's at and how his health is."
Avdulla has eight rides at Sha Tin on Sunday and six mounts at Royal Randwick on Saturday (19 October), when he partners Storm Boy in G1 The Everest (1200m) for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.
"Looking forward to getting back to Randwick and participating in a big Australian race," Avdulla said. "He's obviously a good quality colt, drawn well in (barrier) five so I'm looking forward to riding him."
Sunday's (20 October) HKJC 140th Anniversary Raceday at Sha Tin features 10 races and starts at 12.45pm with the Class 5 The With You. Then. Now. Always. 1600m Handicap.
