Tony Cruz became only the fourth trainer in Hong Kong racing history to saddle 500 winners at Happy Valley when the legendary horseman slotted a double with Californiatotality and Kingly Demeanor at the city circuit on Wednesday night (14 May).



Cruz reached the landmark with Hong Kong International Sale graduate Kingly Demeanor`s (132lb) all-the-way success in the Class 5 Yue Wan Handicap (1800m) for Keith Yeung, joining Caspar Fownes (620 Happy Valley wins), John Moore (530) and George Moore (530) in one of Hong Kong racing`s most exclusive clubs.



With an unmatched 2,502 Hong Kong wins as a jockey (946) and trainer (1,556), Cruz was elated to slot his 500th triumph as a trainer at Happy Valley, where he started his riding career as an apprentice jockey in 1973/74.



“It`s great to get to 500,” Cruz said. “This is where I started my career and I`ve had a lot winners here, as a jockey and trainer, so it`s great. I had no idea I was close to 500 wins, so thank you for keeping count.”



Cruz subsequently struck with Californiatotality (122lb) in the Class 2 Choi Hung Handicap (1650m) for Alexis Badel.



Posting his fifth win for the season, the four-year-old has won twice since finishing 11th in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) behind Cap Ferrat in March and impressed Badel after surging past Soleil Fighter.



“He`s lovely. He actually surprised me. I didn`t have such expectation and he did very well. He had a good draw (barrier two), so I had cover and he travelled lovely and waited for a signal and he quickened when I needed him to do it. It was a promising win,” Badel said.



Cruz said: “He`s a versatile horse – this distance was a bit short but he had a good gate and had every chance to win. His next run will be in the Group 3 Premier Plate (1800m Handicap on 22 June at Sha Tin) – 1800m is the perfect distance for him.”



Seasons Wit (124lb) returned to the winners` list under Lyle Hewitson to land the Class 3 Choi Wan Handicap (1000m) for Jamie Richards. The winner of four races at Happy Valley in 2023, Seasons Wit reached a career-high rating of 99, but had not won in 21 ensuing starts until tonight. The Capitalist gelding was given a superb ride by Hewitson, who allowed the five-year-old to settle on the fence midfield before angling into the clear and accelerating sharply. Hewitson completed a brace aboard Mark Newnham-trained King Lotus (127lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Tin Sau Handicap (1200m).



“Fortunately, I`ve stuck with him from day one – he`s always given me a nice feel,” Hewitson said. “We thought he would need 1400m, at least, before he wins and we thought he would be a nice miler.



“On debut, he ran a nice race. He got held up over the last few strides, he could have run fourth, and with natural improvement, he showed a bit more today. He`s an uncomplicated horse who`s getting better so the fact he got it right today is pretty impressive.”



Newnham was also to the fore in the Class 3 Hoi Lai Handicap (1200m) with Crimson Flash (130lb), who was too strong with Andrea Atzeni.



Matthew Poon continued to bear down on a season-high haul with a double in tandem with Ricky Yiu. Poon struck first on Sure Joyful in the Class 4 Wu King Handicap (1650m) before piloting Hayday to victory in the second section of the Class 4 Tin Sau Handicap (1200m). Poon posted 37 wins in 2020/21 and tonight`s brace took his 2024/25 tally to 34.



Zac Purton extended his lead at the top of the jockeys` championship with victory on David Hayes-trained Bievenue in the Class 4 Tin Sau Handicap (1200m). With 108 victories, Purton holds a 48-win margin over Hugh Bowman (60) with 17 meetings left in the season.



Cambridge struck form in style with victory in the Class 3 Nam Shan Handicap (1800m) for Pierre Ng, collecting a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million. Ridden patiently by Jerry Chau, the Dubawi gelding got clear late to post his first win in Hong Kong. Formerly trained by Aidan O`Brien, the four-year-old was Group 3-placed at Leopardstown in Ireland in 2023.



Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (18 May).