CALIFORNIA SPANGLE just denied in HK Classic Mile

Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) took his record to five-from-five with a tough victory over pacesetting California Spangle (Ire) in Sunday's HK$12-million Hong Kong Classic Mile, the first of three legs of the 4YO Series in the jurisdiction. The Irishman (NZ)(Tavistock {NZ}) rallied from midfield to finish a clear third.

Winner of five of his six starts, California Spangle–the top-rated galloper in the field–crossed and cleared his rivals from barrier 13 and set a reasonable gallop, as Karis Teetan aboard Romantic Warrior made full use of the rail draw to scrape paint down the back from a centerfield position. California Spangle, trying a distance beyond 1200 metres for the first time, went for home traveling nicely, but Teetan threaded the needle on Romantic Warrior at the quarter pole and was poised behind the pacesetter in upper stretch. A touch one-paced into the final furlong, Romantic Warrior knuckled down to split rivals and was doing his best work through the line. California Spangle, the only member of this 14-strong field without a BMW Hong Kong Derby entry, easily held second from The Irishman, who finished well while no menace to the top two.

California Spangle is a Badgers Bloodstock PPG for Howard Liang. He was bought off Jim McCartan's Gaybrooke Lodge and has amassed over £700,000 in his short career to date... winning five times from seven starts.