Horse racing is a sport with a small but hardy following in Portugal, although success has largely been enjoyed at the domestic level, rather than on the international scene. However, that all changed in 2004 when Tony Cruz, a former jockey turned trainer of Portuguese descent, claimed victory in one of the richest races on the planet – the Hong Kong Gold Cup.
Here’s the story of Bullish Luck’s famous victory…
Bred for Success
With a total prize fund in the region of $1.5 million, the Hong Kong Cup is one of the most sought-after trophies in racing.
Others offer a more handsome bounty, not least the Kentucky Derby in the United States, which pays out a whopping $3.1 million to the connections of the winner.
That race is watched by some 150,000 people too, while the interest extends to the betting community. Bettors are able to assess the horse racing odds today and every day for the Kentucky Derby, with this renewal one to enjoy year-round, ante-post coverage. In 2024, the favorites include Sierra Leone (+500), Timberlake (+1200), and Forever Young (+1200).
As a jockey, Cruz didn’t get a chance to win a major race on American soil, but he was an outstanding rider of global repute – he won Grade 1 renewals in the UK, Ireland, France, and Hong Kong during a glittering career in the saddle.
The legendary Tony Cruz... 🙌
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) February 12, 2023
🥇 x946 🇭🇰 wins as a jockey
🥇 x1,442 🇭🇰 wins as a trainer
🆕 x1,000 training wins at Sha Tin
🤯 2,388 🇭🇰 wins overall | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/Dy1yEm0Rir
He opted to go into training after hanging up his whip, winning the Hong Kong Trainers’ Championship in the year 2000 and again in 2004.
That latter victory was powered by a stable of remarkable horses, not least Bullish Luck. Bred from former Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Royal Academy, Bullish Luck enjoyed the perfect pedigree for a strong career in elite racing – and boy did he not disappoint…
Wearing the Crown
The Hong Kong Gold Cup is the second leg of the country’s Triple Crown, which also features the Steward’s Cup and the Champions & Cater Cup.
Cruz had won two legs of the Triple Crown as a jockey – missing out on the Steward’s Cup to complete the set, and he would enjoy his maiden victory as a trainer in such prestigious surroundings when landing the Hong Kong Gold Cup.
It would come as no surprise that Bullish Luck was the horse with which the Portuguese would break his duck. Despite a mediocre start to his career, Bullish Luck started to show real promise in 2004, so the Hong Kong Gold Cup came along at exactly the right time.
In a blistering time of two minutes and two seconds, the then five-year-old powered to the line at the Sha Tin Racecourse to land the first major of Cruz’s training career.
A very special day to win a G1 on one of Hong Kong’s most popular horses for Tony Cruz! That winning feeling! #CaliforniaSpangle pic.twitter.com/4IRbwvE3Va
— 🇦🇺 BRENTON AVDULLA (@brentonavdulla) March 11, 2024
Ironically, Cruz would win the Hong Kong Gold Cup a year later with Perfect Partner, while Bullish Luck would prevail in the Champions Mile in 2005 – ending the 17-race unbeaten streak of his stablemate and fellow Cruz horse, Silent Witness.
All told, Cruz has won six editions of the Hong Kong Gold Cup as a trainer, four Steward’s’ Cups, and seven Champions & Chater Cups – confirming his status as the most successful Portuguese connection in horse racing history.
