Tony Cruz: Hong Kong's hometown hero continues to shine at the age of 63

For many of the human and equine stars featuring in Sunday's sparkling Champions Day card at Sha Tin, life began in Europe or Australia before making it big in Hong Kong's dazzling setting. But Tony Cruz is the complete opposite.

He epitomises a hometown hero, having ridden 946 winners and so far has sent out over 1,200 as a trainer in Hong Kong. While riding abroad, he scooped the French Oaks, Irish St Leger and British and Irish Champion Stakes in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Tony Cruz: pictured with Queen Elizabeth II when he was a jockeyCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

At the age of 63, Cruz continues to dominate the training ranks and has worked with iconic horses in Hong Kong, including the outstanding Silent Witness.

Pakistan Star, Bullish Luck, Blazing Speed and California Memory are other great horses he has cared for and his Hong Kong peers are full of admiration.

"One thing I do know about Tony is that he has a real sixth sense," says Zac Purton, a leading jockey in Hong Kong. "I see it when he's playing with the cats around the stables as well. He's a real animal person and he understands them very well.

"You can see him monitoring their character and their behaviour, and the look of the horse. On race day when he says he thinks a horse will run well, or to forget about its last run because it was disappointing and he expects it to give a good showing, he's pretty spot on."

Vincent Ho, like Cruz is another homegrown talent and the jockey says: "Tony is really special in Hong Kong. When we were young, we all looked up to him – we'd all heard his name. Even as a young child, before I was even interested in racing, I still knew who Tony Cruz was. Everyone knows Tony Cruz.

Pakistan Star: one of numerous top talents trained by Tony CruzCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

"He started here at the apprentice school and it was a really special journey for him because he got a chance to ride in Europe – he rode for the Aga Khan – and he's got so much experience in racing. He knows everything about the history and all that he's learned has made him a really great trainer."

In Exultant and Time Warp many will be surprised if further riches do not come Cruz's way in Sunday's FWD QEII Cup.

Hong Kong's winningmost man is certainly far from finished.

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