The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup, one of the most prestigious races of the Hong Kong racing season, resulted in a triumph for the home team. But it was not the hot favourite Ambitious Dragon who rocked Sha Tin, rather his great local rival, the little grey California Memory, trained by Tony Cruz and ridden by Matthew Chadwick, who showed too much pace for all his rivals in one of the slowest ever renewals of the great race.

It was 21-year-old Chadwick’s first ever international Group One victory, and perhaps more significantly the first success at the G1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races for a Hong Kong-born jockey. “I haven’t been around that long,” said the young talent, “but obviously he’s the best horse I’ve ridden and this is the biggest win of my career. There was some pressure, but we had a game plan to go forward and it worked out for us today.”

Chadwick showed great coolness to make the most of his inside draw and position the son of Highest Honor on the rail just behind the sedate pace being set by Pure Champion, who had things all his own way as the German-trained Zazou sat outside him without putting on any pressure at all. In the predictable dash for home Douglas Whyte brought Ambitious Dragon from well back with his trademark acceleration and Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year surged up to the leaders to probably get his head in front 200m from home. But the lead he gave away to the still fresh California Memory was too much, and as he flattened on his run the grey kicked back to score decisively. The John Moore-trained Irian charged home under Darren Beadman to take second place with Zazou just edging out Ambitious Dragon for third place.

Tony Cruz, who so narrowly failed to beat Moore for the Trainers’ Championship last season, might well have swapped the title for this victory if given the choice. “There is more to come from this horse,” said Cruz. “We haven’t seen the best of him yet. This is the race to win in Hong Kong so I’m just delighted - and great praise to Matthew for riding such a great race.”

Owner Howard Liang, who inherited California Memory from his late father, Thomas, said: “It’s wonderful this horse will carry on the racing legacy of my father who originally bought him.”

The time of the race, 2.04.57, reflected the slow early pace and this may have contributed to the defeats of star European performers Cirrus des Aigles and Byword who finished fifth and sixth respectively. But there is no doubt they were clearly outpointed by California Memory, who produced a dazzling final sectional of 21.69 seconds, on the day.

Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup post-race quotes

1st – California Memory – Matthew Chadwick

“I haven’t been around that long, but he’s the best horse I’ve ridden, and the biggest win of my career. We had a game plan to go forward, and it worked out for him today. Yes, maybe there was a bit of pressure, and after some criticism last time, but that was Ok and the luck was with us today.”

2nd – Irian - Darren Beadman

“ If he draws a gate he makes it interesting, obviously the pace was against us, and we had to come to the outside, and he’s really finished it off.”

3rd – Zazou – Olivier Peslier

“Drawn 8 I knew there was no option other than to go forward. I found myself next to Mosse and we set a French pace. Zazou was very brave and he ran all the way to the line. I knew when I galloped him on Thursday he would run a good race.”

4th - Ambitious Dragon – Douglas Whyte

“They just went too slow for him and I had to get going sooner than I would have liked.

5th - Cirrus Des Aigles – Christophe Soumillon

“There was no pace, and when I finally got out he ran on, but it was too late.” Corinne Barande Barbe (trainer) - “To look at him now, you can see he never got into the race. He’s done less out there than he does in a workout in the morning.”

6th - Byword - Maxime Guyon

“We had a perfect trip and entering the stretch we were in a position to win, but he simply stayed on at one pace. It was a good effort but not good enough.”

7th - Pure Champion – Gerald Mosse

“He got the lead and we went a sensible place, but the others were better.

8th - Ransom Note – Michael Hills

“He wasn’t quick enough to the first turn, so I had to ride plan B. He couldn’t get out, and I just followed the winner. There’ll be another day.”

9th - Jacobee – Tim Clark

“He over raced, but the real problem was he wasn’t good enough.”

10th -Durban Thunder – Andrasch Starke

“I had a good position but on the final turn they kicked twice and it was too fast for me.”