The Celebration Cup – 2022

Track: Firm  Weather: Mostly Fine

Six runners have accepted for the $747,240 AUD Group 3 Celebration Cup and there have been no early scratchings.

Five of the six runners are entering this race first up following the resumption of the new season, with the Hong Kong Classic Cup winner California Spangle headlining the runners. In his eight starts last season, he won half of them and finished second in the remaining four, which is a tremendous effort considering four of those starts were at Group 1 level.

The Chinese Club Challenge Cup winner Healthy Happy will also be entering this event and after winning that Cup first up last preparation, he failed to register another win for the entire preparation, albeit at group class level.

After being dominant in lower classes, Cheerful Days had four runs in group class races for just the one placing to end last preparation and he will be looking to break through early on and start this season with a bang.

1. Will Power (3)

Resuming after 203 days. he had just the four starts last preparation which contained two winners at Class 1 level, but it was on the All-Weather track. His trial was adequate, but considering he is yet to contest in anything higher than Class 1, I don’t think he has been weighted well. Prefer others.

2. California Spangle (5)

The Hong Kong Classic Cup winner comes into this contest after 154 days off. Aside from that Group 1 win, he finished second in three other Group 1’s to end last preparation behind Romantic Warrior and Golden Sixty. He has had two trials in preparation for this and with Zac Purton steering him around, I am expecting nothing but a solid return as he looks to target bigger races down the track.

3. Duke Wai (1)

Unlike his rivals here, this bloke has actually had a run this preparation, a fortnight ago at Sha Tin. He got well back over 1200m and flew home for a 3.5 length third behind Lucky Sweynesse. He has yet to finish in the top three in four runs over 1400m which is a slight concern but maybe that changes here considering he will have a slight fitness edge.

4. Healthy Happy (2)

Returning after 98 days. He won the Chinese Club Cup when resuming last preparation over this track and distance which is something we need to take notice of. Since that run though, he failed to make an impact, with his best run being his last run of the preparation, which was a third to Beauty Joy in the Premier Cup. He will sit behind California Spangle in the run whilst still being on the pace, so he should get every chance.

5. Mighty Giant (6)

Resuming after 71 days. He had five starts last preparation and failed to make an impact in any of them. He is just making up the numbers here.

6. Cheerful Days (4)

Resuming after 98 days. He had a monster 14-run preparation last season which consisted of six wins and two placings. His wins ranged from Class 4 to Class 1 and he finished his season with four runs at Group level, managing only one placing, which was over the mile at Group 3 level behind Beauty Joy. With another season under his belt, he should run and he is a solid place chance in this one.

The following are the top 4 selections for this year’s race.