The yellow and red “California” silks have proved very popular among Hong Kong racing fans with success at the highest level – and there are high hopes of more glory this weekend.

The late Howard Liang Yum Shing-owned California Memory was the first of his family’s runners to achieve back-to-back wins in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and since then only Romantic Warrior can achieve the same feat.

This Sunday (8 December), Chester Liang Jun Yu, son of Howard Liang Yum Shing, is hopeful California Spangle, running in the family’s famous silks, can make history again at the prestigious LONGINES Hong Kong International Race (HKIR) meeting at Sha Tin.

Victor of the 2022 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), California Spangle will become the first Hong Kong runner to win twice at the G1 level at LONGINES HKIR over different distance categories if the son of Starspangledbanner can clinch the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).

Confidence was boosted after Chester Liang drew gate two for California Spangle at the barrier draw ceremony on Thursday (5 December).

Liang said: “I am very happy to draw gate two for our horse. California Spangle is the horse who likes to lead, and as long as no horse gives pressure to him in the early stages of the race, he will have the chance. Gate two is definitely a great help, though I understand that there is no certainty in racing.”

“I saw Ka Ying Rising has drawn gate 11, and no doubt that horse will be the major contender but I will only focus how California Spangle run in the race. Obviously, he is one of the best in our family and I am hopeful for another forward showing performance this time,” Liang added.

Liang family’s love of racing heritage can be dated back to Dr. Thomas Liang Ting Sen, grandfather of Chester Liang who raced horses in Hong Kong since 1980s. Since then, the “California” series has become a household name in Hong Kong racing, as horses such as Benji, Johan Cruyff, California Prince, California Memory, California Fortune and California Bounty, and many others kept winning on the turf and many of them developed into top-class gallopers.

Liang recalled how horse racing had brought plenty of nice memories to his family and as such he had developed his interest in the sport.

“It might not be a very young age but all along my family has enjoyed good successes with many good horses. I am proud that I can be involved in the sport. We will try our best to import more good horses to Hong Kong and hopefully our family will have more Group 1 horses in the future,” he said.