BRENTON AVDULLA ITCHING TO STEP OUT ON DUBAI ‘WORLD STAGE’ WITH CALIFORNIA SPANGLE AND STRAIGHT ARRON

After landing the most significant blow of his Hong Kong career earlier his month, the Australian jockey is eager to seize his opportunities at Meydan

He landed the most significant blow of his Hong Kong career aboard California Spangle earlier this month and now Brenton Avdulla is hoping to embrace another opportunity to shine on the world stage on Dubai World Cup night.

After their Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m) success, Avdulla partners Tony Cruz's California Spangle in the Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1,200m), while he jumps aboard the Caspar Fownes-trained Straight Arron for the first time in the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m).

"I've never ridden in Dubai. I've been to Dubai before but never ridden there," said the Australian jockey.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

"Being in Australia, we don't tend to travel as much as other jurisdictions do, obviously with the prize money there and being where we are positioned on the map.

"Obviously in Hong Kong if they've got a good horse, they're often happy to travel. It's a good opportunity for me.

"Being in Hong Kong has put me on the world stage but Dubai World Cup night is another show to put myself on the world stage again. I'm very lucky and privileged to be representing Hong Kong on one of their local champs."

California Spangle steps back to 1,200m for the first time since 2022 and hasn't raced down the straight since his successful 2021 debut, but Cruz has backed his charge to thrive.

"I think [it will suit]. It was the same when I was in Australia and Flemington - you always wanted those strong six-to-seven-furlong horses down the straight," said Avdulla, who flew to Dubai following Wednesday night's Happy Valley meeting and will head back to Hong Kong to ride at Sha Tin on Sunday.

"It's a bit harder for them up the straight and the pressure seems to come on a little bit earlier than in a normal sprint race. They build into it. I think Tony is right - I think it will suit the Spangle.

"I've looked at the past 10 or so Al Quoz Sprints and it looks pretty standard that they usually jump, run and build up to the middle of the track. That race should take care of itself."

While Avdulla should have no trouble negotiating gate five aboard California Spangle, Straight Arron has drawn gate 12 in a contest packed with talented gallopers.

"It's the 1,800m start, which is a good start, but he'll obviously be well off speed and it's a lovely big circuit, so it's probably more about finding the back of the right horses rather than anything else," he said.

'Good draw' gives Voyage Bubble best chance in strong Group One Dubai Turf

"He goes into a very, very strong race. Once you get to the 1,800m-plus horses there is a very strong European and Japanese contingent. I think at his best he can run well but we'll see where he ends up."

While the Hong Kong-based Avdulla has been entrusted with half of the city's Dubai contingent, a couple of big-name overseas jockeys have been enlisted to partner Voyage Bubble and Sight Success.

Ricky Yiu Poon-fai has booked Mickael Barzalona to ride Voyage Bubble for the first time in the Dubai Turf, while Ryan Moore will reunite with Sight Success in the Al Quoz Sprint after the pair finished fourth in the race last year.