Trainer Tony Cruz and jockey Matthew Chadwick only have to draw on a recent memory - a California Memory - to see a nice future for pocket-sized sprinter California Bounty after his third successive win.
California Bounty again reached down to his reserves to hold off the challenge of Windicator Star (Tye Angland) in the Prince Jewellery & Watch Premier Cup (1,000m) when it looked like he would be beaten, just as he has three times now.
"He's a lovely little horse - he dug in and didn't want to lose," Chadwick said after holding a neck margin over Windicator Star to the line, although the race might well have been decided his way in the stewards' room had the runner-up got past.
Owned in similar family interests to the top-line international Group One performer, California Memory, California Bounty also shares the grey's diminutive stature.
"He's got a big heart, just like Memory," Chadwick said. "The only thing that might hold this horse back is his size but he's all heart. Maybe he'll grow and fill out during the summer break. I think he'll be a Group Three horse anyway but if he can build up some more and get stronger, he should give the top ones like Eagle Regiment and Lucky Nine something to think about."
California Bounty weighed in at 996 pounds in body weight for yesterday's Class One feature, while California Memory tipped the scales at 1,005 pounds for his last appearance winning the Champions & Chater Cup last month.
But this is the first season - as a seven-year-old - that the multiple Group One winning grey has consistently had a body weight in four figures after turning up at just 952 pounds for his first start, and that gives some hope for California Bounty.
"Sometimes size doesn't mean a lot," said Cruz. "He's only a three-year-old and I believe he can improve. In my career, I have seen a lot of horses like him, who keep improving and getting stronger and they can really surprise you with how far they go. I think this horse is definitely a Group Three horse for next season."
California Bounty's only defeat locally was on debut over 1,200m behind talented Sterling City, but switched back to 1,000m, he has strung together three wins since.
While Cruz believes he erred running the youngster at 1,200m back then, he is open minded about what happens ahead.
"I made a big mistake running him first-up at 1,200m. I thought he would handle it but after that I knew he was just a 1,000m horse," Cruz says. "But he's still young now and, in the future, I guarantee he'll run out 1,200m."
Windicator Star was on his best behaviour at the start after standing at the jump of his last three runs and looked the winner as he launched his bid at California Bounty in the final 200m, but Angland said the gelding didn't go through with the job, boring right and into the winner when the going got tough.
"If it isn't the start he's making a mess of, it's doing things wrong through the run," he said. "He's always done it but now he's at the point in the ratings where he doesn't get away with it and still win any more."
