Tony Cruz and Zac Purton will leave nothing to chance in California Spangle’s Group One FWD Champions Mile showdown with Golden Sixty on Sunday, with the superstar jockey confirming he will “be pressing until I get to the lead”.

After Purton took a sit aboard California Spangle in the Group Two Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m) earlier this month and the five-year-old had to dig deep to hold off Money Catcher, Cruz declared “we’re not going to make the same mistake again”.

“Tony has made it very clear that I have to lead this race. He thinks the horse is better leading,” Purton said.

“Unfortunately, we have Healthy Happy in the race again, and Voyage Bubble who can go forward. But whatever happens, I’ll be pressing, and I’ll be pressing until I get to the lead.”

After reigning Hong Kong Mile champion California Spangle drew barrier eight of nine on Thursday morning, Cruz reiterated these plans.

“I think gate eight isn’t a big difference. From inside to outside, it’s a small field. I think we’re going to stick to our plans and go straight to the front,” he said.

“He’s got early speed to lead this race. Last time, we didn’t lead and we almost got ourselves in trouble.

“In the [Hong Kong Mile], we went to the front and Golden Sixty had to go around the field and lost a bit of ground and couldn’t catch California Spangle. We have the same plan, but it’s a small field this time. I still think it’ll be a close finish.”

Golden Sixty is drawn just inside his main rival in gate seven and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu will be out to ensure the seven-year-old – who is chasing a record third straight win in the race – is within striking distance turning for home.

“California Spangle is drawn outside us, so he’ll go and I think the pace will be fast,” said trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai. “It’ll depend where we settle, but the main thing is we stay away from trouble.”

Ricky Yiu Poon-fai confirmed Voyage Bubble, who won the Classic Mile from the front before coming from last to snare the Hong Kong Derby, will be ridden where he is comfortable.

“He’s so relaxed now. He won’t necessarily lead this time. Maybe midfield somewhere,” Yiu said.

Leading hometown hope Romantic Warrior has drawn nicely in four for his Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) defence, British raider Dubai Honour jumps from gate one and Frankie Lor Fu-chuen expects Money Catcher to set the pace.

“This race, I think no one will want to lead, so if no one leads, Money Catcher can easily go in front,” said the reigning champion trainer.

December’s Hong Kong Cup runner-up Danon The Kid has the outside alley in the seven-horse field, while fellow Japanese raiders Geraldina (two) and Prognosis (three) scored low draws.

Purton will be hoping hot favourite Lucky Sweynesse jumps cleanly to ensure he has options from gate six in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m), with Sight Success (one), Wellington (two) and Flaming Rib (three) all drawn inside him.

While this year’s features are worth a combined HK$65 million, the Jockey Club has announced a HK$7 million increase for next season, with the QE II Cup jumping from HK$25 million to HK$28 million and the Chairman’s Sprint Prize and Champions Mile both to be worth HK$22 million after receiving HK$2 million boosts.

Meanwhile, there was carnage in the stewards’ room at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, with Silvestre de Sousa and Dylan Mo Hin-tung receiving three-meeting suspensions for careless riding and Jerry Chau Chun-lok copping a hefty six-meeting holiday for improper riding aboard Astrologer in the final race.

“Chau was found guilty of a charge of improper riding in that between the 900m and the 600m he improperly placed unnecessary pressure on Howdeepisyourlove, resulting in Howdeepisyourlove being positioned close to the heels of Rock Ya Heart and ultimately having to be checked to avoid the heels of Rock Ya Heart near the 600m,” the stewards’ report reads.