It’s been more than two years since Matthew Chadwick last celebrated a Group winner, and the 33-year-old jockey is relishing the opportunity to end that wait after landing two plum rides at Sha Tin today.

With Hugh Bowman sidelined after suffering injuries in a fall last Saturday, Chadwick will get the leg up on California Spangle and Russian Emperor when the star gallopers line up in their respective Group Two contests.

Chadwick, whose most recent union with California Spangle came when the pair finished a half-length second to Romantic Warrior in last year’s Classic Mile, hopes the five-year-old can record a poignant success in the BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile.

“He won well first up, and it would be nice to win for Howard [Liang Yum-shing],” Chadwick said, paying tribute to California Spangle’s late owner, who died last month.

“We all know how good California Spangle is. He tries his heart out, he knows what he needs to do and he loves his job. Lets hope he puts his best foot forward again this weekend.”

The son of Starspangledbanner made a winning return in last month’s Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m), when a 135-pound impost did not stop him producing a dominant front-running display.

“He’s a proper racehorse, and hopefully he’s improved from that run,” Chadwick said. “Everyone will know I’m going to go forward and lead, so let’s hope he can repeat what he did last time.”

To win on Sunday, California Spangle will have to overcome last season’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero, Voyage Bubble, who was last seen finishing fourth in April’s Group One Champions Mile, as well as Beauty Eternal, Healthy Happy and Beauty Joy.

Beauty Eternal carried 12 pounds less than the victorious California Spangle when a length away in third in the Sha Tin Trophy and will have to find sharp improvement to turn the tables with just a five-pound advantage this weekend.

“We know what both Beauty Eternal and Voyage Bubble are capable of, so it will be interesting. California [Spangle] has got to give them weight, but he won well first up, and I’m looking forward to it,” Chadwick said.

Also among Chadwick’s stellar book of rides is two-time Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) winner, Russian Emperor, in the Group Two BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2,000m).

“We know what he’s capable of. He’ll have that fitness under his belt, so I’d expect him to improve on Sunday,” Chadwick said.

Russian Emperor failed to fire on resumption in last month’s Sha Tin Trophy, with the son of Galileo weakening to finish last of 10, but Chadwick is confident the step up in trip will spark immediate improvement.

“We know he stays very well from what we saw last season. Hopefully he can come up to that mark again sooner rather than later,” Chadwick said. “You’ve got horses who are out of the handicap, and we know he’s got class on his side.

“Money Catcher is going to be out in front. Hopefully, horses will be taking us into the race, and we won’t be too far back. He’s a pretty relaxed horse and he stays all day. We’ll see how it pans out and go from there. I like to think he’ll have every chance.”