Can California Spangle’s stamina last out as he takes on the best four-year-olds around in the Classic Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday?

Punters hoping to pinpoint the winner have that big question to answer before placing their bets, as there is no doubt California Spangle has the ability to win – he is rated 11 pounds clear of his nearest rival – but the front-runner has been handed a terrible draw in stall 13.

Trainer Tony Cruz is the go-to man for answers and he is confident his sprint star will still be able to control the race.

“He’s the fastest horse in the field and I believe he can still dictate and go and lead the race,” Cruz said.

“I’m very happy with him. What we have planned for him to perform, he has achieved that. Now we’re stepping up a bit further, we still have high hopes he can run out the mile.”

If California Spangle’s stamina does ebb away late on, Cruz has no worries over the distance for able deputy Ima Single Man.

“He’s sired by Gingerbread Man and he’ll get the distance,” Cruz said.

“I believe he’ll get to 2,000m, so I’m not worried about the distance. He’ll be racing handy and he’s stepping up, but he’s got a shot and he’ll be in the finish.

“Both horses are prepared for the race and I’m not worried about the draw. We’re going to go very close.”

Cruz may be confident of big runs from his two Classic Mile contenders but he’s not the only one going into the race with hopes of grabbing the lion’s share of the prize money.

Karis Teetan picked up the plum ride aboard the unbeaten Romantic Warrior after Joao Moreira committed to Master Delight, and the Mauritian jockey thinks his mount is ready to take on the best.

“It’s a nice ride to get on and he looks progressive, so it’s a nice opportunity for me,” Teetan said.

Romantic Warrior, Ima Single Man press claims for Classic Mile

“Hearing from Joao and Danny [Shum Chap-shing] and the way the horse has been running, it looks like the mile shouldn’t be a problem.

“[Stall one] will make things a bit easier for him and I think he has got a bit of quality. From gate one we don’t have a headache so I will ride him where he is comfortable, there are a few speed influences in the race so I will just follow them through.”

Another jockey who fancies his chances is Vincent Ho Chak-yiu. He rides The Irishman, who caught the eye when making good late headway to fill the places in both his Hong Kong starts.

“He feels good. He’s had a gallop and a couple of trials. Hopefully we’ll have some genuine pace from the outside and I can be somewhere around midfield. He’s got great potential,” Ho said.

Australian rider Blake Shinn was disappointed when one-time Classic Mile hope Fantastic Treasure was ruled out of the race after suffering a leg injury but he’s happy to jump on the Caspar Fownes-trained Rocket Spade, who finished fourth behind older horses last time.

“I’m optimistic about his chances.” Shinn said. “I’ve got to go in confident, he’s a New Zealand Derby winner and barring one run in Hong Kong, his other two runs have been really positive and I think he’s a classy horse who has some chance in a competitive field.

“He looks like a horse who, as the distances stretch out, is going to be better, but I took a lot of encouragement out of his first-up run over 1,400m. He hit the line really strongly so that shows to me he’s got some sharpness about him.”