Tony Cruz is adamant Californiatotality can play a major role in next month’s Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) after the four-year-old emerged victorious from a dramatic race at Sha Tin on Sunday.

As carnage ensued in the Class Three TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine 3 Handicap (1,800m) with Legend St Paul’s, Silvery Breeze and Lupo Solitario falling in the straight, Californiatotality stayed out of trouble to boost his claims for the next two legs of the Classic Series.

Sent forward from barrier 10 to stalk the leader Pray For Mir, Californiatotality got the upper hand late under Brenton Avdulla to add to his reputation as a stayer in the making.

Cruz, a two-time Derby winner as a trainer, is eyeing the Classic Cup (1,800m) on March 2 before the city’s most prestigious race, the HK$26 million Derby on March 23, with the son of Zoustar.

“We’ll see what his rating goes to, but hopefully I can run him in the Classic Cup,” Cruz said.

“He’s aiming for that race, that’s for sure. Then from there hopefully it’s the Derby, too. He’s crying out for 2,000m and he’s an improving horse.”

Fellow Derby aspirant Pray For Mir kicked clear early in the straight and looked a top winning prospect, but Californiatotality wore him down to take the lead just before the 50m and score by three-quarters of a length.

Another Derby hopeful, Packing Turbine, improved on his recent form to run third.

Silvery Breeze, the $2.3 favourite, was working into the race nicely before Legend St Paul’s went amiss and fell into his path in the straight.

Californiatotality improved his record to five wins from 16 starts. He has notched three wins and two placings from his six starts this season.

“He’s very honest,” Cruz said. “The 1,800m might actually be on the short side for him.

“I really think he’s a good 2,000m and above horse. I’m happy with his win today.”

Californiatotality landed the first leg of a race-to-race double for Cruz, with Righteous Arion proving too strong under replacement rider Alexis Badel to win the Class Three TVB Heroes In White Handicap (1,200m).

Badel got the late call-up for the mount after Angus Chung Yik-lai fell from Legend St Paul’s in the previous race.

Righteous Arion outlasted the $2.2 favourite Hong Lok Golf, who was unbeaten from his first two starts, by a neck to bag his first Sha Tin triumph.

Elsewhere, Derby prospect Sky Trust was first past the post in the Class Three TVB The Fading Gold Handicap (1,400m) but lost the race to Winning Gold on objection.

Stewards upheld the objection from Winning Gold’s jockey Karis Teetan, alleging interference from Hugh Bowman’s mount Sky Trust in the straight.

The two four-year-olds raced tightly and made contact in the final 100m, with stewards ruling interference from the Caspar Fownes-trained Sky Trust cost Chris So Wai-yin’s Winning Gold victory.

The result sealed a double for Teetan, who earlier won the Class Four TVB Pok Oi Charity Show Handicap (1,200m) on the Dennis Yip Chor-hong-trained Super Love.