Cap Ferrat stuns with BMW Hong Kong Derby triumph

Guided by the experienced Australian jockey Craig Williams, the son of Snitzel triumphed in the 2000-meter turf race at Sha Tin

Cap Ferrat hugged the rails to secure a great victory / HKJC

SHA TIN, Hong Kong (Special for Turf Diario) – Craig Williams showcased all his talent and experience to guide Cap Ferrat to a narrow victory in the thrilling BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000 m), a race worth HK$26 million, on a historic day for Francis Lui last Sunday at Sha Tin.

Having no wins in 13 starts in Australia and only three in Hong Kong prior, the Snitzel colt made the most of his draw from gate 2, always running close to the rails in fourth position, never needing to pass any rival on the outside. In a high-voltage finish, he held off the late charge from My Wish (Flying Artie) by a minimal margin, while Packing Angel (Shocking), ridden by Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira, finished third, another neck back. The final time was 2m06s.

My Wish, winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile, was forced to start from the challenging 14th position and found himself at the back of the pack. He launched a long effort from the 800 meters, finishing in 21.39 seconds for the last 400 meters, the fastest split of the race.

Lui, the reigning champion trainer in Hong Kong, was the star of the day, celebrating a treble with victories from Cap Ferrat, Packing Hermod (Rubick), and Invincible Shield (I Am Invincible).

Cap Ferrat, bred in Australia and previously trained by Chris Waller in Sydney, had achieved two G1 placings in his home country. However, his previous performances in Hong Kong hadn’t been promising, with a 12th and a 9th place in the first two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series—the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600 m) and the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800 m), each with a purse of HK$13 million. This led to him being considered an outsider for the Derby, with odds of 25/1.

At 47 years old, Williams highlighted Francis Lui's work in the impressive turnaround of Cap Ferrat.

"I never won a race until today. All credit goes to Francis Lui, his team, and the owners of this horse for believing in him. I rode him three weeks ago and told them, ‘There’s a lot of work to do’ because I felt he was too heavy and a bit full of himself," commented the experienced Australian jockey.

"This victory is very special. It’s a race of immense prestige in Hong Kong. Francis called me when I was at the yearling sales in Sydney, and I was in the Gold Coast. He asked, ‘Would you like to come and ride Cap Ferrat?’ I had already ridden him in Australia and always liked the horse. He had good form over 2000 meters, although his two previous runs in Hong Kong had been a good one and a not-so-good one. I told him, ‘I’d love to come and ride him for you’."

"Some weeks ago I said, ‘If you put him in his best condition, we know he has the form and ability to do it,’ but clearly the credit goes to Francis and his team. When I saw him in the paddock and then how he ran and won, I understood why Francis is such a great trainer. All the credit goes to him, his team, and, of course, the horse."

"Winning this race with my wife (Larysa) here, for Francis Lui, who gave me such a great opportunity when I first came, and in such an important race in Hong Kong, makes it even more special," he added.

With a brilliant international career, Williams has conquered major races in Australia and has also achieved success in Japan, Great Britain, Ireland, Malaysia, and Singapore. With his victory in the Derby, his tally in Hong Kong rose to 126 wins.

"It’s fantastic to be able to compete around the world. Hong Kong is a place where I was fortunate enough to get a contract, and it helped me become the jockey and person I am today," he concluded, referring to his time in the local racing scene between 2003 and 2005 and in the 2018/19 season.

Francis Lui, winner of the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby with the unforgettable Golden Sixty (Medaglia D'Oro), couldn’t hide his happiness after Cap Ferrat's win.

"I still feel very emotional. In his last two races, he had bad starts and some bad luck. I reviewed his campaign and saw that Craig had already ridden him in Australia, so he knew the horse well," explained the trainer.

"Today, he had a good position at the start, was lucky, and Craig knew exactly how to ride him. He did a great job," he highlighted.