Cap Ferrat sheds maiden tag in a Hong Kong Derby upset
HONG KONG - Craig Williams produced one of the finest rides of a decorated career, guiding Cap Ferrat to a narrow victory in a gripping HK$26 million (S$4.47 million) BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on a day of triumph for Francis Lui at Sha Tin on March 23.
Winless in 13 Australian starts and three more in Hong Kong until the big race on March 23, the Snitzel gelding hugged the rails throughout in fourth position after jumping from barrier 2 and never went around another horse.
He held off My Wish (Luke Ferraris) by a short head, with Packing Angel (Joao Moreira) a further head away in third. The winning time was 2min 00.67sec.
Hong Kong Classic Mile winner My Wish was taken back to last from gate 14 and was forced to make a sustained sprint from the 800m, clocking a race-best 21.39sec for the final 400m.
Lo Rider (Hugh Bowman) finished fourth after attempting to lead all the way. He was closely followed by Rubylot (Brenton Avdulla), Johannes Brahms (Andrea Atzeni) and Bundle Award (Ben Thompson), who all finished within two lengths of Cap Ferrat.
Hong Kong's reigning champion trainer, Lui dominated the meeting with a treble - scoring with Cap Ferrat, Packing Hermod and Invincible Shield.
Previously trained by Chris Waller in Sydney, Cap Ferrat was placed twice in Group 1 races in Australia behind Tom Kitten and Riff Rocket.
But he was sent off as a 25-1 chance ($133 on the Singapore Pools tote) after finishing 12th and ninth in the first two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series - the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1,600m) and the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1,800m).
Williams praised Lui for the four-year-old's stunning form reversal.
"He's never won a race ever until today, full credit has got to go to Francis Lui and his team and the owners of this horse for entrusting Francis with him," he said.
"I rode him three weeks ago, and I said 'You have a lot of work to do' (because) I thought he was really gross, really full of himself.
"It's certainly a special win. It's such a prestigious race in Hong Kong. Francis rang me, he was at the Sydney yearling sales and I was on the Gold Coast and he said 'Would you like to come and ride Cap Ferrat?'
"I rode him when he was in Australia and I liked the horse. He had good 10-furlong form, he had two runs in Hong Kong - one was really good and one not so good...
"I rode him a few weeks ago and said 'if you get him right, Francis, we know he's got the right form and the capability', but it's clearly up to Francis and his stable.
"When he walked into the yard, the way he performed and he won, that's why Francis is such a great trainer. Full credit has got to go to Francis Lui, his team and obviously the horse.
"To win this great race, with my wife (Larysa) here, for trainer Francis Lui who gave me such a great opportunity when I first started here, and of course being such a great race here in Hong Kong, it's very, very special."
Williams, who has snared most of Australia's prestigious races and has ridden successfully in Japan, Great Britain, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore and Malaysia, took his Hong Kong tally to 126 wins.
"It's great riding all around the world. Hong Kong is a place where I was very fortunate to get a contract and it made me the rider and the person I am today," Williams said of his stints from 2003 to 2005 and in the 2018/19 season.
Lui, who was triumphant with Golden Sixty in the 2020 Hong Kong Derby, said: "I still feel very excited. At his last two runs, he (Cap Ferrat) had bad draws and bad luck.
"I checked his record and Craig rode this horse (in Australia), so he knew the horse.
"Today, he also has a good draw. He was very lucky and Craig knows how to ride this horse. He did a good job."
Lui's Packing Hermod equalled Encouraging's Sha Tin 1,400m course record, clocking 1min 19.92sec after winning the Class 2 Rapper Dragon Handicap (1,400m) under Moreira, before stablemate Invincible Shield landed the Class 3 Werther Handicap (1,200m) for Ryan Moore.
Moreira sealed a double with the Frankie Lor-trained Master Trillion's success in the Class 4 Fay Fay Handicap (1,600m), after the Cody Mo-trained Lucky Planet dictated from the front to win the Class 4 Ping Hai Star Handicap (1,200m) under Matthew Chadwick.
Antoine Hamelin piloted Sky Deep to victory in the Class 4 Sky Darci Handicap (1,400m) for Caspar Fownes. Sky Deep is raced by the Kwan family, who also owned 2001 Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci.
Size (46 wins) extended his lead in the Hong Kong trainers' championship to six over David Hayes (38) with a double.
He combined with Moore to win the Class 4 Luger Handicap (1,400m) with debutante Super Express, and Williams with Endeared in the Class 3 Ambitious Dragon Handicap (1,400m).
Michael Chang and Derek Leung joined forces with Lady's Choice to win the Class 3 Furore Handicap (1,200m).
Pierre Ng closed the meeting with Packing Turbine's victory under Andrea Atzeni in the Class 3 Designs On Rome Handicap (1,800m), earning a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.
HKJC
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