Cap Ferrat will aim to join one of Hong Kong racing’s most exclusive and esteemed clubs when he lines up in Sunday week’s (27 April) HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.
Trained by Francis Lui, Cap Ferrat prevailed in last month’s HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) by a short head at odds of $25 under Craig Williams, and the four-year-old is chanced with becoming the sixth horse to complete the Derby-QEII Cup double in the same season after Vengeance Of Rain (2005), Ambitious Dragon (2011), Designs On Rome (2014), Werther (2016) and Romantic Warrior (2022).
Well-versed with four starts in Hong Kong and 13 pre-import in Australia, Cap Ferrat placed in Group 1 races before arriving at Sha Tin. His Australian form saw him mix it with top-level winners Ceolwulf, Tom Kitten, Riff Rocket, Southport Tycoon and Veight.
He gamely landed the BMW Hong Kong Derby from barrier two—his first career win—while this morning (Monday, 14 April) he finished fifth in a barrier trial on Sha Tin’s dirt course in 1m 11.04s over 1200m behind Group 1-winning speedster Victor The Winner, Chancheng Glory, Invincible Shield, and Everyone’s Star.
“Keith (Yeung) said he was ok. He trialled well, and it’s just to keep his condition. He’s fit and happy,” Lui said. “I think it’s a tough race. He won the Derby, but we don’t know his quality yet and what grade.”
After being supplemented to run in the FWD QEII Cup, Cap Ferrat is expected to face seasoned Group 1 winners Goliath, Tastiera, El Vencedor, and more.
“It’s open age now, and he will face international horses. I think he can do something, but we don’t know. It’ll be an exciting race,” Lui said.
Williams returns to ride Cap Ferrat. Joao Moreira is engaged to partner stablemate Chancheng Glory in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).
The American-bred son of Mor Spirit clocked 1m 10.36s this morning at Sha Tin.
“He hasn’t improved, but he’s the same as before—he is an honest horse. It’s another tough race, and he’s consistent. Joao Moreira can help him, and maybe he can surprise,” Lui said.
Chancheng Glory is an eight-time winner in Hong Kong. He landed the HK$4.2 million G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin in January—his biggest win to date.
Copartner Prance represents Lui in the HK$22 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) against the might of the world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising, completing the trainer’s big-race trio on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin.
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