Francis Lui celebrates second Hong Kong Derby win as maiden Cap Ferrat pulls off stunning upset

South China Morning Post

23-03-2025

Jockey Craig Williams, trainer Francis Lui (second from right) and connections of Cap Ferrat celebrate his Derby triumph. Photos: Kenneth Chan
Francis Lui Kin-wai produced a training performance for the ages to win his second BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) when Australian import Cap Ferrat broke maiden status with a stunning victory on Sunday.
Sent out a $26.7 chance after unlucky runs in the Classic Mile and Classic Cup (1,800m), Cap Ferrat lived up to his pre-import form by holding on late to narrowly beat My Wish in a pulsating finish.
After a cosy run in the box seat under Craig Williams, Cap Ferrat capitalised on an inside run to snatch the lead at the 150m and prevail by a short head from the fast-finishing My Wish.
'I still feel very excited,' said Lui after adding the triumph to his first Derby success with champion galloper Golden Sixty in 2020.
HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/OHHfz0JKlE — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025
'I watched [the replay] three times and then I got confident he won the race.'
Cap Ferrat was the first Hong Kong maiden to win the Derby in 35 years – Reliable Source landed his first victory in the city in the prestigious race in 1990 – while it's unclear if a maiden has ever won the feature.
The son of Snitzel arrived in Hong Kong as one of Australia's highest-profile maidens, having been placed in four stakes races including the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2,000m) and Group One Rosehill Guineas (2,000m).
His move to Lui started on a positive note when he ran an eye-catching second to Mickley over 1,600m in December.
However, his Classic Mile tilt was thwarted by a wide run without cover throughout when 12th behind My Wish. He then could only manage ninth behind Rubylot in the Classic Cup after working hard early from gate 10.
'The last two runs he had [wide runs] and bad luck,' Lui said.
'I checked his [Australian] record and Craig rode this horse, so he knew the horse. Today he also had a good draw [barrier two], he was very lucky and Craig knows how to ride this horse. He did a good job.'
Lui's Packing Angel ran on strongly for a close third, while the $2.9 favourite Rubylot could only manage fifth after finishing solidly without threatening.
Lui's second Derby win continued an incredible run of success for a trainer who battled in the bottom half of the championship for the first 20 years of his career.
The 66-year-old has been on the rise since Golden Sixty and he won his maiden title in remarkable fashion last year, claiming four of the last five races of the season to beat Pierre Ng Pang-chi by a solitary victory.
Cap Ferrat crowned a treble for Lui at Sha Tin, with the veteran also striking with Packing Hermod in the Class Two Rapper Dragon Handicap (1,400m) and Invincible Shield in the Class Three Werther Handicap (1,200m).
Dropped back in trip after contesting the Classic Mile and Classic Cup, Packing Hermod will be thrust into feature races in the future after his fifth win from nine starts will see him rated close to 100.
'It depends because he's had some hard racing this season and he's still young,' Lui said after Packing Hermod equalled the track record when he beat Young Champion by three-quarters of a length.
'I think he still has room to improve, this horse.'
Another Australian import, Invincible Shield, continued his impressive start to his Hong Kong career with a second straight victory.
Despite rising 11 pounds on his second-up win, the son of I Am Invincible ran on powerfully to beat Triumphant More by a length and a quarter under Ryan Moore.