HONG KONG Australian import Cap Ferrat will aim to emulate some of Hong Kong racing's finest throroughbreds when he lines up in the HK$28 million (S$4.76 million) Group 1 FWD Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin on April 27.
Trained by Francis Lui, Cap Ferrat prevailed in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) on March 23, winning by a short head at odds of 25-1 (on Hong Kong tote) under visiting Australian jockey Craig Williams.
The Snitzel 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 races in Australia before, Cap Ferrat placed in two Group 1 races when trained by Chris Waller before he arrived at Sha Tin.
He finished third to Riff Rocket in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2,000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 23, 2024, and also was second to Tom Kitten in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2,000m) at Randwick on Oct 28, 2023.
Beides Riff Rocket and Tom Kitten, his Australian form also saw him mix it with other top-level winners like Ceolwulf, Southport Tycoon and Veight.
Cap Ferrat gamely posted his first career win in the BMW Hong Kong Derby from barrier 2.
On the morning of April 14, he finished fifth in a barrier trial on Sha Tin's dirt course in 1min 11.04sec over 1,200m behind Group 1-winning speedster Victor The Winner, Chancheng Glory, Invincible Shield and Everyone's Star.
"Keith (Yeung) said he was okay," said Lui.
"He trialled well and it's just to keep his condition. He's fit and happy.
"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 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," said Lui.
Williams will return to ride Cap Ferrat.
Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira is engaged to partner his stablemate Chancheng Glory in the HK$24 million Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (1,600m).
The American-bred son of Mor Spirit clocked 1min 10.36sec in his morning gallop at Sha Tin on April 14.
"He hasn't improved but he's the same like before - he is an honest horse," said Lui, who also trained Hong Kong's three-time Horse of the Year Golden Sixty.
"It's another tough race and he's consistent. Joao Moreira can help him and maybe he can surprise."
Chancheng Glory is an eight-time winner in Hong Kong. He landed the HK$4.2 million Group 3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1,800m) at Sha Tin on Jan 31, which was his biggest win to date.
Copartner Prance will represent Lui in the HK$22 million Group 1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) - 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. HKJC
