Steeped in history boasting an honour roll full of future champions, the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) is seen as the ultimate prize for owners in Hong Kong, a storied race which will be run for the 148th time this Sunday (23 March) at Sha Tin.  

Vengeance Of Rain (2005), Viva Pataca (2006), Ambitious Dragon (2011), Designs On Rome (2014), Rapper Dragon (2017), Romantic Warrior (2022) and Voyage Bubble (2023) are just a few big names to secure success in the Classic since the turn of the century, as well as Francis Lui’s superstar Golden Sixty (2020), and the trainer saddles Packing Angel, Cap Ferrat and Steps Ahead in search of a second triumph this weekend.

Lui, 66, received his own licence to train in 1996/97. He rode 36 winners as a jockey between 1975 and 1982 before becoming an assistant trainer, and found notoriety with sprinter Lucky Bubbles before the arrival of three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty (2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23) – a subsequent 10-time Group 1 winner.

Triple-handed in Sunday’s 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby – the final leg of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series – last season’s Hong Kong Champion Trainer (2023/24) Lui is hoping to turn a vision into reality for connections with Derby glory. 

“It’s the owner’s dream for their four-year-old horses. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance and it’s a very special race. Hopefully, I can win it again this year,” Lui said.

A prolific winner in Hong Kong with 965 career wins, Lui hopes Packing Angel’s fourth place in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) can unlock further stamina and development when the gelding faces Sunday’s testing 10 furlongs. 

Two-time BMW Hong Kong Derby-winning rider Joao Moreira is in the plate when Packing Angel steps from gate six. ‘Magic Man’ Moreira has won 1,236 races in Hong Kong and was a four-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey (2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 & 2020/21) throughout his time competing on a full-time basis in the city.

“He’s up-and-coming. He’s a good horse,” Lui said. “He only had six runs before the Classic Cup and he just went straight from 1400 to 1800 (metres), which is a little bit much for a young horse. I hope in his last run he learned a little bit more and Joao also knows him.” 

Moreira previously won the BMW Hong Kong Derby with Rapper Dragon and Sky Darci (2021), while Australian fly-in rider Craig Williams is seeking his first when he links with Lui aboard Cap Ferrat – a maiden in Hong Kong and also pre-import in Australia.

“He’s drawn barrier two which is a good draw. The connections expected it, they’re happy. I think he has a chance. He had a bad draw (10) and he had to use him a little bit more in front last time,” Lui said. “It’s much easier to relax him from gate two. Hopefully, we can find a good position.”

Formerly trained by Chris Waller in Australia, Cap Ferrat has form around Group 1 winners Ceolwulf, Riff Rocket, Southport Tycoon, Veight and Tom Kitten, who captured the recent G1 All Star Mile (1600m) over Mr Brightside at Flemington in Melbourne.

Cap Ferrat – winless across 13 runs Down Under – placed second in the 2023 G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) behind Tom Kitten at Randwick. The Snitzel gelding was second first-up over a mile at Sha Tin before two unplaced runs in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Classic Cup, respectively.

Uncomplicated galloper Steps Ahead has three wins in Hong Kong and comes into Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby after a fifth placing in the Hong Kong Classic Cup.

Steps Ahead jumps from barrier 13, and Lui said: “He’s an honest horse and he’s in good form. He always tries hard and you never know.”

Lyle Hewitson goes for a first BMW Hong Kong Derby win with Steps Ahead. Rubylot, My Wish, Johannes Brahms, Stunning Peach, Bundle Award, Mickley, Noisy Boy, Californiatotality, Markwin, Lo Rider and Beauty Alliance complete the field.

Sunday’s (23 March) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin commences at 1pm with the Class 4 Luger Handicap (1400m), while the HK$26 million 148th BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) is carded as Race 7 at 4.05pm.