Craig Williams produced one of the finest rides of a decorated career to guide Cap Ferrat to a narrow victory in a gripping HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on a day of triumph for Francis Lui at Sha Tin on Sunday (23 March).

Winless in 13 Australian starts and three more in Hong Kong until today, the Snitzel gelding hugged the rail throughout in fourth position after jumping from barrier two and never went around another horse before holding off My Wish (Luke Ferraris) by a short head, with Packing Angel (Joao Moreira) a further head away third in 2m 00.67s.

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 21.39s for the final 400m.

Lo Rider (Hugh Bowman) finished fourth after attempting to lead all the way, 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.

Formerly trained by Chris Waller in Sydney, Cap Ferrat was twice Group 1-placed in Australia behind Tom Kitten and Riff Rocket but was sent off as a 25/1 chance after moderate efforts in finishing 12th and ninth in the first two legs of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m).

Williams, 47, 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 because 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,” the Australian said.

“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 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 – and I said ‘I’d love to come over and ride him for you’.

“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 most prestigious races as well as riding 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 stints in 2003 to 2005 and 2018/19.

Triumphant with Golden Sixty in the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby, Lui said: “I still feel very excited. The 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 1400m course record, clocking 1m 19.92s in winning the Class 2 Rapper Dragon Handicap (1400m) under Joao Moreira before stablemate Invincible Shield landed the Class 3 Werther Handicap (1200m) for Ryan Moore.

Moreira sealed a double with Frankie Lor-trained Master Trillion’s success in the Class 4 Fay Fay Handicap (1600m) after Cody Mo-trained Lucky Planet dictated from the front to win the Class 4 Ping Hai Star Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Chadwick.

Antoine Hamelin piloted Sky Deep to victory in the Class 4 Sky Darci Handicap (1400m) for Caspar Fownes and Antoine Hamelin. Sky Deep is raced by the Kwan family, who also owned 2021 BMW 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, combining with Moore to win the Class 4 Luger Handicap (1400m) with three-year-old debutante Super Express and Williams with Endeared in the Class 3 Ambitious Dragon Handicap (1400m).

Michael Chang and Derek Leung joined forces with Lady’s Choice to win the Class 3 Furore Handicap (1200m) before Pierre Ng closed the meeting with Packing Turbine’s victory under Andrea Atzeni in the Class 3 Designs On Rome Handicap (1800m), earning a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Wednesday night (26 March).