Champion jockey Zac Purton believes the best is yet to come from Cap Ferrat (127lb) as he prepares to ride the Francis Lui-trained galloper for the first time in Sunday’s HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin.

Remarkably, the sole victory on the five-year-old’s 21-race record (including 13 in Australia for trainer Chris Waller) is the 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), but Purton thinks it’s just a matter of tapping the Snitzel gelding’s potential.

“I still don’t think we’ve seen the best of Cap Ferrat yet,” Purton said. “He’s a horse that, to me, appears as if he hasn’t really committed himself 100 per cent. And if the penny drops one day, I think there’s a little bit more left.”

With the HK$130 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) approaching on 14 December, Sunday’s feature looms as a key trial for several contenders.

Purton said drawing barrier 13 doesn’t help Cap Ferrat’s chances, but remains confident of a bold run and hopes he’s found a HKIR mount.

“(The draw) is not ideal, especially for a horse like him that can overrace; they want to do a little bit too much if they see daylight for too long. But we’ll work it out.

“I’m looking for a horse to ride in the Group 1 mile races and hopefully, he’s going to be it,” Purton added.

Cap Ferrat isn’t the only BMW Hong Kong Derby champion with LONGINES HKIR ambitions on Sunday. Massive Sovereign (124lb) is another contender who has failed to build on a career-defining win in Hong Kong’s most prestigious contest.

David Eustace’s charge has seen his progress hindered by injury and surgery since his 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby triumph, limiting the five-year-old to just seven outings as he enters his third year in Hong Kong. But the British handler was pleased with Massive Sovereign’s Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse tune-up in October, finishing fourth in the Class 2 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1600m).

“We were delighted with him,” Eustace said. “He quickened up well. He’s had one run in 12 months, basically. So, he was always going to need it, and he’ll come on for it, I’m sure.”

The versatile No Nay Never gelding will be partnered by Luke Ferraris for the first time on Sunday and steps from gate four.

Meanwhile, there’s plenty of intrigue around a Douglas Whyte debutant in Sunday’s Class 2 Santa Monica Handicap (1400m).

Shanwah (115lb) arrived in Hong Kong in August on the back of some superb form in Australia, where he was trained by Ciaron Maher. The four-year-old earned over AU$753,000 (approx. HK$3.79 million) during a sensational two-month spell in Victoria, which included wins in the G2 Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) and the G2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m).

His quick integration into life in Hong Kong suggests a possible Four-Year-Old Classic Series tilt, but Whyte said the Too Darn Hot gelding is ready to get going.

“He’s a lovely horse. He’s come with some good form around him,” Whyte said. “It’s been a bit of a rushed preparation, but he’s handled everything correctly. He’s going into his first run as fit as one would want him. I think he’ll improve a lot for the outing.”

Sunday’s (9 November) 10-race Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day fixture at Sha Tin begins at 1pm with the Class 5 L’Oreal Paris Handicap (1600m).