The BMW Hong Kong Derby is the most prestigious race on the Hong Kong racing calendar and the ultimate prize for the city’s four-year-old thoroughbreds. Contested over 2000 metres at Sha Tin Racecourse, the Derby represents the climax of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which begins with the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 1 February before progressing to the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 1 March. The 149th running of the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby takes place on 22 March 2026, offering connections the chance to etch their names into racing history and achieve once-in-a-lifetime glory. Entry into the Classic Series is restricted to the season’s highest-rated four-year-olds.

In the first instalment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Road to the Derby series, we take an in-depth look at the credentials of Brazilian import Sagacious Life.

With less than six weeks until the first leg of the 2025/26 Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 1 February, and ultimately with the 149th HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March on the horizon, Sagacious Life has quickly established himself as one of the city’s highest-rated four-year-olds.

With victory in the G1 Derby Paulista (2400m) in late 2024 among four pre-import successes when named Navio Fantasma in Brazil, Sagacious Life has strong credentials. The gelding also finished second in the first two legs of the Sao Paulo Triple Crown for three-year-olds – the G1 Ipiranga (1600m) and the G1 Jockey Club de Sao Paulo (2000m).

Secured by Hong Kong owner Leslie Lui, Sagacious Life quickly provided Lui with a significant return on his investment by saluting on his Hong Kong debut at Sha Tin at the end of October.

By taking out the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1600m) and banking a HK$3 million Private Purchase Bonus for his troubles, Sagacious Life has already accrued just shy of HK$5 million in prize money.

Overlooked for his first run in the city, the son of Put It Back was sent off at odds of 32/1 under a feather weight of 108lb thanks to Britney Wong’s apprentice claim.

After travelling midfield on the fence, Sagacious Life left it late to unleash a withering burst and nail Steps Ahead by a short head on the line.

After being handed a rating of 80 on arrival in Hong Kong, Sagacious Life jumped to a mark of 90 and trainer Pierre Ng now has the luxury of navigating his way to the Four-Year-Old Classic Series without having to worry about points.

Sagacious Life wins on debut.

“He won the first race, which makes it so much easier,” Ng said. “We don’t have to put pressure on the horse to increase his rating, and it puts us in a very comfortable place. He can have an easy path to the four-year-old series now.”

Sagacious Life finished sixth after a torrid trip under James McDonald in another Class 2 1600m contest at Sha Tin last month, and Ng plans to give his charge one more start at eight furlongs – likely at Sha Tin on 4 January – before tackling the Hong Kong Classic Mile.

“Before the first race, we definitely knew he’d stay a longer trip than a mile from his form in Brazil, so his win first up was a nice surprise,” Ng said. “In that second race, he still ran an okay race – he didn’t get a clear run and he was coming late to finish off well.

“Later on, the trip won’t matter for him – he will just get better as we step up in trip. He looks pretty handy.

“We’ll give him one more race in a Class 2 mile. We don’t want to step him up in distance yet because he’ll start in the Classic Mile before going to the (Hong Kong) Classic Cup (1800m) and Hong Kong Derby. As he gets more experience, he should stay all the way up to 2000m.”

Also worth noting for Hong Kong racing fans is that the galloper who defeated Sagacious Life in the Ipiranga and Jockey Club de Sao Paulo, Opazo, is now in Hong Kong as well.

Renamed Winfield, that horse has yet to race for new trainer Mark Newnham, but has twice been seen at the trials as he builds towards his Hong Kong debut.

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