The moment of destiny is almost upon the 14 horses and their connections as we prepare to celebrate the 2025 HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (23 March), when “Once in a lifetime glory” awaits the victor.
After months of planning and hoping, ultimate success in the Classic coveted by every owner, jockey and trainer in Hong Kong will be decided in a career-defining and – in some cases – life-changing test of stamina.
The BMW Hong Kong Derby honour roll offers not only a telling guide into the future, but also reflects the calibre of horse required to succeed with champions such as ROMANTIC WARRIOR, GOLDEN SIXTY and VOYAGE BUBBLE having triumphed since 2020 alone.
VENGEANCE OF RAIN, VIVA PATACA, AMBITIOUS DRAGON and RAPPER DRAGON are also part of the BMW Hong Kong Derby’s rich tapestry and help illustrate what this race is so meaningful in this city – and, increasingly, on the international stage.
With a history dating back to 1873, the BMW Hong Kong Derby will this season be contested by nine horses from Australia, two from Ireland, two from Great Britain and one from New Zealand and features some of the finest bloodlines in the world.
The global interest in the race is reflected in a broadcasting transmission to 26 overseas nations and regions, while international jockeys Ryan Moore, Christophe Soumillon, Joao Moreira, Craig Williams and William Buick will travel to Sha Tin to vie with Hong Kong’s best available riders.
BMW has been a wonderful supporter of the Derby since 2013 and I thank them for their fabulous on-going involvement. I would like to wish the very best of luck to all connections, especially the owners who have committed significant resources in securing the best available horses to run in the Derby, which is truly a highlight of the Hong Kong racing season.
The BMW Hong Kong Derby is carded as Race 7 at 4.05pm at Sha Tin on Sunday (23 March) and is run over 2000m with prizemoney of HK$26 million, making it one of the richest Derbies in the world.
The race always produces a competitive contest with the biggest winning margin in the past five years no greater than a neck and this year looks one of the most open for some time.
The stepping up in distance from 1800m to 2000m will further test the stamina of the runners and the starting position in front of the grandstand with a big crowd as well as the short run to the first bend and the search to find a good position leads to a different rhythm with jockeys trying to position their horses to avoid being caught wide.
The two winners of the first two legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – RUBYLOT as the winner of the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and MY WISH as winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – are both working very well, as are JOHANNES BRAHMS and PACKING ANGEL, who were third and fourth in the Hong Kong Classic Cup. They are all in good form and based on their handicap ratings are good chances to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby, the race of “Once in a lifetime glory.”
The pace is expected to be good with CALIFORNIATOTALITY (James Orman), STEPS AHEAD (Lyle Hewitson) and MY WISH (Luke Ferraris) likely to go forward from wide barriers in the short run to the first turn. BEAUTY ALLIANCE (Alexis Badel) will also settle close to the lead, along with PACKING ANGEL (Joao Moreira).
RUBYLOT (Brenton Avdulla) was ridden patiently in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, settling at the tail of the field before moving into the three-wide line about 1000m from home. RUBYLOT came to the outside in the straight and finished quickly in the last 200m to sweep past MY WISH, clocking his last 400m in 22.30s. RUBYLOT gives the impression he will run out the 2000m and, from a perfect draw, he is my first choice as a win and place chance.
BUNDLE AWARD (Ben Thompson) was very impressive beating MARKWIN over 1800m on 9 March, when he settled at the back of the field and was still last on the home turn, coming widest in the straight to storm past all his rivals to win running away from a very good field. BUNDLE AWARD finished the last 400m in 22.11s and the last 200m in 11.18s, which is impressive. The determination of Ben Thompson to be successful in Hong Kong has been rewarded with not only a ride in the race, but on a live chance in the BMW Hong Kong Derby. BUNDLE AWARD is also a win and place chance.
MY WISH has drawn the outside gate and may be able to follow STEPS AHEAD across and slot into a good position, one off the fence, in the front half of the field. MY WISH beat DIVANO in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and ran well again for second in the Hong Kong Classic Cup behind RUBYLOT. Luke has to make a difficult choice from his draw in gate 14 to go forward or drop back to the end of the field. Looking at his past performances when having wide draws, he went forward – which I will assume will be the case on Sunday. The wide gate has made his task a little more difficult but MY WISH is a place chance.
JOHANNES BRAHMS (Andrea Atzeni) and PACKING ANGEL both ran well in the Hong Kong Classic Cup to finish third and fourth, respectively. JOHANNES BRAHMS got further back than expected and made good ground late with PACKING ANGEL settling worse than midfield on the fence before running on down the middle of the track when clear in the straight. Both have place claims.
John Size has three runners in the race – MICKLEY (Ryan Moore), BUNDLE AWARD and BEAUTY ALLIANCE. The latter two both come into the race on the back of impressive last start win with BEAUTY ALLIANCE producing an outstanding performance to race on the speed and sweep to the front on the home turn, racing away from FALLON and NORTHERN BEAST at Happy Valley over 1800m on 12 March to win in fast time. BEAUTY ALLIANCE is a place chance.
MARKWIN (William Buick) is an Hong Kong International Sales Griffin (ISG) and he ran on well behind BUNDLE AWARD, also making ground in the straight and he looks to emulate the deeds of ROMANTIC WARRIOR as an ISG in winning the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
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