The HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) is synonymous with the catchphrase “Once In A Lifetime Glory” and the 2025 staging of the Classic lived up to the billing with a sensational day of world-class racing highlighted by CAP FERRAT’s magnificent victory.
Contested in perfect weather in front of record BMW Hong Kong Derby Sha Tin attendance of 61,681, including 8,567 from the Mainland (up from 3,862 last year), the Derby provided incredible sporting theatre with only a short head separating CAP FERRAT and MY WISH with PACKING ANGEL third, a further head away.
The thrilling nature of the BMW Hong Kong Derby finish, with only two lengths covering the first seven horses across the line, crowned a fantastic day which started with a wonderful opening performance by celebrity singer Leo Ku.
The excitement and energy generated by Leo, his band and dancers set the tone for the afternoon and our strategy of developing equine tourism continues to drive positive results with 9,091 international visitors in attendance, with visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Europe joining our Mainland guests.
The meeting was broadcast to 26 different nations and regions, confirming the BMW Hong Kong Derby’s status as a race of international renown and, with Craig Williams (CAP FERRAT), Joao Moreira (PACKING ANGEL), Ryan Moore (MICKLEY), William Buick (MARKWIN) and Christophe Soumillon (NOISY BOY) riding in the Derby, it was a truly cosmopolitan event.
Francis Lui is respected as one of racing’s great quiet achievers but his portolio of success speaks loudly to sustained success. Hong Kong’s reigning champion trainer, Francis now has two BMW Hong Kong Derby triumphs with all-time great GOLDEN SIXTY and CAP FERRAT.
Francis’ effort to produce CAP FERRAT – who had started 16 times (in Australia and Hong Kong) without winning – in peak form in the race every owner, trainer and jockey wants to win was a masterstroke in preparation.
Craig Williams’ ride was absolutely perfect from barrier two, sitting in third and fourth place and never leaving the rail and timing CAP FERRAT’s final effort with incredible precision. I congratulate the owner Karen Lo Ki Yan and wish her all the best with CAP FERRAT going forward.
The track was presented in wonderful order by our team and horses were able to run fast times throughout the day with feedback from jockeys confirming the conditions were ideal.
While all honours are with Francis and Craig, the run of MY WISH was amazing for Mark Newnham and Luke Ferraris from barrier 14. Taken back to last, MY WISH ran his last 400m in 21.39s – which is the fastest 400m sectional recorded at Sha Tin in a 2000m race.
To put that effort into context, MY WISH’s blistering final 400m surpasses the best times of some of Hong Kong’s greatest horses including CALIFORNIA MEMORY (21.42s), AMBITIOUS DRAGON (21.75s), DESIGNS ON ROME (21.82s), GOLDEN SIXTY (21.83s), MILITARY ATTACK (21.85s) and PAKISTAN STAR (21.95s) over the same course and distance.
MY WISH was the outstanding performer across the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series with victory in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and seconds in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and BMW Hong Kong Derby.
It will be fascinating to follow his career and, having already won at 1200m, 1400m and 1600m and running extremely well at 1800m and 2000m, MY WISH has shown himself to be very versatile.
The BMW Hong Kong Derby has proved itself as the launching pad for future Group 1 winners with the success of ROMANTIC WARRIOR, GOLDEN SIXTY, VOYAGE BUBBLE and CALIFORNIA SPANGLE, among others, and I am hopeful this season’s crop can advance to elite success going forward.
At Sha Tin’s all-dirt meeting on Wednesday night (26 March), the Class 3 Flamingo Handicap is carded as Race 8 and is run over 1650m at 10.15pm with prizemoney of HK$2,050,000.
The pace will be good to fast with TELECOM FIGHTERS (Angus Chung) going forward from barrier 12 to sit outside the likely leader ARIEL (Britney Wong), who has gate seven. FLAMING TRILLION (Derek Leung) will hold a spot on the speed from gate two, with NEW FOREST (Matthew Chadwick) and YOUNG BRILLIANT (Jerry Chau) also in the leading group.
NEVER PETER OUT (Keith Yeung) has been in brilliant form over this distance and surface culminating in a winning hat-trick when he beat FIGHTING MACHINE on 12 February when he sat just behind the leaders and ran home well to score. At his only run since, NEVER PETER OUT he again settled behind the speed and fought on in the straight to be fourth to ARIEL on 2 March. He looks to be holding his form and is a win and place chance again.
PERFECT TEAM (Ellis Wong) performs well on this surface and settled midfield and ran home well in the straight to beat TALENTS AMBITION on 26 January. He was unplaced at Happy Valley at his subsequent run but then was an excellent second to ARIEL on 2 March, settling midfield and making a sustained three-wide run. PERFECT TEAM is a place chance.
ARIEL is building a good record on dirt and has won two of his last four starts. Most recently, he went straight to the lead when ridden by Britney Wong for the first time and kept running in the straight to easily beat PERFECT TEAM. Britney should be able to find the front again on ARIEL and he is a place chance.
FIGHTING MACHINE (Harry Bentley) has had six runs on the surface without winning but has finished in the top three on five occasions. He was narrowly beaten when runner-up to NEVER PETER OUT on 12 February when he drew wide and was then third to ARIEL when he ran on after being midfield coming to the turn. FIGHTING MACHINE was never a chance from a wide gate at his latest run behind HONG LOK GOLF when he went back and didn’t make any impression. Back to this surface and from a good draw in gate three, FIGHTING MACHINE is a place chance.
There are a number of other runners with place chances including BUNDLE OF CHARM (Hugh Bowman) and LUCKY TOUCH (Karis Teetan), who are racing well, and NEW FOREST who trialled well at Conghua on 13 March and has a prefect draw.
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