Craig Williams delivered a tactical masterclass to guide Cap Ferrat to an unforgettable victory in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (March 23). In a day to remember for champion trainer Francis Lui, the longshot gelding pulled off a remarkable upset, holding off My Wish (Luke Ferraris) by a short head, with Packing Angel (Joao Moreira) just behind in third.

Winless in 16 career starts—13 in Australia and three in Hong Kong—Cap Ferrat’s breakthrough win was a lesson in patience and precision. Jumping from barrier two, Williams kept him tucked along the rail in fourth, never venturing wide, before surging home in 2m 00.67s.

The race’s pre-race favorite, My Wish, faced a nightmare trip after being dropped to last from gate 14. Forced to unleash a long, sustained run from 800m out, he produced a scorching 21.39s final 400m, but it wasn’t enough to catch Cap Ferrat.

Lo Rider (Hugh Bowman) led for much of the race before fading late to finish fourth, with Rubylot (Brenton Avdulla), Johannes Brahms (Andrea Atzeni), and Bundle Award (Ben Thompson) all finishing within two lengths of the winner.

A Career-Defining Ride from Craig Williams

At 47, Williams has conquered racing’s biggest stages across the world, and this win was another feather in his cap. He credited Lui and his team for Cap Ferrat’s transformation.

 “This horse had never won a race until today, so full credit to Francis Lui and his owners for trusting him,” Williams said.
“When I rode him three weeks ago, he felt heavy and needed work. But Francis got him right, and today, he walked into the yard looking the part.”

Williams’ connection with Cap Ferrat dates back to his Group 1-placed runs in Australia, where he chased home Tom Kitten and Riff Rocket. Those form lines hinted at talent, but his Hong Kong runs had been underwhelming, finishing 12th in the Classic Mile and 9th in the Classic Cup.

Despite those struggles, Williams accepted Lui’s invitation to return to Hong Kong for the Derby ride.

“Francis called me from the Sydney yearling sales while I was on the Gold Coast and asked if I’d ride him. I liked this horse back in Australia, and I knew he had 10-furlong form. It was just a matter of unlocking it.”

Francis Lui’s Derby Magic

This victory marks Lui’s second Hong Kong Derby success, having triumphed in 2020 with Golden Sixty. The trainer admitted Cap Ferrat had been unlucky in his previous two runs.

 “The draws were bad, and things didn’t go his way. But Craig knew the horse well, and from barrier two, everything fell into place.”

Lui wasn’t done celebrating—his stable landed a treble on the day, with Packing Hermod equaling a Sha Tin 1400m course record (1m 19.92s) in the Class 2 Rapper Dragon Handicap (1400m) under Moreira. Invincible Shield then completed the trainer’s haul with victory in the Class 3 Werther Handicap (1200m) under Ryan Moore.

More Winners and Milestones

Joao Moreira also bagged a double, teaming up with Frankie Lor to win the Class 4 Fay Fay Handicap (1600m) aboard Master Trillion. Other highlights included:

Lucky Planet (Matthew Chadwick) led all the way for Cody Mo in the Class 4 Ping Hai Star Handicap (1200m)

Sky Deep (Antoine Hamelin, Caspar Fownes) won the Class 4 Sky Darci Handicap (1400m), continuing the Kwan family’s legacy after Sky Darci’s 2021 Derby win

John Size (46 wins) extended his lead in the trainers’ championship with a double, thanks to Super Express (Ryan Moore) in the Class 4 Luger Handicap (1400m) and Endeared (Craig Williams) in the Class 3 Ambitious Dragon Handicap (1400m)

Lady’s Choice (Derek Leung, Michael Chang) took the Class 3 Furore Handicap (1200m)

Packing Turbine (Andrea Atzeni, Pierre Ng) claimed the Class 3 Designs On Rome Handicap (1800m), landing a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus

Williams’ Hong Kong Legacy

With this win, Williams takes his Hong Kong career tally to 126 victories, having first ridden in the city between 2003-05 and again in 2018-19.

“Hong Kong racing shaped me as a rider and as a person. It’s special to win here, especially in a race of this stature,” he said.

As the dust settles on another BMW Hong Kong Derby, Cap Ferrat’s fairytale breakthrough will be remembered as one of the great training feats by Francis Lui—and one of the finest rides of Craig Williams’ career.