Cap Ferrat ($53.40) surprises with nose victory in Hong Kong Derby

Cap Ferrat, winless in 13 starts in Australia in 2023 and 2024 and in three starts in Hong Kong since mid-December, delivered a shocking result with a nose win in Sunday’s $3.34 million Hong Kong Derby for 4-year-olds at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong.

Cap Ferrat ($53.40) won a three-horse photo. My Wish (5-1) rallied to finish a close second, a head in front of 5-1 Packing Angel. Rubylot, the 9-5 favorite, was beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the field of 14.

Cap Ferrat was ridden by Australia-based Craig Williams for the first time since a third in the Phoenix Stakes at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia, in June 2023.

In the Hong Kong Derby at 1 1/4 miles on turf, Cap Ferrat was always near the front, stalking the pace while racing in fourth and then third through the first seven furlongs. Williams kept Cap Ferrat on the rail in the stretch and had an uninterrupted trip.

My Wish, who raced at the back of the field early, unleashed a tremendous rally in the final furlong to just miss reaching the front.

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Cap Ferrat, trained by Francis Liu, is a gelding by Snitzel, who had a remarkable weekend as an international stallion.

Snitzel is the sire of Marhoona, a filly who won the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday. The $3.16 million Golden Slipper is the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds.

In Australia, Cap Ferrat was second in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds in October 2023, and third in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas last March. Both of those races were run at 1 1/4 miles.

The Hong Kong Derby is the final leg of a Triple Crown for 4-year-olds. Earlier this year, Cap Ferrat finished 12th in the Hong Kong Classic Mile on Jan. 31, and ninth in the Hong Kong Classic Cup at 1 1/8 miles on March 2.

Liu was the leading trainer in Australia for the 2023-2024 season. Through Sunday, he is ranked fourth with 33 wins, 11 behind leader John Size.

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