Francis Lui is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge awaiting Cap Ferrat, but the seasoned trainer believes his Derby winner is gradually working his way back towards peak condition ahead of Hong Kong’s premier spring meeting at Sha Tin later this month.
FWD Champions Mile 2026
The HK$24 million Group 1 contest over 1600 metres, one of three headline races on Champions Day (Sunday, 26 April), has assembled a field of rare depth. Proven elite performers Voyage Bubble, Lucky Sweynesse, Red Lion, Jantar Mantar and Docklands are all expected to line up, joined by progressive four-year-olds Invincible Ibis and Little Paradise, as well as the Group 1-placed Galaxy Patch.
Cap Ferrat, a son of Snitzel, returns to the mile still in the process of rebuilding after a disrupted campaign. Winner of the 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby over 2000 metres, he was last seen finishing seventh in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy earlier this month — a run that came after a lengthy break, barrier trials and a careful return to racing.
It was not a headline-grabbing effort, but it carried encouragement. Having been eased out of the Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap last November and subsequently given time to recover, Cap Ferrat’s reappearance was always likely to be a stepping stone rather than a defining performance.
“He’s back to his form, but I think he still needs to put on more condition because he’s only had one run after he bled,” Lui said. “He finished off well last time – I was happy.”
The trainer suggested that longer distances may again suit Cap Ferrat once he is fully tuned, but for now the immediate focus remains on navigating one of the strongest mile fields assembled this season.
“At the moment, how can you beat Romantic Warrior?” Lui added. “Especially when Cap Ferrat is having only his second run back. Hopefully, we can pick up stakes money.”
Lui will also be represented in the race by Chancheng Glory and Copartner Prance, both Group 3 winners who add further depth to his team on a card that features Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize and Romantic Warrior in the QEII Cup.
History suggests the task facing international challengers is not straightforward. Only Variety Club in 2014 and Maurice in 2016 have managed to claim the race from abroad in the modern era. The likes of Jantar Mantar and Docklands will attempt to break that trend against a strong local contingent, following in the footsteps of champions such as Able Friend, Beauty Generation and Golden Sixty.
Few trainers understand the demands of top-level Hong Kong racing better than Lui. He has surpassed 1,000 winners in the jurisdiction, joining an elite group of horsemen, and his career has been defined by the exploits of Golden Sixty, one of the territory’s most celebrated runners. He was crowned Champion Trainer for the 2023/24 season and continues to maintain a stable rich in both proven performers and emerging talent.
Among those on the rise is the unbeaten Hot Delight, who is expected to return to action in May, offering further promise for the stable’s future.
Before attention turns fully to Champions Day, Lui will also saddle runners at Happy Valley’s midweek fixture, where Dragon Sunrise, Win Ease, Do Your Part, Next Fortune, Rainbow Seven and Fivefortwo are set to contest a nine-race programme beginning at 6.35pm.
For Cap Ferrat, however, the focus is clear. A return to Sha Tin’s spotlight in the FWD Champions Mile will provide a searching test of both his recovery and his class — and perhaps offer the clearest indication yet of where he stands among Hong Kong’s elite milers.