The prestigious BMW Hong Kong Derby, set to take place this Sunday (March 23) at Sha Tin Racecourse, marks its 148th running as one of the most sought-after titles in Hong Kong racing. With a prize purse of HK$26 million, this 2000m contest is the final leg of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series and has been a launching pad for numerous champions, including Vengeance Of Rain, Viva Pataca, Ambitious Dragon, Designs On Rome, Rapper Dragon, Romantic Warrior, and Voyage Bubble. Francis Lui, who secured Derby glory with Golden Sixty in 2020, enters the race with a formidable trio Packing Angel, Cap Ferrat and Steps Ahead, hoping to claim a second triumph in the prestigious event.
Lui, a former jockey with 36 career wins before turning to training, has built an impressive résumé over the years. He guided Lucky Bubbles to Group success before his greatest achievement with Golden Sixty, a 10-time Group 1 winner and three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2020/21, 2021/22, and 2022/23). Now 66, Lui is determined to fulfill the dreams of his owners, knowing the BMW Hong Kong Derby is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for their four-year-old contenders.
Leading the charge for Lui’s team is Packing Angel , who caught the eye with a fourth-place finish in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m). With two-time Derby-winning jockey Joao Moreira in the saddle, the lightly raced gelding looks poised to handle the step up in trip. Moreira, a four-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey, boasts 1,236 wins in the city and has previously won this race aboard Rapper Dragon (2017) and Sky Darci (2021). Lui acknowledges the challenge but remains optimistic about PACKING ANGEL’s progress.
“He’s up and coming. He’s a good horse,” Lui said. “He only had six runs before the Classic Cup, stepping straight from 1400m to 1800m, which was quite a jump for a young horse. I hope he has learned from that experience, and Joao also knows him well now.”
Cap Ferrat , another of Lui’s hopefuls, enters the Derby still searching for a breakthrough win in Hong Kong. The Snitzel gelding was a runner-up in the 2023 Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Australia before arriving in Hong Kong but has struggled to find his best form. Drawn in barrier two, Cap Ferrat will be partnered by Australian jockey Craig Williams, who is aiming for his first BMW Hong Kong Derby victory. Lui believes the inside draw will be beneficial.
“He’s drawn barrier two, which is a good position. Last time, he had a wide draw (10) and had to do a bit too much early. This time, it should be easier to settle him and find a good spot in the race,” Lui said.
The third runner from Lui’s yard, Steps Ahead, has already secured three wins in Hong Kong and enters the race following a fifth-place effort in the Hong Kong Classic Cup. The gelding faces a tricky assignment from barrier 13 but has the services of jockey Lyle Hewitson, who is searching for his first BMW Hong Kong Derby win. Lui acknowledges Steps Ahead ’s consistency and determination.
“He’s an honest horse and in good form. He always tries hard, and you never know what can happen in a race like this,” Lui said.
The BMW Hong Kong Derby field features a strong lineup of contenders, including Rubylot, My Wish, Johannes Brahms, Stunning Peach, Bundle Award, Mickley, Noisy Boy, Californiatotality, Markwin, Lo Rider, and Beauty Alliance.
Sunday’s highly anticipated race day at Sha Tin kicks off at 1:00 PM with the Class 4 Luger Handicap (1400m), while the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby is scheduled as Race 7 at 4:05 PM. As Lui prepares to send out his three contenders, the stage is set for another thrilling chapter in the history of Hong Kong’s most prestigious race.
