Cap Ferrat will aim to join one of Hong Kong racing`s most exclusive and esteemed clubs when he lines up in Sunday week`s (27 April) HK$28 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin.



Trained by Francis Lui, Cap Ferrat prevailed in last month`s HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) by a short head at odds of 25/1 under Craig Williams, and the four-year-old is chanced with becoming the sixth horse to complete the Derby-QEII Cup double in the same season after Vengeance Of Rain (2005), Ambitious Dragon (2011), Designs On Rome (2014), Werther (2016) and Romantic Warrior (2022).



Well-versed with four starts in Hong Kong and 13 pre-import in Australia, Cap Ferrat placed in Group 1 races before arriving at Sha Tin. His Australian form saw him mix it with top-level winners Ceolwulf, Tom Kitten, Riff Rocket, Southport Tycoon and Veight.



He gamely landed the BMW Hong Kong Derby from barrier two – his first career win – while this morning (Monday, 14 April) he finished fifth in a barrier trial on Sha Tin`s dirt course in 1m 11.04s over 1200m behind Group 1-winning speedster Victor The Winner, Chancheng Glory, Invincible Shield and Everyone`s Star.



“Keith (Yeung) said he was ok. He trialled well and it`s just to keep his condition. He`s fit and happy,” Lui said. “I think it`s a tough race. He won the Derby but we don`t know his quality yet and what grade.”



After being supplemented to run in the FWD QEII Cup, Cap Ferrat is expected to face seasoned Group 1 winners Goliath, Tastiera, El Vencedor and more.



“It`s open age now and he will face international horses. I think he can do something but we don`t know. It`ll be an exciting race,” Lui said.



Williams returns to ride Cap Ferrat. Joao Moreira is engaged to partner stablemate Chancheng Glory in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).



The American-bred son of Mor Spirit clocked 1m 10.36s this morning at Sha Tin.



“He hasn`t improved but he`s the same like before – he is an honest horse. It`s another tough race and he`s consistent. Joao Moreira can help him and maybe he can surprise,” Lui said.



Chancheng Glory is an eight-time winner in Hong Kong. He landed the HK$4.2 million G3 Centenary Vase Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin in January – his biggest win to date.



Copartner Prance represents Lui in the HK$22 million G1 Chairman`s Sprint Prize (1200m) against the might of world`s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising, completing the trainer`s big-race trio on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin.