Our Hong Kong expert Graham Cunningham takes a look at Wednesday's Sha Tin card live on Sky Sports Racing.
Cap fits but questions remain over Derby form
File the 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby away as a day that raised as many questions as it answered.
How does a horse win his first race at the 17th attempt in the Derby?
Potential stars were hard to identify going into Sunday’s showpiece and that comment still applies after Francis Lui’s Aussie import CAP FERRAT – perfectly positioned by Craig Williams in a slowly-run race – defied his 25-1 odds. All the stars aligned for him and things will surely get tougher now.
How unlucky was runner-up My Wish?
Very unlucky. Mark Newnham’s pocket battleship was left in an extremely tough spot from gate 14 but stormed home in 21.39s (the fastest 2000m closer at Sha Tin since sectional times were introduced) only to be beaten a short head. He goes for the Champions Mile next but will need to take another big step forward to beat Voyage Bubble and Aussie star Mr Brightside.
Best of the rest?
The winner’s stablemate PACKING ANGEL ran a career best with the promise of more to come, running on well for a close third after racing a little more keenly than ideal. Time may well show that he’s a better prospect than the winner, while 2.9 favourite RUBYLOT ran respectably in fifth and is another bound for the Champions Mile.
How about the Euros?
LO RIDER (formerly Sharinay for Halford and Collins) had the run of the race in front and fared best of a clutch of expensive Irish and British imports in fourth, while former Gimcrack runner-up JOHANNES BRAHMS, Britannia winner MICKLEY and French G1 winner STUNNING PEACH could have done with a stronger pace in sixth, eighth and tenth.
First class Choice
Lui was saddling his second Derby winner after Golden Sixty in 2020 and ended the day with a treble thanks to Packing Hermod and Invincible Shield.
Joao Moreira and Ryan Moore partnered that pair and headed home with two wins apiece, while John Size missed out with three Derby runners but moved six clear of David Hayes atop the trainers’ table thanks to wins from promising newcomer Super Express (Moore) and the Williams-ridden Endeared.
Lastly, there was a handy result for File followers when Lady’s Choice and Pakistan Legacy dominated the Furore Handicap.
Masterofmyuniverse was heavily backed for Size and Moore but the 2.3 favourite looked a tricky customer again as Lady’s Choice – ignored like the Derby winner at 25s – made all and showed plenty of spirit to hang on by a neck under Derek Leung.
Turf gives way to dirt at Sha Tin on Wednesday. Punters face the riddle of choosing between largely exposed handicappers who beat each other depending on circumstance, but at least three of the nine races are worth a second look.
2.15: Perfect Team and New Forest
Pace looks a key factor here – with several keen front runners on show – and that could set things up neatly for PERFECT TEAM.
Caspar Fownes’s gelding has been very consistent on dirt and caught the eye on his latest start three weeks ago, coming home strongly to chase home Ariel after a tardy break left him poorly placed and forced wide in a steadily run race.
Ariel seems very unlikely to get a similarly smooth passage this time and looks one to oppose from an 8lb higher mark.
The lightly raced NEW FOREST makes more appeal and is worth a saver in the hope that more patient tactics are adopted but Perfect Team is clearly in good heart and, with Ellis Wong claiming a handy 7lb, this looks a very suitable slot for him.
12.45: Solid Shalaa
Apprentice allowances are valuable in dirt sprints and 10lb claimer Britney Wong has a handful of fair chances on Wednesday, including aboard impressive recent all-the-way winner Natural High.
Similar forcing tactics look assured two weeks on but a 9lb hike makes life harder and the fact that Hayes is making use of Wong’s 7lb claim for SOLID SHALAA looks notable.
Leg problems have kept this gelding off the track since last April but he was going well on this surface when last seen. A runaway recent trial win suggests all the old ability remains and Hayes is confident after telling the SCMP that “he looks ready to win.”
1.45: Vulcanus
Richard Kingscote’s first short-term contract in HK has yet to bear fruit – he’s 0-31 going into Wednesday’s meeting – but Ricky Yiu is always keen to support visiting riders and recent trial winner Rising Force has attracted early support for the 1.45.
Fortune Warrior is a fair alternative after showing plenty of dash in similar events, but it might just pay to give another chance to VULCANUS here.
This gelding bolted up in a Class 5 in December and has acquitted himself well in class 4 since, finishing second three times (including to Fortune Warrior in February) then fifth last time behind Natural High.
Vulcanus was caught in a pocket for much of the home turn under Hugh Bowman that day. He wouldn’t have troubled the winner with better luck, but it looks like he’s still in good heart and, with Andrea Atzeni booked, he’s fair each-way shout in a race where several are hard to fancy.
Wednesday’s Sha Tin Selections
12.45: Solid Shalaa
1.45: Vulcanus (EW)
2.15: Perfect Team/New Forest
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