Lui declared Cap Ferrat primed for Romantic Warrior showdown
Francis Lui believes Cap Ferrat’s current vein of form is well-timed ahead of Sunday’s HK$13 million Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin, where Romantic Warrior is attempting to write even more racing history.
An all-conquering Romantic Warrior has earned his shot at Hong Kong’s Triple Crown following triumphs in the HK$13 million Group 1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) in January and the HK$13 million Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) in March, while Cap Ferrat – winner of last year’s Hong Kong Derby (2000m) – brings a contrasting record.
Third in the 2025 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, Cap Ferrat suffered a setback earlier this season. Following five months of remedial work, the 113-rater posted a rousing seventh in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) on April 6 before his career-best second in the HK$24 million Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) on April 26, his most recent outing.
“I’m happy. My assistant trainer Vincent (Sit) rode him and he was very happy with his gallop (on Tuesday, 19 May). I think his condition right now is the best he’s been in all season because this is his third run (after the setback) and fourth this season,” Lui said.
Cap Ferrat worked in 1m 20.6s (30.4, 27.3, 22.9) with Group 1-placed stablemate Winning Wing, who paired with regular rider Dylan Mo in the hit-out. Australian jockey Craig Williams, who was aboard Cap Ferrat in last year’s Hong Kong Derby and his Champions Mile second placing, reunites this weekend.
“He surprised me last start. He placed in this race last season, so hopefully we can be in the first three. Craig Williams is a good partner,” Lui said.
Williams is one of world racing’s most renowned riders, having won Group 1s in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. He’s also ridden 127 winners in Hong Kong racing across several visits.
Also entered to run in the Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, Winning Wing placed three runs back in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup behind Romantic Warrior before his most recent third to Romantic Thor in the Group 3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) on May 3.
“You can see last start he showed he can handle this distance. We don’t know about the level yet, but the distance, sure,” Lui said.
Lui, 67, has 50 winners this season, including a treble last Sunday (May 17) to vault into fourth in the 2025/26 trainers’ championship – four wins behind leader Danny Shum.
