Veteran Australian jockey Craig Williams lauds the role Hong Kong racing has played in both his personal and sporting life as he prepares to return to the Asian racing hub to partner Cap Ferrat in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on 26 April.
Williams, who has ridden 90 Group 1 winners, rates last year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) victory on Francis Lui-trained Cap Ferrat as one of his biggest achievements in his long career and said it’s very special to ride the former Australian galloper again.
“It was one of my greatest achievements to win a Hong Kong Derby,” Williams said. “For me, I lived and worked there for three years. As effective and as consistent and as good as I am today is because of the time I spent in Hong Kong. I have no doubt about that, and I was able to share it with my wife (Larysa).”
Cap Ferrat was winless in 13 Australian starts and broke his maiden in spectacular style on his fourth Hong Kong start in the BMW Hong Kong Derby thanks to a fine ride from Williams.
The 48-year-old’s journey with the son of Snitzel began at the gelding’s fourth start when he rode him to third place in the Listed Phoenix Stakes (1500m) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Australia on 3 June 2023.
“I rode him as a two-year-old in Australia, and rode him in the lead-up race to the (BMW Hong Kong) Derby and spoke to Francis (Lui), who was a really good supporter of mine when I was riding in Hong Kong, and I gave him some feedback and he was then able to work with the horse and have him so well on the day,” Williams said.
Before departing Australia, Cap Ferrat was third in the G3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m), second in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and a narrow third in the G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) to Riff Rocket and Ceolwulf, who both became multiple Group 1 winners.
Williams won the iconic G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in 2019 on Vow And Declare and said the BMW Hong Kong Derby is the equivalent of Australia’s greatest race.
“There are no hiding spots when you get to that level in Hong Kong and you are going through the (Hong Kong) Classic Series races and they are all running in the same races and the only changes are the distances,” Williams said.
After winning the Derby, Cap Ferrat stepped up to the 2025 G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) where he finished fifth, three lengths behind the winner Tastiera.
Williams said that Hong Kong racing teaches jockeys perfection.
“There are only two tracks to ride on, Wednesday at Happy Valley and Sunday at Sha Tin,” he said. “You can’t go back to Sale, Moe, Cranbourne, Bairnsdale or Bendigo to get a winner. It’s the toughest of the toughest every time you go around. Every time you go and ride in a race, it’s your grand final, regardless of if it’s a Class 5 or a Group 1.
“Being successful in Hong Kong is the greatest place to be ever riding winners, because it is so well received and supported.”
Williams said he was happy with Cap Ferrat’s first-up performance when he finished seventh in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) at Sha Tin on 6 April, when ridden by Alexis Badel, and Williams sees no reason why the gelding can’t register his second victory to add to his two seconds and a third in Hong Kong.