Craig Williams aims to cap off a hectic weekend by claiming a Group 1 success in Hong Kong, aboard the 2025 Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 26.
Williams has nearly a complete set of mounts lined up in Adelaide this Saturday prior to traveling to Hong Kong for Champions Day.
Cap Ferrat earned his sole career triumph in the 2025 Hong Kong Derby, yet proved its legitimacy through solid performances in the Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup and Group 3 Premier Plate toward the end of last season.
The Snitzel offspring bled as the $3.90 market elect in the Group 2 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1800m) back in November, but bounced back impressively by finishing with a powerful surge in the Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) earlier this month.
Williams secured the mount after inquiring about it following the Chairman’s Trophy run.
“His first up run last preparation was enormous and then all of a sudden, he’d come through with health issues, and then subsequently to see him back, I was taken and pleased by his first-up performance,” he said.
“I touched base when I flew back from Sydney on Sunday last week, I rang up Francis and said, ‘Oh, how’s Cap Ferrat? Where’s he going?’ He said, ‘he’s going to go to the Champions Day on the 26th.’ I said, ‘I’ll be keen to ride him.'”
“The next morning, I got a message to say that I was confirmed to ride him, and I was delighted to be re-associated with him.”
Williams still feels the thrill of capturing the Hong Kong Derby on Cap Ferrat, more than a year later.
“I spent three years riding in Hong Kong and the Derby is their biggest race and it’s the equivalent to the Melbourne Cup.
“To get the opportunity to ride Cap Ferrat and to win the race was really special. Because I spent so much time there, I understand the magnitude of the race and to have that prize now, so far, one Hong Kong derby is brilliant.”
Williams’ engagements at Morphettville on Saturday feature Super Smink in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) along with Paltrow Miss in the Australasian Oaks (Group 1, 2000m).
Afterward, he travels to Hong Kong to partner Cap Ferrat as well as Juneau Pride and Ensued for John Size.
Discover competitive racing betting markets ahead of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at top Australian betting sites.