Successful last year, Craig Williams border hops abroad next weekend
Craig Williams will be looking to end a busy weekend with a Group 1 victory in Hong Kong, partnering 2025 Hong Kong Derby victor Cap Ferrat in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin on April 26.
Williams will have close to a full book in Adelaide on Saturday before making the trip to Hong Kong for Champions Day.
Cap Ferrat secured his only career victory in the 2025 Hong Kong Derby, but showed it wasn’t a fluke with strong efforts in the Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup and the Group 3 Premier Plate late last season.
The son of Snitzel bled when a $3.90 favourite in the Group 2 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse (1800m) in November but returned in good order when closing strongly in the Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) in earlier this month.
Williams picked up the ride after putting out some feelers following his Chairman’s Trophy effort.
“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.”
The emotion of winning the Hong Kong derby aboard Cap Ferrat isn’t lost on Williams reflecting on the victory now over 12 months ago.
“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’ book of rides at Morphettville on Saturday is headlined by Super Smink in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) and Paltrow Miss in the Australasian Oaks (Group 1, 2000m).
He’ll then head to Hong Kong where along with Cap Ferrat will also steer Juneau Pride and Ensued for trainer John Size.
