Steps Ahead and Bundle Award headline a trio of four-year-olds dropping back from the 2,000m of the Hong Kong Derby to contest Sunday’s Class Two Hong Kong Lions Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin.
While there are questions about the strength of this year’s Derby, won in an upset by maiden galloper Cap Ferrat, Steps Ahead and Bundle Award will be joined by Californiatotality in attempting to boost the form from the city’s biggest race.
Rubylot was the first four-year-old to reappear from the Derby, but he finished eighth of nine runners behind Divano last Sunday in what was more of a warm-up run for the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) next weekend.
Steps Ahead was sent out an $82 roughie in the Derby and was only beaten two and a half lengths in ninth, despite running into trouble twice in the straight.
HISTORY AT SHA TIN! 👏👏@CWilliamsJockey wins the 148th @BMW Hong Kong Derby aboard Cap Ferrat for trainer Francis Lui over a fast-closing My Wish... #4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/OHHfz0JKlE
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 23, 2025
The Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained gelding was a Class Three winner at the course and distance of Sunday’s race in February and a solid fifth to Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m) before the Derby.
“He’ll be having his first run back from the four-year-old series. In the Classic Cup and Derby he ran quite well,” jockey Lyle Hewitson said.
“He probably should have finished closer if he had have got more room in the straight, so I was happy with him.”
While Steps Ahead drops to a career-low 118 pounds on Sunday, the son of Written By has to overcome barrier 10 in a competitive field of 11.
Jockey Lyle Hewitson and trainer Francis Lui combine again on Sunday with Steps Ahead.
Champion jockey Zac Purton will partner Bundle Award for the first time, with the John Size-trained gelding fresh from a two-length seventh in the Derby.
The former Australian galloper won his previous start, a Class Two over 1,800m, and a 1,400m race in January.
“Obviously he won well two starts back over the track and distance,” Purton said.
“He ran a nice race in the Derby, he gets in well into this race with a light weight [121 pounds] and he’s drawn well [barrier three], so he’ll be a chance.”
Bundle Award in action in a recent dirt trial.
Californiatotality will be out to bounce back from a his 11th behind Cap Ferrat on March 23.
The Tony Cruz-trained gelding is a three-time winner this term, including two at the course and distance of Sunday’s race, and could be dangerous with just 116 pounds.
Alexis Badel will ride Californiatotality, who has drawn gate five.
Elsewhere on Sunday’s 10-race card, Hewitson will bid to repay the faith shown by Lui and Gallant Epoch’s connections in the Class Four Tsing Lung Tau Handicap (1,400m).
Lyle Hewitson boots home Gallant Epoch.
“I erred in judgment last time, so it’s nice that I got the opportunity again and hopefully we get back to winning ways,” the South African jockey said of Gallant Epoch’s last-start 12th at Happy Valley when he faded after being pushed forward early to lead.
“He has become quite a funny horse. I don’t think he’s putting it all in but once he gets control of a race, then he’s quite good.
“Hopefully he can do that again and be strong off the front. It looks a competitive race.”
Gallant Epoch made all to brilliantly score by two lengths at Sha Tin three starts ago.
