Cool Hand Luke – Star On The Rise

The third day of the Lunar New Year last Friday was a memorable one for 23 year old SA Jockey Academy graduate Luke Ferraris as he joined in the celebrations to boot home only the second treble of his Hong Kong career, which included a glorious domestic Grade 1 success in the HK$ 13 million Classic Mile aboard My Wish for the Mark Newnham stable.

Ironically, for South African racing fans it was the former Cape Town Met winning rider’s  third winner of the meeting, also trained by Newnham, that will be the highlight.

In a sensational race, the replay of which went viral amongst Whatsapp groups here, the Drakenstein bred What A Winter gelding Mid Winter Wind opened his Hong Kong account at 42-1 in a first-to-last thriller.

The former Sean Tarry resident was bred by Drakenstein Stud and raced for the champion nursery here, with a win in the Gr3 Byerley Turk over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville being one of his four victories in nine starts.

Mid Winter Wind’s success in Friday was an important flag-waver for SA bloodstock under the new travel dispensation, which meant he avoided a testing and tiring journey via Mauritius, and started his travels with a direct flight to Europe. He opened his Hong Kong account like a fresh horse and looks worthy of an entry in the black book!

But the feature win on Friday evening was vitally important – the HK$13 million (that’s the equivalent of R31,4 million!) Hong Kong Classic Mile triumph for trainer Mark Newnham prompted Luke to reflect on Sweet Orange’s success in the same race in 2012.

Trained by Luke’s Dad David, Sweet Orange’s victory 13 seasons ago remains one of Ferraris’ most vivid memories from his childhood in Hong Kong.

Now 23, Luke joined Dad – who saddled 461 winners in Hong Kong and trained champion Vengeance Of Rain – on the Hong Kong Classic Mile honour board with a perfectly judged ride to fend off Francis Lui-trained pair Divano (Blake Shinn) and Parking Hermod (Zac Purton) in 1m 33.98s.

Jumping away cleanly from barrier eight, he settled the Flying Artie gelding in fourth place, one off the fence and, approaching the home turn, angled into clear running before staving off a charging Divano, who rocketed from last on the turn in a race-best sectional of 21.98s.

Reflecting on Sweet Orange’s victory under Weichong Marwing, Luke said: “I remember it like it was yesterday. Weichong was three-deep without cover the whole way, loomed up on the bend and fought off Fay Fay at the furlong (200m).

“There were a few flashbacks which entered my mind when My Wish had to get game at the furlong and he did. He is 990 pounds of pure heart and he hasn’t been the easiest customer, so big credit to Mark and his team. It really shows the calibre of trainer he is. He improved with each and every run and it’s good to get one on the board.

“Later, when I sit down it will kick in when I get the messages from my family. Watching this race as a child and now this – it’s surreal. I’m pretty grateful to Mark and his team.”

With his fourth win from eight starts, My Wish gave Ferraris and Newnham their most important success in Hong Kong and the first leg of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which continues with the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup on 2 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby on 23 March.

Newnham was elated to have overcome My Wish’s appetite and temperament issues as the smallest horse in the field held sway.

“His appetite’s improved, so as he’s raced on through the season, he’s toughened up a little bit. We all know he’s only a small horse, but gee he’s got a big heart,” Newnham said. “The horse is very game, Luke’s done a great job with him and my team at home has done a super job because when he first arrived, he was a high-energy horse and wasn’t easy to handle,” he added.

Luke climbed into fourth place in the jockeys’ championship with 24 wins from 196 rides after slotting the treble. As a comparison, fellow SAJA graduates Karis Teetan (20 wins/276 rides), Lyle Hewitson (10 wins/261 rides) and Keagan de Melo (5 wins / 101 rides) trail.

Luke has the pedigree to become the next generation Zac Purton! He hails from a racing background, his father is the former Hong Kong-based David Ferraris – trainer of Hong Kong global star Vengeance Of Rain, while his grandfather Ormond was a two-time champion trainer here.

Luke grew up in Hong Kong after his father relocated to Sha Tin for the start of the 2003/04 season, spending the majority of his childhood at the famous circuit shadowing his father at trackwork, also while undertaking horse riding lessons as a youth.

The young man transferred back to South Africa in 2017 to join the world famous  South African Jockey Academy and he registered his first winner on 24 April 2018 as part of a double at the Vaal in partnership with his grandfather, Ormond.

During his apprenticeship, he was twice crowned champion apprentice of South Africa and he snared a first Group 1 triumph in the 2019 Allan Robertson Championship aboard Miss Florida for Justin Snaith at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Ferraris is probably best known for his association with the champion colt Malmoos, who in 2021, became the fourth winner of the South African Triple Crown following his victories in the Gauteng Guineas, South African Classic and South African Derby.

Through his Hong Kong debut season, Ferraris collected 20 wins and also steered Ka Ying Star to finish second in the 2022 Champions & Chater Cup behind Russian Emperor.

He enjoyed his best season to date in 2022/23 when he amassed a career-high 35 wins.

He finished the 2023/24 season with 28 wins.

Showcasing his remarkable talent, Luke reached the 100-win milestone in Hong Kong with a stunning double at Sha Tin’s all-dirt meeting on Wednesday December 18 last year, capping off an outstanding year.

The Classic Series comprises three exciting races limited to four-year-olds: the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Hong Kong Classic Cup and BMW Hong Kong Derby, offering total prize money of HK$52 million.

• 2nd Leg: Hong Kong Classic Cup – 2 March
• 3rd Leg: BMW Hong Kong Derby – 23 March