Francis Lui Kin-wai has sprung a surprise by declaring Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Cap Ferrat will be set for the Group One Hong Kong Mile in December.

Set to resume in the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) on October 26, the Australian import will be kept to the mile trip rather than a return to the distance of his upset Derby triumph in March.

Lui also tested Cap Ferrat over 2,400m in the Group One Champions & Chater Cup in May and the son of Snitzel responded with a solid third behind Voyage Bubble.

“I prefer a mile,” Lui said. “Over 2,000m [in the Hong Kong Cup] or 2,400m [in the Hong Kong Vase], the international horses are better.”

Cap Ferrat, who held off My Wish by a short head to win the Derby at $26.7, warmed up for his return with a solid fourth in a strong dirt trial at Sha Tin on Thursday.

Keith Yeung Ming-lun hopped aboard Cap Ferrat in the trial and will take the reins in the Sha Tin Trophy, with the five-year-old one of many contenders expected to be on the 115lb minimum.

Yeung has the opportunity to notch a career-best success – his highlight to date was his Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m) victory on Dances With Dragon in 2020.

“He’s improved a little bit – we’ll have to see how he runs, but physically he’s getting better,” Lui said of Cap Ferrat.

A star-studded Sha Tin Trophy will also feature the likes of last season’s Triple Crown victor Voyage Bubble, who will carry top weight of 135lb, recent Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) winner My Wish, Group One Champions Mile victor Red Lion and Galaxy Patch.

My Wish’s new rider, Alexis Badel, got a feel for the galloper when he guided Mark Newnham’s rising star to a narrow victory over Galaxy Patch in Thursday’s trial. Red Lion was close behind in third.

Lui is likely to have two runners in the Sha Tin Trophy, with Copartner Prance in line to join Cap Ferrat.

The 2023-24 champion trainer said Keagan de Melo will again ride Copartner Prance after his game last-start second to My Wish in the Celebration Cup.

De Melo guided the Epaulette gelding to victory in the Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) in June.

Lui said Packing Hermod, who ran fourth in the Celebration Cup, will drop back to the 1,200m of the Group Two Premier Bowl on October 19 instead of tackling the mile.

Meanwhile, Karis Teetan became the first jockey to be suspended under the Jockey Club’s new whip use rules at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Teetan copped a two-meeting ban for using his whip in consecutive strides on at least 12 occasions before the 100m of race nine, which he won on Kyrus Dragon.

“After considering the relevant matters in respect of penalty which included the severity of the breach, a previous warning issued to jockey Teetan regarding his whip hand being raised above shoulder height earlier during the meeting, the horse finishing in the first placing and also taking into consideration that the rule was only introduced at the commencement of the season, he was issued with a two-meeting penalty,” read the stewards’ report.

Under the new rule introduced at the start of the season, jockeys must not use the whip in consecutive strides before the 100m.