A hint of trouble in the stretch kept Johannes Brahms from a win in the $1.67 million Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse on May 2, but leaves him a serious contender in Sunday’s $3.34 million Hong Kong Derby for 4-year-olds at Sha Tin. Johannes Brahms raced behind rivals in the final quarter-mile of the Hong Kong Classic Cup before finishing well. He was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Rubylot, who is expected to be favored in the Hong Kong Derby. The Hong Kong Classic Cup was run at 1 1/8 miles, while the Hong Kong Derby is run at 1 1/4 miles. The three-race Triple Crown in Hong Kong began with the $1.67 million Hong Kong Classic Mile at Sha Tin on Jan. 31, won by My Wish, who is part of the Hong Kong Derby field. Johannes Brahms finished last of 14 in the Classic Mile, but rebounded to win a minor handicap at a mile at Sha Tin on Feb. 16. A closer, Johannes Brahms is trained by Pierre Ng, and will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who was aboard for the win on Feb. 16. Karis Teetan rode Johannes Brahms in the Classic Cup, and has the mount on the longshot Stunning Peach in the Hong Kong Derby. :: Hong Kong: Free PPs, picks, analysis, replays, and live streaming Johannes Brahms has won 2 of 7 starts in Hong Kong, all at Sha Tin. Previously, he was trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien and owned by the Coolmore syndicate. In 2023, Johannes Brahms was second in the Windsor Castle Stakes for 2-year-olds at Royal Ascot in Britain. Rubylot is a deserving favorite in the Hong Kong Derby on the strength of his win in the Classic Cup, in which he closed from last of 14 to win at 13-1. Rubylot and Johannes Brahms should benefit from the longer trip in the Hong Kong Derby. They will be in pursuit of My Wish, who finished second in the Classic Cup after leading briefly in the final furlong. Bundle Award, who did not start in the Classic Mile or Classic Cup, will draw support in the longest race of his career on Sunday. Trained by John Size, who leads the Hong Kong standings, Bundle Award has won two of his last three starts in minor handicaps at seven furlongs and 1 1/8 miles at Sha Tin since mid-January. The Hong Kong Derby is the seventh race on a 10-race program that begins at 1 a.m. Eastern on Sunday or 10 p.m. Pacific on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.