Andrea Atzeni admits he thought he had the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) “in the bag” after launching a swashbuckling run aboard $40 chance Ka Ying Generation in Sunday’s feature at Sha Tin.

In front from the early stages on a lightning-fast track favouring those on speed, Ka Ying Generation reeled off a string of punishing sectionals to open up an enormous lead on his rivals before succumbing in the final 50m.

“He’s run a great race. At one stage I thought I had it in the bag, so when I got beat, I was a little bit heartbroken, but I think I got beat by two very good horses,” Atzeni said after watching Massive Sovereign and Ka Ying Generation’s stablemate, Galaxy Patch, sail past his third-placed mount.

“At the 200m when I looked up I knew I was clear, but I only realised how far I was clear when I got near the screen. It’s just one of those things. It was a great run, but when you half think you have it in the bag, you’re a little upset.”

Both trainer Pierre Ng Pang-chi and Atzeni confirmed the plan was to be positive, but neither envisaged being quite so far in front.

“The plan was to go forward with him because we knew with him, he would stay very well. He’s a 2,000m-plus horse. Looking at the field, there were a few horses that were doubtful with their stamina,” said Atzeni, who wore another blow when dealt a two-meeting suspension and HK$60,000 fine for careless riding aboard Ng’s Aeroinvincible in the finale.

“We didn’t have to lead, but we were happy to take the lead if nobody wanted to go on and we were ready to build up the tempo from the early part of the race, just to stretch them out really.”

Second-season trainer Ng was philosophical after finishing second and third with his first Derby runners.

Purton delivers on Massive Sovereign in Hong Kong Derby for the ages

“At the end of the day we didn’t win it, but we get the prize money for the stable and the owners and I end up having two Group horses for the future,” he said.

“They both ran well. Ka Ying Generation did very well, I thought he could make it but he just got passed by two good horses.

“Galaxy Patch was brave. First start at 2,000m in the Derby [after running second in the Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m)] – it was a huge effort to run second. He’s doing things probably no other horse can do.”

Ng suggested Galaxy Patch could run in the Group Two Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m) in two weeks before progressing onto either the Group One Champions Mile or Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) on April 28, while he will decide between the QE II Cup and the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m) a week later for Ka Ying Generation.

Also among the beaten brigade in the city’s most prestigious race was Helios Express, who could only manage eighth in his bid for a Classic Series clean sweep after earlier wins in the Classic Mile and Classic Cup.

Lui busy on Derby undercard

Francis Lui Kin-wai strengthened his trainers’ premiership bid with a treble on the Derby undercard, combining with Lyle Hewitson to win the opening two races.

Lui and Hewitson made a flying start with impressive debutant Divano in the first section of the Class Four Furore Handicap (1,200m) and Second To None in the first section of the Class Four Fay Fay Handicap (1,400m).

Patch Of Theta capped veteran handler Lui’s big day with a second straight victory in the Class Three Ambitious Dragon Handicap (1,400m) under Karis Teetan.

Chasing his first trainers’ title, Lui cut Ng’s lead to nine while boosting his tally of wins to 43 this season.

Three-year-old Divano showed blinding early speed to cross from barrier 12 and lead, kicking clear in the straight to give Hewitson his first victory since returning from a six-meeting improper riding suspension.

Defying his $21 quote, Divano scored by one and a quarter lengths from Happy For All while Geneva was once again a beaten favourite in third, going under at $1.5

“He’s shown himself to be very professional,” Lui said of the son of two-time Australian Group One winner Brave Smash.

“I discussed with the jockey, we preferred to go forward because the race had so many young horses. He’s got a big stride. I think he has a future.”

A more favourable draw in barrier one helped Hewitson’s cause on Second To None, who capitalised on a soft run on the back of leader Affirm.

Hewitson angled Second To None off the fence in the straight and he chased down Affirm late to win by a neck.

“Barrier one made it easier,” Lui said. “Everything just suited him. He’s a consistent horse.”

Flying Ace tastes deserved success

There might not have been a horse more deserving of a win on Sunday than Flying Ace.

Since his Class Three victory in June last year, David Hall’s sprinter has been beaten half a length or less in five races and often raced without luck.

But things swung his way in the Class One Rapper Dragon Handicap (1,200m) when he stormed home from seventh under Zac Purton to beat Howdeepisyourlove by a nose.

“It’s been a very frustrating horse for the owners, for us and for the punters,” Hall said.

“He’s got himself out of Class Three into Class Two and hasn’t won one and now he’s won a Class One race. The photo was pretty tight. I was a bit worried, but he deserved to get that win after what he’s been through with all those seconds.

“He’s been a very honest horse for the stable. There won’t be a lot of options and I think the owner will be pretty keen to have another try at a big race. We’ll see how he recovers, but most likely he’ll be in the [Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m)].”