$1.4m yearling from a famous family breaks maiden in style in Hong Kong Derby.

Cap Ferrat became the first maiden to win the Hong Kong Derby in 35 years on Sunday, in the process landing another major success for one of the most famous families in Australian racing.

The Francis Lui-trained son of Snitzel is out of a niece to Makybe Diva.

The four-year-old's dam is Listed winner C'est Beau La Vie, a daughter of Bernardini, who is out of the Jade Robbery mare Valkyrie Diva.

That mare is a half-sister to the legendary mare Makybe Diva, three-time winner of the Melbourne Cup.

The 2000-metre Derby win, which was engineered by Aussie jockey Craig Williams, came at his fourth start in Hong Kong with a couple of unplaced efforts in feature races following an encouraging second placing at his Hong Kong debut.

A $1.4 million buy for Tom Magnier at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Cap Ferrat headed to Hong Kong after 13 starts for Chris Waller in Australia.

While he did not win, he logged five minor placings including a second placing in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and a Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) third.