Danny Shum Chap-shing’s Brazilian import Butterfield upstaged a couple of Hong Kong Derby hotshots with a tough victory in the Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup (2,400m), staking his claim for the Group One Champions & Chater Cup in the process.

While the four-year-olds dominated the betting – Derby placegetters Russian Emperor and Panfield were split by Charity Fun at the top of the market with Derby contestant Packing Waltham the only other runner in single figures – it was a talented veteran who had the last laugh in a contest conducted at a pedestrian pace early.

Derek Leung Ka-chun found the front on Reliable Team and quickly stacked the field up, making life more difficult for the backmarkers.

It didn’t seem to help Butterfield much early either, the five-year-old throwing his head around for a few hundred metres before settling into the box seat.

Danny Shum’s Brazilian import Butterfield stakes Hong Kong Derby claim

The sectionals from the 2,000m-1,600m and the 1,600m-1,200m were both a second outside standard, which is when Alexis Badel decided he’d had enough and sent Charity Fun forward to challenge for the lead.

From there it was a sprint home with Reliable Team ($35), Charity Fun ($3.50) and Butterfield ($28) the last ones standing, leaving Panfield ($5) and Russian Emperor ($3.30) in their wake.

It was a three-way go at the finish with Shum’s duo getting the upper hand to give the trainer the quinella as Butterfield edged out Charity Fun by a short head.

It means Butterfield remains undefeated at the trip – his only other start came in the Group One Derby Paulista in Brazil in 2018 – and shows he can make his presence felt in the Champions & Chater Cup later this month.

Despite the odds, Shum was confident his charge would put in a bold showing.

“I only thought there were four horses who had a chance in this race – [Russian Emperor, Panfield and my two],” the trainer said.

“I asked Matthew [Poon Ming-fai]to jump and put him on the fence. He did that and he was still pulling a bit but he had cover and could hold him. He was able to finish the race off. His overseas record said [the distance] should be OK.”

After winning one of his 12 starts in Hong Kong last season – and finishing sixth in the Derby – Butterfield has struck some form recently, rattling off two wins from his past three starts.

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“Coming into a big town [the South American horses] take a little bit of time to acclimatise but once they do that they’re all right,” Shum said.

The 60-year-old was also pleased with the effort of Charity Fun, but is unsure if he will press onto the Champions & Chater Cup.

“He’s done a great job. He’s healthy, he’s happy. He just found it a bit hard in the last 100m. He’s been very competitive,” said Shum, who now has 51 winners for the season and is just eight behind championship leader John Size.

“For sure Butterfield will run in [the Champions & Chater Cup], I need to see how Charity Fun pulls up before making a decision.”

The result gave Poon his fourth Group Three victory in Hong Kong – and his second of the campaign after lifting Glorious Dragon home in January’s Centenary Vase – but he might not be able to partner Butterfield in the Group One on May 23 with a prior commitment to Francis Lui Kin-wai’s grey.

“I have to double-check with Francis about their plans with Glorious Dragon,” Poon said. “If he doesn’t run, I will try to ride Butterfield. It’s not going to be a big field, all the horses will have a chance.”

Despite some nervous moments when Butterfield was tossing his head around, Poon felt like everything went to script.

“Before the race we planned on sitting in the box seat,” he said. “He takes some time to relax, if he sees daylight then he will over-race and be flat at the finish. Everything went to plan.”

That cannot be said for those horses coming out of the Derby, with question marks over how that form stacks up given all three missed the placings.