Mark Newnham will be looking to add to his late-season tally with five solid placings at Happy Valley on Wednesday, including Robot Lucky Star’s recent solid transfer in the Grade Three Des Voeux Road Central Handicap (1,000m).
Every win counts towards the trainers’ championship with just seven meetings remaining in the 2025-26 season, and Newnham currently sit third on 58 – five behind leader Caspar Fownes and one behind Danny Shum Chap-shing.
One of Newnham’s most stable additions, Robot Lucky Star, has three wins and three placings from six starts in Hong Kong during Manfred Man Ka-leung’s run. The son of Hellbent will be looking to improve on that record when he takes his place once again in the 1,000m, this time at Happy Valley.
When the four-year-old will be tasked with jumping from barrier 10 on the A course, he will be assisted by the 118lb lightweight and the services of Angus Chung Yik-lai.
“He looks capable. I thought I’d get him back to 1,000m for the first run in the stable, but unfortunately he’s got a tough gate,” Newnham said.
Newnham believes fielding new robot Lucky Star for 1,000m work will be crucial to his chances, and has opted not to test him in the three weeks between races.
“He’s coming back in the distance, so I just wanted to keep him clean. To get him back to 1,000m, I didn’t think he needed a trial. I’ve ridden him a couple of times at work and he feels ready. But a 10th gate over 1,000m at Happy Valley with the rail in a real position is tough,” Newnham said.
“I thought he didn’t finish fast enough last time in the 1,200m, so in Grade Three company, I thought it was a good start for him.”
Chung will also take the reins of Legend Winner who is eyeing a back-to-back at Newnham in the Grade Three King’s Road Handicap (1,650m).
The four-year-old Pierata enjoyed a drop in Grade Four company in his last two starts with a win and a third to return to a confident grade, with a third-lowest draw compared to the 11th starting last gate.
“I think it gave him confidence. He’s still getting used to the Hong Kong race, but his form at Happy Valley since we switched him has been good. He’s going fast, he’s getting lighter, he’s drawn in – so he’s getting his chance to go up in Grade Three,” Newnham said.
King Lotus enjoyed a drop back last start, showing a late turn of foot, and will contest the same trip again in the Grade Three Leighton Road Handicap (1,200m) with Lyle Hewitson aboard.
“His rating was really high – he still ran well earlier in the season at 1,650m but he probably got too high in the rating and was a bit flat. He was in good form and coming back to 1,200m was good, so I was happy enough to leave him at 1,200m and keep him clean,” Newnham said.
Hugh Bowman will look to maintain his perfect record on Casa Rochester in the second leg of the Grade Four Morrison Hill Road Handicap (1,650m).
The son of Redwood has produced two strong performances following a forced layoff due to a left leg injury in November, and has plenty in his favor on Wednesday with a drop in class, barrier four and the services of Bowman – despite carrying 132lb.
“He had a bit of an injury, which he’s over now, and both of his comeback races have been good. He’s going down to Grade Four and he’s definitely got to carry more weight. Hugh hasn’t ridden him since he won with him in Grade Four, so I just thought it was a good race for him. He carried 132lb when he won, but he won by a nose last season,” Newnham said.
“All his races this season have been good, although there was a fair bit of space between the first couple and now. He’s been coming out, so he’s finally getting a good gate, going down the class, he’s got Hugh Bowman – so he’s got a few good things.”
Cloud Nine returns to Happy Valley, this time minus the glitter, as he tries to break through in the first leg of the Grade Four Connaught Road Central Handicap (1,200m).
“I thought he overdid it a bit with the blinkers on, it didn’t have the effect I needed. So we’re back on the track and the same distance where he’s done well without blinking – now he’s getting his chance,” Newnham said.
“The last time he ran at Happy Valley over 1,200m it was strong, he was beaten by a real Grade Three horse (in Storming Dragon). He goes into it with a definite chance. Although the ninth gate is not good, he has good early speed.”
Luke Ferraris will be reunited with the three-year-old Tiger Heart, who has tested well at Conghua between runs.
“I’ve done something similar to what I’ve done with a few horses this season; going back to Conghua for a refresher. The test was good last week, just tired a bit late, so his fitness improved,” Newnham said.
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