Mark Newnham will be looking for a third consecutive Happy Valley win with Ace War on Wednesday night before chasing Group One glory with My Wish and Invincible Ibis in Sunday’s Mile Championship at Sha Tin.
My Wish has improved since his second in the Group Two Chairman’s Cup (1,600m) when beaten a short head behind Lucky Sweynesse and is eyeing his first Group One victory in the open version of the Champion Mile.
“My wish had a shot on the course on Saturday morning, which was great, and Hugh (Bowman) was really pleased with him,” Newnham said.
“He ran really fast, he lifted well, he ate that night – so he’ll do one easy job later in the week. He’s going there in as good a condition as we can have him.”
Newnham believes the best is yet to come from the late Flying Artie’s son.
“I think at some point in the next 12 months he’s going to get one of these (factors). He’s definitely got talent. He’s been a late maturing horse, so I think he’s still got some improvement to come,” Newnham said.
“The barrier will be important. Depending on where he draws will determine what tactics we will use. But we just need a good race where every horse gets a chance, and then you will find out if he is good enough or not.”
Hong Kong Derby winner (2,000m) Invincible Ibis will take on My Wish with Longines World Sportsman of the Year – James McDonald – when he steps into Group One company for the first time.
“I was pleased with his trial and the way he came through the Derby, but he needs to step up and move from his age group races into open Group One weight class company. So it’s going to be an interesting race, but I’m happy with both horses,” Newnham said.
“I think we’re in a very good position jockey-wise. We’ve got two of the best jockeys in the world and two of the world’s ‘greatest sprinters’.”
Wednesday night will see Ace War make it three wins in a row in the Grade Three Oncidium Handicap (1,800m) after a strong recent run in his first two starts at Newnham.
Zac Purton will partner the five-year-old once again, but will move up 2lb over the cut-off weight of 117lb and step up to Grade Three company.
“He’s been dominant in his two wins. He’s definitely earned the right to jump up to Grade Three. He’s got a bit of a disadvantage in weight because Zac will have to go 2lb up on him but I think with Zac, who obviously gets on well with him, he’ll be able to deal with that,” Newnham said.
Although an 11th overall draw will prove a challenge, the Phoenix Of Spain runner will settle at the back of the field and be saved for the last time by his rivals.
“He’s got to rest. He’s a strong pull horse, so he’ll go back and just try to get him off and if they go at the same pace, then I’d expect him to be in the finish,” Newnham said.
Riding Bronco is Newnham’s other last-start winner from Wednesday night’s Grade Five Freesia Handicap (1,650m) after a blistering last heat with Glorious Ryder in the first race of the Newnham transfer.
“He’s been really good. He’s enjoyed the change of scenery. He would have lost his way a little bit. He tested last week and tested well again, so I would expect him to run at his best, which in Class Five is very competitive,” Newham said.
“He’s been given a little bit (in barrier nine) like most of my runners on Wednesday, but he’s been showing more gate speed than he did at the start of the season so he’ll have a good chance anyway.”
The son of Tivaci was given seven weeks before his first start at Newnham while the trainer introduced him to the system and worked on his naivety.
“It was just about understanding them. You can look at their personality, but until you work with them you don’t really know what their personality types are and what they like and don’t like,” Newnham said.
“Whatever we were doing seemed to work with him, he seems to be a happy horse at the moment. He should be able to maintain his form.”
Loving Vibes is also a solid recent transfer and will be making his third start for Newnham in the Grade Four Lusitano Challenge Cup (1,200m). The son of Zoustar has been the victim of a wide gate again, but he will have the services of Jerry Chau Chun-lok who has proven to be a good fit for the five-year-old.
“Last time it was really good from gate 12. Unfortunately we’ve only drawn gate 11 this time, so he’ll have to be run quietly from there I’d think. He did well being run quietly his last start and Jerry is getting on well with him,” Newnham said.
Stable Fortune Star completes Happy Valley’s Newnham line-up in the Grade Four Geranium Handicap (1,650m) and will benefit from a 3lb drop when he carries 128lb.
“He’s a tough horse because he has to be driven a certain way. He’s only got short runs – when he has to run long he can’t handle it,” Newnham said.
“So if he’s given out in sixth, it will give him an opportunity to move up the middle to the back. But he needs speed and last start they ran fast enough to run forward, so for a horse going back it’s always difficult – you rely on speed more than anything. If there’s speed in the race, he’ll run well.”
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