Mark Newnham’s growing influence in Hong Kong racing reached a significant milestone as My Wish surged to victory in the HK$24 million Group 1 Champions Mile, providing the trainer with a breakthrough success at the highest level at Sha Tin.
It was a performance built on patience and precision. Drawn wide in barrier 10, My Wish was restrained early by Hugh Bowman and settled towards the rear as Copartner Prance set the tempo, closely tracked by Red Lion, with Lucky Sweynesse and Jantar Mantar not far away. The field began to compress turning for home, with Voyage Bubble looming as a major threat, but Bowman had yet to reveal his hand.
Angling into clear running in the straight, My Wish quickened decisively. The response was immediate and telling. Sweeping past rivals inside the final 200 metres, the gelding asserted his authority, holding off the late challenges of Cap Ferrat and Docklands to score by a neck. Invincible Ibis, Newnham’s recent Hong Kong Derby winner, finished a credible fourth. The winning time of 1m 32.37s shaved further off the horse’s own course record over the distance.
For Newnham, the result capped a remarkable run of form. Having secured the BMW Hong Kong Derby in March with Invincible Ibis, the Australian handler returned to the spotlight with another major triumph, again partnering Bowman. The trainer, now in his third season in Hong Kong, spoke with measured satisfaction after the race.
“It couldn’t be going any better really,” Newnham said. “We were as confident as you can be going into a race like this. His work last week was exceptional — Hugh doesn’t say much, but you could tell he felt the horse was right where he needed to be.”
Bowman, who recorded his second success in the race following last year’s win aboard Red Lion, echoed that confidence. “The pace suited him and I was able to get a smooth run through. When I asked him, he gave everything straight away. It’s very rewarding to be part of what Mark is building.”
The victory also carried a sense of redemption. My Wish reversed the form from last year’s Derby, where Cap Ferrat had narrowly denied him. This time, the roles were firmly switched.
Despite being the smallest horse in the field, My Wish showed both resilience and a potent turn of foot — qualities that now mark him as a leading miler in the region. Newnham believes there is more to come.
“He’s taken a bit of time to reach this level, but the way he’s progressing, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him,” he said.
The stable’s strong campaign continues to reflect in the trainers’ standings, where Newnham sits just behind Caspar Fownes, with Danny Shum and David Hayes also in close pursuit. With a cohesive team across Sha Tin and Conghua, the operation has found both rhythm and consistency at the top level.
Racing in Hong Kong moves to Happy Valley on Wednesday, where attention will turn to the midweek programme following a high-quality Champions Day.
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