In a commanding display of stamina and speed, Invincible Ibis, an $80,000 Inglis Classic Sale graduate, soared to victory in the Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin on Sunday, completing a remarkable clean sweep of the prestigious Hong Kong 4YO Series for Inglis graduates. Trainer Mark Newnham celebrated a long-awaited triumph, finally clinching the Derby after narrowly missing out last year.
Invincible Ibis, by Hellbent, answered lingering questions about his stamina with authority, surging to the lead midway down the straight in a race set at a relentless early pace. He crossed the line in 1:59.43, smashing both the race and 2000m track records previously held since 2018. The performance capped a series of outstanding results for Inglis graduates this season, following the Hong Kong Classic Mile win by Little Paradise (Toronado) and the Hong Kong Classic Cup success of Stormy Grove (Toronado), in which Invincible Ibis had finished second.
Newnham, clearly relieved, described the victory as a full-circle moment: “Today’s a fantastic day… completely opposite to last year that’s for sure. It was just a really smooth race to watch… a furlong into the straight I was pretty confident he was going to be strong late. He’s a horse that uses his energy well, relaxes… and against your own age group, you don’t have to be the superior stayer, but he’s run fantastic time today.”
This triumph marks the third time in four seasons that the Hong Kong Derby winner has been an Inglis graduate, joining Cap Ferrat (2025) and Voyage Bubble (2023) in the storied contest’s history. Invincible Ibis was bred by Adrian Goonan and sold by Widden Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Sale, purchased by Kilgravin Lodge and Waikato Bloodstock.
Antony Thompson of Widden Stud praised the milestone: “It was a huge thrill for our entire team to have foaled, raised, and sold the winner of Hong Kong’s most prestigious race. To see Mark Newnham and Hugh Bowman excelling on such a big stage is incredibly special. The colt showed enormous potential early on, and it’s fantastic to see him now fulfilling that promise.”
Looking ahead, Widden Stud will showcase 28 yearlings at the upcoming Inglis Easter Sale, with inspections beginning at Riverside Stables on Monday, March 23. The sale – often hailed as the ‘Best of the Best’ – will commence on Sunday, March 29 at 11am AEDT. Thompson added, “Our yearlings are settled in, and we look forward to welcoming friends from Hong Kong and around the world to Barn J for inspections.”
Invincible Ibis’ victory not only underscores the enduring quality of Inglis graduates on the international stage but also reinforces the depth of Australian-bred talent thriving in Hong Kong.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.