Emulating the feats of champions Golden Sixty and Ambitious Dragon, Invincible Ibis laid the foundation for a tilt at LONGINES Hong Kong International Races glory with a triumphant return in the HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (27 September).

Invincible Ibis (127lb) matched the achievements of fellow Hong Kong Derby (2000m) champions Ambitious Dragon (2011) and Golden Sixty (2020), who returned after winning the Classic to land the Celebration Cup, as he secured his sixth win from 12 starts.

The victory provided trainer Mark Newnham and Luke Ferraris with their second straight Celebration Cup success after My Wish’s win last season.

Settling midfield behind Copartner Prance (124lb) and Lucky With You (117lb), Invincible Ibis was patiently handled by Ferraris. Angled away from the rails, Invincible Ibis launched from the 400m, loomed alongside Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) winner Little Paradise (sixth), took the lead and held off a charging Galaxy Patch (135lb) to prevail by a neck with the same margin to Stormy Grove (120lb).

Mark Newnham and Luke Ferraris celebrate Celebration Cup success.

Mark Newnham and Luke Ferraris celebrate Celebration Cup success.

Newnham conceded he was surprised by Invincible Ibis’ win before setting out plans for the Hellbent gelding, including a tilt at the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) or the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on 13 December.

“Truthfully, a little unexpected,” Newnham said of Invincible Ibis’ performance. “I thought at 1400m, carrying a little more condition with bigger goals ahead, if he ran a good third or fourth, I’d be satisfied. But with a win like that, I’m pretty happy.

“Luke just said to me ‘he was probably on empty that last 50m’, but we know he’s very tenacious. When he had such a good run through the race, I’m sure that helped because if he had to do any work, he was probably underdone for that, but Luke gave him a perfect ride.”

Newnham said Invincible Ibis would likely be confined to 1600m races for the immediate future.

“He’ll race in October and November, so he’ll go to the traditional lead-up races, and then I’ll put an entry in for the mile and the 2000m on international day (LONGINES HKIR) and just see where he’s best placed at this stage of his career.

“At the moment I’m thinking of keeping him to a mile. I think a horse that’s lightly raced like him, going to 2000m against all ages at Group 1 level is a fair ask, but the horse will tell me where he’s at. If we’re two more runs into the season and he’s showing me he’s not sharp enough for the mile, then we’ve got the option.”

Ferraris rode Invincible Ibis for the first time since September 2025 with the unavailability of regular jockey Hugh Bowman because of injury.

“Obviously, I started out on him (Invincible Ibis) when he first started racing and it’s night and day compared to what he is now to with what he’s furnished into and full credit to Mark and his team to getting him to where he is now,” Ferraris said. “It’s a great start to his campaign this season.”

A clear last turning for home, Galaxy Patch thundered home in a race-best final 400m sectional of 21.18s (10.37s, 10.81s) under Karis Teetan, behind Invincible Ibis (21.67s) while Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) winner Stormy Grove (21.72s) ran well for Jerry Chau.

Nichola Yuen achieves her first Hong Kong treble.

Nichola Yuen achieves her first Hong Kong treble.

Apprentice Nichola Yuen continued a meteoric rise with her first treble in Hong Kong, striking atop Ricky Yiu’s Causeway King (125lb) in the Class 4 Swallow Handicap (1200m) and Pierre Ng-trained pair Victor The Winner (119lb) in the Class 2 Magpie Handicap (1200m) and Aeroinvincible (121lb) in the Class 3 Kestrel Handicap (1400m).

Indentured to Yiu, Yuen’s haul means her 10lb claim will reduce to 7lb after reaching the 20-win milestone from 137 rides since returning from overseas training in Australia.

“I’m very excited. It’s unbelievable. It’s my first treble in Hong Kong and I’m straightaway to seven pounds for the next meeting, so it’s a bit too quick,” Yuen, 26, said. “Thank you very much to Mr Yiu, he’s been a huge support for me.

“Now down to seven pounds, my career starts again and hopefully the ball keeps rolling for me.”

Ng’s double saw him assume the lead in the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with seven wins from Cody Mo (six) and Manfred Man (six).

Danny Shum’s Packing Fighter (126lb) led throughout to set a new class record with a gallop of 1m 32.85s in winning the Class 3 Mesia Handicap (1600m) under Zac Purton.

“Very impressive – he’s been showing that in the mornings this season. He’s come on in leaps and bounds and we were hoping he was going to run like that raceday, which he did, and his only problem at the moment is that he just won’t relax,” Purton said.

Making it two wins in a row, Packing Fighter earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.

Bustling City (120lb) was equally impressive with a seven-length triumph – the largest margin this season – in the Class 3 Hwamei Handicap (1200m, dirt) for David Hayes and Brenton Avdulla.

The Starspangledbanner gelding demonstrated his liking for Sha Tin’s dirt by closing his 2025/26 campaign with a four-and-a-half length romp on the surface and could easily have extended the buffer today.

Bustling City streaks clear in the Class 3 Hwamei Handicap.

Bustling City streaks clear in the Class 3 Hwamei Handicap.

“He’s a horse that’s always been blessed with good ability,” Avdulla said. “Since David has elected to switch him back to the dirt, he’s just gone ‘bang, bang’ and he’s a fast horse, so he’s better when he’s out and flowing.

“He’s excelling on the surface and he’s going to run out of races if he keeps winning like that.”

Man continued his strong start to the season with a double, scoring with Apex Glory (124lb) who made light of barrier 12, forging straight to the lead for Zac Purton to win the Class 4 Peacock Handicap (1200m) before Vigor Elleegant (122lb) swept to victory under Chau in the Class 5 Woodpecker Handicap (1400m).

Chau slotted his second double in two meetings with Mo-trained Flowing Riches (123lb) in the Class 4 Parrot Handicap (1000m) before Frankie Lor claimed his first win of the campaign when Chiu Chow Golf (125lb) stormed home under Harry Bentley to land the Class 4 Tailorbird Handicap (1400m).

Richard Kingscote opened his winning account when Michael Chang’s Wave Garden (124lb) finished solidly to land the Class 5 Tropicbird Handicap (1200m, dirt).

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Thursday (1 October) with the National Day Raceday and the running of the HK$4.2 million G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m).