Mark Newnham celebrated a Group 1 breakthrough in Hong Kong this afternoon (Sunday, 26 April) as stable star My Wish continued a phenomenal stretch for the trainer by capturing the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin.

Newnham won March’s HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) with Invincible Ibis – also ridden by Hugh Bowman – and today, the duo united once more on the big stage to give the third-season trainer a first Group 1 at Sha Tin.

Victory is the second for Bowman in the FWD Champions Mile, who rode Red Lion last year, and the Australian was proud to unite with his compatriot on FWD Champions Day.

Bowman said: “The results speak for themselves. I’m not one of his most used jockeys, but fortunately, he seems to find me when he’s got the better horses, and what a fantastic job he’s doing. Not only with the elite animals, but all of the horses in his stable. It’s a pleasure to work with him and for him – long may it continue.”

Breaking from barrier 10, My Wish eased to the tail of the field as Copartner Prance led ahead of Red Lion with Lucky Sweynesse and Jantar Mantar trailing. Turning for home, Voyage Bubble made his move, while Bowman angled My Wish into the clear.

As the pacesetters faded and six-time Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble was beaten for speed, My Wish pounced. Hitting the front at the 200m, My Wish – the smallest horse in the field at 1,011lb – staved off Cap Ferrat and Docklands, respectively, while Invincible Ibis was fourth. The winning time was 1m 32.37s, lowering his own Sha Tin 1600m turf Group race record, with a neck separating first and second.

Newnham said: “It couldn’t be going any better really. Like Hugh said, we were fairly confident with the horse, at least as much as you can be going into a Group 1 race. His work here last Saturday morning (18 April) was exceptional.

“I was just sitting in the grandstand and he came flying by. Hugh’s a man of few words generally when he’s hopped off one after galloping them, but I could just tell in his voice that it was as good as the horse could go. We knew then that if things worked out during the race that his turn of foot would be superior at the end, and it has been.

“I was proud of both horses. Invincible Ibis, when he comes back next season, he’s going to acquit himself well in this grade. My Wish has taken a season and a bit to win his Group 1, but I think the way he’s going now, that I don’t think we’ve seen the last of it.”

My Wish and Cap Ferrat’s one-two is a reversal of the 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby, when the latter edged him by a short head in the third leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

“I’m very proud of the horse. I was very confident going into the race. The pace was really quite on, which suited him, and I got a smooth passage through. When I asked for a top effort, he gave it to me in a stride,” Bowman said.

Newnham’s 49 wins this season position him second in the trainers’ championship behind leader Caspar Fownes (50 wins). Danny Shum (49) and David Hayes (46) trail.

Newnham said: “I’ve got a great team of people. I have two terrific ATs (Assistant Trainer) – Henry here at Sha Tin, and Ivan at Conghua.

“All the way down from the work riders, head lads and mafoos – everyone is really invested in the stable and, that’s something that I really enjoy, because I know tomorrow (Monday, 27 April) when I get to the stable, they will all be buzzing, all be smiling and it’s a reward for everybody’s hard work.”

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday (29 April).

By Declan Schuster

Photo: HKJC