Mark Newnham ended his recent slump in emphatic fashion with a stunning five-timer at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, a haul believed to be the best by a trainer at a Hong Kong night meeting.
The Australian swept the first three races before adding two more later on the card ahead of Sunday’s BMW Hong Kong Derby, finishing one win short of the all-time Hong Kong record of six held by Caspar Fownes and Cheung Hok-man. Both of those marks were set at daytime Happy Valley fixtures – Fownes in 2010 and Cheung in 1975.
It was a remarkable turnaround for Newnham, who had set the pace in the trainers’ championship through the first half of the season but arrived at the Valley on a 23-race losing streak and with just one winner from his previous 60 runners.
That run was quickly forgotten.
Stable transfer Soaring Bronco struck at the first time of asking for Newnham, dead-heating with Glorious Ryder in an action-packed opener, before Armor Golden Eagle and Notthesillyone completed the early treble. Ace War and Crimson Flash later took his tally to five winners from the first seven races.
“I had a little mid-season sleep there but it was just one of those nights when things come together,” Newnham said.
Newnham, who saddles leading BMW Hong Kong Derby contender Invincible Ibis, will head to Thursday’s barrier draw at Sha Tin with fresh momentum after one of the most memorable nights of his Hong Kong career.
The trainer said the breakthrough with Soaring Bronco was especially satisfying after the gelding joined his yard on a mark of 32, having won only once in 30 starts for previous trainer Pierre Ng Pang-chee.
“Getting him on a rating of 32 was a nice mark for him – he arrived in physically good condition, it was just a case of turning him around mentally,” Newnham said.
“Obviously a change of environment and training style seems to have suited him. He had trialled well at Conghua and you could see that when he trialled he showed more natural gate speed than he has shown this season. When he jumped well tonight and travelled in a similar position, I was confident.”
Newnham’s third winner, Notthesillyone, was ridden by British jockey Richard Kingscote, whose first full Hong Kong season has been difficult but who has begun to build momentum over the past month.
Kingscote picked up the ride after regular partner Luke Ferraris was already committed to Honest Witness in the race, and Newnham said the decision paid off.
“Luke usually rides the horse but he was already engaged,” he said. “Richard has only had a few rides for me but he has ridden them all well, so we decided to go with him and he pulled off the perfect ride from gate 12.”
The opening race was marred by a fatal injury to Sterling Wongchoy, who stumbled near the line and was later euthanised.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club said the horse “was immediately treated at the scene” but that “following further assessment, it was determined that the nature of the injuries meant he could not be saved”.
“The Hong Kong Jockey Club extends its deepest condolences to Sterling Wongchoy’s owners and those who have cared for the horse.”
Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle was also injured in the incident. He was stood down after riding in race two and deemed unfit to ride for the remainder of the meeting. He will now hope to recover in time to ride Patch Of Cosmo in Sunday’s Derby.
