Jack Dawling
Mark Newnham has been a formidable force on the Sha Tin dirt but even the Australian trainer himself had to take a moment to pause and think of the main reason behind his success on the surface.
"I just try and pick the horses that I think are suitable for it," he said. "Sometimes you look at the dirt as a last resort, but I look at it as an opportunity."
Newnham has saddled four winners from only 21 runners on the dirt this term, with eight of his gallopers finishing inside the first three home.
While his consistent returns on the surface are just one of the driving factors behind his stellar 2024/25 campaign, Newnham emphasized the importance of the dirt as a vehicle for success in the world of Hong Kong racing.
"I think sometimes the dirt can be really friendly to you - I've even got a horse (Looks Outstanding) having his first start on there [today]," he said. "If you just look at the right horses for it and the right races, it all flows from there."
The second-season handler currently sits sixth in a tight battle for the trainers' championship at the halfway mark, three wins behind leader Danny Shum Chap-shing.
In his bid to surge up the ladder, Newnham takes a team of six runners to the nine-race dirt card at Sha Tin.
The trainer hopes to dominate the feature, a Class 2 contest over 1,200 meters, with dirt specialist Sing Dragon and the consistent Full Credit, who jumps from barrier three under Luke Ferraris.
"They are both going in there in really good form," Newnham said. "Full Credit is very adaptable and he's got good form on both surfaces, whereas Sing Dragon has run some nice races on the turf and once he gets up to this class he's much better on the all-weather.
"It's a tricky race looking at how it might map, but they are both versatile tactically. Full Credit actually chases well on the dirt and can do either. However the race pans out, they should be okay."
Newnham also believes his debutant Looks Outstanding "has the ability to run well" when he contests the fifth race of the day, a Class 4 contest over 1,200m, despite his wide berth in barrier 12.
jack.dawling@singtaonewscorp.com
