Newnham’s five winners boost title push ahead of Hong Kong Derby

Trainer Mark Newnham injected fresh momentum into his Hong Kong trainers’ championship bid with a career‑best five‑winner haul at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

Just days out from saddling Invincible Ibis in Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby, Newnham vaulted into second place on the premiership ladder with 41 wins, closing to within two of leader Caspar Fownes, after Soaring Bronco, Armor Golden Eagle and Notthesillyone, Ace War and Crimson Flash all won.

“It’s an unbelievable result,” Newnham told the HKJC. “I came here with good chances all night, but you don’t expect everything to work out the way it has. Once you start getting a couple on the board the expectations rise, but you never expect to get five.”

The Australian horseman said the achievement was especially significant in the context of the title race.

“We’ve had a bit of a mid‑season slumber, which can happen when you’ve had a strong start, but this puts us closer to Caspar and keeps us right in the hunt,” he said.

Newnham’s previous best was four winners in a day across two tracks in Australia, making Wednesday’s quintet his first at a single venue.