Mark Newnham’s stable is home to one of Hong Kong’s most exciting horses and the trainer, a superb winner of 43 races in his second campaign, heads into the Season Finale at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (16 July) already keen on what 2025/26 may have in store.

Newnham said: “As long as I built on last year, I was always going to be happy. I would say it’s probably exceeded expectations as far as being able to win a feature race with My Wish.

“Over the last three months we’ve had a lot of second placings (10 since the start of June), but I’ve had a few wide draws and they’re horses that haven’t had a lot of exposure, so hopefully they’re winners next season – which I think they will be. Overall, I’m very happy.”

Eclipsing his 31-win maiden term, Newnham continues to make waves with a raft of young horses in Hong Kong. The 57-year-old handler is entrenched in the championship’s top 10 and enjoyed a breakout year with My Wish – honoured as this season’s Most Improved Horse at the recent Champion Awards following his 51-point rating rise to a career-high 105.

“I think that was a just reward for horse and owners. I think the best is ahead of him and we can be going into next season pretty hopeful,” Newnham said.

My Wish won the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) before consecutive seconds in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) – the latter by an agonising short-head behind triumphant Cap Ferrat, before closing 2024/25 with a brave fourth in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m). 

“It’s exciting, I’m only two seasons in and to have a horse of his calibre, he showed in the Derby and he showed in the Champions Mile that he’s going to measure up and the form out of those races has been very good. The Four-Year-Old Classic Series horses have been fantastic. So, hopefully he has more natural improvement than the others.

“He’ll run in the Group 3 Celebration Cup (1400m) first, so that’ll be his kick-off point next season. Then he’ll run in the two Group 2 miles and then at the (LONGINES) Hong Kong International Races in December,” Newnham said.  

Newnham saddles Same To You, Lucky Sam Gor, Tactical Command, Setanta and Full Credit at Happy Valley tomorrow night. Full Credit is having his second run post-setback in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Lucky Patch Handicap (1200m).

“He’s (Full Credit) sort of got to show us that he’s recovered after throat surgery. A below par run his first run back, so it’d be nice to see him improve,” Newnham said.

Tactical Command has won twice at the city circuit this season and heads into the Class 4 Fast Most Furious Handicap (1200m) aiming to turn consecutive seconds into more success, most recently placing behind Victor The Rapid last Wednesday (9 July) at the Valley.

“He backs up well. He’s been consistent all season and I don’t see him going backwards from that,” Newnham said.

Lucky Sam Gor continues to make headway and chases a first win in the Class 4 Let Me Fight Handicap (1200m) when he breaks from draw five under Matthew Chadwick.

“His last run was excellent. He was four-wide the whole way with no cover. He’s back to 1200 metres but he has trialled well at Happy Valley, so I’d expect he’ll run a good race,” Newnham said.

Following one win at Sha Tin on Sunday (13 July), Chadwick will continue to pursue Tony Cruz Award leader Matthew Poon at the season’s 88th and final fixture. Poon tops the race to be crowned leading homegrown rider with 36 wins. Chadwick currently has 35 triumphs, while Derek Leung sits third on 34 after also partnering a winner last weekend.

Leung said: “We still need to see on Wednesday. A few of my rides look to have a decent chance, but I want to thank all the owners and trainers for their support this season. I can’t complain and I hope it’s a smooth end to the season – let’s see if I have the luck.”

Both Leung and Chadwick have eight rides tomorrow night. Poon has seven, including Full Credit for Newnham in the Class 2 dash, as he guns for a first Tony Cruz Award in a season which saw him win the HK$5.35 million G2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) on Straight Arron.

Poon also partners Ragnarr, Flying Wrote, Better And Better, Circuit Victory, Leslie and Copartner Fleet. Leung’s rides are You’remyeverything, Genius Baby, Vulcanus, Fortunate Son, Cosmo Light, Sterling Wongchoy, Prestige Always and Regal Gem.

Chadwick’s other chances come via Winning Heart, Winning Diamond, Figopumpkin, Grand Nova, Wah May Wai Wai, Aeris Nova and Thriving Brothers.

Wednesday night’s (16 July) nine-race Season Finale at Happy Valley kicks off at 6.30pm with the Class 5 Silver Grecian Handicap (1200m).