Mark Newnham is optimistic My Wish can make a triumphant start to an ambitious 2025/26 campaign when the rising star resumes in the HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (28 September).

Newnham orchestrated My Wish’s stunning advance last season when the diminutive gelding progressed from a rating of 54 and Class 4 company to a mark of 105 and standing as a genuine Group 1 contender with four wins, two seconds, two thirds and a fourth from nine starts.

The Australian horseman believes My Wish has benefited from a spell and natural maturity after the 2025 HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) winner and HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) runner-up’s rousing trial win at Sha Tin on 19 September.

“I’m really pleased with him. He’s mentally and physically stronger and he’s more relaxed in the mornings. His appetite is better so I would say he’s made improvements in a lot of little areas,” Newnham said of My Wish.

Drawn in barrier four for Luke Ferraris, My Wish will carry 130lb on Sunday when he faces 13 rivals – Happy Together (135lb), Copartner Prance (134lb), Patch Of Theta (134lb), Victor The Winner (134lb), Moments In Time (132lb), Packing Hermod (132lb), Sunlight Power (132lb), Rubylot (130lb), Divano (129lb), Pray For Mir (128lb), Light Years Charm (125lb), Johannes Brahms (120lb) and Markwin (116lb).

“I would say he’d be very hard to beat,” Newnham said.

“He’s a horse that doesn’t carry a lot of excess weight, so he gets himself fairly ready and he’s run well and won first-up last season. He’s a horse that performs fresh. He’s actually weighing at over 1,000 pounds at the moment and everyone will be happy with that.

“He’s just strengthened up that much more and I think he’s got a good season ahead.”

Fourth in the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) in April behind Red Lion, My Wish is unbeaten in two attempts over Sha Tin’s 1400m course.

Newnham plans to give My Wish another tilt at elite company when the five-year-old will be aimed at the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) on 14 December.

“The international mile is his main goal so this week’s race is three months before then with the two Group 2 miles (G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap and BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile) in between,” Newnham said.

My Wish will renew a burgeoning rivalry this Sunday with David Hayes-trained Rubylot, who is also on a pathway to the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.

The six-time Sha Tin winner – from 1000m to 1800m – reappears for the first time since running second in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) behind Voyage Bubble on 25 May.

To be ridden by Hugh Bowman, Rubylot will start from gate 14.

“He’s definitely improved. He’s a bigger, stronger horse. I thought his last trial was excellent and he never runs a bad race fresh,” Hayes said. “He’s got good form from 1000 metres to 2400. I have a concern for My Wish.

“There wasn’t much between him and Rubylot last year and I was quite taken by My Wish’s trial from an opposition point of view.”

Hayes said the HK$5.35 million G2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) would be used to decide whether Rubylot is set for the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile or the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m).

“The Sha Tin Trophy will be the race we decide which race we’ll target on international day – either the Mile or the Cup,” Hayes said.

Sunday’s (28 September) 11-race card starts with the Class 5 Tropicbird Handicap (1200m, dirt) at 12.45pm.