In the midst of a strong season, Mark Newnham hopes Bravehearts can maintain the stable’s impetus with success in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Buffalo Hill Handicap (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (27 December).
Newnham has 22 wins for the season to date and sits third in the 2024/25 Hong Kong trainers’ championship behind Pierre Ng (26 wins) and Danny Shum (22) with David Hayes fourth on 21 victories.
Newnham credits Bravehearts’ impressive form this term to a more relaxed racing manner and the South American Group 1 winner’s association with Matthew Poon.
“He’s a talented stayer. He was just in a bit of a hurry – looking at his races – last season, he was pulling and not finishing his races off,” Newnham said.
“I think the most important thing is just getting him to relax. Matthew Poon gets on with him really well – his rides on him have been outstanding. He just gets him to use himself well in the early part of the race and he has a good finish.
“He (Bravehearts) has got some confidence and going back to the 2000m is more suitable. Once he won at 2000m, going back to the 1800m was probably detrimental to his chances last start, especially carrying top weight, so this time I’m happy with him distance-wise and he’s right down in the weights.”
Bravehearts resumed with victory over 1600m and won again over 2000m before finishing third under 133lb behind Californiatotality over 1800m on 8 December.
The former Argentine will carry 118b on Sunday against Senor Toba (135lb), Money Catcher (133lb), Atullibigeal (129lb), Awesome Fluke (124lb), Romantic Thor (124lb), The Best Peach (124lb), Winning Dragon (124lb), Star Contact (122lb) and Naval Force (118lb).
Newnham will saddle five runners on Sunday, including Full Credit who contests the Class 3 D’Aguilar Peak Handicap (1200m, dirt) under Lyle Hewitson.
“He’s always shown in his trials that he likes the surface and I wanted to give him a test (on the surface) and he passed it with flying colours,” Newnham said referring to Full Credit’s last-start second to stablemate Sing Dragon on the dirt.
“He’s trialled well since and, looking at the race, it might be a fast-run race, so he might need to be adaptable, as he was at his last start. He’s taken a couple of runs to get to his best this season but his last couple of runs have been solid and he’s in a race that will suit.”
Frankie Lor will team with seven-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton when Heroic Master tackles the Class 3 Butterfly Bay Handicap (1000m).
Lor and Purton combined with The Azure at Happy Valley on Thursday night (26 December) when the Australian equalled Brett Prebble’s Happy Valley record of six winners in a single meeting at the venue. Lor hopes Heroic Master can continue his solid short-course form after minor placings at his past two starts.
“Last start, he jumped slowly and if he jumps well this time, I think he can be close,” Lor said.
Dual Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble limbered up for the HK$13 million G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 19 January by cruising through a 1200m dirt trial at Sha Tin this morning (Friday, 27 December).
In the absence of regular rider James McDonald, Voyage Bubble was partnered by Matthew Poon and finished second to Sky Heart, beaten only three quarters of a length, in his most serious piece of work since winning the HK$36 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on 8 December.
Sky Heart clocked 1m 10.76s for the hitout.
Sunday’s (29 December) 10-race card at Sha Tin starts with the Class 5 Port Shelter Handicap (1000m) at 1pm.
By Leo Schlink
