In a fitting finale, Mark Newnham has farewelled Sydney racing as a winner.
The popular trainer, who leaves Australia next month to take up an opportunity in Hong Kong, saddled up his final Sydney runner, Lavish Empire, at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and the horse duly saluted.
Making the occasion even more significant, Lavish Empire was ridden by Josh Parr who was there for the start of Newnham’s Australian training career and for the end, as well as the bits in between.
“That was terrific. I really enjoyed that,” Newnham said.
“It was nice to have Josh aboard. He’s been part of the stable right from the start, he actually rode my first city winner and that was at Warwick Farm here about six years ago and he’s managed to finish on a winning note for us as well.
“Josh gave him the ideal ride today and I’m absolutely over the moon that we could end that way.”
Parr and Newnham have shared many big race successes, notably a brace of Group 1 victories with Shadow Hero during the 2019-20 season.
But few of those wins have held more sentiment than Wednesday’s midweek victory, the hoop delighted to deliver the final hurrah aboard a horse who he said didn’t offer much on the training track.
“It has been a good ride,” Parr said.
“It’s a shame Mark is leaving our shores, but I’m thrilled to get the job done today.
“He’s an interesting horse, you could easily be forgiven for thinking he’s not all that talented at the track, he’s extremely lazy and has a laidback attitude but race day with blinkers on he switches right up.”
Newnham’s final Australian runner will be at Doomben on Saturday – three-year-old Street Gossip in the Group 3 Pam O’Neill Stakes (1600m) before he jets to Hong Kong to start his next chapter.
“I’ll be up there on Saturday and hopefully we do the same again,” he said.
“But nice to finish the Sydney career with a winner.”
