Sydney’s Mark Newnham has already trained 16 stakes winners in his short career by sticking to a formula of choosing the correct path to big races.
Newnham experienced a lot of major race success when stable foreman for Gai Waterhouse and has continued since branching out on his own in 2016 and his wins include three at Group One level.
He has his eye on more big-race success next month when Diamond Thunder tackles the $2 million Magic Millions Guineas and Every Rose the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast.
Diamond Thunder will have his final lead-up in Saturday’s Group Three Vo Rogue Plate (1400m) and Every Rose will have hers in the Group Three B.J McLachlan Stakes 2YO (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Newnham is confident he is doing the right thing after the pair ran at Wyong on December 12.
Diamond Thunder came from a seemingly impossible position at the 600m to win the Magic Millions Wyong 3YO & 4YO Stakes (1200m).
He has now won five of his seven starts including the Listed Oxlade Stakes at Doomben last winter.
Newnham is excited about getting Diamond Thunder out to 1400m in the Vo Rogue.
“He is such a good horse and the big track is going to suit him, ” Newnham said.
“Diamond Thunder is the type of horse who is versatile enough to end up anywhere in running and won’t be disadvantaged sitting off the pace.”
The Group Three Gimcrack Stakes winner at her first start, Every Rose ran second as favourite in the Wyong Magic Millons 2Y0 to Farnan.
Newnham believes Every Rose will improve for that run.
“She had a good blow after Wyong and you would expect that far out when her grand final is next month,” Newnham said.
“There is no doubt she needed the run. She peaked about 100 metres out and she has done well since.
“The 1200 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday will have her spot-on for Magic Millions day.”
Diamond Thunder will be Newnham’s first Guineas runner and Every Rose his second in the Classic after recent Group Two Villiers winner Quakerjack ran 10th as a two-year-old in 2018.
“He had no luck at all but that is the story in all big races,” Newnham said.
