The Australian connection struck gold at Sha Tin on Sunday when the Mark Newnham trained, Hugh Bowman ridden Invincible Ibis took out the Group 1 Hong Kong Derby over 2000m in race record time, getting the better of Numbers when it mattered most to score by 1,25 lengths.
What a week … make that what a season … Newnham is having. He saddled five winners at Happy Valley last Wednesday … his best return yet on an individual race-day … and he currently sits in second place in the Hong Kong Trainers’ Premiership, just one win behind Casper Fownes.
For Bowman, Invincible Ibis gave him his third win in a Hong Kong Derby, having previously saluted aboard Werther in 2016 and Furore in 2019.
“We’ll be looking at the FWD Champions Day as long as his recovery’s good, said Newnham.
“I’m probably more inclined to run him in the Mile. I just don’t think taking on Romantic Warrior and a few of the internationals at 2000m … I don’t think he’s seasoned enough for that yet, despite his win today and the time he’s run.
Bowman explained how his confidence grew in the run.
“As we started to come round the home turn, I thought … I’m in business here, I really am,” said Bowman.
“The run was economical, so when I brought him to the outside and let him down, it was no surprise that he went the way that he did and I’m very proud of him. It means a lot to win the race for a third time and being based here now makes it a bit more special for some reason or other.”
Invincible ibis has been a model of consistency this season scoring five wins, one second and one third placing from the eight races he has contested this term.