Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Invincible Ibis exceeded trainer Mark Newnham’s expectations on his return to record a thrilling victory in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Handing Newnham and jockey Luke Ferraris back-to-back wins in the HK$4.2 million feature, Invincible Ibis ran on strongly from midfield and held off a late burst from Galaxy Patch to score by a neck.
The son of Hellbent made a statement in his return from last season, which saw him claim Champion Four-Year-Old and Most Improved Horse honours for his Derby triumph and four other wins.
Newnham’s fears about the distance being too short and Invincible Ibis needing the first-up run were allayed, as the trainer and Ferraris celebrated a second success in the race following My Wish from 12 months ago.
“Truthfully, a little unexpected. I thought at 1,400m, carrying a little more condition with bigger goals ahead, if he ran a good third or fourth I’d be satisfied. But with a win like that, I’m pretty happy,” Newnham said.
Settling three-back on the fence behind a slow speed set by Copartner Prance, Invincible Ibis was angled off the inside by Ferraris at the top of the straight to launch his run.
He sprinted to the lead at the 100m and had just enough in hand to beat Galaxy Patch, who launched a barnstorming run from last at the 200m, clocking a sizzling 21.18 seconds for the final 400m.
“Luke just said to me ‘he was probably on empty that last 50m’, but we know he’s very tenacious,” Newnham said of Invincible Ibis.
“When he had such a good run through the race, I’m sure that helped because if he had to do any work, he was probably underdone for that, but Luke gave him a perfect ride.
“When he was able to angle into the clear off the back of Little Paradise, it was just up to horse and rider then and both were good.”
Ferraris was thrilled to hop back aboard Invincible Ibis in a race for the first time in 12 months, with Derby-winning rider Hugh Bowman’s long-term hip injury paving the way for the young South African to reunite with the emerging star.
“Obviously, I started out on him when he first started racing and it’s night and day compared to what he is now to what he’s furnished into and full credit to Mark and his team to getting him to where he is now,” Ferraris said.
“It’s a great start to his campaign this season.”
Newnham said Invincible Ibis will progress to the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) next month and Group Two Jockey Club Mile in November before a decision is made on his Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) target in December.
“He’ll race in October and November, so he’ll go to the traditional lead-up races, and then I’ll put an entry in for the mile and the 2,000m [Hong Kong Cup] on international day and just see where he’s best placed at this stage of his career,” Newnham said.
“At the moment I’m thinking of keeping him to a mile. I think a horse that’s lightly raced like him, going to 2,000m against all ages at Group One level is a fair ask, but the horse will tell me where he’s at.
“If we’re two more runs into the season and he’s showing me he’s not sharp enough for the mile, then we’ve got the option. So, it’s nice to have a horse with enough ability to make those sort of decisions.”
Newnham could have a powerful hand in the Group One Hong Kong Mile, with last season’s Group One Champions Mile winner My Wish also bound for that race.
Despite the lure of having two major chances in separate Group Ones on HKIR day, and the absence of the retired Romantic Warrior from the Hong Kong Cup, Newnham said he wouldn’t necessarily split his star duo up.
“I think you’ve just got to do what’s best for both horses,” Newnham said.
“We know My Wish is a specialist miler and he’ll definitely go to the mile. I’m sure later in the season we can take Ibis out to 2,000m – it’s just a matter of whether it’s in December or later on.”
Stormy Grove, last season’s Classic Cup (1,800m) victor, also made a strong return in the Celebration Cup to finish a close third.
The disappointment of the race was the red-hot $1.9 favourite Little Paradise, who could only manage sixth.
Zac Purton was forced to push the Jimmy Ting Koon-ho-trained galloper forward early to avoid being trapped wide and he lobbed in an ideal spot one-off the fence in fourth.
However, after looming to challenge for the lead in the straight, he was grabbed by Invincible Ibis and the chasing pack and faded.
Purton bemoaned the stop-start nature of the race.
Elsewhere on Sunday’s card, trainer David Hayes hailed Bustling City “the new dirt king in Hong Kong” after his explosive seven-length romp in the Class Three Hwamei Handicap (1,200m).
Sent to the front by Brenton Avdulla, Bustling City burst clear and was eased down over the final 200m to salute as the $1.75 favourite.
He added the win to his four-and-a-half victory on his dirt debut at the end of last season.
“I just told Brenton to ride him like the best horse in the race, and he was. I think he could be the new dirt king in Hong Kong,” Hayes said.
“He’s very exciting. This horse always trialled well and kept getting beaten, now he’s matured and he’s a very good young horse.
“I think he has got an exceptional talent on the dirt. He’s won all his trials on the dirt like a superstar.”
Packing Fighter was another outstanding undercard winner, cruising to victory in a class record in the Class Three Mesia Handicap (1,600m) under Purton, who completed a double after also winning on Apex Glory.
“Very impressive – he’s been showing that in the mornings this season,” Purton said after the Danny Shum Chap-shing-trained galloper won by five and a quarter lengths.
“He’s come on in leaps and bounds and we were hoping he was going to run like that race day, which he did, and his only problem at the moment is that he just won’t relax.”
