Luke Ferraris Aims for Strong Start with Invincible Ibis in Celebration Cup

Excited by the opportunity to reunite with Invincible Ibis, Luke Ferraris hopes the Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero can launch his latest campaign with a bang in Sunday’s Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) at Sha Tin.

It has been 12 months since the South African jockey rode Mark Newnham’s promising galloper to his third placing from as many starts, with the son of Hellbent then reeling off four straight victories to emerge as a serious Classic Series contender.

He followed up a second to Stormy Grove in the Classic Cup (1,800m) with a strong triumph in the Derby, before finishing his four-year-old season with an impressive fourth to stablemate My Wish in the Group One Champions Mile.

With Hugh Bowman sidelined by a hip injury that he has opted to have surgery to repair, Ferraris was given the golden opportunity to hop back aboard Invincible Ibis for his return on Sunday.

“He’s obviously a nice horse and I think his run in the Champions Mile stamped his ability. He’s only going to improve into his five-year-old campaign,” Ferraris said.

“When I was on for his first few runs, he was a lot smaller and weaker and obviously 1,200m was way too short, but he’s furnished into a nice horse and he’s really starting to piece it together now.”

Ferraris and Newnham will be chasing back-to-back Celebration Cup victories after combining with My Wish last year.

While Ferraris feels Invincible Ibis will be better suited over 1,600m and further, he believes the gelding is primed to run a big race fresh and from barrier one.

“He’s got a nice barrier. I think 1,400m is going to be on the sharp side, but in saying that, if he’s ever going to get the 1,400m again, it’s going to be his first run back when he’s fresh and sharp,” Ferraris said.

“He feels good, he feels very fresh in the mornings and his work’s been great, so it’s going to be a good starting point for his season and I’m excited to be back on him.”

Multiple Group One placegetters Galaxy Patch and Helios Express and last season’s stunning Classic Mile victor Little Paradise headline Invincible Ibis’ rivals in the Celebration Cup.

Bidding to add to his two wins so far this term, Ferraris has eight other rides at Sha Tin, including three for reigning champion trainer Caspar Fownes.

The 24-year-old is working hard to keep his weight down to ride Fownes’ talented galloper Forza Toro at 122lb in the Class Three Kestrel Handicap (1,400m).

“I’ve trialled a couple for Caspar and stayed on them,” Ferraris said.

“Forza Toro’s got a stack of ability and a lot of ratings points in hand, but he’s his own worst enemy. It looks like we’re figuring him out, how to get him out of the gates.

“We trialled him in Conghua and he missed the kick by four lengths, then took him to the gates at Sha Tin and he jumped on terms, then he went to Happy Valley and he was half a length slow. So, he’s not 100 per cent trustworthy, but we’re sort of getting on top of it now.”

Forza Toro steps up in class after a brilliant all-the-way victory over 1,650m at Happy Valley in July.

Daily Trophy, Daily Fun, Stormy Knight, Hero Mastermind, Lucky Doctor, Mighty Commander and Violet Star are Ferraris’ other weekend rides.

“I’ve pulled some nice barriers which I’m sure will help us a lot on the C track. In saying that though, some of them are get back horses, so they’re going to need pace on and gaps to open up when the time’s right,” Ferraris said.