Mark Newnham aims for late-season momentum with six runners at Sha Tin

Mark Newnham will be hoping to continue some late-season momentum when he fields a team of six at Sha Tin on Saturday, including Max Que and Infinite Resolve in the feature Class Two Peacock Handicap (1,600m).

After a leaner period in terms of winners, Newnham has surged once again and has enjoyed winners at the last five meetings, leaving him four behind trainers’ championship leader Caspar Fownes on 58.

The title race is not at the forefront of Newnham’s mind, however, and he will not change his philosophy in the name of hunting down Fownes.

“I’ve been saying it for months, the championship hasn’t been my main focus of the season. If it happens, it happens. I’m not going to over-race the horses or push the young ones just to do it, because I’ll ruin them for next year,” Newnham said.

Newnham’s strong squad for Saturday’s twilight meeting is headlined by classy duo Max Que and Infinite Resolve, with the former enjoying a sharp climb through the grades this campaign.

Rated 54 when he started the campaign, he has won four races and placed a further five times, with his only run outside the top three coming when sixth on his latest run on a soft track.

Infinite Resolve has also made hay this campaign despite only winning one race, with his best effort coming when second in the Classic Mile behind Little Paradise.

The pair will break from stalls four and seven respectively with Alexis Badel and Jerry Chau Chun-lok aboard.

“Max Que has come from being a Class Four winner to a Class Two winner, which is not easy to do, but he might have hit his peak rating now after a busy season,” Newnham said.

“Infinite Resolve has come out of the four-year-old series and has performed well in Class Two. He’s probably getting back to a rating now where he can be competitive.”

Newnham also sends out front-runner Notthesillyone in the Class Three Snipe Handicap (1,200m) on dirt, with the Super One galloper looking for a fifth win of a remarkable campaign.

Rated just 40 on reappearance, he has blasted up to a rating of 66, winning with something to spare last start despite not being able to lead under Luke Ferraris.

He will be without his regular rider on this occasion, with Angus Chung Yik-lai taking over from barrier nine, and Newnham will be hoping his five-year-old can continue surprising him this season.

“He’s had a fantastic season – he’s found his niche on the dirt but he’s also won a race at Happy Valley, so he’s been a really versatile and genuine horse,” Newnham said.

“He’s got good pace and he’s probably just learned to conserve his energy a bit better, like he did in his last run where he was able to take a sit and win, whereas before he was pretty one dimensional and needing to lead.

“As his rating has gone up, he’s become more adaptable and that’s probably been the key to him.”

The quirky but talented Incredible Moment is another with strong claims for Newnham in the Class Four Asner Handicap (1,200m) under Richard Kingscote.

He got off the mark at the 14th attempt despite wandering into the middle of the track two starts ago, before a tardy start cost him a winning chance back over course and distance last time.

Newnham is hoping the right version of Incredible Moment turns up on Saturday, though barrier 10 is wider than he wanted for his pacy son of Royal Meeting.

“He’s a bit tricky, but Richard gets on well with him. It very much depends on which version of him turns up on the day – if it’s the right one, he’s got the talent to be competitive,” Newnham said.

Newnham’s squad is rounded out by Polar Patch and Quantum Legend.