Mark Newnham reestablished command at the top of the trainers’ championship at Sha Tin on Sunday with Crimson Flash’s feature win, but is adamant the title race will go down to the final races of the season.
The Australian headed into the meeting level on wins with Caspar Fownes and ahead on seconds, but Crimson Flash’s last-gasp success in the Class Two Pilkem Handicap (1,200m) saw him take outright control on 48 winners.
The win was potentially foreshadowing the end of the title fight, with just a nose separating Crimson Flash and Rising Force in a desperate finish to the finale.
Settled a clear third behind the duelling leaders Victor The Winner and Rising Force, the Showtime galloper looked to be in trouble 200m from home, but he was galvanised by Andrea Atzeni and showed a willing attitude to nail his rival right on the line, denying Ricky Yiu Poon-fai a treble on the day.
It was back-to-back wins since his tilt at the Classic Mile, following up a win at Happy Valley last time, and Newnham is hoping his versatility can help him add to his already smart record that includes four Hong Kong wins and one in Australia pre-import.
“At the 200m, it didn’t look like he would be able to pick him up, but he chased really well and that’s something he’s been good at; he’s a really genuine horse,” Newnham said.
“[Rising Force] with a lightweight is a smart horse and it took a lot to reel him in. I’m just pleased to see the photo go his way.
“He’s a good horse and he’s still improving – you could see when he first goes under pressure he tends to lift his head a little bit and it wasn’t until the last part of the race where he really let down well.
“He’s still learning and is building a good record. He’s shown today that he’s capable around the bend at Sha Tin; he’s pretty versatile, he’s now won around the corner, up the straight and at Happy Valley too.”
The championship fight so far has seen Newnham and Fownes trade punches throughout, with Fownes going clear before being pegged back by Newnham in a remarkable five-timer at Happy Valley last month.
While the pair have gone at it hammer and tongs, the likes of Danny Shum Chap-shing (43), David Hayes (42) and Francis Lui Kin-wai (40) have ranged into contention too, and Newnham has no doubt the fight is going down to the bitter end.
“It’ll come down to the last day – I have no doubt, because any one of the top five or six trainers can do what Caspar did the other day,” Newnham said, referring to Fownes’ four-timer at Happy Valley last Wednesday.
“We had a five-timer already, Francis looks like he’s got a really nice young group of horses too – any one of the top group could have three, four or five winners in a day and put themselves bang in contention. It’ll go right down to the end and it could be any one of us.
“It’s a good position to be in, but it’s testament to the hard work of my staff. We’ve got good systems in place, we’ve got nice owners and nice horses too. It’s a matter of just finding a system and routine that works, and we’ve got that – the results show it.”
There was a sting in the tail for Atzeni, however, with the Sardinian suspended for one meeting for careless riding following interference early in the race on Crimson Flash.
