Bristling with emotion, Luke Ferraris has jubilation in My Wish’s HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile triumph for trainer Mark Newnham at Sha Tin on Friday, prompting the young South African to reflect on Sweet Orange’s success in the same race in 2012.
Trained by Ferraris’ father David, Sweet Orange’s victory 13 seasons ago remains one of Ferraris’ most vivid memories from his childhood in Hong Kong.
My Wish gives Luke Ferraris his most important Hong Kong win (Pic – HKJC)
Now 23, Ferraris joined his father – who saddled 461 winners in Hong Kong and trained champion Vengeance Of Rain – on the Hong Kong Classic Mile honour board with a perfectly judged ride to fend off Francis Lui-trained pair Divano (Blake Shinn) and Parking Hermod (Zac Purton) in 1m 33.98s.
Jumping away cleanly from barrier eight, Ferraris settled the Flying Artie gelding in fourth place, one off the fence and, approaching the home turn, angled into clear running before staving off a charging Divano, who rocketed from last on the turn in a race-best sectional of 21.98s.
Reflecting on Sweet Orange’s victory under Weichong Marwing, Ferraris said: “I remember it like it was yesterday. Weichong was three-deep without cover the whole way, loomed up on the bend and fought off Fay Fay at the furlong (200m).
“There were a few flashbacks which entered my mind today when My Wish had to get game at the furlong and he did. He is 990 pounds of pure heart and he hasn’t been the easiest customer, so big credit to Mark and his team. It really shows the calibre of trainer he is. He improved with each and every run and it’s good to get one on the board.
“Today, when I sit down it will kick in when I get the messages from my family. Watching this race as a child and now this – it’s surreal. I’m pretty grateful to Mark and his team.”
With his fourth win from eight starts, My Wish gave Ferraris and Newnham their most important success in Hong Kong and the first leg of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series, which continues with the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup on 2 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby on 23 March.
Mark Newnham celebrates My Wish’s Hong Kong Classic Mile win (Pic – HKJC)
Newnham was elated to have overcome My Wish’s appetite and temperament issues as the smallest horse in the field held sway.
“His appetite’s improved, so as he’s raced on through the season, he’s toughened up a little bit. We all know he’s only a small horse, but gee he’s got a big heart,” Newnham said. “The horse is very game, Luke’s done a great job with him and my team at home has done a super job because when he first arrived, he was a high-energy horse and wasn’t easy to handle.
“He has been troublesome at times, but today he paraded better than he ever has, he went to the start nice and settled and once he got into that position, it was just a matter of whether he was going to be good enough or not.
“The way he raced today and the position he put himself in and the way he settled, I think he’ll give himself every chance over 1800m. If he learns to settle and conserve his energy, he’s going to be hard to beat. It’s pretty special.”
Ferraris climbed into fourth place in the jockeys’ championship with 24 wins after slotting a treble, having also prevailed on David Eustace-trained Master Phoenix in the first section of the Class 4 Fat Choi Handicap and Mid Winter Wind, who made a stunning Hong Kong debut for Newnham in the Class 3 Yue Yee Handicap to earn a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.
Hugh Bowman posted a quartet at Sha Tin (Pic – HKJC)
Hugh Bowman starred with a quartet, firing in a remarkable four winners in a row – David Hall’s Sunstrider in the Class 4 Good Fortune Handicap, Chancheng Glory for Lui in the Gr3 Centenary Vase Handicap, Brilliant Express for John Size in the Class 4 Prosperity Handicap and Green N White in the Class 2 Chinese New Year Cup Handicap for Ricky Yiu.
“I had good rides on paper and it’s all worked out. I’ve had good running positions and when it hasn’t worked out for me early, it’s worked out late for me in races,” Bowman said. “All my rides have shown they were capable and it’s nice for it all to happen in one day.”
Narrowly denied in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, Lui struck with BMW Hong Kong Derby prospect Packing Angel under Zac Purton in the Class 3 Kut Cheong Handicap.
Jamie Richards successfully unveiled talented newcomer Yee Cheong Glory in the second section of the Class 4 Fat Choi Handicap. Ridden by Purton, the Puissance de Lune gelding was a trial winner in Adelaide before export to Hong Kong and could easily have won by more than his two and quarter length margin.
Ben Thompson’s adventurous decision to keep New Future Folks wide from barrier 13 in the long run to the first turn paid off handsomely when Michael Chang’s charge crossed smoothly to the fence and was never headed to land the Class 3 Red Packet Handicap.
Still in contention for the Hong Kong Classic Cup, New Future Folks earned an ISG Bonus of HK$1 million after Dennis Yip and Matthew Chadwick claimed the first win on Chinese New Year Raceday with Ho Ho Star’s narrow victory in the Class 5 Kung Hei Handicap.
“I’m happy. The first winner of the Chinese New Year is lucky, of course,” Yip said.
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday.
