Small-time Australian breeders dream of striking Hong Kong Derby gold with My Wish

South China Morning Post

22-03-2025

Steve Hodge (left) and Fran and Brad Marshall with My Wish in Australia two years ago. Photo: Handout
In the game of breeding thoroughbreds, you always need a bit of luck to be successful and for Australian trio Steve Hodge and Brad and Fran Marshall, that is certainly the case.
Hodge, a small-time trainer in the New South Wales city of Newcastle for almost four decades, and his two close friends took a chance on Set The Tone when the broodmare prospect's owner put her up for sale.
With only one win to her name at the remote racecourse of Tuncurry, Set The Tone came with a lowly price tag of A$3000 (HK$14,634) while in foal to Eurozone.
'I trained her and the bloke that owned her got her in foal and was cutting down his number of horses,' Hodge recalled.
Classy as! 👏
My Wish staves off challengers to capture the first #4YOSeries leg - the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile - with @LukeFerraris for Mark Newnham... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/Zl6reIm7X3 — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025
'A couple of my friends and I decided to buy her and then about two months later, she slipped the foal.
'We had a free return to Eurozone, but it had moved on from Newgate Farm up in the Hunter Valley, so they said they'll honour the free return with another stallion. We got her served by Flying Artie and My Wish was the result.'
Initially named Lika Ryder, the small son of Flying Artie stepped out for his first trial at Hodge's home track in 2023 and quickly created a huge buzz, bolting in by more than four lengths.
'He jumped out and did it easy and all the bloodstock agents were ringing wanting to buy him for Hong Kong,' Hodge said.
'We were just going to break him in and race him ourselves. The prize money's so good here in New South Wales, but when he won his trial so well, everyone was keen to buy him and the money was good, so we thought we'd sell him.'
Now named My Wish and trained by Mark Newnham, the gelding has rocketed into BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) contention and has Hodge and the Marshalls dreaming of a major breeding success on Sunday.
My Wish has been a revelation for Newnham in his second season training in Hong Kong, notching four wins – including a fighting Classic Mile triumph in January – and a last-start second to Derby favourite Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m).
'We're only small-time breeders, we've only got one or two mares,' Hodge said.
'To breed one running in a Derby in Hong Kong is a pretty big thing. Mark's done an unbelievable job with him and Luke [Ferraris] rides him so well. Hopefully it all falls into place for them.
'I knew Mark when he was a jockey. He had rides for me, as a matter of fact, back in the day. He's a great trainer and a great person.'
Hodge will be at Sha Tin for the city's most prestigious race on Sunday, but it won't be his first trip to Hong Kong.
'I went over in December for the two big meetings and I was there 29 years ago,' Hodge said.
'Kris Lees and I took [Potential Star] over for Kris' father, Max. It was in the [QE II Cup]. It went no good, but I was there for a month and had a good time.
Rubylot mows them down in the Hong Kong Classic Cup at Sha Tin! My Wish is brave in defeat as @brentonavdulla and David Hayes combine for victory... 🏆#4YOSeries | #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/5YiJeHY1Ub — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 2, 2025
'It will be good to catch up with Mark and hopefully cheer My Wish home.'
If My Wish overcomes the widest draw in barrier 14 to claim Derby glory, it will boost the value of his full-brother that Hodge and the Marshalls have on their hands.
'He was just weaned last week. He's a really nice horse,' Hodge said.
'We didn't put the mare back in foal for a couple of years after My Wish. When he showed the ability and was sold to Hong Kong, we went and picked her up and had her served by Flying Artie again.
'If My Wish happens to win the Derby, this foal should be worth a bit and might make it through the yearling sales. We've got the mare back in foal to Hawaii Five Oh.'