Ferraris and Newnham land biggest HK wins with My Wish in Classic Mile
Young jockey and Australian handler team up with pint-sized galloper to claim first leg of four-year-old series
by Jay Rooney on Friday, January 31, 2025 7:06 PM Jockey Luke Ferraris celebrates his Classic Mile win on My Wish with connections. Photos: Kenneth Chan
Luke Ferraris was almost lost for words and Mark Newnham labelled My Wish's Classic Mile win 'pretty special' as the jockey and trainer bagged their biggest Hong Kong victories at Sha Tin on Friday.
The youngest rider on the Hong Kong roster, 23-year-old Ferraris showed poise beyond his years with a peach of a ride from barrier eight to lift My Wish to victory in the first leg of the four-year-old series.
The South African grew up at Sha Tin while his father David trained in the city, watching the Classic Mile and other big features over the fence from Racecourse Gardens.
'There were a few flashbacks which entered my mind today when [My Wish] had to get game at the furlong and he did,' Ferraris said in reference to his father's Classic Mile success with Sweet Orange in 2012. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025
'It hasn't set in yet. Obviously going into these big races, you treat them like any other race and there's a bit more glamour and prestige, but you feel the pressure because you're riding the race.
'Tonight, when I sit down it will kick in when I get the messages from my family.'
Sent off a $7 chance, My Wish had a dream run in fourth as Glory Elite set a modest speed from the front.
Ferraris moved out three wide before the turn to launch My Wish's run, with the pint-sized son of Flying Artie working to the lead approaching the 200m.
While the $2.8 favourite Packing Hermod loomed down the centre of the track and Divano launched an incredible run from last, My Wish dug deep and kept on strongly to prevail by a neck.
'I was confident going into the race that we had him in as good a shape as we could,' Newnham said after My Wish notched his fourth win from eight starts.
'We all know he's only a small horse, but gee he's got a big heart.
'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.'
Francis Lui Kin-wai filled both minor placings, with Divano launching a stunning burst from the tail of the field under Blake Shinn for an impressive second.
The Classic Mile once again eluded Zac Purton, with the champion jockey's mount Packing Hermod running on from fifth to be beaten half a length in third.
Newnham doesn't expect the 1,800m of the second leg of the Classic Series, the Classic Cup on March 2, to trouble My Wish.
'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 1,800m). If he learns to settle and conserve his energy, he's going to be hard to beat,' Newnham said.
The Classic Mile was also Newnham's biggest Hong Kong success. The Australian Group One-winning handler has made a big impact in his second season in the city with 25 wins – 10 of which have been with Ferraris in the saddle.
'I was saying to my dad during the week, [the Classic Mile is] a bit like the Randwick Guineas and I won that with Shadow Hero – it's the first leg of the Triple Crown in Sydney. To win the first leg of it here, it's pretty special,' Newnham said.
Ferraris celebrated the second treble of his Hong Kong career on Friday after also booting home Master Phoenix and Newnham's South African import Mid Winter Wind, who scored on his Hong Kong debut at $42.25 in the Class Three Yue Yee Handicap (1,200m).
'I thought he would run well. I thought he might be half a run behind where I needed to have him, but Luke gave him a good ride and used his turn of foot,' Newnham said of Mid Winter Wind, who won four races up to Group Three level in South Africa.
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