Talents Ambition heads to Happy Valley in last-ditch bid to clinch Hong Kong Derby berth

South China Morning Post

10-03-2025

Talents Ambition will head to Happy Valley for the first time as trainer Mark Newnham launches a last-ditch effort to ensure his honest galloper a run in next weekend's BMW Hong Kong Derby (2,000m).
Rated 80 after two wins on the dirt from 13 Hong Kong starts, Talents Ambition could miss the Derby field unless he can boost his rating on Wednesday night.
Jockey Club officials will confirm the final field at an event at Happy Valley on Friday morning, with the 81-rated Markwin believed to be set to make the field after receiving a five-point hit for running second from outside the handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.
With that in mind, a couple of points for placing in Wednesday night's Class Three Ap Lei Chau Handicap (1,800m) could see Talents Ambition sneak into the city's most prestigious race, while a win should ensure he does.
'He does need some more points to get into the Derby – they're telling me 80 might not be good enough to get him into the Derby,' said Newnham.
'He was beaten less than three lengths in the Classic Mile, he didn't get a start in the Classic Cup and he was in the wrong position – ridden too close – [when seventh in a Class Three 2,000m race last start], so this is our last chance to improve his rating,' he added of his four-year-old, who will jump from barrier 10 at the midweek meeting – his sixth double-figure draw of the season.
'He seems to draw those regularly but he's a backmarker. There doesn't look to be a lot of pace in that race on first look but he'll go back anyway because that's how he's got to be ridden.
'I think he's easily capable on the turf and he deserves his chance to give himself the opportunity to run in the Derby.'
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
Andrea Atzeni will be tasked with negotiating barrier 10 aboard Talents Ambition in race featuring the likes of Romantic Laos, Hameron, Star Mac and Fallon.
One galloper who has a rating plenty high enough to make the Derby is Newnham's My Wish, who sits on a mark of 97 after his Classic Mile win and Classic Cup second.
'My Wish has come through the race really well and he'll probably have a gallop on Saturday morning on the course as his major piece of work going into the race,' said Newnham, who also saddles up Exceed The Wish, Tactical Command and Youthful Spirits at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
Two Classic Cup runners who won't push onto the Derby are Packing Hermod and Divano.
Meanwhile, jockey James Orman has had his short-term Hong Kong contract extended until the end of the season, while Hugh Bowman will head to Australia to ride Celestial Legend in the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1,500m) and Rivellino in the Group One Golden Slipper (1,200m) at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney on March 22.