Flying Artie's My Wish Leads An Aus Trifecta in HK Classic Mile

Craig Tompson - Friday January 31

Mark Newnham continued his excellent season and My Wish continued his remarkable rise when the pint-sized Flying Artie four year-old won the Hong Kong Classic Mile on Friday in and Australian bred trifecta.

My Wish wins the HK Classic Mile. Photo: HKJC

My Wish, weighing in at around 450kg, started this season with a win in at Class 4 level and has now won four of his six season starts culminating in this win at the top level of four year-olds in the first leg of the Hong Kong Classic Series with the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby to come.

Advertisement

Luke Ferraris put his mount into a perfect spot and produced a determined kick to take the lead at the 200m mamrk and kept going to beat the fast finishing Divano (Brave Smash) by a neck with Packing Hermod (Rubick) third.

“I was confident going into the race we had him as good a shape as we could,” said Newnham who currently sits in the top five on the trainer’s list.

“In the last month he showed he could run the mile and we just stayed with the same process that he’s had all season, going a month between runs, a trial and one gallop.

“And all those things went seamlessly.

“His trial was as good as he’s ever trialled and his work on Tuesday was very good.

“And his appetite’s improved. 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 gees he’s got good heart.”

My Wish is the first foal of Reset mare Set The Tone, a winner over 2100m, from a family which includes Group I winners Mazu and Headway.

She wasn’t served again until 2023 when she returned to Flying Artie, producing a full brother to My Wish last year before being served by Hawaii Five Oh.

My Wish is another high class galloper, and ninth stakes winner, for Blue Gum Farm’s Flying Artie who is a stallion that has shown he can get a genuinely top class galloper with the likes of Artorius and last year’s Royal Ascot heroine Asfoora.

Brave Smash’s Divano impressed with his runner-up effort charging to the line to get within a neck.

He started big odds but Blake Shinn thought enough of him to travel for the ride and with this his first run at the mile, he gives the impression he’s going to enjoy stepping up to the 1800m of the Classic Cup on March 2.

Likewise Packing Hermod (Rubick x Black Tulip) who started favourite, and sustained his determined finish to get within half a length, also having his first run at the mile.

Advertisment

Race Result - The Hong Kong Classic Mile 1600m

Sha Tin Track: Good Time: 1:33.98
1
My Wish
- 4g Flying Artie (AUS) x Set The Tone (AUS) (Reset (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: Luke Ferraris 57
2
0.3
Divano
- 4g Brave Smash (JPN) x Been Scene (AUS) (Bianconi (USA))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: B Shinn 57
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $90,000
Seller: Newgate Farm, Aberdeen
Buyer: Ryan & Alexiou Racing / D Raphael
Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale $57,500
Seller: Erinvale Thoroughbreds, Buckley
Buyer: J Carey
3
0.5
Packing Hermod
- 4g Rubick (AUS) x Black Tulip (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: Z Purton 57
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $300,000
Seller: Woburn Farm, Ohaupo, NZ
Buyer: Hong Kong Bloodstock / Andrew Williams Bloodstock
4
1.5
Fast Network
- 4g Wrote (IRE) x Alberta (NZ) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: C H Yip Rdr: C Soumillon 57
5
1.5
Mickley
- 4g Soldier's Call (GB) x Parle Moi (USA) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: J J Size Rdr: J Bowman 57
6
2.3
Rubylot
- 4g Rubick (AUS) x Emirates Comfort (IRE) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: D A Hayes Rdr: B Avdulla 57
7
2.5
Lucy In The Sky
- 4g No Nay Never (USA) x Spiced (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Y S Tsui Rdr: K Teetan 57
8
2.8
Top Gun
- 4g Time Test (GB) x Angel Child (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: F C Lor Rdr: Jamie Melham 57
9
2.8
Talents Ambition
- 4g Into Mischief (USA) x Spirit Of Ecstasy (USA) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: M F Poon 57
10
3.3
Glory Elite
- 4g Russian Revolution (AUS) x The King's Widow (AUS) (All Too Hard (AUS))
Tnr: K H Ting Rdr: H Bentley 57
11
4.3
Markwin
- 4g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Mark Two (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: W K Mo Rdr: K C Leung 57
12
4.3
Cap Ferrat
- 4g Snitzel (AUS) x C'est Beau La Vie (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: C Y Ho 57
13
6
Call Me Glorious
- 4g No Nay Never (USA) x Boomex (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: K W Lui Rdr: M Chadwick 57
14
6.5
Johannes Brahms
- 4g Siyouni (FR) x Illaunmore (USA) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: P C Ng Rdr: M Barzalona 57
More Reading...
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
Tassort Filly Too Classy at Randwick
Stakes-placed two starts back in the Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes at Scone, talented 2YO Tassort filly Wollzeile proved too classy at Randwick on Wednesday.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Hong Kong Buyer Secures Top Lot June (Late) Sale at $500,000
The impact of the recent success in Hong Kong of horses sourced on Inglis Digital was in evidence today, with the top lot and the third top lot bought by Hong Kong-based owners.
One To Watch – Randwick
After impressing on debut, the Chris Waller trained 3yo Super Seth filly Frosty Girl (NZ) took on the older mares on the Kensington track, remaining unbeaten with another stylish victory to become Breednet’s One To Watch.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.