Invincible Ibis Triumphs in Hong Kong Derby

NZB Ready to Run Sale graduates filled three of the first four positions in Sunday’s HK$26m BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin, headed by superb winner Invincible Ibis (Hellbent).

Invincible Ibis was offered by Kilgravin Lodge at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale and was bought for $425,000. The Derby winner has now won five of his 10 starts and placed on another four occasions, earning HK$22.17m (NZ$4.85m).

The Mark Newnham-trained Invincible Ibis was among the key contenders for this year’s Hong Kong Derby, having caught the eye with a strong finish into second in the HK$13m Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) in his previous start on March 1. It was a performance that hinted he might be building towards something special in the Derby, and so it proved.

Jockey Hugh Bowman positioned Invincible Ibis in midfield before angling him across heels and out into clear air at the top of the home straight. Invincible Ibis began to build his momentum down the middle of the track, and he hit top gear in the final 300 metres. He reeled in the leaders and swept past, going on to win by a length and a quarter. The time of 1:59.43 was a new race record.

“Thank you to Mark and the team for preparing this horse in such magnificent order,” Bowman said. “He really did peak this afternoon. The distance was a query, no doubt about it, but he came through with flying colours. He gave me the sweetest ride throughout the entire trip.

"We were aided by a good draw, but the horse won with authority. I'm so proud to have won my third BMW Hong Kong Derby.”

It was a satisfying result for Newnham, who travelled to Karaka to buy Invincible Ibis for owners the Ibis Syndicate. Sunday’s win avenged the trainer’s agonising defeat by a short head with last year’s runner-up My Wish (Flying Artie).

“I’m feeling the complete opposite to last year,” Newnham said.” Hopefully they play the replay as many times as they played last year’s – for the next 12 months, I’ll be quite happy to watch this one.

“It was just a really smooth race to watch. If I could have picked a position prior to the race, it would have been midfield one off in a consistent speed and Hugh got into that position early. At the corner it was just going to be, ‘Is he good enough?’ And probably a furlong into the straight, I was pretty confident he was going to be strong late.

“Going up to 2000 metres is always a little query, but he’s a horse that uses his energy well, breathes well and relaxes, so he’s always going to be strong late.

“I hadn’t been training here in Hong Kong very long (at the time of the 2023 Ready to Run Sale), and I met a couple of the members of the Ibis Syndicate, and they gave me the brief to go and buy one at the New Zealand Ready to Run Sale. This was what we came home with.

“So we’ve had him from the start and it’s taken time to develop him. He had only a couple of runs in his first season, and this season was all about being geared for today.”

The second placegetter in the Hong Kong Derby was Numbers (NZ) (Tivaci), who stuck on bravely after setting a strong pace. He was a $50,000 purchase from Ohukia Lodge’s draft at the 2023 Ready to Run Sale. He has earned HK$13.7m (NZ$2.99m).

“You can see the time was quick, so maybe if he had a better draw (than 13) he could have had an easier time earlier on and set his own pace,” said Frankie Lor, who trains Numbers. “He’s still run a very good race, and he kept rolling the whole way.”

Not far away in fourth was Patch Of Cosmo (NZ) (Super Seth), who was offered by Riversley Park and was bought for $260,000. He has earned HK$8.07m (NZ$1.76m).

Sunday’s Hong Kong Derby was the 149th running of the prestigious race, which has had nine winners bred and/or sold in New Zealand since 2010 alone – Invincible Ibis on Sunday, Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in 2021, Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro) in 2020, Furore (NZ) (Pierro) in 2019, Ping Hai Star (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu) in 2018, Werther (NZ) (Tavistock) in 2016, Fay Fay (NZ) (Falkirk) in 2012, Ambitious Dragon (NZ) (Pins) in 2011 and Super Satin (NZ) (Danehill Dancer) in 2010.

Vendor	Kilgravin Lodge
Purchaser	Mark Newnham Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Hong Kong)
Breeding	Hellbent – My Dear Friend
Sale	Lot 146, 2023 Ready to Run Sale, $425,000
Owner	Ibis Syndicate
Breeder	Mr A Goonan