Mark Newnham’s rise through the Hong Kong training ranks reached a landmark moment at Sha Tin on Saturday when Invincible Ibis delivered win number 100 of his local career — and did it in the style of a horse heading quickly toward the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Invincible Ibis confirmed his credentials as a genuine Hong Kong Classic Mile contender with a polished success in the Class 3 Poinsettia Handicap over 1600 metres, a race that doubled as a key dress rehearsal for the HK$13 million feature on 1 February. The Hellbent gelding settled beautifully from gate three, saved every inch of ground under Zac Purton, and produced a decisive turn of foot late to score by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:34.97.

For Newnham, the win carried added significance. It brought up his 100th Hong Kong training victory and lifted him level with Caspar Fownes atop the trainers’ championship standings on 25 wins, ahead of Danny Shum and David Hayes.

Newnham said the milestone had been looming for weeks and was relieved to tick it off with a horse clearly on the up. He added that Invincible Ibis has done everything asked of him so far and is improving with each run, though another start will be needed to lock in his place in the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

Purton, who guided the gelding through a narrow passage in the straight, said the performance showed maturity as well as versatility. The jockey noted that Invincible Ibis continues to progress and handled a very different race shape with confidence, a trait that will be vital as the pressure rises in the coming months.

Earlier on the card, Purton reached another milestone of his own, becoming the first jockey this season to post 50 wins. He achieved the feat aboard Circuit Fiery for trainer Chris So in the first division of the Class 5 Amaryllis Handicap, completing a bookending double on the day.

The Four-Year-Old Classic Series continues with the Hong Kong Classic Cup over 1800 metres on 1 March before culminating in the BMW Hong Kong Derby over 2000 metres on 22 March, the richest and most prestigious prize available to Hong Kong’s locally trained four-year-olds.

So also enjoyed a productive afternoon, completing a stable double when Manythanks Forever captured the second division of the Amaryllis Handicap under Andrea Atzeni.

Caspar Fownes briefly moved clear in the trainers’ standings earlier when Sky Trust produced a sharp performance in the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Ivy Handicap over 1200 metres, giving jockey Maxime Guyon one of two winners on the programme. Fownes said the gelding is likely to be even better over further and is shaping as a horse capable of progressing beyond Class 2 level.

Guyon’s second win came aboard Glaciated for Pierre Ng in the first section of the Class 4 Tulip Handicap, while Hollie Doyle marked the penultimate day of her Hong Kong stint with a well-earned success on The Red Hare for Frankie Lor in the Class 3 Spruce Handicap. Doyle said the victory reflected familiarity gained through morning work and described her time riding in Hong Kong as both rewarding and professionally valuable.

Cody Mo landed a stable double courtesy of Emblazon in the Class 4 Pok Oi Cup Handicap and Nyx Gluck in the Class 4 Erica Handicap, the latter partnered by James McDonald. Mo indicated that Nyx Gluck will likely be suited by more distance in time but is currently thriving at 1400 metres.

McDonald added another win to his short-term visit when Fit For Beauty prevailed for John Size in the Class 4 Hibiscus Handicap over 1600 metres.

Further down the card, Francis Lui unveiled an eye-catching debutant in Turquoise Velocity, who showed speed and raw promise to win the Class 4 Cedar Handicap over 1000 metres under Keith Yeung. Yeung said the gelding is still learning his craft but has improved sharply with racing and trials.

Aurora Patch rounded out the day with a comfortable second career victory in the Class 3 Holly Handicap for Manfred Man and Matthew Chadwick, continuing a steady upward trajectory through the grades.

With milestones falling across the card and Classic hopefuls beginning to sort themselves out, Sha Tin delivered a timely reminder that the road to the Hong Kong Derby is already well underway.