The movements of the 2026 Hong Kong Derby champion, “Invincible Ibis”, in the new racing season are drawing significant attention from racing fans. Trained by Mark Newnham, the five-year-old standout participated in a Sha Tin barrier trial on Thursday (September 17) morning, gearing up for his seasonal debut in the Group 3 Celebration Cup (1400m Handicap) scheduled for September 27. Also participating in the same trial was John Size’s sprint elite “Helios Express”, setting the stage for a head-to-head clash between the two stars in next Sunday’s race.
“Invincible Ibis” Matures Physically and Mentally
With his usual partner Hugh Bowman currently unavailable, “Invincible Ibis” was ridden by Luke Ferraris in this morning’s 1200m all-weather track trial. The gelding crossed the line in fifth place under no heavy urging, clocking a time of 1m 10.69s. Last season, “Invincible Ibis” boasted five wins from nine starts; he not only secured two victories over 1400m at Sha Tin early in the season but also went on to conquer the 2000m Hong Kong Derby in record-breaking time.
Trainer Mark Newnham expressed great satisfaction with the horse’s performance in the trial, stating that the outing was merely to stretch his legs and improve his fitness. Compared to his previous all-weather track trials, this effort was highly commendable. Following the offseason, Newnham noted that “Invincible Ibis” has grown stronger and gained some weight, with both his mental and physical attributes maturing. Facing a high rating, Newnham acknowledged that the horse must now compete against rivals of varying ages, leaving no room to dodge tough competition. He anticipates the horse will likely undergo just one more gallop before contesting the Celebration Cup.
“Helios Express” Calmly Faces Formidable Foes
In the same barrier trial, the seven-year-old star “Helios Express”, ridden by Andrea Atzeni, completed the 1200m distance in his customary relaxed manner, clocking 1m 11.20s. Sired by Toronado, this top-tier sprinter maintained a rating above 120 throughout last season. Unfortunately, he repeatedly crossed paths with the sprint king “Ka Ying Rising”, meaning his only group-level success so far came in the Group 3 Sha Tin Vase.
Trainer John Size remains philosophical about the situation, reasoning that there will always be horses facing such circumstances. He noted it is not the first time a racehorse has been thwarted by a champion-caliber rival, and they must simply accept the reality of the situation. Regarding the preparation of “Helios Express”, Size pointed out that the horse’s strides are traditionally unassuming in morning trackwork and at the stables, typically saving his best for race days. “Helios Express” has recorded two seconds and a third in three previous attempts over 1400m, and Size hopes he can deliver a strong performance in the Celebration Cup. When asked about a potential overseas campaign for Group 1 glory, Size remained non-committal, stating that anything is possible and the horse’s rating is sufficient, but if he had to pick one horse to put on a plane, “Helios Express” probably wouldn’t be his first choice.
“Colourful King” Targets the National Day Cup
Aside from the two aforementioned heavyweights, the David Eustace-trained five-year-old “Colourful King” also took part in Thursday’s all-weather trial. Ridden by Zac Purton, the gelding completed the 1050m trip in 1m 02.29s, showcasing continued improvement.
After trackwork, Eustace expressed that the horse’s progress is highly satisfactory and his preparations are going smoothly. The team has locked in their next target, planning to field “Colourful King” in the Group 3 National Day Cup (1000m Handicap) scheduled for October 1.