Hellbent is enjoying a career best season and he put the icing on the cake at Sha Tin on Sunday when his classy four year-old Invincible Ibis scored a stylish victory in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) for the Mark Newnham stable.
Former Randwick trainer Mark Newnham is also having a career best season in Hong Kong and gained sweet revenge from last year when he came second in this iconic race with My Wish.
Hugh Bowman has been aboard Invincible Ibis in the first two legs of the Classic 4YO Series when finishing sixth in the Classic Mile (1600m) and second in the Classic Cup (1800m) and he took the ride again on Sunday.
Bowman produced a gem of a ride allowing Invincible Ibis to surge home late and win by over a length from Kiwi bred Numbers (Tivaci, formerly King of Thunder) with Aussie bred Stormy Grove (Toronado (IRE) in third place.
They clocked 1m 59.43s with the Hellbent gelding eclipsing Massive Sovereign’s previous track record of 1m 59.85s set in 2024.
Celebrating his third BMW Hong Kong Derby victory after triumphs with Werther in 2016 and Furore in 2019, Bowman was elated to have teamed with Newnham, who saddled five winners at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (18 March).
“The dream was always there but you have to stick with the process and after the Mile, I was very doubtful whether he (Invincible Ibis) was going to be able to bring it together, but I took a lot of confidence out of the 1800m. I thought he was one of five realistic winning chances,” Bowman said.
Settling midfield behind Numbers and Seraph Gabriel after jumping smoothly from barrier three, Invincible Ibis was given the run of the race by a patient Bowman, who bided his time until the field straightened before emerging to challenge Numbers.
“As we started to come round the home turn, I thought ‘I’m in business here, I really am’,” Bowman said. “The run was economical, so when I brought him to the outside and let him down, it was no surprise that he went the way that he did and I’m very proud of him. It means a lot to win the race for a third time and being based here now, and it makes it a bit more special for some reason or other.
“Thank you to Mark and the team for preparing this horse in such magnificent order. He really did peak this afternoon, and the distance was a query, no doubt about it, but he came through with flying colours.
“He just gave me the sweetest ride throughout the entire trip. We were aided by a good draw, of course, but the horse won with authority and I’m so proud to have won my third BMW Hong Kong Derby.”
Newnham was ecstatic to be in the winner’s circle after coming so close last year with My Wish.
“The complete opposite to last year, that’s for sure. 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,” Newnham said.
“At the corner it was just going to be ‘Is he good enough?’ And probably a furlong (200m) into the straight, I was pretty confident he was going to be strong late.”
Newnham will now consider a FWD Champions Day start for Invincible Ibis in either the HK$24 million G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) or the HK$30 million G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) on 26 April.
“We’ll be looking at that (FWD Champions Day) as long as his recovery’s good from today,” Newnham said.
“But I’m probably more inclined to run him in the Mile. I just don’t think taking on Romantic Warrior and a few of the internationals at 2000m, I don’t think he’s seasoned enough for that yet, despite his win today and the time he’s run.
“He’s beating horses of his own age group, so I don’t think we need to throw him to the wolves just yet – horses can have a long career here, so there’s no need to be testing him too much beyond his limits.”
Purchased by his trainer for $425,000 at the NZB Ready to Run Sale, Invincible Ibis was a super successful pinhook for Kilgravin Lodge, sourced from the Widden Stud draft at Inglis Classic for just $80,000 by Kilgravin Lodge/ Waikato Bloodstock.
Bred by Adrian Goonan, Invincible Ibis was foaled and raised at Widden and carries their famous brand.
He is the second winner from My Dear Friend, a winning half-sister by General Nediym to Aussie bred South African Group I winner Harry’s Son.
Invincible Ibis becomes the 11th stakes-winner for Hellbent, who has three entries for Inglis Easter and all of them offered by Yarraman Park, click to see them.
