Mark Newnham continued his march towards the trainers’ championship when Notthesillyone scored his fourth win for the season in the second section of the Class Four Carnation Handicap (1,200m) at Sha Tin on Wednesday night.

The Australian trainer now sits on 52 wins for the term, one ahead of Caspar Fownes who also secured a win on the night with Sky Vino.

Notthesillyone was sent out as a $14.1 chance with Luke Ferraris aboard and managed to offset topweight of 135lb to triumph over Happy Shooter by three quarters of a length.

“He’s been a great contributor to the trainers’ championship, I’ll tell you,” Newnham said.

“There’s a big pack chasing so every win counts and very important at this end of the season.”

Newnham further showed his fine training credentials by taking Notthesillyone from Class Five to Class Three level. He was both surprised and impressed with the five-year-old, who he admitted to underestimating throughout his career.

“Considering last year he was a winner in Class Five from gate one, I didn’t factor him winning four races this time around but he’s kept improving. Luke gets on with him really well – he got him to settle today and the horse did the rest,” Newnham said.

“I’ve underestimated him before, so I’m not saying he can’t [win in Class Three] but I didn’t think he’d be able to carry the 135 today. He’s raced beyond my expectations, so with a light weight in Class Three, who knows?”

Ferraris has been on board for three of the four wins this season and gave the son of Super One a perfect ride from barrier six when following the pace, before taking him to the lead in the straight and holding off a late challenge from Happy Shooter.

“He’s a bit tardy out of the gate, which he can do but credit to Mark and his team because when this horse first arrived, he didn’t have much of a head on him and he would just jump and bolt and you were just the passenger,” Ferraris said.

“Today, he showed that he’s calming down and from where he started and went down to the bottom of Class Three and now he’s at the bottom of Class Three, it’s been a huge effort from Mark and his team. And full credit to the owner, he’s been patient because the horse took time to acclimatise, but he’s rewarded him tenfold.”

Karis Teetan was in stellar form at the all-weather meeting, scoring a race-to-race double courtesy of Night Purosangue and California Bay.

Night Purosangue was victorious in the Class Four Chamomile Handicap (1,650m) for Me Tsui Yu-sak, and was never in danger of defeat when defying a wide draw of 10.

With the first two sections run well inside standard time, Teetan was able to ease the Night Of Thunder gelding in one off the rail and travelled like the winner from as far out as the home turn, putting away the leader Chill Kaka by an impressive two lengths.

A drop back in trip and a surface switch saw California Bay breakthrough at his 17th Hong Kong start in the first section of the Class Four Carnation Handicap.

The Tony Cruz-trained galloper was given a superb steer by Teetan which saw him win with a late-finishing burst up the inside to run down One Man Show by a neck.

“It was a nice win, eventually,” Teetan said.

“The horse was in good shape today and he had a good trip from a good draw [in barrier two] and it was the first time he had been off the bit, because he’s been overdoing it in races. In the straight, and once he got the gap, he quickened up well.”

Cruz was full of praise for Teetan and also credited the benefit of an inside barrier.

“It was a perfect race,” Cruz said.

“I think the barrier draw was a big help, and also Karis really brought a perfect race because when they came into the straight it was a bit tight and he made the dash on the inside. So, it’s very seldom horses make the inside run and get up and win. But credit to Karis Teetan.”

Manfred Man Ka-leung also clinched a brace with Juicy Dragon and Robot Knight.

Juicy Dragon enhanced his all-weather credentials with a dominant win in the third section of the Class Four Carnation Handicap under regular rider Andrea Atzeni.

He joined in fast, reminiscent of his previous win on the all-weather three starts ago, and scorched away to strike easily by two and three-quarter lengths over Mega Captain.

Robot Knight added to his sole Hong Kong victory when returning to the scene of that win in the Class Five Magnolia Handicap (1,200m), this time with Britney Wong Po-ni in the saddle.

Holding a forward spot on the rail, Wong made Spicy Spangle work and then found plenty in the straight to score by a neck from Viva Chaleur.

“He bled before and bleeders can be hard to trust. This time in, his form has been good and the draw and 7lb allowance helped a lot. [Wong] is riding very smart,” Man said.

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