Seven of the past nine Classic Mile winners have gone on to taste further success in Hong Kong’s prestigious four-year-old series and the Mark Newnham-trained My Wish will look to continue that trend, starting with this Sunday’s Classic Cup (1,800m) at Sha Tin.

A well-backed winner of last month’s Classic Series opener, My Wish will look to join the likes of Sun Jewellery, Rapper Dragon, Golden Sixty and Helios Express in doing the Classic Mile-Classic Cup double.

The highest-rated galloper in the field on 95, My Wish jumps from barrier nine under Luke Ferraris and his handler is quietly confident he has the tools to handle his first assignment at 1,800m.

“I’ve had confidence in him all season so there’s no point backing down now,” Newnham said.

“He was still strong late [in the Classic Mile]. He put himself in a winning position and once he got to the front he maintained it. He was still strong at the line.

“I think a fair chunk of the field are untested at that trip, including us, but the way he’s relaxing now through his races, he’s going to give himself every chance.”

My Wish, who has four wins and two thirds to his name from six starts this season, looked to be maintaining his form with a nice trial third last week as Newnham sticks to a familiar formula.

“He’s had exactly the same preparation pretty much all season. A month between runs and a trial in a between. I’ve been completely happy with him the whole way through,” Newnham said of his son of Flying Artie, who will find himself alongside the likes of Divano, Packing Angel, Packing Hermod and Rubylot near the top of the market this weekend.

One galloper who isn’t running in the Classic Cup but Newnham hopes isn’t finished in the four-year-old series is Talents Ambition, who tackles the Class Three Yan Tin Handicap (2,000m).

“Hopefully that’ll give him his chance to qualify for the Derby,” said Newnham of Talents Ambition, who was ninth in the Classic Mile and fourth reserve for the Classic Cup.

“He’s a horse who has always suggested to me that he’ll get over distance so it’s a nice race to test him in. Blake Shinn is going to ride him and Blake rode my first ever winner as a trainer, so if he can do me a favour again this weekend I’d be more than happy.”

Also among Newnham’s hand is Ramadan, the Yulong-owned four-year-old who has taken a little while to settle into Hong Kong after being brought to the city with the Classic Series in mind.

A long last behind the imperious Voyage Bubble in December’s Group One Hong Kong Mile while under the care of James Ferguson, Ramadan has trialled three times since joining Newnham’s stable.

“There’s been no hurry with him,” Newnham said ahead of his charge’s run in the Class Two Tai Hing Handicap (1,400m).

“I’ve been happy with his work the past couple of weeks and he trialled well. I galloped him on Tuesday morning and was happy with his work, so it was time to send him to the races.”