Mark Newnham hoped his introduction to Hong Kong racing “wouldn’t be as strong as this”, but the Australian trainer is “champing at the bit to get going” after not saddling a runner for four months.

Newnham will get the adrenaline rush that competing in elite sport gives participants when All For One races in Wednesday’s Class Three Mui Wo Handicap (1,200m) against several fellow Happy Valley specialists.

Not since Street Gossip was the beaten Group Three Pam O’Neill Stakes (1,200m) favourite at Doomben on May 20 has Newnham issued race instructions to a jockey, so he cannot wait to speak with All For Good’s rider, Lyle Hewitson, in the Happy Valley parade ring before the final event on Wednesday’s programme.

“It was nice to see competition again,” Newnham said about Sunday’s 10 contests at Sha Tin on the opening day of the new campaign. “I’ve gone from having horses regularly at the races to treading water for a few months, so I’m champing at the bit to get going.”

One For All, who joined Newnham’s yard from Richard Gibson’s shut-down stable in July, has won three of his seven starts at Happy Valley, scoring a hat-trick of Class Four victories over 1,200m before his 18-point rise in the ratings halted his winning run.

Fifth and second on his last two outings for Gibson, One For All encounters other multiple Happy Valley victors Superb Capitalist, Xponential, Excellent Peers, Armour Eagle and Sugar Sugar in the Mui Wo Handicap, with Reward Smile and Allgreektome also likely to make their presences felt in the sprint.

“I was hopeful it wouldn’t be as strong as this, but they’re things outside my control,” Newnham said about the 11-runner Mui Wo Handicap field. “It’s a strong Class Three.

“I didn’t speak too much with Richard Gibson about One For All. I take all of my horses at face value when they arrive in my yard. He’s had a good build-up towards the race. I can’t fault any of his work.

“Lyle rode him in his last bit of fast work at Sha Tin on Sunday. He’s going to Happy Valley in as good a shape I can have him for his first run of the season. He’s drawn a good gate. What happens is what happens.”

Newnham has 35 gallopers in his stable, including 102-rated two-time Group Three winner Tourbillon Diamond, whom he recruited from Danny Shum Chap-shing.

Not much surprises Newnham, who honed his meticulous approach under legendary trainers Bart Cummings and Gai Waterhouse and whom Australian racing analysts rate highly for his frequent successes with tried horses and better-than-average win percentages.

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However, one thing has taken aback Newnham since he swapped Sydney for Sha Tin, and in a good way.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the level of staff. I’m very happy with the staff I’ve got,” Newnham said.

“That was something I was probably a little unsure of, but their attention to detail is fantastic. Anytime I’ve ever asked for anything, I’ve only ever had to ask once, and then it’s done and done well.”