Thirty-three years after falling agonisingly short of Hong Kong Derby glory, Nick Etches returns to the city’s biggest race with high hopes of realising every owner’s dream with Invincible Ibis on Sunday.
A long-time member of the Jockey Club and still a voting member, Etches almost tasted the ultimate success when his galloper Red Ruffian ran half a length second to Helene Star in the 1993 Derby.
“We were standing here in the paddock – the old paddock in those days – thinking how lucky it was to be in the Derby,” Etches recalled.
“We weren’t expecting anything and when he ran second, we thought ‘if only’. We were taken out by another horse called Magnified coming into the straight – he decided to go to the grandstand and was inside us, so he took us with him.”
Invincible Ibis will be Etches’ first Derby runner since then and the Mark Newnham-trained gelding has strong claims of going one better than Red Ruffian.
The son of I Am Invincible burst into Classic Series calculations with four consecutive wins at Sha Tin, with his rating soaring from 55 to 91.
He had excuses from a wide draw when sixth in the Classic Mile, but bounced back with a fast-finishing second to Stormy Grove in the Classic Cup (1,800m) to prove he would be a leading Derby contender.
“Not many people have Derby runners, but we’re very lucky with this horse. Mark bought him in the sale and liked him and he’s done really well for us,” Etches said.
“He came here rated 52, he was 55 at the beginning of the season and now he’s 95. Mark has done a really good job with him.”
Etches is a part of the Ibis Syndicate – one of Hong Kong’s oldest syndicates – which comprises of Shek O Country Club members.
“The ibis is the logo of the Shek O Country Club,” Etches said.
“We’ve had many, many horses but we’re on a bit of a roll now because this one’s doing so well. This is very special.”
Invincible Ibis was one of the big winners of Thursday’s barrier draw for the Derby when Etches drew gate three.
While connections are confident of a big performance in the HK$26 million feature, Etches is wary of how even the field of 14 is.
“It’s very exciting. We don’t expect too much – it’s a very tough race this year,” he said.
“If he runs up to his potential he’ll do very well. He’s got a good draw and [Hugh Bowman] has ridden him three times now. Mark rode him this morning and said he was feeling great.”
While Invincible Ibis could go on to be the best horse Etches has raced, he still has some ground to make up on Limelight, who gave Etches a dream introduction to journey as an owner.
“My first horse was called Limelight. I bought him in the late 1980s – he was one of the old subscription Griffins when the Jockey Club bought a horse for you and you were allocated it. He won seven races,” Etches said.
