Driven by the heartbreak of last year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby defeat, Mark Newnham savoured the sweetest redemption when Invincible Ibis stormed home to deliver the Australian handler his first victory in the city’s most coveted race on Sunday.

Smashing Massive Sovereign’s race record by 0.42 seconds, Invincible Ibis capitalised on a dream run from barrier three and strong speed set by Numbers to swoop on his rivals as jockey Hugh Bowman celebrated his third success in the HK$26 million feature.

Newnham went agonisingly close to Derby glory 12 months ago when My Wish, who was forced back to last from gate 14, rocketed home to run a short-head second to Cap Ferrat.

“[I’m feeling] the complete opposite to last year, that’s for sure,” Newnham said.

“Hopefully they play [the replay] as many times as they played last year’s – for the next 12 months, I’ll be quite happy to watch this one.”

Sent out a $5.55 chance, Invincible Ibis settled one-off the fence in midfield as the $5.3 second favourite Numbers worked to the front from gate 13 and turned the race into a true staying contest.

Numbers maintained a solid advantage turning for home but Invincible Ibis loomed ominously as Bowman made his run down the centre of the track.

The son of Hellbent swept past Numbers at the 200m to take the lead and kept on strongly to beat that galloper by a length and a quarter.

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen filled both placings when Stormy Grove charged from near last to run an impressive third, while the $3.8 favourite Little Paradise failed to run out the 2,000m trip when a well-beaten ninth.

Invincible Ibis continued a remarkable rise this season, having notched four consecutive victories and a fast-finishing second to Stormy Grove in the Classic Cup (1,800m) before his Derby triumph.

“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 into the straight, I was pretty confident he was going to be strong late.

“[Stepping up to 2,000m for the first time] is always a little query, but he’s a horse that uses his energy well, breathes well and relaxes, so he’s always going to be strong late and against your own age group, you don’t have to be the superior stayer.”

Bowman was elated to add the win to his previous Derby successes aboard Werther (2016) and Furore (2019).

“The dream was always there but you have to stick with the process and after the [Classic] Mile, I was very doubtful whether he was going to be able to bring it together, but I took a lot of confidence out of the 1,800m,” Bowman said.

“I thought he was one of five realistic winning chances. As we started to come round the home turn, I thought ‘I’m in business here, I really am,’ but he’s not a horse who lets down like he did today.

“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.”

The Ibis Syndicate – one of Hong Kong’s oldest racing syndicates made up of Shek O Country Club members – celebrated a famous victory that was three years in the making.

“I hadn’t been here very long and I met a couple of the members of the Ibis Syndicate and they gave me the brief to go and buy one at the New Zealand Ready To Run Sale, and this was what we came home with, so we’ve had him from the start and it’s taken time to develop him,” Newnham said.

“He only had a couple runs in his first season and this season was all about being geared for today.”

Newnham, who sits one win behind Caspar Fownes (43 wins) in the trainers’ championship, said Invincible Ibis will drop back in trip for the Group One Champions Mile on April 26.

“Definitely, we’ll be looking at [Champions Day] as long as his recovery’s good from today. But I’m probably more inclined to run him in the Mile,” Newnham said.

“I just don’t think taking on Romantic Warrior and a few of the internationals at 2,000m [in the QE II Cup], 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.”