After exceeding his own expectations in a breakout campaign, Mark Newnham has plenty of reason to be excited for next season after Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hero Invincible Ibis “strengthened and matured” in a six-week break at Conghua.

Improving his tally from 31 to 44 wins in his first two seasons in Hong Kong, the astute Australian trainer soared to new heights this term, sitting third in the championship on 60 wins heading into Wednesday night’s season finale at Happy Valley.

While he fell out of championship contention late in the campaign as Caspar Fownes claimed a fifth title, Newnham celebrated his first Hong Kong Derby success, a Group One triumph with My Wish in the Champions Mile and a career-best five-timer at Happy Valley.

“It’s been fantastic. It exceeded my expectations,” Newnham said.

“The Derby’s always special here. We went agonisingly close the year before, so we’ve had two Derby runners from the stable for a winner and a very close second. It was good to get it done this year.

“My Wish had sort of promised to win a Group One and he got it done at his final start of the season. He was very solid again all season – he’s won a Group One, Group Two and Group Three, so he’s cemented his place as a genuine, top-class horse here. We won nice races with a lot of horses, so I’m more than happy with the way the season’s gone.”

Newnham hopes his season lays the foundation to entrench himself in the top echelon of Hong Kong-based trainers for years to come.

“I would think every season my aim would be to train more than 50 winners. If you train more than 50 winners in Hong Kong, you’ve had a great year and it generally means you’re in the top five, so hopefully we can continue to stay there,” Newnham said.

Invincible Ibis, who was crowned Champion Four-Year-Old and Most Improved Horse at last week’s Champion Awards, has impressed his handler since returning from a short break as he steadily builds his preparation for next season.

The Hellbent gelding more than doubled his rating of 55 at the start of the campaign, finishing on a mark of 112 after five wins, headlined by his dominant Derby victory.

“I had a ride on him on Saturday. He had a pretty easy gallop, but that was his only bit of fast work since the break and he feels good,” Newnham said.

“He feels like he’s probably strengthened and matured, which he’ll need to do because the difference between four and five is pretty big.

“But as My Wish showed, it can be done – sometimes it can take a while, as it did with My Wish, especially when you come up against those seasoned horses at level weights. But he’s got all the attributes to make it against the older horses.”

Newnham has pencilled in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) – which My Wish won this term – in September for Invincible Ibis’ return. My Wish’s kick-off race will see him defend his crown in the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) in October.

“They had about six weeks’ break in Conghua and did their final bit of work this morning. They’ll just have the minimum break while the tracks are closed and then start preparing for next season,” Newnham said.

Newnham can end his brilliant campaign on a high with a seven-strong team at the Valley.

Talented sprinter Crimson Flash will be one of his leading hopes when he chases a fourth triumph this term in the Class Two Lucky Patch Handicap (1,200m).

He drops in grade after contesting a pair of recent Group Three features and has drawn ideally in gate three.

“His form at Happy Valley’s very solid. Importantly he’s drawn a good gate because he’s got a bit of weight, but he’s been very solid all season and he still looks as if he’s in pretty good form,” Newnham said.

“He’s been pretty disadvantaged by bad draws this season, but from good draws in this grade, he’s pretty competitive.”

Of Newnham’s other runners, Loving Vibes shapes as a strong chance after drawing solidly in gate five in the first section of the Class Four Fast Most Furious Handicap (1,200m).

“Loving Vibes is busting to win a race and he’s drawn a gate, so it would be nice to see him put his head in front,” Newnham said of the Zoustar gelding, who has finished second at his past two starts.