Mark Newnham will turn to Alexis Badel to keep the seat warm for Luke Ferraris aboard My Wish in the Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m) on October 19.

While Ferraris has been in the saddle for all five of My Wish’s wins and all but one of his 12 starts, he won’t be able to make the weight for the galloper’s expected showdown with Voyage Bubble in the Sha Tin Trophy.

With Voyage Bubble rated 134 and My Wish sitting on a mark of 114, the latter will carry just 115lb should they meet as planned.

“He can ride the weight easy and he’s got a good strike rate for me,” Newnham said of Badel.

After storming to a convincing victory in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) under 130lb last weekend, My Wish will be 20lb better off at the weights compared to his last clash with Voyage Bubble, when the latter finished a length ahead of the former in April’s Group One Champions Mile.

Badel and Newnham only improved their output as a duo at Sha Tin on Wednesday, with the pair combining to salute with Max Que to take their record to 10 winners from 75 attempts at a strike rate of 13.3 per cent.

The win of Max Que completed doubles for both trainer and jockey, with Badel snaring the Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) aboard Fast Network to open his account and Newnham enjoying a welcome success with four-year-old series prospect Invincible Ibis in the Class Four Chengdu Handicap (1,400m).

“It was never going to be easy from gate 14, but his best performances have been when he’s got to the outside,” said Newnham after Invincible Ibis came from last to notch his maiden success at start four.

“He’s always shown enough talent when he’s got up to the right distance in the right circumstances and he put it together really well today.

“Early in the day it didn’t look like the ideal scenario [being held up], but it’s the best way to ride this horse. He appreciates a bit of time, getting to the outside, and also a ride like this.

“He’s made good improvement, but he’s still got quite a bit to come. He’s still a very green horse. He arrived in Hong Kong without any barrier trials, so he’s going to keep improving through the year, and I think he’ll get better once he even gets to 1,600m.”

Max Que produced a withering late run to snare the Class Three Tianjin Handicap (1,400m) and bag his second consecutive victory.

“It was a little bit frustrating last season – I think we had four seconds. But he’s matured a bit more in the off-season and got a bit stronger and now he’s put two good wins together,” said Newnham.

Newnham’s brace lifted him to the top of the trainers’ premiership with eight winners after seven meetings, however he’s keeping his feet firmly on the ground on that front.

“We’re one month in so it’s a bit early, but the way the horses are racing we should have a good year. I’ll be worried about it when we get close to July. Up until then we’ll just do our best,” he said.