Mark Newnham has high hopes of continuing his good record on the dirt this season and replicating his success from the same Sha Tin meeting last year when he bids to extend his championship lead on Sunday.

Heading the premiership standings with 23 wins including four on the all-weather track, Newnham boasts a strong team of seven runners headlined by dirt specialists Sing Dragon and Talents Ambition in the feature Class Two Chatham Handicap (1,200m).

Sing Dragon returns to the surface of his five Hong Kong victories for the first time since spearheading Newnham’s first ever trifecta in the Class Two High West Handicap (1,650m) in October.

While the drop back in distance won’t pose a problem to Sing Dragon, with his other four wins over 1,200m, Talents Ambition has almost exclusively plied his trade over a mile or further in Hong Kong.

“Obviously the distance is closer to Sing Dragon’s best, but it’s been a long time since we ran Talents Ambition over 1,200m on the dirt and he’s never run badly on it,” Newnham said.

“I would expect he would run well, especially with a strong pace. He’s had a good week since last week’s race.

“Sing Dragon’s in really good form. He’s versatile – he won up to 1,650m, he’s got pace and he enjoys the surface.

“Sing Dragon won this race last year and Talents Ambition won the mile Class Three that day.”

Bottomuptogether, Self Improvement and Capital Delight join Newnham’s duo as proven dirt performers contesting the Chatham Handicap while Invincible Shield, Gorgeous Win, Red Elegance and Swift Ascend will be having their first starts on the surface.

Newnham also has dual representation in the Class Three Mody Handicap (1,650m) on dirt and like the feature race, he believes he has all bases covered with last-start winner New Forest and Excellence Value.

“New Forest is in good form. Excellence Value has trialled very well on the dirt,” Newnham said.

“His trial before his last run was very good and that encouraged me to run him and give him a try. It will be a bit similar to the other race – I’ll have one on pace and one sitting out the back, so the speed of the race might determine the winner.”

Newnham’s other all-weather runner, Notthesillyone, steps back up to Class Four in the Austin Handicap (1,200m) after making all last start.

“He did a good job. I think he was the only leader to win that night, so it may have been a touch slower in that section, but he’s been consistent this season. He’s fit and well and I think he’s capable in Class Four on the all-weather,” Newnham said.

Newnham’s two turf runners on Sunday’s mixed card are Incredible Moment in the first section of the Class Four Kimberley Handicap (1,400m) and Lucky Sam Gor in the Class Three Salisbury Handicap (1,400m).

Lucky Sam Gor was a brilliant winner of consecutive races before coming up short in his hat-trick bid last start when sixth, beaten just under three lengths, to Thriving Brothers.

“It seemed to be dominated by the on-pace horses. It was difficult to make up ground,” Newnham said of Lucky Sam Gor’s last start.

“His work’s been good and he’s got a light weight [116lb], so if he gets a truly run race, he’ll run well.”