Mark Newnham leads the way on the dirt this season and the championship leader is well placed to add to his lead with some excellent chances on Wednesday’s all-dirt card at Sha Tin.

The Australian is two wins clear of Caspar Fownes in the premiership on 32 and is also one clear of Danny Shum Chap-shing in the unofficial dirt equivalent on seven wins.

Newnham has not been afraid to pitch his runners onto the surface this campaign and it has borne plenty of fruit, with New Forest going for a third dirt win of the season in the Class Two Tin Chak Handicap (1,650m).

Both of those wins have come over course and distance from the front, most recently in December when he ran riot under a masterful all-the-way ride from his regular partner Lyle Hewitson.

He is joined in the race by stablemate Talents Ambition, who ran an eye-catching race over 1,200m last start and having gained all three of his wins over course and distance, he will relish a return to this trip.

“New Forest has had good and consistent form going up through the grades – he makes his own luck,” Newnham said of the Justify gelding, who will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni with Hewitson on Talents Ambition.

“He’s quick out of the gates and is a really tough horse. It’s another step up in class, but he looks the leader in that race and when he gets control of a race, he’s always hard to beat.

“Talents Ambition is proven in this grade and he’s only had one opportunity at a suitable distance on this surface this season. He ran really well that day when it was favouring horses on pace as it was wet.

“His trials in the lead-up have been very good and I would expect him to be running up to his best.”

Newnham has another strong chance in the form of Supreme Sea, who caught the eye with an impressive debut win and bids to follow up in section two of the Class Four Marble Handicap (1,200m).

That victory came over course and distance, travelling well before unleashing a smart turn of foot to quicken a length and three-quarters clear of his rivals.

He is drawn to get plenty of favours from stall three, but Newnham is wary of his three-year-old being burdened with 135lb on just his second start.

“He was in a good position on debut and ran a fast time – he should find a similar set up on Wednesday from a good gate,” said Newnham.

“He has been slow away on occasions, but hopefully he’s quick out this time. He’s only a three-year-old carrying top weight and we’ve seen quite a few of those recently struggle with 135lb, but the horse has done everything right since he won.”

On a busy night for Newnham, he also runs Exceed The Wish, Incredible Moment, Armour War Eagle and Super Unicorn.