Mark Newnham hopes Talents Ambition can strengthen his Classic Series credentials when the lightly-raced galloper targets a second win on the Sha Tin dirt on Wednesday night.

A promising third on seasonal reappearance over 1,200m last month, Talents Ambition will bid to put January’s Classic Mile firmly on his agenda when he returns to 1,650m in Wednesday’s Class Three Tsim Mei Fung Handicap.

“He ran super,” Newnham said of Talents Ambition’s third behind Super Win Dragon first up.

“I think a mile to 2,000m is his best distance, so it was good to see him sprint so well fresh over 1,200m.

“He enjoys the surface, so I’ve just been treading water and waiting for this race to come around. It’s a good way to build his rating points because he’s eligible for the four-year-old series.”

Talents Ambition won both of his starts during his pre-import career in Australia but only got off the mark at start six for Newnham on the all-weather in June.

The four-year-old settled in the rear of the field from a wide gate, made smooth headway at the top of straight and kicked clear for a dominant one-and-three-quarter length win under Harry Bentley.

While he failed to get his head in front first up over 1,200m, the son of Into Mischief showed a good turn of foot to cover the final 400m in 21.89 seconds – around seven lengths quicker than standard time.

He also led home a strong trial field on October 8 with Yellowfin, Stunning Peach and Helios Express following him home.

“He’s matured a lot and I don’t think he’s only a dirt horse,” Newnham said.

“Hopefully he can keep building his rating of 71 because he’s improved a lot in the last few months. He’s got a bit stronger and even mentally he’s a much more relaxed horse.”

While Bentley found himself having to overcome a wide berth aboard Talents Ambition in his past five starts, the pair have been given the advantage of jumping from gate three in Wednesday night’s 12-runner field, which includes last-start winner Young Brilliant and the ever-consistent Fighting Machine.

The 32-year-old Englishman will bid to add to his tally of three wins for the season and provide Newnham with another victory after the handler secured a double at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Boasting the highest strike rate of all 22 handlers in the city at 18.6 per cent, Newnham has returned 11 wins from just 59 runners and takes a team of five to Sha Tin’s eight-race dirt programme.

So Treasure is yet to get off the mark from eight starts but kept on well for fifth over the Happy Valley 1,200m earlier this month and rates a live chance in Wednesday’s Class Four Tiu Yue Yung Handicap (1,200m).

Always Fluke makes his stable debut for Newnham in the Class Four JCI Hong Kong Senate Cup (1,200m) after failing to fire in his previous seven starts for champion trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai.

Super Charizzard and One For All complete the handler's midweek team.