Mark Newnham is relishing a fast start to the new season and is looking to Mid Winter Wind and New Forest to continue it at Sha Tin on Sunday.

The 57-year-old has hit the board on three occasions so far this campaign and he has a host of chances to continue the good times on Sunday, with his team spearheaded by the promising Mid Winter Wind.

He goes in the feature Class Two Yi Tung Shan Handicap (1,200m) and is looking to bounce back after a low-key end to last season that saw him fail to build on a local debut victory.

A South African Group Three winner, Mid Winter Wind is drawn wide for his seasonal reappearance, but that is no concern for Newnham, who thinks his five-year-old can close off strongly after a patient ride from Lyle Hewitson.

“He was very good at his first run and he just didn’t reproduce that,” said Newnham. “It could have been him just taking time to acclimatise to everything Hong Kong, but he’s working well and his trials have been good.

“Lyle has been happy with him and he looks to be in a race where they’ll go a fast pace – I think he’s better off ridden conservatively so the draw isn’t much of a concern.”

Newnham also runs four-time dirt winner Sing Dragon in the same race, but other targets await his son of Written Tycoon.

“He’s a very consistent horse, but his wins are on the dirt, so I would think in a Class Two race, they’re probably going to be a bit better than him. There’s a couple of chances for him on the dirt in October,” said Newnham.

Newnham also has a pair of big chances in the earlier Class Three Pat Sin Leng Handicap (1,650m), where the promising New Forest looks to make a winning reappearance alongside dirt specialist Mojave Desert.

New Forest won on the dirt at Sha Tin back in May, and Newnham has liked what he has seen in his prep work ahead of his return, while Mojave Desert looks to build on a pair of dirt successes from last campaign.

“New Forest did a good job for his first season of racing and he’s shown a good liking for the dirt,” said Newnham. “He’s quick out of the gates and takes up a good position all the time.

“He’s just a good, genuine horse. He’s prepped up with a couple of good trials, so he’ll run well.

“Mojave Desert has a run under his belt, which will help, and I don’t think backing up will bother him.”

Newnham built on a maiden season of 31 winners by securing 44 victories last campaign and he has his sights set on another step forward this time around, while hoping My Wish can put his name in lights once more.

“It’s always good to get started with a few winners,” Newnham said. “I’m just aiming to do better than last year – we had 44 last season and if we could do better than that and win a feature race with My Wish, that would be brilliant.”