Mark Newnham knows there will be “nowhere to hide” on Saturday when Invincible Ibis takes on David Eustace’s Dazzling Fit in a battle of Classic Series hopefuls in the Class Three Poinsettia Handicap (1,600m) at Sha Tin.

Newnham’s four-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season and after going close in his first three starts over 1,200m, he has become a different proposition entirely over the 1,400m distance.

Defying stall 14 to shed his maiden at Sha Tin in October, he returned to the track one month later for an equally impressive performance on his Class Three debut, defeating a useful field with his head in his chest.

Invincible Ibis now steps up to the mile, which on what he has shown so far will suit him perfectly, but he will have no easy task against another top Classic Series contender in Dazzling Fit.

Eustace’s galloper returned to winning ways on his first run over 1,600m last start and Newnham is very aware of the danger he poses on Saturday.

“Invincible Ibis keeps improving, but he did go up 9lb for his last win,” said Newnham. “It’s a better field this weekend, but he does look like he’ll be suited by the step up to the mile trip.

“He needs another win to get into the Classic Series to get his rating up there, so there will be nowhere to hide now. Dazzling Fit looks like a nice horse and is trying to do the same thing.

“At the same stage, he and My Wish have a very similar profile. The difference is that My Wish kept improving. I hope Invincible Ibis will do the same.”

Newnham unleashes another of his top horses on Saturday in the form of Crimson Flash, who runs in the feature Class Two Ivy Handicap (1,200m) under Andrea Atzeni.

The Showtime galloper has won three of his last four starts and was only denied last start by a remarkable performance by the improving Colourful King over the straight 1,000m at Sha Tin.

He has drawn the perfect barrier in stall one and Newnham is adamant a return to the 1,200m distance could see his charge get back to winning ways.

“Colourful King was really impressive and was really well ridden last start. Our guy ran really well second time up, but I thought he was looking for the 1,200m trip,” said Newnham.

“I ran him there because it was a chance for him to get a Class Two bonus, but I think he’s better suited by this trip.”

Newnham remains on top of the trainers’ premiership after 29 meetings on 24 winners, sitting ahead of Caspar Fownes on the same number by virtue of countback thanks to a pair of extra seconds.

A win on Saturday would bring up a century of winners since moving to Hong Kong for the Australian, who is pointing stable star My Wish towards the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m), for his next start on January 25.

He could only manage sixth in last Sunday’s Group One Hong Kong Mile, but there were excuses and Newnham still has faith his stable star can mix it at the top level next time out.

“He’ll probably run in the Stewards’ Cup next as that’s the most logical race to go to. He didn’t run badly in the Hong Kong Mile – I don’t think the track surface suited him,” said Newnham.

“It takes away the advantage of having barrier two when you’ve got to come up the middle of the track. It wasn’t ideal at all.”