Leading trainer Mark Newnham has high hopes the drop back to 1,600m and Group Two level can propel My Wish to victory in Monday’s Chairman’s Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin.

Touted as a Group One winner in waiting after a top four-year-old campaign, the pint-sized son of Flying Artie started his current season on fire with victories in the Group Three Celebration Cup (1,400m) and Group Two Sha Tin Trophy (1,600m).

However, since rising to level weights and then Group One company again, he has found it much tougher.

My Wish had excuses when a beaten favourite behind Voyage Bubble in December’s Group One Hong Kong Mile, running sixth, before notching fourths behind Romantic Warrior in the Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) and Group One Gold Cup (2,000m).

“He’s back to probably his right distance,” Newnham said.

“He showed the other day at a true gallop over 2,000m that he didn’t stay. He hasn’t had everything go his way and once you get to this level, it’s hard to win. But he hasn’t run badly all season.”

My Wish is one 12 of Chairman’s Trophy runners carrying 123lb, with Voyage Bubble and Red Lion carrying the 5lb penalty for their Group One victories.

Newnham said My Wish, who finished powerfully under race rider Hugh Bowman to win a dirt trial last week, was maintaining top form ahead of his seventh run this term.

“He’s really good. He trialled well last week – Hugh was really pleased with him,” Newnham said.

Newnham and Bowman will chase another feature win in tandem just 15 days after their Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) success with Invincible Ibis.

Currently leading the race for the trainers’ championship on 45 wins, Newnham has six other runners on the Easter Monday card, including the promising Lucky Ranger in the Class Four Plunkett’s Handicap (1,400m) and Aerodynamics in the Class Three Homestead Handicap (2,000m).

Lucky Ranger followed an eye-catching second on debut with an impressive win over 1,400m at Sha Tin, comfortably accounting for Aerovolanic who has since scored back-to-back victories.

“He looks a nice horse. He trialled well last week and he’ll go in there with a great winning chance,” Newnham said of the three-year-old, who shapes as a Classic Series prospect next season.

“I won’t over-race him this season. He’ll only have a couple more starts.”

Luke Ferraris again rides Lucky Ranger, who has drawn gate eight and carries top weight of 135lb.

Aerodynamics fell short of making the Derby field but has been in good form without winning, notching a close second and a solid fourth and fifth from his five Hong Kong starts.

The South African import jumped awkwardly and blundered badly when 10th behind Shamus Storm last start.

“It was hard to make ground and once he missed the start, so once he missed the start he was out of play,” Newnham said.

Newnham is hoping for a cleaner start from Aerodynamics, who has to overcome a wide draw in barrier 11 with Zac Purton on board.

Star Performer, Cleansweeper, Thousand Spirit and New Forest are Newnham’s other Sha Tin runners. The Australian holds a two-win lead over nearest championship rival Caspar Fownes, with a further two back to Danny Shum Chap-shing.