Immersion in Hong Kong racing has made Mark Newnham a better trainer, and he is the first to admit it.

Now level with Caspar Fownes on 24 wins for the season, the former Sydney Group 1-winning trainer is still chasing his first top-level success in Hong Kong.

On Sunday at Sha Tin, Newnham hopes to reach 100 local winners just over two years after relocating from Australia.

“In Australia, you can protect your strike-rate and pick and choose which races you want to run in,” Newham said.

“In Hong Kong, you can’t scratch because you don’t like the barrier or track conditions. Once you enter, you run.”

The strict 70-horse cap and uniform facilities were major drawcards for Newnham.

“The cap of 70 horses does test you as a trainer and in the two years I have been here, I am a much better trainer than I was in Sydney.

“That comes down to not having the turnover of horses.”

Newnham has four runners chasing his 100th win before My Wish contests the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m).

However, it is My Wish who shapes as his biggest chance to reach a new career peak on Hong Kong’s biggest stage.