Saturday’s technical issue that prevented simulcast turnover from sailing past HK$400 million for the second consecutive weekend “should not happen”, according to Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

With some punters unable to log into their betting accounts in the lead up to the first two races at Randwick in Sydney, turnover took a substantial hit on one of Australia’s biggest days of racing.

“It was an issue which was very technical,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “There was an issue with one of the account processors and it took a lot longer to resolve than is normally the case. It should not happen, but we will definitely strengthen processes.”

While HK$70.4 million was bet on the first two races broadcast from Melbourne and just shy of HK$60 million was wagered on the opening two contests from Sydney last weekend, turnover only reached HK$21.53 million for the first two races at Randwick on Saturday.

Turnover took until race four to recover but Engelbrecht-Bresges was taking the positives out of Saturday’s action, which also featured four races from Turffontein racecourse in South Africa.

“I think it was a successful day with very good results, especially when we had to overcome a technical issue which dented the first two races,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “I hear the feedback from Australia was very good.

“We had HK$40 million [bet] on the South African Derby, which is an amazing amount for them and I think there is further potential. From May we will introduce new protocols with the option for multi bets.”

Turnover for last week’s simulcast programme, consisting of 12 races from Melbourne, Sydney and Dubai, reached HK$436.5 million, while Saturday’s 12-race product from Randwick and Turffontein returned HK$390.9 million.

Full Credit to Newnham

Mark Newnham has always emphasised his decision to opt for a patient approach in his first year in Hong Kong and Full Credit’s emphatic Class Four Homestead Handicap (1,200m) win on Sunday illustrated that his training method is starting to pay dividends.

Jumping from barrier one under Lyle Hewitson, the well-backed $2.65 favourite assumed the lead from the outset and never looked in danger.

After turning for home three lengths on top, the three-year-old galloped his rivals into submission to finish five and a quarter lengths clear of nearest challenger Rubylot.

“I expected him to win, but I didn’t expect him to win like that,” Newnham said. “He’s improved a little bit each week and today he showed the benefit of his experience in front and really put a margin on them. It was very impressive.

“The track probably helped him today – he had won a trial in Australia on soft ground – but his previous performance on good ground shows that he’s capable on both. I think he can be competitive in Class Three because the horse is still improving. I just hope the handicapper doesn’t think he was too impressive.”

Newnham, who became a dual-site trainer with horses stabled at Conghua at the start of the month, ticked over to 19 victories for the season thanks to Full Credit’s commanding win.

The 56-year-old handler has started to unleash a few exciting recruits in recent weeks and says he hopes to finish the campaign with a bang.

“[Patience] has been my focus all season,” Newnham said. “I’ve said all along it would be a slow build-up but a good second half of the season.

“We’ve got lots of new horses like this and it’s just a matter of holding your nerve and being patient. The last thing you want to be is impatient because you can ruin a good horse before you make them a good horse.”

A Champion in waiting?

John Size confirmed his exciting four-year-old Young Champion is having a rest ahead of what he anticipates to be a big 2024-25 campaign.

Young Champion is the most expensive horse to represent the Racing Club and after triumphing at Class Two level last month, has not stepped out onto the track for any work.

“He’s fine,” Size said. “He’s just having a rest. It looks like he has a big season ahead of him next year.”

Pricey Champion backed to drive Racing Club growth after years of mediocre horses

A winner on one of his four starts in Ireland, Young Champion has returned to the winner’s enclosure on two of his three starts in the city and looks destined for bigger things next season.

Another of Size’s exciting youngsters, Wunderbar, is back in training after the three-year-old required arthroscopic surgery to his right knee to remove some bone fragments.

Wunderbar has been victorious on four of his five starts and had the operation after pulling up lame the day after his latest 1,200m win at the end of January.

The son of Rich Enuff is currently based at Conghua’s training facility, where he has been cantering in some light work since April 1.