Mark Newnham plans to raise the bar with Bravehearts later this season after the improving stayer continued his sizzling form since joining the Australian’s stable at Sha Tin on Sunday.

One of two winners for Newnham and jockey Matthew Poon Ming-fai on Sunday, Bravehearts registered his third win from four starts this season with a comfortable victory in the Class Two Buffalo Hill Handicap (2,000m).

The Cityscape gelding justified strong support into $2.2 favouritism when he ran on strongly from just behind midfield under Poon.

“He’s in really good form,” Newnham said. “He keeps improving, he appreciated getting back to 2,000m today and down the bottom of the weights. Matthew’s rides on him all the way through have been 10-out-of-10.

“It’ll be a while until we get the opportunity, but even once he gets further than 2,000m, I’m sure he’ll improve again.

“Looking way ahead, you’d think the Queen Mother Memorial later in the season, 2,400m would be more to his liking.

“But it’s good we’ve got him to this level now and hopefully he can continue to improve.”

The Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup is run on May 4 over the same trip Bravehearts won the 2022 Group One Gran Premio Carlos Pelligrini when known as The Punisher in Argentina.

After failing to fire in nine Hong Kong starts for Jamie Richards, Bravehearts was transferred to Newnham and has struck top form with victories over 1,600m and 2,000m.

His only blemish for the stable was a solid third behind Californiatotality before Sunday’s success, when he wasn’t suited dropping back to 1,800m.

Poon revealed his admiration for the five-year-old after he easily accounted for Winning Dragon by a length on Sunday.

“I love him so much, he has improved every start with his mental approach, his fitness and I can’t wait to see him at 2,400m,” said Poon, who later chalked up a double when booting home Tony Cruz’s Super Fortune.

“He’s quite a relaxed horse, finds his feet and you wait for the right time for him to go and he will run for you. I think 2,400m will be even better.

“I’m really lucky I can ride this horse for Mark and the owner Mr [Edmond] Yue [Kwok-yin], he gives me lots of support even from when I started and also Mark has given me such a beautiful horse to ride. I can’t thank them enough.”

Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) prospect Romantic Thor produced a solid run on his second start in the city, overcoming a wide run in the early stages to finish two lengths behind Bravehearts in third.

Another potential Derby contender, Naval Force, caught the eye on his Hong Kong debut for Pierre Ng Pang-chi when running on from last to finish seventh, beaten three lengths.

Newnham later made it a double when Full Credit claimed the Class Three D’Aguilar Peak Handicap (1,200m) on dirt, jumping to second in the trainers’ championship with 24 wins – two behind Ng.

Poon moved to fifth in the jockeys’ championship with 18 wins after also guiding Super Fortune to victory in the Class Four Butterfly Bay Handicap (1,000m).

Cruz credited the 31-year-old jockey for Super Fortune’s sixth career win from 41 starts.

“The horse has been very loyal to me, he’s very consistent and the jockey knows this horse too well and rode a perfect race again,” Cruz said.