HUGH BOWMAN DETERMINED TO CLEAN UP DISCIPLINARY RECORD AFTER SATISFACTORY SEASON

• Australian ace evaluates his season as he aims to stay out of the stewards' room next campaign

He might be "satisfied" with his 2023-24 campaign, but Hugh Bowman has made avoiding the wrath of stewards his key focus for next season after copping a raft of careless riding suspensions.

Bowman collected a Group One aboard Invincible Sage and two legs of the Classic Series on Helios Express, but he spent 27 meetings on the sidelines, 15 of which were through suspension.

The Australian ace survived a ban at Monday's twilight meeting - Jockey Club stewards handed him a HK$60,000 fine instead as he held 'confirmed riding engagements for the remainder of the season' - and he hopes to stay out of the stewards' room for the duration of the 2024-25 campaign.

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"I'd say I'm satisfied with the season," Bowman said. "I was disappointed with how many suspensions I had and that's something I really want to focus on next year and iron out.

"You can't do much about the injuries, that's just bad luck. I started on a really good note this season and I'd love to do the same next year.

"I'm looking forward to a nice break and a freshen-up and then I want to come in as motivated as I can for next season. Plus, I feel like I've got a lot more to look forward to coming into next season."

The Australian made a scintillating start to the season, with 17 wins under his belt from the first 10 meetings, but had his momentum halted when he was hit with two careless riding suspensions - one at Happy Valley and one at Randwick - in October which forced him to miss five consecutive meetings.

Bowman then fell when making his return to the races on November 11, fracturing his scapula and three vertebrae, and found himself on the sidelines for a further 12 meetings.

While he was suspended in the first three months of the year, Bowman has not been a regular visitor to the stewards' room towards the back end of the season and he has a good opportunity to capitalise on the absence of Zac Purton at Happy Valley on Thursday night.

Sitting on 63 wins for the season, Bowman takes a full book of rides to the city circuit and hopes Majestic Knight can get back to winning ways on his return to 1,000m in the Class Two Briar Handicap.

"He was fantastic last time over 1,000m and over 1,200m he drew wide and did his work in the early and middle stages," Bowman said of Majestic Knight, who finished 11th on his last start over 1,200m.

"He's back to 1,000m and there's a couple of up and coming horses going to race, so it will be no picnic for him."

Bowman again rides Grand Nova in the Class Four Hawthorn Handicap (1,000m), with the John Size-trained gelding flashing home from the rear of the field over the straight 1,000m to finish second on his latest outing.

"I think he's better than Class Four and he's had a couple of good runs," Bowman said.

"He's a horse who's very aggressive and so that's why he's running at 1,000m - to try and teach him to relax a bit. He's going to need a bit of luck but he's certainly one to keep an eye on."

Bowman also teams up with last-start winner Red Hare King in the Class Three Cheong Ming Handicap (1,650m). The Tony Cruz-trained four-year-old will have to negotiate gate 11.

"He had everything in his favour last time but this time I think it's going to be hard for him going up in weight," Bowman said.

"The draw is not ideal but in saying that, it was a pretty convincing win last time and if he can get the right run there's no reason why it can't happen again."

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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2024-07-03T07:10:59Z dg43tfdfdgfd