HUGH BOWMAN TURNS ATTENTION TO HAPPY VALLEY AFTER TASTING GROUP ONE GLORY ON CHAMPIONS DAY
- Australian jockey aims to continue top form with a solid book of six rides at the city circuit
Still basking in the glory of his Group One victory on Champions Day, Hugh Bowman will aim to keep the good times rolling with a solid book of six rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
The top Australian jockey landed his second elite-level triumph since making a permanent move to Hong Kong when he booted home Invincible Sage in Sunday's Group One Chairman's Sprint Prize (1,200m) at Sha Tin.
It was a special win for Bowman in partnership with veteran handler David Hall, who has been one of the rider's biggest supporters in the city.
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"They don't come along every day and it's what we work for, to ride those good horses in the big races," Bowman said of Invincible Sage's strong victory over multiple Group One winner California Spangle.
"I was really proud of [Invincible Sage]. He's a really decent little horse, he got conditions to suit and he didn't let anyone down.
"You don't get as many opportunities [in Group Ones] as I'm accustomed to in Australia, but it is what it is. It's just a different system, but it was good racing [on Sunday] and it was good to be a part of it."
Despite spending a considerable chunk of the season sidelined through injury and suspensions, Bowman sits third in the jockeys' premiership with 49 wins and will look to add to that tally at the city circuit on Wednesday night.
The 43-year-old identified Galaxy Witness, Celestial Colours and Diamond Soars as his key chances, while he will also team up with last-start placegetters Big Two and Kasa Papa and John Size's debutant Sweet Smile.
Galaxy Witness drops back to Class Three for only the second time since 2022 when he tackles the Deauville Handicap (1,650m).
The Caspar Fownes-trained gelding showed big potential when unbeaten from his first four starts and despite failing to win since 2022, he has raced consistently in stronger company.
The son of Star Witness has twice this season been placed at the course and distance of Wednesday night's race and Bowman was elated when he drew barrier three.
"He's a consistent horse and he's got a good draw, which is a huge benefit for him with his racing style," Bowman said.
"A few times I've ridden him, he's drawn wide and with the big weight (135 pounds), it's a big help to draw in."
Bowman is maintaining his faith in the Jamie Richards-trained Celestial Colours, who heads into the Class Three France Galop Cup (1,200m) off the back of a fair fifth behind Kaholo Angel last start.
"He might have looked a bit under-par to the eye last start, but I was satisfied with him," Bowman said of Celestial Colours, who was five weeks between runs.
"He's obviously a go-forward horse and there doesn't look much other speed in it actually, so that might suit him. Barrier 10 might end up being all right if there isn't much of a charge, but we'll see."
Bowman expects Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's Diamond Soars to relish a drop in grade in the Class Five Maisons-Laffitte Handicap (1,000m).
"He's well placed in Class Five, so he's a good ride," he said. "They're good rides. In my experience, you don't get many stand-out rides at Happy Valley.
"They're all pretty evenly rated and bunched and it really boils down to getting the right run and the right pace, and it's hard to predict that."
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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.
Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
2024-04-29T05:41:30Z dg43tfdfdgfd
