Hugh Bowman showcased his exceptional riding skills with a three-win performance at Happy Valley, maintaining a hot streak that has spanned four consecutive Hong Kong race meetings. The experienced Australian jockey partnered with three different trainers to capture victories in three distinct Class 4 races, further strengthening his already impressive tally for the season.
His successful night began with a well-timed ride aboard Stellar Swift in a competitive 1200m sprint. Demonstrating both patience and precision, Bowman guided the runner through a crowded field, capitalizing on a tactical decision to shorten the distance from the previous outing. The move paid dividends as the horse responded powerfully when asked to quicken.
Later in the evening, Bowman teamed up with trainer Danny Shum to steer Harmony Galaxy to a convincing win over 1800m. Previously known as Empire Of The Nile during his career in Brazil, the gelding showed his class after a string of near misses since arriving in Hong Kong. Although there were early signs of tension, the increase in pace allowed Harmony Galaxy to settle into a more composed rhythm. Bowman judged the tempo masterfully and timed his charge to perfection.
Bowman closed the night with a determined ride aboard Casa Rochester in the 1650m contest. Despite drawing an outside barrier, he seized on a frantic early tempo to settle the horse and produce a strong closing run. The performance hinted at further improvement to come from the still-developing galloper. With this treble, Bowman’s win total for the season rose to 56, second only to leading jockey Zac Purton.
Elsewhere on the card, Colourful King continued to impress in his third start, delivering a blistering turn of foot to capture the Class 3 Hong Kong China Rugby Cup Handicap over 1000m. Trained by David Eustace, the promising gelding benefited from a fast pace up front and confirmed the stable’s confidence with a dominant showing. Eustace, who recently celebrated a treble at Sha Tin, noted the horse’s potential to extend in distance but indicated no rush to do so.
Flying Fortress claimed a 1650m victory in Class 3 with a tactical ride from Harry Bentley, while Sovereign Fund got the better of rivals in the opening section of the Class 4 King’s Park Handicap, with Karis Teetan in the saddle. Also on the night, Verbier finally broke his maiden at start number 14, leading from the jump to score in the Class 5 Yau Ma Tei Handicap under Luke Ferraris.
Northern Fire Ball added another win to his record, showcasing consistency with two victories and two placings from nine runs. The son of Sooboog thrived in the third section of the King’s Park Handicap, ridden by Jerry Chau. Meanwhile, Golden Empire notched his seventh career success, delivering a gritty front-running display for Francis Lui and jockey Keagan De Melo. The durable galloper has now amassed earnings nearing HK$8.7 million.
The Hong Kong racing circuit resumes this weekend at Sha Tin, promising more action as the season continues to unfold.
