Hugh Bowman showcased his riding prowess once again at Happy Valley on Wednesday, notching up an impressive double that lifted his seasonal tally to 60 wins. Partnering with trainer Douglas Whyte, the Australian jockey made significant strides in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, maintaining a strong grip on second place behind the leading Zac Purton. Whyte, too, enjoyed a productive evening, bringing up his 20th win of the term.
Bowman’s first success of the night came aboard Goko Win, a gelding who hadn’t tasted victory since early 2023. Positioned worse than midfield during the run, Bowman’s tactical patience paid off when he found daylight in the closing stages. Seizing the opportunity, Goko Win surged forward to land the Class 4 Chantilly Handicap, securing a much-needed second win in Hong Kong after a long gap.
Later in the meeting, Bowman steered Ivy League to a nail-biting finish in the Class 4 Saint-Cloud Handicap. Despite a close call and uncertainty at the wire, Ivy League managed to get the nod by a short head over his rival. The son of Galileo, who previously showed promise in Europe, demonstrated grit in the final strides, rewarding Bowman’s perfectly timed ride with a hard-earned victory.
Elsewhere on the card, Keefy returned to form under the guidance of Matthew Poon in the Class 3 Deauville Handicap. The Frankie Lor-trained runner had shown flashes of brilliance earlier in his career, including a strong showing in the Hong Kong Derby, but had found it tough to string together consistent performances. On this occasion, he settled just off the pace and finished the race off with determination to record his fourth local win.
Telecom Power was another notable winner on the night, finally getting his head in front after several near-misses. Ridden by Harry Bentley, the Me Tsui-trained sprinter took advantage of a favorable draw and executed a well-judged ride to land the Class 4 France Galop Cup Handicap. Bentley expressed satisfaction post-race, highlighting the horse’s persistence and readiness for future challenges.
Keith Yeung guided Perfect Pairing to a staying victory in the Class 4 The French May Trophy Handicap, marking another milestone for trainer John Size, who is now just one shy of 1,600 career wins in Hong Kong. The stamina test suited the Size-trained runner, who finished strongly to dominate over the extended trip.
Earlier in the night, Cool Blue finally broke his maiden at the 26th attempt, delivering a long-awaited success for trainer Chris So and jockey Matthew Chadwick in the Class 5 Auteuil Handicap. Not long after, Benno Yung’s Day Day Victory continued his rise with a second consecutive win, this time sprinting to success under Alexis Badel in the Class 5 Maisons-Laffitte Handicap.
The meeting also saw Karis Teetan and David Eustace strike with Amazing Award, who held off a determined challenge from Satirical Fan to take the opening section of the Saint-Cloud Handicap. Meanwhile, Chateauneuf gave trainer David Hayes another win, proving too strong in the closing stages of the Class 3 ParisLongchamp Handicap under Luke Ferraris.
Racing action now shifts to Sha Tin, where the next meeting is scheduled for Saturday.
