Ahead of his bid for a third victory in the prestigious HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on Sunday, March 23, jockey Hugh Bowman is riding a wave of incredible form. With six wins over the past three meetings, Bowman notched his 50th win of the season at Happy Valley on Wednesday, March 19, completing a double with two impressive victories. His strong recent performances have set the stage for what promises to be an exciting Derby ride.
Bowman, who has previously won the Hong Kong Derby on Werther (2016) and Furore (2019), is excited to partner Lo Rider, trained by Caspar Fownes, in this year’s Classic. Bowman remains hopeful that the talented gelding can deliver a third win for the jockey in the coveted race. “I’m on a horse that’s certainly capable of winning,” said Bowman. “He’s going to need some things to go his way, but I think it’s a very open race, and I’m delighted to be involved.”
The jockey’s successful night at Happy Valley, where he partnered with Mark Newman’s Power Koepp and M Unicorn, continued his impressive form. Bowman was particularly pleased with M Unicorn, who surged from the back of the field to take the lead at the 600m mark. “He just has difficulty getting himself involved early, so I thought I’d make some use of him mid-race, and it turned out to be the right move,” Bowman added.
Bowman was equally positive about Power Koepp, who claimed victory in the Class 4 Wong Nai Chung Handicap (1200m). “He arrived in good condition, and I think I got him at the right rating. He drew a good gate, and the horse did the rest,” said Bowman.
Meanwhile, Frankie Lor’s Beauty Destiny stole the spotlight with a remarkable performance in the Class 2 Sports Handicap (1200m). The five-year-old gelding became the first horse this season to win five races at Happy Valley, accelerating from the back of the field to clinch the victory in a scintillating time of 22.41 seconds for the final 400m.
Further action saw David Eustace and Andrea Atzeni celebrate their first win together when Colourful King claimed the Class 3 Percival Handicap (1000m) by a narrow nose. The three-year-old, who raced as Blue Renegade in Australia, earned a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus for the victory.
Elsewhere, Antoine Hamelin continued his strong form with a win aboard Spicy Spangle in the Class 4 Hong Kong Football Club Centenary Cup Handicap (1000m), while David Hall’s Windicator Family secured his first Hong Kong victory under Matthew Poon in the Class 5 Bowrington Handicap (1650m).
As the excitement builds for the BMW Hong Kong Derby on Sunday, Bowman and his fellow jockeys are preparing for an action-packed day at Sha Tin. With a field of exceptional talent, the race is set to be a thrilling spectacle for racing fans.
