Australian ace Hugh Bowman rode a brilliant double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (May 7), partnering with trainer Douglas Whyte to notch wins aboard GOKO WIN and IVY LEAGUE. The pair’s success pushed Bowman to 60 wins for the 2024/25 Hong Kong racing season, narrowing the gap to championship leader Zac Purton (104 wins) and bringing him within reach of his personal best tally of 69 set last season.
The Bowman-Whyte duo struck first with GOKO WIN in the second section of the Class 4 Chantilly Handicap (1200m). It was a welcome return to form for the Love Conquers All gelding, who secured his first win since February 2023. Positioned worse than midfield from barrier one, Bowman executed a flawless ride to seize a late opening and drive the 6-year-old to his second Hong Kong win from 30 starts.
In the second section of the Class 4 Saint-Cloud Handicap (1650m), Bowman guided former Irish Group performer IVY LEAGUE to a razor-thin victory over THESIS. The Galileo gelding, previously trained by Aidan O’Brien, held on by a short head to register his third Hong Kong win from 35 runs.
“I think we got a bit lucky with the bob of the head there,” said Bowman, who credited a smooth passage and the gelding’s grit for the win. “Goko Win was down in class, and although beaten for speed, he travelled superbly and took the run when it came.”
Douglas Whyte, a former champion jockey himself, moved to 20 wins for the season with the double, reinforcing his growing stature as a trainer.
Elsewhere on the card, Frankie Lor’s KEETY ended a winless stretch since June 2024 with a determined performance in the Class 3 Deauville Handicap (1650m). The BMW Hong Kong Derby 2023 fourth-placer, ridden confidently by Matthew Poon, tracked the pace and pulled clear for his fourth local win.
The consistent TELECOM POWER finally broke through for Me Tsui and Harry Bentley in the Class 4 France Galop Cup (1200m). With three runner-up finishes already this season, the win marked a breakthrough for the light-weighted runner.
John Size moved closer to a remarkable 1,600 Hong Kong career wins when Keith Yeung partnered PERFECT PAIRING to victory in the Class 4 French May Trophy Handicap (2200m). The 12-time champion trainer now stands at 1,599 wins.
Further down the card, Chris So’s COOL BLUE finally found success at his 26th attempt in the Class 5 Auteuil Handicap (1650m) under Matthew Chadwick. Benno Yung’s progressive DAY DAY VICTORY scored his second straight win in the Class 5 Maisons-Laffitte Handicap (1000m) with Alexis Badel aboard.
David Eustace and Karis Teetan combined for a win with AMAZING AWARD in the opening division of the Class 4 Saint-Cloud Handicap, while David Hayes’ CHATEAUNEUF completed a strong win in the Class 3 ParisLongchamp Handicap (1200m) with Luke Ferraris.
Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Saturday, May 10.
