Australian ace Hugh Bowman heads into Saturday’s racing at Sha Tin with confidence and high hopes, aiming to guide both Red Lion and Helios Express to Group 3 success. After his mount Red Lion caused a massive upset in last month’s Champions Mile, Bowman is optimistic the gelding can reaffirm his top-tier potential in the Lion Rock Trophy Handicap over 1600m.
Red Lion’s victory in the Champions Mile, where he edged out Voyage Bubble at long odds, sent shockwaves through the Hong Kong racing community. While many chalked it up as a surprise, Bowman saw the win as a reflection of Red Lion’s true ability—something he had shown glimpses of in the past but hadn’t fully capitalized on until that day.
Looking ahead to the Lion Rock Trophy, Red Lion will face a tough field and must shoulder 135lb, making him the top-weighted runner in the race. Despite the challenge, Bowman believes the horse is entering the race in strong form and is ready to prove he belongs in the upper echelon of Hong Kong’s milers.
Among his rivals will be the consistent Chancheng Glory, stablemate Beauty Eternal, and the improving Sunlight Power. The latter, trained by Ricky Yiu, turned heads with a powerful third-place finish in the Champions Mile and comes into the Lion Rock Trophy fresh and in good shape. Yiu expressed confidence in his runner’s form, noting that the horse’s time off and preference for the Conghua training facility have served him well.
Bowman will also take the reins of Helios Express in the day’s sprint feature—the Sha Tin Vase over 1200m. Helios Express has been admirably consistent this season, notching multiple second and third-place finishes, many of them behind Hong Kong’s dominant sprinter Ka Ying Rising. This weekend, however, a notable weight break sees Helios Express carrying just 123lb, while his Group 1 rivals, including Lucky Sweynesse, shoulder significantly more.
Bowman highlighted the favorable conditions for Helios Express, pointing out that the reduced weight offers the gelding a much-needed edge as he looks to secure a long-awaited win. The horse already boasts victories in prestigious events such as the Hong Kong Classic Mile and Classic Cup, further underlining his calibre.
Standing in Helios Express’s way will be a deep field led by Lucky Sweynesse, who carries 135lb, and fellow challenger Victor The Winner. Trained by David Eustace, Victor The Winner has been performing well in trackwork and comes into the race off a slight weight relief—a scenario his trainer believes will help him recapture his best form.
Saturday’s feature-laden card at Sha Tin includes 11 races, with the opening event scheduled for 12:30 pm. With major players like Red Lion and Helios Express in the spotlight, all eyes will be on Hugh Bowman as he bids for a memorable Group 3 double.
