An apologetic Hugh Bowman started his first meeting back after his working holiday in Australia HK$20,000 lighter in the pocket after failing to make the weight for Sunday’s Group Two features. He finished it with his most wins in Hong Kong on a single day.

Jockey Club stewards fined Bowman two times HK$10,000 after the Australian rider informed the connections of Courier Wonder and Beauty Joy he was unable to make their respective weights of 123 pounds.

“It was my mistake. I thought they were set weights,” a contrite Bowman said. “Being Group races, when I was doing my bookings, I assumed a set weight of 126 pounds. It was my mistake because I didn’t check until declarations. At 123 pounds – I had to ride that in Sydney – honestly, I can’t travel and do it.

“If I’d known when I was doing the bookings, I would’ve either not taken the rides or been prepared to do them, but I was neither. I’ve been rewarded [with a four-timer], but it doesn’t make it any better for those [Group Two] connections.”

Bowman rode at 123 pounds three times during his first Hong Kong meeting this season on November 20, but the returning jockey – he skipped two cards to combine addressing personal matters with competing at The Championships in Sydney – had not ridden at that weight in the city since he won aboard We Are Hero on January 15.

On Sunday, We Are Hero was the third leg of Bowman’s first four-timer in the city, Manfred Man Ka-leung’s sprinter making it four wins from four starts in tandem with the Australian jockey when he dominated the Class Three Hong Kong Lions Cup (1,000m).

Earlier on Sha Tin’s bumper 11-race programme, Bowman recorded not only his first dirt winner this term but also his second victory on the all-weather track since moving from Australia to Hong Kong.

Bowman steered Caspar Fownes-trained El Valiente to success in the Class Five Harlech Handicap (1,650m). An hour later, he partnered John Size-prepared Amazing Teens to win the Class Four Lugard Handicap (1,800m). It was Size’s 50th victory this season.

Fittingly on Masters weekend, Bowman’s fourth winner was Happy Golf. Frankie Lor Fu-chuen’s youngster won the Class Four Plantation Handicap (1,200m) to post back-to-back victories under the Australian jockey.

“All my horses looked to have great chances – some were short-priced favourites – and they’ve delivered. I’m delighted,” said Bowman, whose four-timer enabled him to leapfrog Silvestre de Sousa in this term’s jockeys’ championship. Bowman has 43 wins from 295 rides, one victory more than De Sousa but still 16 successes fewer than second-ranked Vincent Ho Chak-yiu.

“I’m enjoying my time, and I’m loving the racing, hence the agreement to extend. It’s great to be back here after a week off tidying up some loose ends back in Australia. Hopefully, the momentum can continue.”

Asked whether he would like to hold a full-time Jockey Club licence for the 2023-24 campaign, Bowman said: “I’m certainly going to consider that if the club will have me. I’ve got my family to think about, but it’s certainly high on my priorities.”

Fownes’ Griffin stands up

Kaholo Angel stood up to win this season’s first Griffin race at Sha Tin on Sunday after odds-on favourite Ka Ying Victory sat down in the gates and did not take part in the Barker Plate (1,000m).

Jockey Club vets scratched David Hall-trained two-year-old Ka Ying Victory following their behind-the-barriers inspection of the highly touted galloper and the youngster’s jockey, Zac Purton, was demonstrative in his subsequent conversations with club officials.

Michael Chang Chun-wai’s Joyful Prosperity assumed Barker Plate favouritism, but even though he made late ground under Bowman to finish in second place, he was no match for Kaholo Angel representing the old firm of Fownes and Ho.

“Very nice win. Very professional horse. He’s still a colt. We were very close to castrating him a few weeks ago, but I decided to hold back on that because he’s got a good brain. He’s a very focused horse, and it’s nice to see him do a job like that first up,” Fownes said of three-year-old grey Kaholo Angel.

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Asked if he intends to geld Kaholo Angel during the summer break, Fownes said: “Maybe. It’s looking that way. We probably will. It just depends on how he gets. If he gets too heavy, then we’ll have to take them out.”

Happy Valley specialist Fownes saddled four winners at his beloved course on Thursday and the Sunday successes of Kaholo Angel and El Valiente lifted the four-time champion trainer to 35 victories this term.

Ho topped and tailed the card. In addition to winning on Kaholo Angel, Ho was triumphant aboard Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s Taj Dragon in the Class Three Severn Handicap (1,400m).