Punters piled in at Sha Tin on National Day, with turnover up 7.1 per cent despite the costly late scratching of Stoltz from Tuesday’s feature.

Over HK$1.5 billion was wagered and nearly 25,000 fans ticked through the turnstiles at Sha Tin, including almost 5,000 visitors from mainland China.

“Business was very good,” said Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “We were up seven per cent, the local market up 5.9 [per cent] and commingling 12.6 [per cent]. This is a very strong result.

“The scratching cost us definitely HK$40 million. It was a pity but welfare comes first.”

There was a moment of confusion before the Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m), with the Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained Stoltz scratched by Jockey Club stewards soon before the start.

En route to the 1,000m starting gates, Stoltz’s rider, Zac Purton, was concerned with the galloper’s action and returned to the enclosure. He unsaddled the gelding before a veterinary inspection, which stewards confirmed “did not show any significant findings”.

“When a jockey like him says there’s something wrong, you have to take it seriously,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

“On the way from the paddock, he felt something was wrong and talked to [Hugh] Bowman, who was behind him and said ‘he’s not moving properly’.

“He unsaddled him so the vets could do an examination and only after the examination the horse was scratched. The vets had to look at it, because a jockey cannot scratch a horse.”

Despite the hefty blow to turnover, the Jockey Club experienced a year-on-year wagering increase for the eighth consecutive meeting.

Bowman back with a brace

He was only passed fit to ride on Tuesday morning but Bowman didn’t show any signs of illness or injury at Sha Tin, with the Australian registering a double thanks to The Khan and Geneva.

Bowman was stood down from Saturday’s Sha Tin card because of an ear issue which was affecting his balance, but was cleared by the Jockey Club’s chief medical officer early on Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t say I’m all over [the illness], but my balance is back so that is the main thing,” Bowman said.

The 44-year-old continued his prolific partnership with Caspar Fownes when he speared The Khan to his first career win at start 11 in the Class Five Shenyang Handicap (1,400m).

Bowman secured his brace by delivering another breakthrough win, this time aboard the David Hall-trained Geneva, who finally got his head in front in the second section of the Class Four Chongqing Handicap (1,200m).

Geneva had been knocking on the door on his previous five outings in the city and prevailed by a neck as the $1.6 favourite.

“He’s not the taxi drivers’ friend, is he?” Hall said after the victory. “Finally he gets the win. He’s had five tries and been favourite five times.

“He’s run into some quite smart horses, when you look back through the form, and it was just rewarding to get the win with him today. Hopefully, that’s a bit of confidence for the horse and he can build on it and keep going.”

Internationals mull HKIR

December’s Longines Hong Kong International Races is the potential target for more overseas stars after connections of Southport Tycoon, Antino and Giavellotto put Sha Tin’s marquee meeting on their radar.

While the lack of Australian representation at the international meeting has become quite common, connections of Antino and Southport Tycoon are considering making the trip.

Antino, who finished third in the Group One Makybe Diva Stakes (1,600m) at Flemington on September 14, could line up in the Group One Hong Kong Mile, with the galloper’s trainer, Tony Gollan, not ruling out the trip.

“The owner, being a Hong Kong guy, is quite keen to have him there if we think it’s the right option,” Gollan told RadioTAB on Tuesday.

“It would be pretty exciting and we’ve sort of had it on the radar all year, to be honest. If he was going well enough that sort of race was something that we’d be pretty keen to have a look at.”

Antino may be joined by fellow Australian galloper Southport Tycoon, who won the Group One Manikato Stakes (1,200m) at Moonee Valley last Friday night. Connections confirmed the Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) is a potential target.

Elsewhere, British galloper Giavellotto could be set for a Group One Hong Kong Vase (2,400m) tilt after he finished third in the Group One Irish St. Leger (2,800m) at the Curragh on September 15.

The Marco Botti-trained gelding has landed three victories at Group Two level, including last year’s Yorkshire Cup (2,800m) under Andrea Atzeni.

“We’re discussing things with the owners, he has one more option which is the Hong Kong Vase over a mile and a half,” Botti told At The Races.

“The race isn’t until December so we thought, ‘let’s just freshen him up and give it a bit more thought’.

“It all depends what the owners want to do next year. If they want to go to Dubai, he’ll be finishing the season too late if he goes to Hong Kong because he’ll need a break. But, if they decide not to go to Dubai, potentially he could go to Hong Kong.”