Hugh Bowman has high hopes of boosting his imposing strike rate in tandem with Caspar Fownes on Wednesday night before turning his attention to Invincible Sage in Sunday’s Group Two Premier Bowl (1,200m).
The star Australian jockey has a select book of four rides at Happy Valley’s midweek fixture, including last-start winner Perfect General and Glory Cloud for Fownes.
Bowman and the Valley’s most successful handler have been a lethal combination this season with eight wins from 16 runners – a winning strike rate of 50 per cent.
Promising four-year-old Family Jewel added to their record with a second consecutive victory at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Cool, calm and collected! 👌
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) October 13, 2024
An unflinching @HugeBowman gets Time Test 4YO Family Jewel home as favourite at Sha Tin for Caspar Fownes... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/OwypFeYF5z
“The stable’s firing. Caspar’s horses are running really well,” Bowman said.
“Obviously we’ve had a good winning strike rate, but even when they haven’t won, they’ve run well. We’ve had a good start.”
Perfect General looks well placed to back up his first-up triumph when he tackles the first section of the Class Four Speedy Handicap (1,200m) on Wednesday night.
The Zoustar gelding scored at start two when leading all the way to narrowly beat Chateauneuf, who boosted the form when winning his next start at Class Three level.
Tough as! 💪
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) September 18, 2024
Hong Kong International Sale graduate Perfect General gets off the mark, tenaciously denying Chateauneuf for @HugeBowman and Caspar Fownes at the Valley... #HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/03AEEomVyM
“He’s drawn to get the run of the race and he’s going well, so hopefully we can strike a blow,” Bowman said of Perfect General’s draw in barrier five.
“I think he’s a horse with upside.”
Bowman will have to be at his brilliant best in the second section of the Speedy Handicap, with Glory Cloud dealt the outside barrier in the field of 12.
The son of Charm Spirit is bursting to win a race after three placings, including last start when third to Spicy Gold at the Valley.
“[Barrier 12] makes it a bit tricky,” Bowman said. “My gut feeling is I’ll probably ride the horse a bit quiet and see if he can finish on from the wide draw.
“He had the perfect run the other day and he will improve from that run.”
Second in the jockeys’ championship with 15 wins this term, Bowman will also ride Nordic Dragon in the first section of the Class Three Flying Handicap (1,200m) and Hero Star in the Class Five Success Handicap (1,200m).
“Nordic Dragon feels great. I’m delighted with him, but he’s drawn the outside barrier,” Bowman said.
“He’ll be ridden quietly, too, I’d imagine. We’ll let the speed go and hopefully come with a wet sail late.
“Hero Star’s down in class. He was up on a crazy hot speed the other day and three wide, so I wouldn’t disregard that run.
“He’s drawn all right [in five] so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him in the money.”
In what shapes as an exciting edition of the Premier Bowl, Group One winner Invincible Sage will clash with the likes of top sprinter California Spangle and rising star Ka Ying Rising.
Sweet run! Invincible Sage swoops to his first Group 1 in the Chairman's Sprint Prize for @HugeBowman and David Hall... 👌#FWDChampionsDay | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/aPgrlIdONY
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 28, 2024
Bowman expects the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) victor to improve on his first-up sixth to Beauty Waves in the Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m).
“He had a good gallop on Saturday morning. Although he’s performed well over 1,000m, he wasn’t really screwed down first up and he had the big weight [of 135 pounds],” Bowman said.
“I would have liked him to have finished a length or two closer to the pack, but in saying that, I expect sharp improvement second up. He’s much better in at the weights.”
California Spangle heads the Premier Bowl weights with 135 pounds, with Ka Ying Rising set to carry 128 and Invincible Sage 127.