Hong Kong racing will ring in the New Year with a pair of Group Three contests on Wednesday and Hugh Bowman is optimistic he has a solid chance of celebrating a feature race double in the Kwok family’s famous pink, black and white silks.
The 44-year-old rider, who sits second in the premiership on 26 wins this season, will bid to get 2025 off to a perfect start when he hops aboard Beauty Waves and Beauty Joy for the prominent owners in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1,000m) and Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m), respectively.
Beauty Waves got the better of the Cody Mo Wai-kit-trained Magic Control in October’s Group Three National Day Cup (1,000m) and will aim to confirm his superiority over the lightly-raced four-year-old on Wednesday.
While Pierre Ng Pang-chi’s speedster will have to defy a six-pound swing in Magic Control’s favour, Bowman hopes Beauty Waves can take another step forward after a promising preparation.
Speedsters duel it out! 🚀
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) October 1, 2024
Beauty Waves outlasts Magic Control to win the G3 National Day Cup at Sha Tin for @AlexisBadel and Pierre Ng...#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/Fon8AnIuUQ
“He trialled unreal here the other day on the dirt and that was the first time I’ve been acquainted with him,” Bowman said.
“He won up the straight earlier in the season and back to 1,000m, he’s got a bit in his favour. It’s a small field and he’s very straightforward and enthusiastic.
“It’s a pretty straightforward race for me. My guy will jump, roll, be in clear air and should be there at the business end.”
Beauty Waves steps back to the minimum trip after respectable efforts over 1,200m in deeper waters. The son of Starspangledbanner was by no means disgraced when fourth in the Group Two Premier Bowl and Group Two Jockey Club Sprint before running on for sixth in the Group One Hong Kong Sprint.
Bowman, who will jump from gate four, will be able to keep a close eye on Magic Control from the outset, with his rival drawn in barrier five.
On Magic Control’s chances of a first local Group Three success, regular rider Matthew Chadwick hopes the sprinter can take improvement from his impressive recent trial effort - when he scorched the turf to score by nine lengths under a firm hold - into race day.
“His last trial was really good,” Chadwick said. “He jumped, he pinged the gates really well and he felt really comfortable in his action. If he does that tomorrow it will be great and I’m looking forward to it.
“He’s calmed down a fair bit and he’s strengthened up, so as long as he keeps improving mentally and physically, he should keep going.”
The field is completed by John Size’s Howdeepisyourlove, reigning Bauhinia Sprint Trophy winner Whizz Kid, Harmony N Blessed and Awesome Treasure.
No Golden Sixty this year! 😏
— HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) December 8, 2024
Second in the 2023 renewal, Voyage Bubble takes the @LONGINES Hong Kong Mile with @mcacajamez for Ricky Yiu! #HKIR | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/rWadOTFJh6
Two hours after the six speedsters gallop down the Sha Tin straight, Bowman will have another chance to taste Group Three success aboard the ever-consistent Beauty Joy.
A fast-finishing third in the Group One Hong Kong Mile last start, Beauty Joy is set to return to 1,400m for the first time since his Group Two Chairman’s Trophy win in April.
“I actually have quite a soft spot for this horse,” Bowman said. “He was the first good horse I rode when I got here and I developed a bit of a relationship with him.
“He’s ultra consistent, he always runs well and he’s got a bit of weight relief with [California Spangle] being in it [carrying 135 pounds], so that helps.
“He’ll run a courageous race as always and it would be lovely to win on him, but if not it would be nice to be in the first three or four.”