Hugh Bowman bags treble as Colourful King lights up Happy Valley with explosive win
Hugh Bowman celebrates his third win at Happy Valley on Wednesday night on Casa Rochester. Photos: Kenneth Chan
Hugh Bowman continued his fine form with a treble as former Australian sprinter Colourful King lit up Happy Valley with an explosive victory on Wednesday night.
Consolidating second place in the jockeys' premiership, Bowman converted a strong book on paper to a three-timer when he booted home Harmony Galaxy, Stellar Swift and Casa Rochester.
The Australian ace was at his brilliant best on Mark Newnham's Casa Rochester, weaving his way through the field from near the tail to lift the import to a narrow triumph in the Class Four Oi Man Handicap (1,650m).
'I had nice rides coming into the meeting and you don't expect them all to win, but [Casa Rochester] had an awkward barrier [eight] but he was aided by a frantic speed and I did think he would be a better horse ridden to hit the line and it proved right,' Bowman said.
TREBLE for @HugeBowman! 🔥
Casa Rochester just salutes for a first Hong Kong win at Happy Valley over Quantum Patch for Mark Newnham...#HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/d80oM29LUA — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 9, 2025
'I think he's still pretty immature and lacks strength. He might have more in store.'
A maiden winner on his only New Zealand start when known as Rochester pre-import, Casa Rochester had raced without luck on his five Hong Kong starts before the breakthrough success.
Another import, Harmony Galaxy, started Bowman's big night with his own breakthrough win in the city at start 14 for Danny Shum Chap-shing in the Class Four Wylie Handicap (1,800m).
'Harmony Galaxy has been a work in progress, he needs to relax to produce his best and I was a bit worried going past the post for the first time that he wasn't settling for me but then the pace increased and he got into a really beautiful rhythm,' Bowman said after Brazilian Group One placegetter Harmony Galaxy flew home to beat Can't Go Wong by a short head.
'I thought he got to the front with a bit in hand and he floated a bit and waited so, again, he's still got more up his sleeve but it was great to win for him and the connections.'
Stellar Swift was the middle leg of Bowman's treble, capitalising on an inside run in the straight to claim the second section of the Class Four King's Park Handicap (1,200m) for trainer David Hayes.
The win of the night belonged to Colourful King, who demolished his opposition with an electrifying display in the Class Three Hong Kong China Rugby Cup (1,000m).
After a narrow triumph over Youthful Spirits second up, the David Eustace-trained three-year-old again proved too slick for that galloper but improved his winning margin to a dominant two lengths under Andrea Atzeni.
'He was impressive today,' said Eustace, who continued his winning spree after a Sha Tin treble last Sunday.
'The race looked like it would set up well for him. They were clearly going to go pretty quick up front, which certainly helped, but having said that he won with authority.
'We were confident he would improve – it was only his third start and he trained on really nicely, so we came here hopeful.'
Sent off the $3 favourite, Colourful King settled midfield on the fence and sprinted powerfully once Atzeni came off the rail in the straight.
Big win, Colourful King! 🚀@EustaceRacing's talented sprinter explodes to consecutive victories under @Atzenijockey in the Hong Kong China Rugby Cup at Happy Valley... 🏆#HappyWednesday | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/kynQ1BlRwG — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) April 9, 2025
He roared past pacesetter Youthful Spirits 75m out, relegating Mark Newnham's speedster to a fourth runner-up result this term. Another ex-Australian galloper, Casa Of Honor, was a distant third on his Hong Kong debut for Michael Chang Chun-wai.
Eustace forecast a bright future for Colourful King, a two-time Sandown winner in Australia when known as Blue Renegade.
'He'll keep getting better and better,' said Eustace, who is in the midst of a successful first campaign in Hong Kong with 24 winners.
'I'm mindful of that and I don't want to over-race him this year. As I've said before, I think he will get 1,200m but I wouldn't necessarily want to rush him there either.'
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