Hugh Bowman bags brilliant four-timer as Chancheng lands Group Three gamble

South China Morning Post

31-01-2025

Australian celebrates Sha Tin successes aboard Sunstrider, Chancheng Glory, Brilliant Express and Green N White
by Jack Dawling on Friday, January 31, 2025 6:49 PM Hugh Bowman celebrates his fourth win of the afternoon at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan
Hugh Bowman rang in the Year of the Snake in perfect style at Sha Tin on Friday, with Chancheng Glory's Group Three win the highlight of his fantastic four-timer in front of a packed crowd.
Bowman celebrated his biggest haul in exactly a year thanks to wins aboard Sunstrider, Chancheng Glory, Brilliant Express and Green N White in consecutive races.
'I had good rides on paper and it's all worked out well,' Bowman said. 'I got into good running positions and when it didn't work out for me early, it worked out late.
'All my rides have shown they were capable and it's nice for it all to happen in one day.' — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 31, 2025
Chancheng Glory was by no means disgraced at the top level on his past two starts and relished a step into calmer waters to plunder the Group Three Centenary Vase (1,800m).
After Chancheng Glory was brown-lamped from $15 into $7 in betting, Bowman made no mistake finding a prominent position from barrier nine and his mount travelled powerfully turning for home.
The five-year-old hit the front alongside the Tony Cruz-trained Winning Dragon 250m out and his stamina came to the fore, with Lui's charge outstaying his main challenger in the closing stages to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
'When he jumped well and travelled, I was always very confident,' Bowman said. 'He was aided by a nice, genuine speed set by Sword Point and his class showed over the final two furlongs.
'I get limited opportunities in these races with the weight conditions but it is what it is. I thought his run last start had a lot of merit against the highest quality of horses so it's nice to see him do that.
After the HK$4.2 million contest, Francis Lui Kin-wai confirmed his Group Three winner will target the Group One Hong Kong Gold Cup (2,000m) on February 23.
'He's one of the most honest horses in my stable,' Lui said. 'He's always been a Group Two and Group Three handicap horse, but Group Ones have been a bit too much for him.
'However, he'll go for the Gold Cup next. The 2,000m suits him better than 1,400m in the [Group One Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup] on the same day, so he'll go for that.'
Bowman opened his account for the afternoon in the Class Four Good Fortune Handicap (1,600m), spearing $7.6 chance Sunstrider to success from the near the rear of the field.
Stepping down to Class Four level for the first time, Sunstrider surged to his first local success at start 10.
Brilliant Express delivered Bowman his third success of the meeting, with the $2.1 favourite obliging after showing an impressive turn of foot to fly home from 10th in the straight.
The Australian topped off his successful Friday in the Class Two Chinese New Year Cup (1,400m), with the 44-year-old saluting aboard Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's Green N White in a thrilling finish.
After settling near the tail of the field, Green N White made smooth headway turning for home before finding traffic at the top of the straight.
Switched into the clear before the 200m marker, Green N White responded to Bowman's urgings to spear through a gap and hit the front in the closing stages.
Bowman's 507-1 four-timer took him to 37 wins for the season after 42 meetings – 43 behind runaway premiership leader Zac Purton.