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South China Morning Post
15-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Sunlight Power helps brighten dark and gloomy Sha Tin day as Hugh Bowman bags treble
Ricky Yiu's consistent galloper continues his fruitful season with victory in the Class Two Kowloon Tong Club Trophy (1,600m) It felt like the middle of the night at the halfway point of Saturday's meeting but a barnstorming victory from Sunlight Power was enough to brighten things up a touch at Sha Tin. After a wall of heavy rain and gusty winds put a stop to proceedings for half an hour after five of the 10 races, Sunlight Power thundered to victory in the Class Two Kowloon Tong Club Trophy (1,600m) to continue his impressive season and deliver Hugh Bowman a treble. With the track downgraded to good-to-yielding, $1.8 favourite Sunlight Power sat just off midfield under Bowman before thundering home down the outside to salute by two and three-quarter lengths from second elect Voyage Samurai. 'It was a pretty solid speed set up front [and] that suited him. Obviously he's performed well on rain-affected ground before and he just got into a beautiful rhythm and his class shone,' said Bowman, who moved to 48 wins for the season thanks to his three-timer. Class act! Sunlight Power wears down Voyage Samurai in the Kowloon Tong Club Trophy as @HugeBowman makes it a hat-trick at Sha Tin... 🔥#LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 15, 2025 'It's been a good day. I had some nice rides. Take it when you can.' Sunlight Power's third victory of the campaign will see him rise to a triple-figure rating and trainer Ricky Yiu Poon-fai may consider running his five-year-old in the Group Two Chairman's Trophy (1,600m) on March 30. 'He got a good gate [one] and a decent tempo and he enjoyed it. The horse doesn't mind the track conditions, which are on the slow side, and it was a very good finish, which surprised me a little bit,' said Yiu. 'As soon as he's under pressure he still wants to lay in but he's making good progress. There's still a bit of improvement in him. He's full of energy and he tries hard. Crossborderpegasus remains unbeaten! 👌@HugeBowman guides John Size's Rich Enuff speedster to a second straight win at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 15, 2025 'I presume he'll be just above 100 so we can look at a Group [race], but I want to give him a bit of space. He's done well this season so far.' Bowman's earlier wins came aboard John Size's Crossborderpegasus and the Caspar Fownes-trained Monarch County. Crossborderpegasus continued his unblemished start to his career, improving his record to two wins from two starts by taking out the Class Four Azalea Handicap (1,200m) as the $1.3 favourite. 'He's an exciting horse, he's got plenty of points in hand. He does have that tendency to lay in, which he needs to overcome as he goes up in the rating points, but we won't be too critical of him at his second run in a race,' Bowman said after the three-year-old did enough to see off Lucky Symphony by half a length after travelling two back on the rail. Grinding to victory! 💪 Caspar Fownes' Monarch County - a graduate of the Hong Kong International Sale - relishes the challenging conditions at Sha Tin to bring up a @HugeBowman double... #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 15, 2025 Hong Kong International Sale graduate Monarch Country broke through at start five in the Class Four Hydrangea Handicap (1,400m) – the first race after the weather delay. Hunted up by Bowman to settle three-wide with cover in midfield from gate 11, Monarch County barrelled home down the middle of the track to see off Pearl Of Pang's by a length and a quarter as a well-backed $4.3 chance. Bowman's treble saw him move 15 wins clear of jockeys' championship third placed Brenton Avdulla, but he is still a massive 36 victories short of runaway leader Zac Purton, who has now been sidelined by injury for more than a month.
South China Morning Post
14-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hugh Bowman fancies inside draw for Sunlight Power in Kowloon Tong Club Trophy
Hugh Bowman is confident Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's quality galloper Sunlight Power will relish another inside draw when he chases a third win this season in Saturday's Class Two Kowloon Tong Club Trophy (1,600m) at Sha Tin. The Australian jockey hops aboard Sunlight Power for the second time after his fast-finishing third to Hong Kong Derby (2,000m) hope Johannes Brahms last start. Two starts ago, the Capitalist gelding capitalised on a soft run from barrier one to cruise to victory in another Class Two mile under Zac Purton. With Yiu's Group Three winner Nimble Nimbus dropping in class to head the weights on Saturday, Sunlight Power also has the advantage of dropping four pounds on his last run to carry 126. Sunlight Power dominates the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Hong Kong, China Team Celebration Cup under @zpurton at Sha Tin! 🏆 #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 26, 2025 'He does have a little bit of a tendency to lay in slightly under pressure, but he's a very genuine horse and his form is very consistent,' Bowman said of the five-time winner. 'With a perfect draw this weekend, we should get a lovely run and [he can] make his presence felt.' Sunlight Power boasts the strongest recent form in an even Class Two field that also features The Golden Scenery, Ramadan, Karma, Voyage Samurai, Woodfire Bro, Tourbillon Prince and Yiu's stayer Awesome Fluke. He is one of several strong chances for Bowman on Saturday's card, with Sky Trust another key hope for the 44-year-old in the Class Three Cosmos Handicap (1,400m). The Caspar Fownes-trained Sky Trust drops back in trip after running 12th behind Rubylot in the Classic Cup (1,800m). 'I thought his run, although well-beaten, was actually unbelievable last start,' Bowman said. 'He jumped well and didn't settle, so I let him gallop down the back straight but, even though three-wide, he got into a really sweet rhythm on the bend and it was no surprise to see him pick up into the straight. I was surprised at how long he sustained his gallop, having behaved the way he did in the early and middle stages. 'So, back in trip is a huge advantage to him and the horse is in great form. He's a big horse so he'll certainly be able to carry [135 pounds].' A two-time winner and four-time runner-up this season, Sky Trust will clash with exciting three-year-old Sky Jewellery, who has won two of his three starts with Bowman on board. 'I did have the choice and Sky Jewellery is a just a little bit light for me with 123 pounds – [a] very exciting young horse,' Bowman said. 'I think Sky Jewellery still has a bit of developing to do. Last start, he got a bit lost when he turned into the home straight and he dropped the bridle, but his class shone the last 100m. Up in class, he'll have to improve but he's certainly got the improvement in him.' Brenton Avdulla will ride Sky Jewellery for the first time. Sky Jewellery was a HUGE winner last start! 🚀 He returns this Saturday at Sha Tin... 👀 #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) March 13, 2025 Earlier on the card, Bowman will have top claims on John Size's brilliant debut winner Crossborderpegasus in the Class Four Azalea Handicap (1,200m). The Rich Enuff three-year-old backed up his strong trial form to score at the course and distance when eased down late by Bowman last month. Volcanic Spark also has a solid chance for Bowman and Yiu in the Class Four Association Of Hong Kong Racing Journalists Challenge Cup (1,800m) after a close second to Billionaire Secret last start. Fairy Horse, Strongest Boy, Thunder Prince, Monarch County and Helene Warrior are Bowman's other rides.
