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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.
South China Morning Post
26-01-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Purton backs up record-breaking night with brilliant Sha Tin four-timer
Wins aboard Sunlight Power, Magnifique, Yuen Long Elite and Gorgeous Win cap a historic week for champion jockey by Jay Rooney on Sunday, January 26, 2025 7:03 PM Sunlight Power surges clear under Zac Purton to score at Sha Tin. Photos: Kenneth Chan Fresh from his record-breaking achievement on Wednesday night, Zac Purton continued his stunning momentum with a Class Two double and a superb debut winner highlighting the champion jockey's four-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday. Four days after surging past Douglas Whyte's all-time record for Hong Kong wins by a jockey, it was business as usual for Purton as he rocketed to 78 wins this season after booting home Sunlight Power, Magnifique, Yuen Long Elite and Gorgeous Win. The Australian star bagged the two strongest races on the card, guiding Sunlight Power to victory in the Class Two Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Hong Kong, China Team Celebration Cup (1,600m) before capping his four-timer on Gorgeous Win in the Class Two Para Equestrian Handicap (1,200m). Luckless in recent runs, Ricky Yiu Poon-fai's Sunlight Power atoned with a strong one-and-a-half-length triumph to justify his red-hot $1.45 quote. 'He had the right weight in this race, he drew the right barrier [one], he got a charmed run the whole way and because he had the fence he was quite comfortable to ride,' Purton said after Sunlight Power settled midfield on the fence before coming off the inside early in the straight to launch his winning run. 'He can normally hang in and do a few things wrong, but he gave me a great ride and he did everything right and did a good job.' Once Purton gained clear running, Sunlight Power charged past The Golden Scenery to hit the front at the 250m en route to a comfortable success. Yellowfin made good ground from last down the outside to grab second, narrowly ahead of Karma. Voyage Samurai, who was rated Sunlight Power's biggest threat at $4.1, led and faded to run a disappointing seventh. Sunlight Power was Purton and Yiu's first win together in 364 days. While Purton notched the first of his record-breaking Hong Kong wins on Yiu's Elfhelm in 2007, the jockey and trainer have been an infrequent combination, teaming up just six times this term. Purton's victory on Gorgeous Win was far less comfortable, with Danny Shum Chap-shing's consistent galloper closing a big margin to record a last-gasp success as the $1.5 favourite. Trailing a hot speed in second last position, Gorgeous Win was about eight lengths off the leader Baby Crystal at the 400m and still had considerable ground to make up at the 200m. However, the Press Statement gelding hit top gear and ran down Baby Crystal late to score by a neck, with Full Credit not far behind in third. — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 26, 2025 'I drew awkward [barrier seven] and a few horses were sort of out of position early, so I just had to let him find his rhythm and come into it when he was ready,' Purton said after notching his fifth win from seven rides on Gorgeous Win. Magnifique backed up his unbeaten record from three trials with a stylish win on debut, claiming the Class Four Para Athletics Handicap (1,000m) by a length from Enjoy Golf. 'Before the race, everyone said it's an ordinary race and there's nothing to beat and then you go off the $2 favourite,' Magnifique's trainer David Hall said. 'But in reality, to go down the straight on your first start as a three-year-old against some of those older, more seasoned horses isn't easy. 'Zac said he travelled stronger than he would have liked and it's pretty hard to find after travelling that strongly, so he did a good job to keep going and get it done. 'He's not just an out-and-out 1,000m speed horse and I think he'll be able to go around the bend over 1,200m and hopefully he'll keep on improving. '[Owner] Kirk [Wong King-wai] picked him out at the Ready to Run Sale and he didn't have a trainer. I've had a long history with the family and I had Absolute Champion for his father many moons ago.' Manfred Man Ka-leung's Yuen Long Elite was Purton's biggest winner of the day, saluting by three lengths in the Class Four Para Badminton Handicap (1,400m).
