Aussie ace Bowman lands big HK prize
LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship
Australian Hugh Bowman made all the running to hold off his rivals and secure his first win in a dramatic LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.
It was a case of third time lucky for the jockey after finishing out of luck in 2009 and 2015.
Bowman got his challenge off to the perfect start when taking the first leg on PREMIERE. It brought him the early lead on 12 points. He beat Florent Geroux (six points) who rode SECRET AGENT.
Pat Smullen on POWERMAX did best of the rest, getting up for third and four points.
"He enjoyed the sit off the pace, and came home well. I'm delighted to get off to a winning start," said the Australian.
Ryan Moore got his name on the score sheet in the second leg when running out the easy winner aboard the favourite GIANT TURTLE. Douglas Whyte took second on CASA MASTER, while Joao Moreira picked up four points on GOOD CHOICE.
All that meant was that, after two legs, the points were shared between six different jockeys - Hugh Bowman and Ryan Moore with 12 points, Florent Geroux and Douglas Whyte with six points and Pat Smullen and Joao Moreira with four points apiece.
DRAMATIC
In a dramatic third leg Bowman, on KIRAM, looked to be laying down a marker for the Championship when getting a dream run to lead into the straight. Alas, he was nailed right on the wire by Mirco Demuro on MUTUAL JOY - the margin a short head.
There was a dead heat for third between Geroux (Works Of Art) and Moore (Midnite Promise), who shared two points apiece.
That left all to play for in the final leg, with Bowman out in front on 18 points, Moore on 14 points, Demuro on 12 points and Geroux on eight points. Happily for Bowman, none of his pursuers could reach the frame as Japan's Keita Tosaki took the honours aboard BIG BANG BONG. Zac Purton was second on VARA PEARL while Whyte's CHEERFUL BOY took third.
Bowman's reaction after that final leg was one of relief."I must admit on the line I thought Ryan had run third, so it was an anxious few moments, but we got the victory." - HKJC
Yesterday's workouts at Ipoh by tomorrow's runners
RACE 1: Pace work: Chinese Street * and Great Prince * .
RACE 2: Pace Work: Sing Energy and Fire Genearl * .
Slow work: Bukit Bintang and Mayweather.
RACE 3: Enlighten Knight and Irrepressible.
RACE 4: Pace work: Carbon Copy.
Slow work: Glory Age * and Avanti * .
RACE 5: Slow work: Only You * .
RACE 6: Pace work: One More Achiever.
RACE 8: Pace work: Fly Now.
Slow work: Mal's Dad * .
RACE 9: Slowwork: Classic King * .
Pace work: Tagore * and I'm A Genius.
RACE 11: Pace work: D'Creator * .
RACE 12: Pace work: Audacious and Classic Arrow.
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