Caspar Fownes and Hugh Bowman continued a flourishing partnership at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (25 September), dominating with a treble to maintain the duo’s stunning winning strike rate.
With the wins tonight of Sky Song, Noble Pursuit and Rocket Spade, Fownes and Bowman improved their combined winning strike rate this season to 45.45% with five victories from only 11 runners, as Bowman boosted his tally to eight wins – only three shy of Zac Purton’s 11.
“Hugh’s my go-to jockey so he rides most horses if they’re carrying the right weight,” Fownes said after Noble Pursuit’s victory in the Class 3 Central Handicap (1650m), the opening race of the 2024/25 DBS x Manulife Million Challenge.
“He’s a great rider and he’s a good man so it’s nice we’re working well together and I hope it can continue.”
Bowman, 44, rode 69 wins last season despite injury and suspensions and is hopeful his strong start in tandem with Fownes will lay the foundation for a career-high campaign in Hong Kong.