Preparing to join Karis Teetan in the Shergar Cup at Ascot next month, Hugh Bowman slotted a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (9 July) to soar past 70 winners for the season and reach a Hong Kong personal-best.

Bowman, 44, netted a race-to-race double to open the card with Notthesillyone for Mark Newnham and Douglas Whyte’s Shinkansen – both geldings triumphed by a short head – to eclipse the 69 victories he posted last season when he finished second to Zac Purton in the jockeys’ championship.

The Australian then partnered Jumbo Legend (127lb) to a spectacular victory in the Class 2 Begonia Handicap (1800m) for Caspar Fownes to cap an outstanding evening. Last on the turn, Jumbo Legend launched down the outside of the field to down Woodfire Bro (127lb) and Cambridge (126lb) in 1m 48.64, clocking 22.66s for the final 400m.

With only two race meetings left this season, Bowman (71) sits second behind Purton (132), well clear of third-placed Andrea Atzeni (55).

“It helped not being injured,” Bowman reflected on reaching the 70-win mark. “I spent a lot of time injured and being suspended last season, so time in the saddle might be the key but I’ve had a good season, a good support base and I think I’ve had a good consistent year.

“I feel like I can do better but I’m satisfied with how we’ve gone this season and I would like to build on it next year.”

Bowman confirmed he will participate in the Shergar Cup on 9 August when Teetan captains the Rest of The World team against teams representing Great Britain & Ireland, Asia and Europe in the invitational series.

“I was invited to ride in that (Shergar Cup), so plans are being made around that so that will keep me honest in the middle (of the Hong Kong off-season),” Bowman said.

Bowman combined with Newnham’s Notthesillyone (127lb) to land the Class 5 Hawthorn Handicap (1000m), emerging from the slipstream of Ace Talent (123lb) to clinch victory before piloting Shinkansen to victory in the Class 5 Magnolia Handicap (1650m).

Newham hailed the Australian’s ride on Notthesillyone.

“Hugh executed the plan perfectly,” Newham said. “He had his opportunity today, he had a good gate (two), he was in good form, he had the right grounding into the race – unfortunately Lyle Hewitson, who had stuck with him the whole way, was out injured and we picked up Hugh and he did the job for us.”

Whyte fired in a double when Ace Power stormed home strongly to win the first section of the Class 4 Garden Handicap (1200m) under Luke Ferraris.

Evergreen Red Majesty maintained David Hayes’ hopes in the trainers’ championship with a remarkable 10th course and distance win in the Class 4 Green Handicap (1650m) under Antoine Hamelin.

The eight-year-old will possibly retire after taking his career earnings to more than HK$11 million with a performance which delighted Hayes, who has 60 wins for the campaign to trail John Size (66).

“Really thrilled that he could win his 10th race at Happy Valley, I think it’s the record and we were planning for this to be his last race, but the owners may change their minds,” Hayes said. “He’s an old, healthy boy and he’s at the top of his game – it might just be time to retire this old champion. 

“He’s a special horse and the whole stable loves him. If he does retire then it’s a great way to retire, on top.”

Apart from his 10 wins at Happy Valley, Red Majesty has finished second nine times, third twice and fourth eight times from 60 starts over 1650m.

Victor The Rapid swept to an impressive win in the second section of the Class 4 Garden Handicap (1200m) for Jerry Chau, prompting trainer Pierre Ng to predict a bright future.

“The pace was well suited for him, he was just at the back and chased. I’m very happy for the owners. I always thought he was capable of a performance like that – he will have a very good future,” Ng said.

Jimmy Ting’s Lucky Twenty made a successful debut with a tough win in the Class 4 Fa Po Handicap (1000m) for James Orman, who scored his 12th win of his stint.

“It was a surprise, I thought that maybe he would run good, but the draw (gate 11) was too bad. I thought maybe he would not be fast enough to go in front – he had shown speed in the trial but today was his first run in Happy Valley and in the paddock, he was a bit nervous and was sweating. I hoped he would go okay but I didn’t think he would win,” Ting said.

Whizz Kid returned to the winners’ circle for the first time since January last year with a powerful finish in the Class 3 Briar Handicap (1000m) for Tony Cruz and Harry Bentley before Michael Chang-trained Sovereign Fund unleashed a similar finish under Teetan to land the Class 3 Cotton Tree Handicap (1200m).

Hong Kong racing will continue on Sunday (13 July) at Sha Tin with the final twilight meeting of the 2024/25 season.