By Leo Schlink
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.

“I think Caspar has got his horses primed for the beginning of the season. I’ve had fewer rides than I am accustomed to but my fitness is coming. I had a good off-season and I feel like I’m 10 days away from my peak,” Bowman said.

“Hopefully, we get a winner a meeting and anything more than that is a bonus. I’m not trying to break any records. I’m just trying to do better than last year, really, and I don’t think I’ve come out of the gates quite as well as last year but I’m hoping by the end of the season, I’m doing better.”

Fownes and Bowman opened their account with Sky Song to land the Class 5 Quarry Bay Handicap (1200m) before Noble Pursuit rewarded the trainer’s patience with the talented five-year-old.

“He’s a nice horse and we prepared him to give us a big performance first up. He’s taken advantage of a good draw (barrier two), got onto something’s back (I Can) in the back straight and made up a few lengths over there,” Fownes said of the Savabeel gelding.

“It was a good, strong win. He’s a nice horse and he’s got potential to hopefully get to Class 2 this season. We’ll just try to keep the horse healthy and get as many wins as we can.”

Winner of the 2021 G1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), Rocket Spade notched his first Hong Kong victory for Fownes under a brilliant Bowman ride in the first section of the Class 4 Kwun Tong Handicap (1650m).

Plagued by injury since arriving in Hong Kong, the Fastnet Rock gelding had posted six minor placings until tonight’s triumph.

Mark Newnham moved to the top of the Hong Kong trainers’ championship after slotting a double with Colonel and Spicy Gold. A second-season Hong Kong trainer, Newnham has tallied six winners across the first six meetings to lead David Hayes, Danny Shum and Fownes, who all have five wins.

Speedster Colonel posted his fifth course and distance victory with a commanding performance for Matthew Chadwick to win the Class 4 North Point Handicap (1200m). Having his 71st start, the Ferlax gelding was too slick for his rivals in his trademark pace-setting role.

Newnham then saddled Spicy Gold, who triumphed in the first section of the Class 4 North Point Handicap (1200m) under Alexis Badel.

Me Tsui-trained Arthur’s Kingdom continued a stunning form transformation when the veteran led throughout to win the Class 5 Wan Chai Handicap (1800m) under Karis Teetan.

Group 1-placed for Aidan O’Brien as a two-year-old in 2019, the Camelot gelding took 26 starts to break through in Hong Kong, but has now won three of his past four outings.

Teetan completed a double with Winning Steps rsquo; spectacular triumph in the second section of the Class 4 Kwun Tong Handicap (1650m). Last at the 400m and under pressure, the Pierro gelding finished powerfully to overhaul Prince Alex and Foremost Teddy

“I actually thought I got there too late,” Teetan said. “But, thank goodness, I got there. I was hoping the leaders would stop and I knew this horse would be able to grind through — he’ll get 2000 metres, for sure, this horse.”

Trained by Douglas Whyte, Red Elegance charged to victory in the Class 3 Causeway Bay Handicap (1000m) to give Chadwick a brace.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Saturday (28 September).