Hugh Bowman is expecting a string of chances for Sha Tin on Sunday, including the brilliant debut winner Papaya Brose in the second part of the Grade Four Lung Kong Handicap (1,400m).
The Caspar Fownes-trained three-year-old was sent out at $21.5 on debut last month, but belied his odds with a poor performance under Bowman to win by one and a half lengths.
Settling towards the back, the Zousain runner caught a check when he floated through the gap on the straight and then went wide when called upon for his effort. Once he settled down, however, he went down the middle of the track and recorded an eye-catching victory.
He carries 8lbs more into the event and joint top weight alongside Endeared, but a good draw in the sixth field only boosts his chances, and Bowman thinks he has improved since that first win.
“It wasn’t a big surprise (that he won first), I tested him before the race for the weather and he didn’t like the football in his face, but I asked him for a little effort and he showed me that he will run well,” Bowman said.
“I didn’t really expect him to go down like he did but that was a nice surprise. Having said that, he ran well in transit. I had a wide draw but as the race went on, he found himself in a good position without working too hard. He got into a lovely rhythm and that allowed him to go down the way he did.
“When a horse does that on his first outing, it’s very encouraging. I thought he tried better last time than he did before his first race but that comes with experience; I think we can go into the race this time with more confidence in what he can do.”
Bowman also likes the position of Dragon Air Force, who bids five times to win on the all-weather surface of Sha Tin in the Grade Three Junction Handicap (1,650m).
The Ricky Yiu Poon-fai-trained jockey raced under Bowman earlier this campaign before being forced to retire due to illness, with Dylan Browne McMonagle the beneficiary of his last two wins.
Bowman got back on the plane when he endured a poor track and field trip in his most recent outing, and is looking to run easily in this event, although stalling for ninth is no help to his chances.
“He had a terrible race in transport and the race wasn’t run according to results, and that was the case in the race before the one he won as well,” said Bowman.
“I actually missed out on his win when I got sick, but the horse is in good form. He’s probably at a stage now where he needs a bit of luck in the race, but he’s in good form and has the ability to win.”
Nyx Gluck is another strong prospect for Bowman on Sunday’s card, with the Redwood colt looking for a second career win in the second leg of the Grade Four Nga Tsin Wai Handicap (1,200m).
A fine winner on his fourth start for trainer Cody Mo Wai-kit, he has run many good races in defeat since over 1,400m, most recently when carried by Bowman on debut.
The 45-year-old learned a lot from that first sit-in, however, and is hoping that leaving can do the trick.
“I really like this horse. He’s a bit tricky and not straight, but he’s got a big engine. I suggested we try the 1,200m because I just felt he really liked the 1,400m trip, but he’s doing well,” Bowman said.
“He just needs luck in the race, like every horse that runs here.”
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