Australia’s Hugh Bowman has won the Japan Cup on Cheval Grand and secured the title of the world’s leading jockey for 2017 in the process.
Trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, last year’s third-placed Cheval Grand came out of the pack to run down defending champion Kitasan Black and hold off a late challenge from Rey De Oro who grabbed second.
Kitasan Black had tried to lead all the way but had to settle for third.
Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time finished in a dead-heat for 12th in the 17-horse field after being in the first half dozen early.
The regular rider of Australian champion Winx, Bowman is in Japan on a contract until Christmas.
The Japan Cup (2400m) win sealed the World’s Best Jockey title for Bowman with his only rival, Ryan Moore, fifth on Idaho.
Bowman has also won Group One races this year in Hong Kong and will be riding at the International meeting on December 10.
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Watch the replay:
.@HugeBowman pulls the trigger aboard Cheval Grand and chases down Kitasan Black to take out the 2017 #JapanCup. What a win!! pic.twitter.com/EYbQIrbyRR
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 26, 2017
