There is plenty to play for at Happy Valley tonight where Hugh Bowman will be involved in what is basically a two-way shoot-out with Luke Ferraris for one of the two remaining places in the Longines International Jockey’s Championship (IJC) which will be held at the same track on December 10.
Bowman will be looking to join a glittering array of star riders who have already secured a start in the IJC … Zac Purton, who returns to the IJC as last season’s leading rider … defending champion Mickael Barzalona, James McDonald, Christophe Lemaire, Joao Moreira, Umberto Rispoli, Hollie Doyle, Rachel King, William Buick and Ryan Moore (subject to fitness).
Bowman is currently one win behind Luke Ferraris in the race for the place designated to the next highest-ranked Hong Kong-based jockey with tonight’s meeting at Happy Valley being the final throw of the dice for both rides before the matter is settled.
Participation in IJC, which is a spectacularly orchestrated, showpiece event involving the world’s best jockeys is a privilege which not only brings prestige to the riders involved, but also a huge financial windfall to the jockey who takes out the title on the night in the most lucrative Jockey Challenge in the world.
HK$600,000 goes to the winner of the IJC. The second placed rider earns HK$250,000. The third placed rider receives HK$150,000.
Bowman has five rides tonight. Ferraris has four rides.
Should there be a tie there will be a countback to the second place totals of the two riders. Should that occur, Bowman will go through to the IJC … so in essence he only has to draw level with Ferraris in the final count.
The second remaining place still to be filled … the place for the leading homegrown rider … will be decided between Vincent Ho and Jerry Chau. Ho currently holds a narrow one win lead over Chau going into this qualifying final meeting.
