Hugh Bowman adds Japan Cup to grand year, Boom Time runs 12th

CHAMPION Australian jockey Hugh Bowman, best known as Winx’s rider, added another chapter to his illustrious career when he won the Japan Cup, but Boom Time finished well back in the field.

Hugh Bowman won the Japan Cup. Picture: AAP

CHAMPION Australian jockey Hugh Bowman, best known as Winx’s rider, added another chapter to his illustrious career when he won one of the world’s most prestigious races, the $7.6 million Japan Cup (2400m), on Grand Cheval at Fuchu, Tokyo.

Australia’s representative in the race Boom Time looked a place chance with 400m to go but weakened in the closing stages to finish 12th.

Bowman had Grand Cheval positioned on the fence in fourth place early in the race and stayed there until the straight where he ran down favourite Kitasan Black in front of the 100,000 crowd.

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Kitasan Black, who won the race last year, led but was run down with 100m to go by Grand Cheval, who had finished third last year.

Bowman’s ride was described on Twitter by well known racing analyst Dominic Beirne “as the ride of the year”.

.@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

Ride of the year in Japan Cup by the jockey of the year @HugeBowman

— Dominic Beirne (@domran) 26 November 2017

Kitasan Black tired to finish third with Rey De Oro second.

Grand Cheval started at $14 in Australia.

The win also secured Bowman the Longines World’s best jockey trophy for 2017.

Bowman has won 10 of the top 100 races in 2017.

Japan Cup interview. Congratulations @HugeBowman @SkyRacingAU @SkyRacingWorld pic.twitter.com/wYOryc6NDI

— 🇯🇵FUJII 藤井勘一郎 후지이 (@joefujii1) November 26, 2017

Cory Parish on Boom Time followed Grand Cheval in the run being eighth on the fence straight behind him.

Bowman said he rode Grand Cheval in trackwork on Wednesday.

“I went and watched the replay of the 2016 Japan Cup and they said he’s in better condition I got confident he could win it,” Bowman said.

“From a good draw, with a good ride, he deserved to win it. I’m so happy.”