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| Rowan Anderson |
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Caspar Fownes trained gelding Senor Toba is headed for Qatar after taking out the Group Three Centenary Vase in Sha Tin overnight.
In the saddle was four-time Cox Plate winner Hugh Bowman who is regarded as one of the best jockeys Australia has ever seen grace the track.
He has ridden 100 Group 1 winners, and this afternoon he made the announcement that he would be extending his stay in the saddle in Hong Kong until the season ends in July.
Hours later he would ride six on the Sha Tin card winning two including the Group Three Centenary Vase partnered with Senor Toba.
The victory was the Group Three victory for the horse and hoop partnership after having won the Frank Packer Plate when the son of Toronado was trained in Australia by Chris Waller.
The victory for Bowman marked his fiftieth win in Hong Kong and trainer Caspar Fownes was impressed with the performance from his stablemate.
“It was a good performance,” Fownes said.
“He showed us in his trial he was going to give us a nice run. It’s definitely on the sharp side for him, but it’s nice when these types of horses win a race like that under handicap conditions.
“This was a nice lead-up race [for Qatar]. The extra 600m – he’s going to eat that up. I’m very happy. Hopefully, he pulls up well.”
He has now won three Group Threes and his next assignment has been set with him to run in the H.H The Amir Trophy on February 18.
Joao Moreira will however return to the saddle after winning The Group Three Queen Mother Memorial Cup in Sha Tin last year.
“I’ve already made the decision Joao Moreira will ride the horse,” Fownes said.
“I’m happy to have Joao on. He’s had good success on the horse, and I think even if Hugh came [to Qatar], the flight back means he’d miss the racing in Hong Kong, so I don’t think it’d work out.
“But going forward, when the horse is here in Hong Kong, there’s a good chance he’ll get back on.”
Senor Toba will fly out on February 9 ready to prepare for the Group One feature that saw Outbox win last year.