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Top visiting jockey Hugh Bowman scored at his first ride aboard the Hong Kong-owned City Gold Star in the $50,000 Sun Marshal 2019 Stakes, a Class 4 Division 1 race (1200m) on Sunday.
It was the four-time Sydney champion jockey's second win at Kranji after he last opened his account aboard the Steven Burridge-trained Lim's Showcase on July 12, 2015 at one of his earlier flying visits to the Lion City.
While Bowman's main assignment this time was to ride the Tim Fitzsimmons-trained Golden Monkey in the $400,000 Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m), which he duly won seven races later (see later report), the 2017 Longines World's Best Jockey was quick in displaying his mastery in the saddles on board City Gold Star.
The four-year-old son of Written Tycoon took up a more forward position after jumping smartly from barrier one and sat third behind leader Dancing Supremo (Matthew Kellady) on the rails while Dr Kardo (Bruno Queiroz) settled in second outside City Gold Star .
Unlike how he sprinted home on the outside at his first win on May 20, the Australian chestnut gelding looked stuck inside as Dr Kardo and $8 favourite Knippenberg (Manoel Nunes) came upsides turning for home.
With Dancing Supremo not going away in front at the 350m, Bowman had to take the bull by the horns and not let the chance slip by when the gap presented itself shortly.
It was a two-way go at the 150m with Knippenberg chasing relentlessly on his outside but the $11 shot still held on to score by one length on the line. Debutant Joyful Stars (Bernardo Pinheiro) finished another one-and-three-quarter lengths away in third.
The winning time was 1 minute 8.72secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
It would seem that the win counter did not stop ticking for Bowman after he picked up a double at Sha Tin racecourse last Sunday to finish third on the 2022/2023 Hong Kong jockeys' premiership and wrap up his first season on 62 wins.
"Happy with my second winner in Singapore," said the Australian hoop, who will be flying to Vietnam for a holiday with his wife Christine and two daughters on Tuesday.
"He (City Gold Star) came out a bit early and I found myself having to work for a bit of room but he was travelling well.
"He balanced up well and we got there comfortably and safely."
Assistant-trainer Joseph Leck deputised for winning trainer David Kok, who was seen beaming as he led the winning entourage to the winner's circle, at the post-race interview.
"He won well at his last start. We gave him two trials (on June 22 and July 11) to keep him ticking over," said Leck.
"He improved and pulled up really well. Bowman also rode him to a tee.
"From barrier one, he pinged out of the gates and fortunately, he got out at the 300m.
"We're very lucky to have Bowman on board. He rode in Hong Kong and the owners got him for the ride on their horse."
With his recent back-to-back wins in four starts, City Gold Star has taken his winnings to more than $60,000 for the connections.
Kok also pulled off a treble on Sunday courtesy of Sabah Star ($9) who claimed the $50,000 Top Knight 2020 Stakes, a Class 4 Division 2 race (1400m), and Sabah Ace ($12), who flashed home to take out the $70,000 Better Life 2013 Stakes, a Class 3 race (1200m) in the Lucky Last.
