Hugh Bowman is confident Celestial Hero is “ready to run the race of his season” on Sunday and the prospect of a rain-affected Sha Tin track will boost the Australian import’s claims.
Bowman went close to guiding the Douglas Whyte-trained gelding to his second Hong Kong win last start when he was only caught late by Thunder Kit and Chicken Dinner to finish third.
Set for Sunday’s Class Three HKU Jockey Club Student Villages Handicap (1,200m), Celestial Hero has drawn wide in gate 11 but Bowman views that as a positive, given the sprinter’s effectiveness when ridden patiently.
With rain forecast for the first twilight meeting of the season on Sunday, a wet track won’t be an issue for Celestial Hero after he handled a yielding surface last start.
“He started his season racing a bit fresh and Douglas has really trained that out of him now and he’s more inclined to relax,” Bowman said.
