Bowman collects world's best jockey award after stellar 2017

Hugh Bowman, the Australian rider who has formed an irresistible alliance with wondermare Winx, was crowned Longines World's Best Jockey for 2017 in Hong Kong on Friday.

Bowman won ten of the world's top 100 Group/Grade 1 races, with six of those victories coming aboard Winx, to beat last year's winner Ryan Moore to the award. Frankie Dettori was third.

The 37-year-old said: "It is very humbling, an unbelievable honour. I'm very thankful for the opportunities I've been given."

On his magnificent 2017, Bowman added: "If we look back to last season Winx was crowned Australian racehorse of the year, and Werther was crowned Hong Kong's horse of the year, and my partnership with them certainly helped my presence on the global stage.

"I didn't really think I could build or improve on last season but 2017 has exceeded it."

On Sunday Bowman will ride Lucky Bubbles in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint, while the Japan Cup-winning rider will be aboard Japanese contenders Satono Aladdin in the Mile and Staphanos in the Cup.

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