Hugh Bowman continued his scintillating start to the season at Happy Valley on Wednesday night, snaring a running treble to open the card and ringing up his 100th Hong Kong win in the process.

After landing the last race at Sha Tin on Sunday, Bowman opened the midweek card with victory aboard Classic Archi in the Class Five Chatham Handicap (1,800m).

He then took out the first section of the Class Four Association Of Official Racing Chemists Handicap (1,200m) with Savvy Chic before making it four wins from as many rides by saluting atop June Planet in the Class Four International Group Of Specialist Racing Veterinarians Handicap (1,650m).

“It’s nice, I hope it continues,” said Bowman, who rung up his century more than nine years after his first victory in the city – with five Group One wins and two Derby triumphs in between.

“I thought [Classic Archi] had a good chance. Savvy Chic, I just got the dream run from the middle draw, which I didn’t really expect. He trialled up well the other day. He was there to run well if he got the right run, and that’s what he got.

“It’s a bit of a lottery with the distance and being first up, but June Planet had a run recently and coming in here without the headgear helped him relax.”

Bowman declared before the season began he had his sights set on a different century – 100 wins for the 2023-24 campaign – and he has started like a man who could reel off 200, with nine victories through the first four meetings of the term following consecutive trebles.

Bowman is striking at 33 per cent, and he sits four wins clear of six-time champion jockey Zac Purton in the infant stages of the jockeys’ premiership battle.

After watching Bowman put on a clinic early, Purton struck back in the fourth event with victory aboard Tronic Mighty for Jamie Richards in the Class Five Hung Hom Bay Handicap (1,000m).

While the first four winners were well in the market, Tony Cruz’s Street Conqueror provided the shock of the evening with victory in race five at $46.15.

Well off the pace in three Sha Tin runs last season, Street Conqueror launched a sustained run from near the back of the field to grab the second section of the International Conference Of Racing Analysts And Veterinarians Cup (1,200m) on his first start in Class Four.

“He’s an improving horse, and he seems to like Happy Valley very much, even though he’s never been here,” Cruz said.

Lyle Hewitson opened his 2023-24 account in the Class Three Hung Luen Handicap (1,650m), delivering aboard Francis Lui Kin-wai-trained favourite Rising From Ashes, before Vincent Ho Chak-yiu followed suit in the Class Three Tsim Sha Tsui East Handicap (1,200m).

After missing the start of the term following his nasty off-season tumble in Japan, Ho endured a tough return to the races on Sunday – finishing last on $1.3 hotpot Dream Winner and finding backside after backside aboard another short-priced youngster, Joyful Hunter.

It all went to plan on Wednesday night, however, with Dancing Code slicing though the field in the home straight to nab leader Allgreektome in the final strides.

The biggest reception was reserved for Dancing Code’s owner, superstar entertainer Aaron Kwok Fu-shing.

Perhaps the most consequential performance of the evening came in the final event, with Danny Shum Chap-shing’s Classic Series hopeful Helene Feeling turning in a strong showing from barrier 11 to run away with the Class Two Victoria Harbour Handicap (1,650m).

Helene Feeling’s victory completed a double for Karis Teetan after he was earlier successful with Street Conqueror, while Caspar Fownes’ wins with June Planet and Dancing Code ensured he was the only trainer to deal in multiples.