Hugh Bowman plans to remain in Hong Kong for the remainder of the 2022-23 season and has confirmed he will only take part in Sydney’s lucrative autumn carnival if “the right horse comes along in the right race”.

Bowman, who has ridden 15 winners from 146 rides since making the move to Hong Kong in November, has made an application to extend his licence from its expiry on February 12 until the end of the season in July.

“The plan is to extend to the end of the season, but it’s not concrete yet. It’s obviously got to go to the licensing committee. I’ve made an application, and I’m really just waiting to hear back from them,” Bowman said.

“Things are going well, the kids are settled into school, and we feel like we’re just getting into the lifestyle here.

“We’ve enjoyed our time so far and I’ve had tremendous support as well, which is obviously instrumental. I’m enjoying the riding, the racing, the system, and the club has been very good to us.”

So content is Bowman in Hong Kong, the 42-year-old will not be jetting back to Sydney “just to be involved” during the upcoming carnival.

“That will be dependent on opportunities. If the right horse was to come along in the right race I would certainly give it consideration, but I’ll be very selective,” he said.

Bowman will instead be concentrating on landing more big-race success in Hong Kong, with eight Group Ones and the prestigious Classic Series to come this term.

He will partner Beauty Joy in next weekend’s Group One Stewards’ Cup (1,600m) and will stick with the Caspar Fownes-trained Viva Chaleur for the first leg of the four-year-old series, the Classic Mile, on the same card.

“I really like him. I rode him the other day and I want to give him that opportunity,” Bowman said of Viva Chaleur, who was a solid fourth under top weight in his most recent outing.

Only five can stop Super Win Dragon being four from four at Sha Tin this season

“I think he’s a horse who could come out and go six lengths better. I can’t say I’m expecting him to, but I think he’s capable of it.”

Bowman also has a couple of nice rides on Saturday’s Sha Tin card, with his book headlined by the Benno Yung Tin-pang-trained Forerunner.

Bowman piloted Forerunner to an impressive debut success last month and will look to repeat the dose from barrier four in the Class Four Cineraria Handicap (1,400m).

“I think the horse has certainly got more to offer. He’s a really sensible horse. He probably lacks a bit of physical strength just at the moment, so there’s improvement there, but I can’t see him improving six lengths on his first run,” said Bowman, who has also secured the ride aboard Sky Field in the Group One Centenary Sprint Cup (1,200m) on February 5.

Rounding out Bowman’s bookings at the Lunar New Year’s Eve meeting are Aca Power, Strive For Glory, Stand Up, Forte, Five G Patch and Jumbo Fortune.