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.

“He’s drawn a little bit wide, but I don’t see that as a huge disadvantage because the horse is more effective when he’s ridden a bit more quietly. When he draws a good barrier, you can’t help but hold a bit of a position and in my opinion, he’s just not as effective when you ride him that way.

“But again, you’re relying on the race speed to set up so he can come from the mid-to-back and, if that’s the case, I think he’s ready to run the race of his season.

“He went through [the yielding track] well. It was probably one of his better runs actually, so if there is some moisture in the ground, it won’t do him any harm.”

A Listed winner at Caulfield pre-import, Celestial Hero won at Sha Tin last July when finishing powerfully from gate 12 with Bowman on board.

The Australian jockey, who sits second behind Zac Purton in the jockeys’ championship with 57 wins this term, has six other rides on Sunday’s card.

He has high hopes of winning the two dirt races aboard Meepmeep in the Class Five HKU Faculties of Arts and Education Handicap (1,800m) and Allcash in the Class Four University Hall Handicap (1,800m).

“He was aided by barrier [two last start], which he doesn’t have the luxury of having this time, but his racing pattern is to find a rhythm and his last three or four runs have been all really solid,” Bowman said of Meepmeep, who chases back-to-back victories after a strong performance on the dirt last start.

“So, the horse is in great form and if he gets circumstances to suit, there’s no reason why he can’t win again.”

Allcash steps up in trip after running on powerfully for third behind Night Purosangue on the all-weather last start.

“All systems look as though it’s going to set up really well for him. He won a race really well earlier this season on the grass at Happy Valley, but his form before coming to Hong Kong was more on the all-weather, or the dirt tracks,” Bowman said.

“Although most of his competition on this track has been in Class Three, he showed how effective he can be last start in Class Four and I go to the races with a great deal of confidence that he can produce a winning run.”

Rattan Galaxy, Navas G, Young Champion and King Equine are Bowman’s other rides.