Champion jockey Hugh Bowman is honing in on a career milestone
A potential Melbourne Cup victory on Duais could also see the champion hoop surpass a career milestone.
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Hall of Fame jockey Hugh Bowman has picked up the Melbourne Cup ride on Duais as he closes in on a significant career milestone after his win on Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the Spring Champion Stakes at Royal Randwick last Saturday.
This was Bowman’s 99th Australian Group 1 winner, moving him into outright third on the all-time list behind Damien Oliver on 123 wins and George Moore with 104.
Bowman chose to ride at Royal Randwick instead of the Cox Plate meeting at The Valley and was rewarded with wins in the Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes and Group 2 $1 million Callander-Presnell on Golden Mile.
“Sharp ‘N’ Smart was screaming out for these distances and now that he’s got to them, he’d have to be a live chance in the VRC Derby. I wish I could go and ride him,’’ Bowman said.
“But as proven today, we can’t be in two places at once and I’m more than happy in my hometown in Sydney.’’
The champion jockey could have ridden Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday, a race he has already won three times previously, but instead will ride at Rosehill Gardens.
James McDonald is the new rider of Sharp ‘N’ Smart.
Bowman has a great book of rides at Rosehill including Fangirl in the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m), Lost And Running in the $3 million Nature Strip Stakes (1300m), Polly Grey in the $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) and Mahagoni in the $500,000 Four Pillars Midway (1500m).
The Chris Waller-trained Fangirl trialled very well at Warwick Farm last Friday and if the mare strikes a track rated closer to good than heavy, then her Golden Eagle chances soar.
Fangirl is currently at $15 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Golden Eagle behind English raider Light Infantry at $4.50.
But Bowman, who rode mighty mare Winx to 25 Group 1 wins, gets his chance to win his first Melbourne Cup and bring up a century of majors with his booking for Duais at Flemington on November 1.
The Edward Cummings-trained Duais ran a pleasing Cup trial when she ran on late to finish eighth in the Caulfield Cup. She is currently on the fourth line of Melbourne Cup betting at $17 behind imported stayers Deauville Legend at $5.50 and Loft at $7.
YOU CAN BET ON IT
Sharp ‘N Smart broke plenty of punters hearts as he edged out the heavily backed Elliptical in the Spring Champion Stakes.
Elliptical held close to 30 per cent of the total hold in the race while Sharp ‘N Smart held just under 13 per cent with on the fifth with two bets of $4,000 at $7.50 and $6.50.
Promise Of Success went out at $26 before winning The Invitation but some astute punters had a big results with each way bets on the mare including $500 each-way at $26/$7, $250 at $23/$6 and a $300 straight win bet at $19.
Promise Of Success takes out The Invitation at $29!@JohnOSheaRacing@KPMcEvoy@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/KBBSRiyKqS
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 22, 2022
Anamoe dominated betting for the Cox Plate and landed some monstrous best including $50,000 at $2.30, $11,000 and $10,000 also at $2.30, plus $15,000 and $14,000 at $2.40.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
Sharp ‘N’ Smart (race 8) was outstanding winning the Spring Champion Stakes. He was three-wide without cover most of the race yet somehow found the stamina reserves to chase down Elliptical near the line. Sharp ‘N’ Smart goes to the Victoria Derby next Saturday then will return in autumn for the ATC Australian Derby.
Golden Mile (race 7) was confidently ridden to take out the Callander-Presnell. The runner-up Communist fought hard but Golden Mile always had his rival’s measure. The boom Godolphin colt will be hard to beat in races like the Randwick Guineas and Doncaster Mile next autumn.
"It's a dour battle here!"
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 22, 2022
Communist puts up a brave fight against the victorious Golden Mile in the Callander-Presnell. @JamesCummings88@HugeBowman@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/neafGjd3F8
Electric Girl (race 9) was held up at the 400m, raced tight between Nimalee and Swats That until the 150m before she emerged from the pack and charged after Promise Of Success. The Team Hawkes-trained Electric Girl is racing in very good form and is ready to win when she strikes a dry track.
Naval Seal (race 3) was first-up from a spell and it took the race-fit Mahagoni to beat him. I liked the way Naval Seal fought back after being headed and he’ll take great benefit from the run. Lightly-raced but promising galloper.
Barber (race 1) raced over 1000m and was entitled to run good sectionals but he finished strongly to overhaul Coincide near the line. Both look smart youngsters and will be improved by the race experience. The run of minor placegetter Shine Your Light should also be noted.
CRUNCH TIME
Samoot (race 10) powered home from near last on the turn to just miss running down Titanium Power. Samoot ran the best sectionals of the entire meeting with her final 600m in 35s flat and a closing 200m split of 11.81. She was the only runner to break 12s for the 200m split to the finish.
Sharp ‘N’ Smart (race 8) covered plenty of extra ground in the Spring Champion Stakes but showed his superior staying ability when he ran his final 200m in 12.91s to run down Elliptical.
She’s Extreme (race 8) was held up at a vital stage in the straight but once she found clear galloping room, she zoomed home in 12.80s for the final 200m to claim the minor placing.
Diamil (race 5) was third up in the Filante Handicap and showed his quality to run his final 600m sectional in 35.68s and 200m split of 12.32s to win. He needed to run those fast times as runner-up Purple Sector (36.3s, 12.63s) wasn’t stopping.
Eye See Things (race 3) didn’t get a lot of galloping room in the straight but still ran her final 200m in 12.76s, the best of the race despite being eased near the line. She is bursting to win a race.
TRACK TALK
“I haven’t had a horse like this for a long time. I’ve trained a lot of good horses but boy this horse has such a big heart. I’m going to run him in the (Victoria) Derby next Saturday, he will go a mile and a half, don’t worry, and he will win the Derby,’’ said Graeme Rogerson, trainer of Sharp ‘N’ Smart.
“My first ride at Randwick was in these colours many moons ago so it means a lot to win for Graeme and Debbie,’’ said Hugh Bowman, rider of Sharp ‘N’ Smart.
“Full credit to the winner, he has run him down the winner but I just wish he had seen him earlier because he would have shown good fight. We won’t go to the Derby but we will give some thought to the 2000m against the older horses (weight-for-age Champions Stakes). A lightweight at Flemington will suit him,’’ said Sam Freedman, trainer of Elliptical.
On her form: “To be fair, even though she ran third last the other day he was keen to stick with her. He’s backed his judgment and it paid off.
“We were so glad to get him, a quality rider like Kerrin (McEvoy). To be fair, even though she ran third last the other day he was keen to stick with her. He’s backed his judgment and it paid off,’’ said John O’Shea, trainer of Promise Of Success.
“It was the it was the highlight of my day to see this colt (Golden Mile) so beautifully prepared and look so well, it was a credit to James Cummings and the ride of Hugh Bowman added to what was a memorable experience. Certainly, Cox Plate Day has taken a new dimension for me. I’ve seen all the greats at Moonee Valley but on a personal level nothing beat today,’’ said journalist Max Presnell.
STEWARDS SAY
She’s Extreme (race 8) was slow to begin and shifted in behind runners early. She was briefly held up o the home turn behind Promitto. Then at the 200m she was eased and directed to the outside of Sharp ‘N’ Smart to secure clear running before running on for third.
Golden Mile (race 7) was bumped by Basquiat who shifted out on the home turn. Basquiat then was turned out further, resulting in Golden Mile and Basquiat making contact for some distance and both runners becoming unbalanced.
Flag Of Honour (race 7) bled from both nostrils for the first time and automatically incurs a three-month racing ban.
Bonny Ezra (race 5) was slow to begin and settled at the rear of the field. He then got held up from the 600m and was then disappointed for a clear run on the home turn. Bonny Ezra was then steadied again when attempting a run at the 250m. Jockey Jay Ford then shifted to the outside of Yiyi at the 200m where he began to run on strongly although he had to direct Bonny Ezra to the inside of Yiyi at the 75m to secure clear running.
Thron Bone (race 6) was having its first start the Sydney way of going, made the home turn awkwardly and in the straight was inclined to lay out, eventually drifting towards the outside fence as he past the post in second place.
RANDWICK SNAPSHOT WITH RON DUFFICY
RUN OF THE DAY
Sharp ‘N’ Smart promised to make the grade as a Spring three-year-old after the Queensland Winter Carnival and certainly hasn’t let his supporters down. His performance sitting wide no cover and making it three straight in the Champion Stakes was exceptional and who knows how far he can go.
FORGET THEY RAN
Renaissance Woman didn’t have a lot go right after early interference and still did more than enough to suggest she is still a leading chance in the upcoming VRC Oaks.
ONE TO FOLLOW
Naval Seal had every chance but has more to offer with this run under his belt moving forward.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Blake Shinn has been in rare form since arriving back home in Australia from Hong Kong and his confidence was on show at Randwick with a winning double and three seconds. While the day could have been so much better they were all ridden perfectly.
NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday: Beaumont
Tuesday: Grafton, Hawkesbury
Wednesday: Kensington
Thursday: Gosford, Sapphire Coast
Friday: Moree, Wagga Wagga
Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Newcastle
Sunday: Goulburn, Muswellbrook
Originally published as Champion jockey Hugh Bowman is honing in on a career milestone
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