Hugh Bowman aiming for a rare trifecta: Derby, Cup and baby

BEFORE the end of the year, champion jockey Hugh Bowman could have won his third Victoria Derby, his first Melbourne Cup - and become a new father.

Hugh Bowman returns to scale after winning The Metropolitan aboard Seville. Picture: Mark Evans

BEFORE the end of the year, champion jockey Hugh Bowman could have won his third Victoria Derby, his first Melbourne Cup - and become a new father.

Bowman will be trying to claim the first two legs of the "trifecta'' at Flemington during Cup Week, starting with Polanski in the AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) today. He will then team up with the Lloyd Williams-owned Seville in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday.

Then his wife, Christine, the popular TVN producer, is due to give birth to the couple's first child in five weeks.

Christine saw her doctor earlier this week to ensure she could travel to Melbourne and watch her husband ride in the Derby and Melbourne Cup.

Hugh Bowman returns to scale after winning The Metropolitan aboard Seville. Picture: Mark Evans

"My doctor said I could go down to Melbourne for Cup Week as there is no fear I will go into labour,'' Christine said.

"I'm not sure if I will go out to the track because I will be on my feet all day but I'll be cheering for Hugh.''

Hugh believes he can give his wife plenty to cheer for today, particularly with Polanski in the Derby. His other Group 1 rides are Pakal (Mackinnon Stakes), Villa Verde (Coolmore Stud Stakes) and You're So Good (Myer Classic).

Hugh, already a two-time Derby winner on Lion Tamer (2010) and Sangster (2011), said Polanksi showed enough in his Norman Robinson Stakes win last start to suggest he will be very hard to beat today.

"Polanski is going the right way about things,'' he said. "He gave me a really good feel when he won at Caulfield last start. He's still a bit 'new' but he's big and strong and I know he will stay.

"At the winning post he was only just getting warm the other day so he gives me the impression he will run the 2500m.''

Hugh Bowman's Victoria Derby hope, Polanski, enjoys the media attention. Picture: Jay Town

Hugh conceded Derby co-favourites Complacent and Savvy Nature are obviously Polanksi's main dangers.

"I thought probably Complacent was the pick of them, he as been there and done it.'' he said.

"In his last two Sydney starts, he did get a beautiful run but he was strong to the line. If he has any luck, he will be in the finish.''

Savvy Nature came off his Spring Champion Stakes third behind Complacent to score a very easy win in the Vase at Moonee Valley last week.

"Savvy Nature was impressive the other day but in a sense it was put on for him,'' Bowman said.

"I don't think he went a whole lot better than he has been going.

"He did nothing out the back, they went hard, and he didn't beat much, to be honest, although he did win very easily,''