Hugh Bowman cites exhaustion as star Winx jockey takes time to recover from racing’s greatest tale

An exhausted Hugh Bowman, the other half of racing’s greatest modern-day partnership alongside the recently departed Winx, will take a break from racing immediately in a bombshell move.

Champion jockey Hugh Bowman has stood down from his rides at the Gold Coast on Saturday and plans to take an extended break from the sport.

Bowman said he was feeling “exhausted” after another arduous autumn carnival where he was under intense pressure as the rider of the great mare Winx.

FAREWELL: WINX LEAVES AT RACING’S SUMMIT

Bloodied lip and all: Hugh Bowman after riding Winx to victory in Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

“I am going to have a break,’’ Bowman said.

“Everything is fine but I’m exhausted to be honest so I’m going to have a spell, freshen up.’’

Bowman was booked for four rides at the Gold Coast meeting including Shillelagh in the Group 2 $500,000 Hollindale Stakes (1800m).

Hugh Bowman and Winx salute in their final time together at Royal Randwick last month.

Bowman has enjoyed another hugely successful season riding 11 Group 1 winners — seven on mighty mare Winx, the world’s best racehorse.

Winx was retired after winning her 33rd successive race in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick last month.

Bowman is set to claim the 2018-19 leading Group 1 jockey title, the fifth consecutive season he has won the award.

His career total of Group 1 wins has climbed to 92 (including five in Hong Kong and one in Japan) and he is very close to be being awarded Hall of Fame honours.

Bowman was in Hong Kong last Sunday where he partnered Santa Ana Lane into fourth placing in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

He then returned to Sydney and rode at Warwick Farm on Wednesday where he scored on Alnaas.

Bowman has ridden 63 winners in Sydney so far this season and is second on the jockeys’ premiership.