Owners of Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo defend Hugh Bowman after weight blunder

OWNERS of Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo have backed champion jockey Hugh Bowman saying his weight blunder didn’t cost them the $7.3m Flemington feature.

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OWNERS of Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo have backed champion jockey Hugh Bowman, saying his weight blunder did not cost them the $7.3 million Flemington feature.

Melbourne property developer and nightclub owner Aziz ‘Ozzie’ Kheir said Bowman returning to scale one kilogram over the allotted 56kg had no bearing on the result.

Marmelo was mowed down by lightweight Cross Counter in the shadows of the post, losing down by a length.

“I don’t think it would have made that much difference on the result,” Kheir said.

Before the race Bowman weighed 56.4kg — within the 500 gram leeway given to jockeys on race day — but returned at 57kg and then failed to give an explanation to stewards.

Marmelo was beaten a length by Cross Counter in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

The Sydney-based jockey, who notably has partnered four-time Cox Plate winner Winx in 29 of her 39 career starts, will challenge a 35-meeting suspension — the result of three separate charges — handed down by stewards.

Bowman, who will miss Group 1 rides on Saturday at Flemington and the chance to chase back-to-back Japan Cups, was also penalised for careless riding and excessive whip use.

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said the margin would have been closer than it was had Marmelo carried 56kg.

“It is theoretical but over 3200 metres the standard thinking is that half a kilogram is roughly the equivalent of a length,” Carpenter said on Wednesday.

“It would have made it very close, much closer than it was, in theory.”

But Kheir, who toasted Melbourne Cup success in 2014 with Protectionist, praised Bowman’s “amazing ride”.

“I don’t think it would’ve changed the result, our horse is a big horse and he probably would’ve handled the extra weight anyway,” Kheir said.

Marmelo owner Ozzie Kheir gave Hugh Bowman his full support. Picture: Eugene Hyalnd

Kheir exchanged text messages with a “pretty flat” Bowman on Tuesday night.

“Running second is a good result but we were both pretty flat being so close,” Kheir said.

“We’re not sitting here thinking we should’ve won because of that (weight), it’s definitely not the case.”

Bowman, who pleaded guilty to all charges on Tuesday, including careless riding and excessive whip use, will appeal the severity of the ban.

His agent Bryan Haskins said Bowman thinks the “packing” under the saddle could be to blame for the spike in weight.

“He said the packing he got from the trainer soaked up a lot of the sweat from the horse,” Haskins said. “He said it was different to what he normally has and it soaked up all the sweat.”

Hugh Bowman is appealing against the severity of his 35-meeting for infringements on Marmelo in the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

Bowman offered no explanation to stewards after the race as to where the excess weight came from. Racing Victoria chairman of stewards Robert Cram said jockeys generally had to be careful with food and drinks on race day.

“If they eat, drink or change their gear it can make a difference,” Cram said.

“It could be a combination of drink (or) food — he never put that forward — some jockeys get caught out changing their gear.

“There’s only one person that will know and that will be the jockey.”

BOWMAN BLUNDER

Marmelo: 56kg

Weighed out: 56.4 (stewards allow 500g leeway)

Weighed in: 57

Suspended for: 35 meetings

Originally published as Owners of Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo defend Hugh Bowman after weight blunder