Daniel Bowman to raise the bar for All-Star Mile contender Begood Toya Mother
Early voting for the All-Star Mile suggests Begood Toya Mother will be in the thick of the action but trainer Daniel Bowman says his Group 1 winner will need to earn his place.
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Daniel Bowman is about to find out whether his stable star Begood Toya Mother is a genuine Group 1 weight-for-age galloper.
Bowman says physically Begood Toya Mother is ready to take the next step after reaping the benefits of a spell during the spring.
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Begood Toya Mother will kick off his campaign, which could culminate in a start in the All-Star Mile, on Friday night at the Valley in the 1200m Australia Stakes.
Begood Toya Mother has already given Bowman the highlight of his training career with his win in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield in September.
This campaign he’s throwing the five-year-old in at the deep end.
“He’ll run in the Group 2 Australia Stakes and then the Group 1 races at Caulfield over 1400m in the Orr Stakes and the Futurity Stakes,” Bowman said.
“We’ll know where we stand very quickly.”
Begood Toya Mother is already high in the All-Star Mile voting, with more than 1200 votes.
Bowman said he wouldn’t start in the All-Star Mile for the sake of it.
“He’ll need to win the Orr or the Futurity Stakes to run in it,’’ he said.
“There’s no point running in the strongest mile race for 10 years if he can’t win at that level over 1400m.”
He believes Begood Toya Mother can measure up as he is stronger this campaign.
“He’s coping with his work much better. I think he’s ready to take the next step to Group 1 weight-for-age,” he said.
Bowman said spelling Begood Toya Mother when he did had meant he could give him a steady build-up for his return to racing.
“I haven’t had to put the pressure on him to get him fit,’’ he said.
“He’s been in work two months. He’s a lot stronger, but he’s still not the fully furnished product.”
Bowman is excited about the prospect of rain this week, saying it would take the edge off some of his rivals first-up.
James Winks will replace Begood Toya Mother’s regular rider, Declan Bates, for the Australia Stakes.
Bates has been sidelined for two months with a fractured kneecap and only returns to riding on Tuesday.
“He won’t be fit enough for a Group 2 at this stage, but as soon as he is he will go back on,” Bowman said.
Begood Toya Mother emerged from restricted class last year, winning six races before running sixth in the Memsie Stakes. He then won the Sir Rupert Clarke.
MONDAY RACEBOOK
PRAISE THE LORD
The feel-good story from Flemington on Saturday was the win of Lord Von Costa in the Benchmark 84, his first win in 1287 days. Albury trainer Donna Scott was emotional after the win. She had to nurse the eight-year-old back to racing after two tendon injuries. As a three-year-old, Lord Von Costa won the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington when trained by Stephen Brown. Scott said her family had bred the galloper and her father Graham Hulm had also trained him. It was Scott’s first city winner.
ANOTHER STAR IS BORN
Last year a star filly, Mystic Journey, emerged from Tasmania and the state now appears to have another. Still A Star followed her Tasmanian Guineas win with a five-length romp in the Launceston Guineas on Saturday. Trainer Bill Ryan is weighing up whether to tackle the Tasmanian Derby with Still A Star or stay with her own sex to contest the Strutt Stakes and Tasmanian Oaks.
REAL STAYING POWER
Luckily Chris Waller has Flemington stables. Otherwise, as in Sydney, our staying races would be bereft of numbers. On Saturday, Waller had three of the seven runners in the 2520m event at Flemington. He managed to train the trifecta with High Bridge defeating Naval Warfare and The Lord Mayor.
SHADE FOR TWILIGHT
While it was worth a try by the VRC, it was hard to find a fan of Saturday’s twilight meeting among industry participants. It probably didn’t help that the meeting had small fields in six of the nine races.
BRIDGE BURNING
No surprise that four of the fastest last 200m for the day came from Bold Star’s win in the Kensington Stakes after they ran the first 200m in 15.85 seconds. The surprise, though, was that the fifth- fastest last 200m was produced by High Bridge to win the 2520m staying race. He powered home, running his last 200m in 10.95.
TRIBUNAL WIN FOR JYE
In-form jockey Jye McNeil will return to riding this week after the Victorian Racing Tribunal upheld his appeal against a suspension arising from the previous Flemington meeting for causing interference on Amadeus. The VRT was unconvinced of the video evidence on which McNeil was suspended. He didn’t ride last week as he was serving another suspension.
MAN WITH TOP TRACK RECORD
Astute trainer Mick Kent can’t praise Flemington track manager Liam O’Keeffe enough. He’s even suggested O’Keeffe should be given a more prominent role and manage the other city tracks. “This guy gets it right with his preparation. Why not use his capabilities at other tracks including nearby Moonee Valley?” Kent said.
THIS WEEK’S RACING
No races on Monday, but fans can go along to the National Jockeys Trust Twenty20 match at Williamstown. Racing is at Warrnambool and Werribee on Tuesday. On Wednesday twilight races are at Sandown Lakeside with Moe before that. Thursday is at Kilmore with Pakenham at night, Friday is at Mornington, followed by the Australia Stakes meeting at the Valley. Saturday is at Caulfield.